Vertebra Shackles advance Mound-Makers rank rewards, including the Bloodlust katana and Warmth pyromancy.
PC / Global, Fire Fades content scope
WHERE & HOW TO FARM
Where to farm
Catacombs of Carthus bonfire; nearby sword-and-shield skeletons along the passage toward the rolling bone ball.
Sword-and-shield skeletons in the Catacombs of Carthus can drop Vertebra Shackles. The offline route is a short enemy clear near the Catacombs bonfire, with a rest between attempts. Drops are random. Collect the Shackles and offer them to the Mound-Makers altar when you reach your chosen rank target. Successful mad phantom invasions provide an alternative source.
Join Mound-Makers if you are pursuing covenant rewards.
Reach and activate the Catacombs of Carthus bonfire.
Bring a weapon and healing setup suitable for repeated skeleton fights.
Equip Mound-Makers if you are also attempting to earn Shackles through invasions.
Equip available item-discovery gear to improve enemy drop attempts.
Rest at the Catacombs bonfire and move toward the nearby skeletons.
Defeat the sword-and-shield skeletons on the route, watching for the rolling bone ball.
Check for Vertebra Shackles and collect any that drop.
Return to the same bonfire, rest to reset the enemies, and repeat the clear.
When you reach your target offering count, visit the Mound-Makers altar to turn them in.
Farming tips
The nearby enemies make the loop compact, but the drop remains random; do not count a kill as an offering until it appears.
Successful mad phantom invasions award Shackles too, so use that route if matchmaking is active and suitable.
Repeat, collect and use
Repeat the skeleton route after resting; each offering is a random drop. Invasions are a separate repeatable method that depends on online play.
Common mistakes
Ignoring the rolling bone ball while running the route: watch its movement before entering the skeleton group.
Farming before joining the covenant when you want its rewards: join Mound-Makers before turning offerings in.
Assuming a drop is guaranteed: check inventory and continue only as needed.
When to stop or switch
Stop once you have the number of offerings needed for the Mound-Makers reward you want, or move to invasions if those are producing Shackles more efficiently.
