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[perorist]

Welp, just finished. Total time was 60-something hours with about 40 of those being PvP. Had almost 400k souls near the end so I leveled like 20 times before hitting the endgame, decided to stop at 130. Felt like overall the game is mechanically better than DkS, but not as well put together or as memorable. PvP-wise, ultra greatswords and hammers are a joke, don't use them. Pyro is a joke, don't rely on it. Claymore's new moveset, amazing.

Final stats and pantyshot

 

[Chake]

The four primal bonfires. I did

Spoiler

TLS, then Old Iron King, then Duke's Dear Freja, now down the pit.

Is that the normal order? Can you do them in any order?

I did the pit before Dear Freja, and i believe it goes that way. The whole in majula isn't even that hard, so you're good.

 

[Soriku]

Hoo boy. Those

Spoiler

gargoyles. Six of them? FFFF

Yeah. Are they an optional boss? Also, any advice? I've tried splitting them up and what not, but I still managed to get destroyed. Fun. I've also lit the first primal bonfire and I'm wondering where I need to go next. Down the well?

It's optional.

Spoiler

I recommend staying as close to the entrance as possible so you don't awaken a third gargoyle, if you can. This battle requires some luck and some good dodging on your part so it's hard to give too much advice. Personally I had trouble and came back later with some more HP and a slightly upgraded weapon, which made a difference.

 

[AlphaDragoon]

As a light armor, no shield katana-user I had little trouble with (Area Spoiler)

Spoiler

the Shrine of Amana.

I had to pull out a bow a for a couple of mobs at the end, but no big deal. Used the environment to stuff their magic shots or rolled through them, killed one at a time. Boss was pretty easy IMO too, took it down the first time solo.

Now you want to talk an area that's complete bullshit? The goddamn

Spoiler

Dragon Temple. Those Drakekeeper knights can typically two-shot you and one hit can put you in stunlock. And their hits track and are as fast as a normal straight sword.

 

[Misterinenja]

The four primal bonfires. I did

Spoiler

TLS, then Old Iron King, then Duke's Dear Freja, now down the pit.

Is that the normal order? Can you do them in any order?

Pretty much. I did them in the same order except switch up the last two.

 

[Brandon F]

Took a break and restarted DS1 on PS3 to compare. A few hours in and I have just cleared the Gaping Dragon, nice to still see people playing as well as it wasn't difficult to get summoned for that encounter for curiosity after soloing him. PS3 port of DS1 seems to suffer many similar issues of the sequel. Occasional audio cuts, slightly longer loads, lesser framerate than 360. Not nearly as problematic though as the difference in the sequel, but the 360 version was tighter.

It's night and day to me how much better looking the first game is over 2 as well. Undead Burg, Parish, even the Sewer depths have a lot of nice looking filters and texture effects over the sequel(walls glisten with sewer muck and water compared to the drab and dull concrete slabs in DS2 for instance). Even armor has a sheen that seems muted in the sequel, despite the lack of cloth physics.

Trying out a STR build this time as I always went pure Dex previously. Actually find the game a bit difficult compared with sluggish stamina recharge even if I can soak up more damage with more effective blocking. Still haven't discovered a good STR weapon though, or at least one I can use with my lowbie stats at this point(Demon Hammer/Axe requirements are still too high even dual handing). Halberd has been my go-to thing until I discover my first greatsword.

But yea, I still dig DS2. Looking forward to witnessing the changes in NG+ since I am finding the journey getting really easy the farther in I play.

 

[AkuMifune]

From already has a bias in favor of melee,so you'd just be playing the game how from designed it.

With all of the awesome STR gear I've found just collecting dust in my item box I know it. Already want to start over just to get that gear for a build that can use it. Indiansingletear.jpeg.

I have made my sorcerer a pseudo-battle mage personally. I leveled up STR and DEX enough to equip certain swords (Fire longsword) and enough to use Drangleic shield which requires 16 STR. That shield is one of the best shields you can use early on if you want to remain light - it has 100% physical block which is very rare for medium shields. I've only seen one other 100% block medium shield, but it's a while before you can get that one..

