diff --git a/Fill.py b/Fill.py
index 48ed7253d9..7bd5756627 100644
--- a/Fill.py
+++ b/Fill.py
@@ -280,6 +280,7 @@ def remaining_fill(multiworld: MultiWorld,
         item_to_place = itempool.pop()
         spot_to_fill: typing.Optional[Location] = None
 
+        # going through locations in the same order as the provided `locations` argument
         for i, location in enumerate(locations):
             if location_can_fill_item(location, item_to_place):
                 # popping by index is faster than removing by content,
diff --git a/worlds/dark_souls_3/__init__.py b/worlds/dark_souls_3/__init__.py
index 8c9716c03d..4ee972be9c 100644
--- a/worlds/dark_souls_3/__init__.py
+++ b/worlds/dark_souls_3/__init__.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from logging import warning
 from typing import cast, Any, Callable, Dict, Set, List, Optional, TextIO, Union
 
 from BaseClasses import CollectionState, MultiWorld, Region, Location, LocationProgressType, Entrance, Tutorial, ItemClassification
+from Fill import remaining_fill
 
 from worlds.AutoWorld import World, WebWorld
 from worlds.generic.Rules import CollectionRule, ItemRule, add_rule, add_item_rule
@@ -1473,6 +1474,7 @@ class DarkSouls3World(World):
                         f"contain smoothed items, but only {len(converted_item_order)} items to smooth."
                     )
 
+                sorted_spheres = []
                 for sphere in locations_by_sphere:
                     locations = [loc for loc in sphere if loc.item.name in names]
 
@@ -1480,12 +1482,12 @@ class DarkSouls3World(World):
                     offworld = ds3_world._shuffle([loc for loc in locations if loc.game != "Dark Souls III"])
                     onworld = sorted((loc for loc in locations if loc.game == "Dark Souls III"),
                                      key=lambda loc: loc.data.region_value)
-
                     # Give offworld regions the last (best) items within a given sphere
-                    for location in onworld + offworld:
-                        new_item = ds3_world._pop_item(location, converted_item_order)
-                        location.item = new_item
-                        new_item.location = location
+                    sorted_spheres.extend(onworld)
+                    sorted_spheres.extend(offworld)
+
+                converted_item_order.reverse()
+                remaining_fill(multiworld, sorted_spheres, converted_item_order, name="DS3 Smoothing", check_location_can_fill=True)
 
             if ds3_world.options.smooth_upgrade_items:
                 base_names = {
@@ -1518,19 +1520,6 @@ class DarkSouls3World(World):
         self.random.shuffle(copy)
         return copy
 
-    def _pop_item(
-        self,
-        location: Location,
-        items: List[DarkSouls3Item]
-    ) -> DarkSouls3Item:
-        """Returns the next item in items that can be assigned to location."""
-        for i, item in enumerate(items):
-            if location.can_fill(self.multiworld.state, item, False):
-                return items.pop(i)
-
-        # If we can't find a suitable item, give up and assign an unsuitable one.
-        return items.pop(0)
-
     def _get_our_locations(self) -> List[DarkSouls3Location]:
         return cast(List[DarkSouls3Location], self.multiworld.get_locations(self.player))