Dark Souls 2 community prepares for its annual newcomer co-op event

<img width="900" height="507" src="https://www.pcgamesn.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/dark-souls-2-pvp-900x506.jpg"/><p>If, <a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-remastered/undead-burg-level-design-verticality" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">like me</a>, you're someone who has always heard lots about the Dark Souls series but have yet to play them, now is the time to consider dipping a toe into their mysterious waters. The Dark Souls II community is gearing up for the annual Return to Drangelic event, wherein the <a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/15-best-rpgs-pc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">RPG game's</a> many fans create new characters to help newcomers get started.</p>
<p>This time, the Return to Drangelic will be held a month early - that's to make sure it doesn't overlap the <a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/elden-ring/release-date-game" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elden Ring release date</a>, which is coming in February. From January 16 - 30, Dark Souls fans plan to start up new playthroughs of Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin edition, for the express purpose of jumping into co-op sessions with new players or engaging in some early-game PvP, without all the end-level gear.</p>
<p>Old Soulsheads recommend using the Blue Acolyte mod with the Scholar of the First Sin edition of Dark Souls II for the event. The mod, which you can <a href="https://www.nexusmods.com/darksouls2/mods/998" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">find on Nexus Mods</a>. Blue Acolyte is actually a big collection of community patches and quality of life improvements for Dark Souls II, but for The Return to Drangelic event, it does two important things.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-ii-scholar-of-the-first-sin/return-to-drangelic">Read the rest of the story...</a></p>
<p>RELATED LINKS:<br />
<a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-2/better-than-dark-souls-1">Dark Souls 2 is much better than you remember</a><br />
<a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/prepare-to-try-dark-souls-2-retry-rkg">Dark Souls' narrator lends her voice for a Let's Play channel from former IGN staffers</a><br />
<a href="https://www.pcgamesn.com/dark-souls-ii-scholar-of-the-first-sin/dark-souls-2-original-story">In Dark Souls 2's original story you went to the past and met the Emerald Herald as a kid</a></p>