Dark Souls II Human Effigies: restore maximum health and reverse hollowing
Learn why maximum health shrinks, when to consume an Effigy and how the Ring of Binding helps.
Guides and pictures cover Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (2015) on DirectX 11 PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The original game launched in 2014. Original/DirectX 9/PS3/Xbox 360 enemy and item layouts differ, even when sold with the Scholar name.
Recognize the hollowing penalty
Repeated deaths progressively reduce the maximum health available to a hollow character. Healing items refill the health you can currently use; they do not remove the missing portion caused by hollowing. If the bar is permanently shortened after resting, the issue is your hollowing state rather than an inadequate supply of Lifegems.
Use an Effigy from the inventory
Consume a Human Effigy to reverse hollowing, restore human form and remove the normal hollowing penalty to maximum health. You do not need to reach a bonfire to use it. Save one for an attempt where the restored health will matter, rather than spending the entire supply while still learning an unfamiliar approach.
Burning an Effigy has a different purpose
The bonfire’s Burn action applies a local multiplayer restriction instead of restoring your humanity. If your goal is to recover maximum health, choose Use on the inventory item. Before attempting to summon help, also check whether an Effigy effect or your covenant is interfering with the usual cooperative conditions.
Find the Scholar Ring of Binding near Dragonrider
The Ring of Binding reduces the health penalty while hollow but does not make you human. In Scholar of the First Sin’s revised layout, its metal chest is near the Dragonrider fog gate in Heide’s Tower of Flame, guarded by a Heide Knight. The original edition places the chest on the Cathedral of Blue approach instead.
More Dark Souls II quick answers
How much Agility do you need in Dark Souls II? Adaptability and rollsHow to upgrade Estus in Dark Souls II: shards and Sublime Bone DustLearn a boss’s attack sequence while hollow, then use an Effigy once the extra health can turn a close attempt into a win.
Picture details
Game artwork belongs to its respective rights holders.