That's exactly the shield I was looking at, but putting 10 more points just into STR for a Sorcerer seems like such a waste. Maybe better off just upgrading a wooden shield? 10 points seems like a lot for one item. But I could be easily talked into it.

 

[Interrobang]

they have poop for health. Try gold pine resin.

It's optional.

Spoiler

I recommend staying as close to the entrance as possible so you don't awaken a third gargoyle, if you can. This battle requires some luck and some good dodging on your part so it's hard to give too much advice. Personally I had trouble and came back later with some more HP and a slightly upgraded weapon, which made a difference.

Thanks for the help, guys. Going to try and conquer them tonight.

 

[GulAtiCa]

Welp, just finished. Total time was 60-something hours with about 40 of those being PvP. Had almost 400k souls near the end so I leveled like 20 times before hitting the endgame, decided to stop at 130. Felt like overall the game is mechanically better than DkS, but not as well put together or as memorable. PvP-wise, ultra greatswords and hammers are a joke, don't use them. Pyro is a joke, don't rely on it. Claymore's new moveset, amazing.

Final stats and pantyshot

I like your outfit.
Where did you get the chest armor piece? Is the skirt from the Desert Sorceress set? Or somewhere else? If so, where?

 

[Misterinenja]

Welp, just finished. Total time was 60-something hours with about 40 of those being PvP. Had almost 400k souls near the end so I leveled like 20 times before hitting the endgame, decided to stop at 130. Felt like overall the game is mechanically better than DkS, but not as well put together or as memorable. PvP-wise, ultra greatswords and hammers are a joke, don't use them. Pyro is a joke, don't rely on it. Claymore's new moveset, amazing.

Final stats and pantyshot

Wow that some Darksiders/WoW -tier ugly armor design (no offense to you).

 

[chunk3rvd]

How comes you made a fire sword and don't have access to unlimited amount of large shards?

Spoiler

The blacksmith who imbues weapons also sells an infinite number of large titanite.

You find a Fire Longsword in the Forest of the Fallen Giants. I know about McDuff but that means getting to Iron Keep without upgrading any of my weapons, no?

 

[ThatGayWolf]

Guys, can I also say that

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

is complete bullshit?

Nope. If you're not a caster, buy a bow. It's a bit tedious but super easy as long as you go slow, I didn't die once. And as far as the boss goes, he was a pushover, all of his attacks are pretty telegraphed as long as he doesn't jump on you. Again, you can just cheese him with the bow.

 

[mattp]

question about summon signs:
what are the summon signs with orange-ish "phantoms" vs the normal white "shades" you summon for help?

 

[Soriku]

question about summon signs:
what are the summon signs with orange-ish "phantoms" vs the normal white "shades" you summon for help?

Guys in the Sun covenant get the orange/yellow signs.

 

[LeonSPBR]

Visually great (for once!), but very annoying enemies, for sure. And that goddamn boss fucking blows, still no luck killing him.

Yeah,

Spoiler

The Shrine of Amana

is really annoying, took me 3 hours to pass it, but the boss is pretty easy. Just let him use the melee attack and he stays still for 2 sec before he begin to defend.

 

[GulAtiCa]

question about summon signs:
what are the summon signs with orange-ish "phantoms" vs the normal white "shades" you summon for help?

Orange/Gold is Sunbro covenant. Praise The Sun!

What's the dragon silver summons one?

 

[Guevara]

Man any bow makes most of this game so much easier. I was doing pure melee before and basically walked into traps and ambushes.

 

[Hystzen]

Fuck you, you hoodie wearing frog

 

[AlphaDragoon]

question about summon signs:
what are the summon signs with orange-ish "phantoms" vs the normal white "shades" you summon for help?

Orange ones are from the Heirs to the Sun covenant (aka Sunbros). They're a co-op focused covenant so they have special signs.

 

[perorist]

I like your outfit.
Where did you get the chest armor piece? Is the skirt from the Desert Sorceress set? Or somewhere else? If so, where?

Head/legs are desert sorceress, chest/arms are smelter set. Even fully upgraded the desert sorceress parts provide almost no defense. Mostly just used them for weight reduction and fashion souls. As you can see though the two smelter pieces let you hit 700-900 defense so it's pretty viable.

