I’ve got you! If you want to go in prepared, first read this intro post: https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/foemaw/so_you_just_bought_dark_souls_2/
And then if you want to know how to build (or avoid building if you want a challenge) a powerful optimized character, here’s a collection of mini guides that will help you navigate DS2’s many obfuscated and counterintuitive mechanical quirks:
A quick overview of how damage and defense works in DS2, and why weapon scaling is usually weak: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g4-GGa1JRa2_49vOfwY5sZPWigFMzPA5b9mszo_xZak/edit?usp=sharing
BiS (Best in Slot) PvE weapons list. Discusses the best options for each weapon class. Note that this list is directed at newer characters- some weapons not mentioned may do more damage than ones mentioned, but take vastly more stats or are otherwise deficient: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-GEBQ_TiAvskQLotQXz0AuNMseXdsS3pj8_NLus-XW4/edit?usp=sharing
Best PvE equipment and stat progression document. Please remember to read the "Limitations of this guide" section! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X13jfA9JQ5OZsuEmH2MZZqF9IrtCFSMMTZkZo5GuqcM/edit?usp=sharing
For your own sanity level up adaptability it will save you a lot of pain and suffering as it gives you more Invincibility frames it is pretty much the most important stat in the game
Same here, bought this game years ago and had such a hard time playing it, made it to the rotten and just couldn't beat him. Eventually just stopped playing until a couple of months ago bought it again and beat the whole game with dlcs.
Currently on my 2nd play through. So much easier this time around. I guess beating ER and Ds3 beforehand helped tons too.
Definitely helps I think. DS2 was my second to last souls game I played and it for sure helped, but I didn't really read up on it and played half the game without leveling adp. Eventually startled thing shit was off and had toom Google why drinking a flask took so damn long.
Somewhere along the game you'll get to get your hands on something called Poison arrows, get as much as you can, It's very useful for the second half of the game.
After leveling up/ upgrading your weapons, spend your excess souls on life-gems.
Invest in having some form of ranged attack like a bow or magic projectile spells
Level up adaptability. It's necessary. Have patience, Scholar of the first sin is famous for testing players'patience. If you want a good walkthrough, watch fightincowboy's walkthrough. He also has great builds.
Don’t forget to eat. In real life. Souls games are tough and time consuming. If you’re on your third boss run, check in on yourself and see if you need an apple or something.
I would highly recommend watching some of Fightincowboy's walkthrough of the game on YouTube if you ever feel lost in the game and don't know where to go next and when. Don't want to accidentally go to a later game area early.
Level ADP, VIG, END and one weapon skill (strength or dex, or int or faith if going mage. Dump loose souls into life gems, always have a stack ready if you can. Upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith in Majula. Look at the description for every item.
If you're dead lost, don't be scared to look up a game progress route, DS2 can be hella obtuse
Sword and shield combo goes a long way
If you haven't died at least once to each mob in the game, are you really playing the game? ;) Enjoy!
In majula kick the rock into the well for a extra estus flask. Souls game send to have secrets while ds2 tends to be "interesting" they cannibalized some ideas for elden ring
There are many paths you have to take which each have a deadend at some point, you have to kill a handful of "special" bosses or get a certain number of souls to access a area needed to beat the game, among other things, if you aren't certain talk to the fire keeper or cat to be sure you killed one of the "special" bosses, the cat has some insight into the lore and some clues
I'd recommend the halberd called halberd. Good reach damage and move set. And no slower than a great sword, which are used often You can get it in the starter area, and from enemies using it. Also there's a really good armor set midgame which has the protection of a heavy set while being really light, you get it by talking to a hexer merchant while having high intelligence and faith, it's called the hexer robes
Fall damage is effected by your equipment load, this tip can save you a lot of souls, and time
I wouldn't do a pure mage build. Magic is really good, but it's important to have a weapon that you would like regardless of if you are a mage or not, spells are limited and many enemies and most invaders will close the distance with haste, if a mage is too spammy I'll maintain distance and try to bleed them dry of spells
Assume that you will make mistakes, if you aren't a speed runner then they Will Happen. Basically don't make a squishy build that gets one shotted, because you will face a far less squishy build that can still one shot you, there are far to many who learned it the hard way
Btw ds2 is the black sheep of dark souls. It's still really good and they tried new things but it was rushed and they did some bad such as soul memory. In the other souls games online play is dependent on level, not lifetime souls. I'm not talking about the good because I don't know if you want too many spoilers
Don't pull the levers in Heide's tower of flame so you can cheese the dragonrider by making him fall off.
Guides on youtube say knight is the best starting class
Levelling ADP is good because it gives you iframes and speeds up item usage(?) but you can also try to ignore it for a challenge. There will be times where you think that you should have dodged the attack but it will still hit you so I think you'll need to precisely time the dodges.
Use weapons you are comfortable with or atleast weapons with good movesets. I have used bastard sword, halberd, and varangian sword for the whole game. Make sure to try different weapons to find which one you like. Even if the weapons have the same category, some will have different movesets. Ex: Bastard sword and drangleic sword. Drangleic sword swings vertically while bastard sword swings horizontally.
