How do I farm Human Effigies?
Solution 1:
Human Effigies can be found from Starting Gift, Static Locations (corpses), Merchants (All merchants have limited supply), and NPC's (both given and dropped when killed).
The term 'farm' usually implies an unlimited resource, as you pointed out. As of the latest patch, the Company of Champions covenant allows infinite respawn.
These are enemies that drop Effigies:
- Attack Dogs.
- Skeletons [not in Undead Purgatory]
- Turtle Knights.
- Sentinel (Sword/Shield) and Sentinel (Great Sword)
Always remember you can farm 6 effigies off of the Old Firekeepers and 3 alone off Housekeeper Milibeth in Things Betwixt.
After unlocking the Shrine of Winter, it is possible to farm Smooth and Silky Stones. While not directly farming Effigies, these have a high conversion rate to Effigies at Dyna & Tillo (Drop trade crow), although this is random.
There is however a way to restore humanity consistently.
In the Shrine of Amana, above the last bonfire, there is a Shrine with a praying Milfinito. After you have 'rescued' the two stray maidens (one outside the Demon of Song room, another behind the Embedded Door in Drangleic Castle) you can pray at this Shrine at any time to regain humanity. This is free of cost and can be done a limitless amount of times.
There is an easier way, although it seems so easy that it will be patched.
This requires the Ring of Life Protection, which can be found at the No Man's Wharf. This ring prevents loss of your Humanity and souls on death, but breaks afterwards. This ring can be repaired for 3000 at the blacksmith giving a constant 3000 Souls per Human transfer rate. A +1 Ring of Life Protection (Also prevents petrification) can be purchased from Vengarl in the Shaded Woods.
Solution 2:
The area by the second blacksmith has dogs that are 3 second farms and if you can use a bonfire ascentic thing then they should be easy enough, it's a slow process though so rusted coins might be a helpful option
Solution 3:
Here is a tip
There are so much ways of getting humanity in DS2 but this by far the best and easiest way. You know the rings that you can rarely find if you wear it, it will allow you to not loose human form or souls upon death but the downside is it will break after being used...well all you need to do is go to the blacksmith in Majula and repair it for around 3000 souls so for a little price you can have unlimited humanity not to mention not having to worry about loosing all your souls :).
I can't remember the rings name but you can find one in No-man's Wharf (Pirate place), it can also be found on enemies you kill but it is very rare.
Might get patched because it's getting exploited and makes the game so easy