 

[mattp]

Orange ones are from the Heirs to the Sun covenant (aka Sunbros). They're a co-op focused covenant so they have special signs.

ah ok i figured it was something along those lines, but i was wondering more if there's anything different about them beyond the color
like how small white summon signs only bring people in on a timer vs the big ones that stay until they beat a boss and then leave

 

[Misterinenja]

M

Spoiler

irror Knight

/L

Spoiler

ooking Glass Knight

was disappointingly easy. Beat him on my first try.

It was pretty weird they gave you an Alluring Skull before that fight but it doesn't work on adds. Whatever it was a breeze anyways.

 

[LiK]

Where do I get to join the Sunbros?

 

[Serra]

A

Spoiler

ncient

D

Spoiler

ragon

down! Took 12 tries. Went with no armor, red tearstone ring (which I activated by falling off the stairs 2 times), ring of blades, stamina regen ring, third dragon ring (more stamina), shield of the insolent (stamina regen) and my trusty +10 greatsword.

Now to move onto

Spoiler

Vendrick

Final stats and pantyshot

Haha, what chest piece is that?

EDIT: nevermind you answered already

 

[GulAtiCa]

Head/legs are desert sorceress, chest/arms are smelter set. Even fully upgraded the desert sorceress parts provide almost no defense. Mostly just used them for weight reduction and fashion souls. As you can see though the two smelter pieces let you hit 700-900 defense so it's pretty viable.

Yeah, I've noticed that on mine. Upgrading the armor chest from that set does help a little. Wish I had the skirt. I'm doing something similar, wearing it just so I can be lighter/faster. The added +3 int from the hood is a nice bonus at least.

 

[Misterinenja]

Where do I get to join the Sunbros?

Spoiler

Harvest Valley

 

[Soriku]

Where do I get to join the Sunbros?

Harvest Valley

 

[LiK]

Huh, I still haven't found the trainer yet then. I'm there right now.

 

[aravuus]

Just summoned two phantoms to help me for the first time

My god this is fun, fucking jolly coop so gud. Can't wait to join the sunbros and start helping people myself for medals and.

Glad i've got like 9 effigys, I can keep summoning for quite a while before I have to stay undead

 

[isual]

casuls changed the ot.

casuls gonna casul.

 

[EvilKatarn]

Very very lategame question. I got the

Spoiler

Petrified Dragon Egg

. Now what?
Also did I totally skip

Spoiler

Darklurker

or is he coming up?

 

[BeeDog]

Yeah,

Spoiler

The Shrine of Amana

is really annoying, took me 3 hours to pass it, but the boss is pretty easy. Just let him use the melee attack and he stays still for 2 sec before he begin to defend.

I know he's objectively easy, but my sucky play style doesn't suit him. I like to tank boss attacks (TLS in Sinner's Rise was the easiest boss by far when I could take his hits), but this boss' attacks go through everything.

 

[J-Roderton]

Been hunting for titanite and trying to make enemies stop spawning so a certain boss fight is easier to get to. How many times I gotta kill these fools?

 

[FtHTiny]

Very very lategame question. I got the

Spoiler

Petrified Dragon Egg

. Now what?

The vendor in iron keep wants it.

 

[bob_arctor]

In circles, amusingly enough by your comment of where you are returning to. Make sure to drop down the hole after him for some armor and a sword that I am still using.

Aha, I see what you meant. This game is getting better and better so far.

 

[mellow]

Visually great (for once!), but very annoying enemies, for sure. And that goddamn boss fucking blows, still no luck killing him.

I just baited it into doing the arm slams by going in close, back away, when it's done get a few shots in, rinse and repeat

one of the easiest bosses, but one of the best in any souls game design wise imo

 

[GulAtiCa]

Huh, I still haven't found the trainer yet then. I'm there right now.

Spoiler

right after the 2nd bonfire. Go out, go to right. Head toward the next area. You should see two of those big giants in the poison fog and a armor guy with hammer on bridge. After you defeat theme/etc, cross the bridge, and instead of going straight, go left. Follow that path till you find a broken statue. There you go.

Praise The Sun!

 

[ixix]

With all of the awesome STR gear I've found just collecting dust in my item box I know it. Already want to start over just to get that gear for a build that can use it. Indiansingletear.jpeg.