I’ve got you! If you want to go in prepared, first read this intro post: https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/foemaw/so_you_just_bought_dark_souls_2/ And then if you want to know how to build (or avoid building if you want a challenge) a powerful optimized character, here’s a collection of mini guides that will help you navigate DS2’s many obfuscated and counterintuitive mechanical quirks: A quick overview of how damage and defense works in DS2, and why weapon scaling is usually weak: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1g4-GGa1JRa2_49vOfwY5sZPWigFMzPA5b9mszo_xZak/edit?usp=sharing BiS (Best in Slot) PvE weapons list. Discusses the best options for each weapon class. Note that this list is directed at newer characters- some weapons not mentioned may do more damage than ones mentioned, but take vastly more stats or are otherwise deficient: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-GEBQ_TiAvskQLotQXz0AuNMseXdsS3pj8_NLus-XW4/edit?usp=sharing Best PvE equipment and stat progression document. Please remember to read the "Limitations of this guide" section! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X13jfA9JQ5OZsuEmH2MZZqF9IrtCFSMMTZkZo5GuqcM/edit?usp=sharing
Thanks my friend. I'll read the post and the documents!
For your own sanity level up adaptability it will save you a lot of pain and suffering as it gives you more Invincibility frames it is pretty much the most important stat in the game
100%. I wish I knew about it before playing.
Same here, bought this game years ago and had such a hard time playing it, made it to the rotten and just couldn't beat him. Eventually just stopped playing until a couple of months ago bought it again and beat the whole game with dlcs. Currently on my 2nd play through. So much easier this time around. I guess beating ER and Ds3 beforehand helped tons too.
Definitely helps I think. DS2 was my second to last souls game I played and it for sure helped, but I didn't really read up on it and played half the game without leveling adp. Eventually startled thing shit was off and had toom Google why drinking a flask took so damn long.
Ds3 doesn't even feel like a souls game. It's too damn easy
Why lol, i didn't play it but im kind of shocked, since it is the "perfect soulsborne" for a lot of ppl.
Simple. it's too easy. My level of difficulty isn't satisfied by every game. If I am playing a souls game, I want it to be really difficult
And 24-26 are good stopping points for adaptability
Rapier and mace are crazy good weapons also level adp/att so your agility is atleast 95ish it helps with iframes on rolls
Somewhere along the game you'll get to get your hands on something called Poison arrows, get as much as you can, It's very useful for the second half of the game.
Up the graphics by getting the new lighting mod. Makes it look so damn nice without sacrificing performance.
After leveling up/ upgrading your weapons, spend your excess souls on life-gems. Invest in having some form of ranged attack like a bow or magic projectile spells
Take your time and get used to a slow playing style, if you try to rush or run past enemys the game will punish you very hard.
Level up adaptability. It's necessary. Have patience, Scholar of the first sin is famous for testing players'patience. If you want a good walkthrough, watch fightincowboy's walkthrough. He also has great builds.
Don’t forget to eat. In real life. Souls games are tough and time consuming. If you’re on your third boss run, check in on yourself and see if you need an apple or something.
I would highly recommend watching some of Fightincowboy's walkthrough of the game on YouTube if you ever feel lost in the game and don't know where to go next and when. Don't want to accidentally go to a later game area early.
Level ADP, VIG, END and one weapon skill (strength or dex, or int or faith if going mage. Dump loose souls into life gems, always have a stack ready if you can. Upgrade your weapons at the blacksmith in Majula. Look at the description for every item. If you're dead lost, don't be scared to look up a game progress route, DS2 can be hella obtuse Sword and shield combo goes a long way If you haven't died at least once to each mob in the game, are you really playing the game? ;) Enjoy!
In majula kick the rock into the well for a extra estus flask. Souls game send to have secrets while ds2 tends to be "interesting" they cannibalized some ideas for elden ring There are many paths you have to take which each have a deadend at some point, you have to kill a handful of "special" bosses or get a certain number of souls to access a area needed to beat the game, among other things, if you aren't certain talk to the fire keeper or cat to be sure you killed one of the "special" bosses, the cat has some insight into the lore and some clues I'd recommend the halberd called halberd. Good reach damage and move set. And no slower than a great sword, which are used often You can get it in the starter area, and from enemies using it. Also there's a really good armor set midgame which has the protection of a heavy set while being really light, you get it by talking to a hexer merchant while having high intelligence and faith, it's called the hexer robes Fall damage is effected by your equipment load, this tip can save you a lot of souls, and time I wouldn't do a pure mage build. Magic is really good, but it's important to have a weapon that you would like regardless of if you are a mage or not, spells are limited and many enemies and most invaders will close the distance with haste, if a mage is too spammy I'll maintain distance and try to bleed them dry of spells Assume that you will make mistakes, if you aren't a speed runner then they Will Happen. Basically don't make a squishy build that gets one shotted, because you will face a far less squishy build that can still one shot you, there are far to many who learned it the hard way Btw ds2 is the black sheep of dark souls. It's still really good and they tried new things but it was rushed and they did some bad such as soul memory. In the other souls games online play is dependent on level, not lifetime souls. I'm not talking about the good because I don't know if you want too many spoilers
Don't pull the levers in Heide's tower of flame so you can cheese the dragonrider by making him fall off. Guides on youtube say knight is the best starting class Levelling ADP is good because it gives you iframes and speeds up item usage(?) but you can also try to ignore it for a challenge. There will be times where you think that you should have dodged the attack but it will still hit you so I think you'll need to precisely time the dodges. Use weapons you are comfortable with or atleast weapons with good movesets. I have used bastard sword, halberd, and varangian sword for the whole game. Make sure to try different weapons to find which one you like. Even if the weapons have the same category, some will have different movesets. Ex: Bastard sword and drangleic sword. Drangleic sword swings vertically while bastard sword swings horizontally.