That's exactly the shield I was looking at, but putting 10 more points just into STR for a Sorcerer seems like such a waste. Maybe better off just upgrading a wooden shield? 10 points seems like a lot for one item. But I could be easily talked into it.

There's a shield available later that has 100% physical resist with a STR requirement of 12. It's available

Spoiler

after you give McDuff the Dull Ember. He sells it.

Pretty sure that's the lowest Strength stat you can have and still have 100% physical damage block, if that's important to you.

 

[Soriku]

Also did I totally skip

Spoiler

Darklurker

or is he coming up?

Spoiler

Darklurker

is an optional boss but you have to

Spoiler

join Pilgrims of Dark

after speaking to Darkdiver Grandahl in three different locations (

Spoiler

Black Gulch, Shaded Ruins, Drangleic Castle

) to fight him.

 

[BeeDog]

I just baited it into doing the arm slams by going in close, back away, when it's done get a few shots in, rinse and repeat

one of the easiest bosses, but one of the best in any souls game design wise imo

That's what I'm attempting, but I'm not skilled enough to avoid all attacks. For example, Smelter hits hard, but he didn't one-shot-kill me, so I found that fight manageable even when it's actually more demanding.

And I agree about the design, suitably nasty. Very creepy concept.

 

[LiK]

Spoiler

right after the 2nd bonfire. Go out, go to right. Head toward the next area. You should see two of those big giants in the poison fog and a armor guy with hammer on bridge. After you defeat theme/etc, cross the bridge, and instead of going straight, go left. Follow that path till you find a broken statue. There you go.

Praise The Sun!

Ah, I need to retrace my steps. Thanks

 

[ThatGayWolf]

I know he's objectively easy, but my sucky play style doesn't suit him. I like to tank boss attacks (TLS in Sinner's Rise was the easiest boss by far when I could take his hits), but this boss' attacks go through everything.

Git gud? Honestly that's one of the things I like about DS1 and DS2, some encounters force you to change playstyles.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

I know he's objectively easy, but my sucky play style doesn't suit him. I like to tank boss attacks (TLS in Sinner's Rise was the easiest boss by far when I could take his hits), but this boss' attacks go through everything.

I'm not sure if it's even possible to tank that boss's main physical attacks (the big swipe and the body slam), I've never seen them not OHKO.

 

[EvilKatarn]

The vendor in iron keep wants it.

I was gonna say Dark Souls II is the Simon's Quest of Dark Souls but looks like it's not even necessary to progress the game.

Spoiler

Darklurker

is an optional boss but you have to

Spoiler

join Pilgrims of Dark

after speaking to Darkdiver Grandahl in three different locations (

Spoiler

Black Gulch, Shaded Ruins, Drangleic Castle

) to fight him.

Drat, I managed to miss him in his first spot. Oh well, off I go.
EDIT: WELL THIS IS NOT SCARY AT ALL

 

[Evil Beaver]

Oh and Sunbros: don't forget

Spoiler

you also get medals for summoning people into your world.

I thought this only applies if

Spoiler

you summon another Sunbro?

Correct

Good to know!

 

[Screaming Meat]

I'm running a Strength-Hex build and its going pretty great so far. I originally went 40/25/25 str/int/fth, but I think I'm gonna respec to like 28/30/30. I only did the strength-hex build after finishing the game, though, and mostly for PvP. Also got (weapon spoiler)

Spoiler

crypt blacksword, infused with dark so that it scales S with dark. Two hits is usually enough to kill people in PvP, sometimes 3.

Cookin'. I'll probably build straight DEX melter and then add the Hex abilities a bit later. Although, of I'm going to be able to scale Dark, I can pull back on some of that DEX like you did.

Food for thought!

 

[Evil Beaver]

Been hunting for titanite and trying to make enemies stop spawning so a certain boss fight is easier to get to. How many times I gotta kill these fools?

Spoiler

___________15_______

 

[MuddyDonut]

I need a planestone, time to farm ;_;

 

[Ostinatto]

Failed to create a summon sign.

anyone?

 

[kvn]

Failed to create a summon sign.

anyone?

Me too at the moment. Any patch notes yet?