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[tokkun]

I haven't seen a single casting that isn't easily avoidable yet, even though the game is new.

I have been in a lot of situations where avoiding a spell was difficult to impossible. For instance, yesterday I got invaded while in one of the Dark levels where it is all narrow passageways and narrow ledges with pits on either side, so there is no way to roll left or right.

You also need to factor in the effect of lag, which means that you basically have to guess at when to time your rolls even when you have room to roll.

 

[Mafro]

Fancied trying to get that Predator-style Mad Warrior helmet. It dropped the second time he spawned.

 

[NEOPARADIGM]

Thank god.

I lol'd

I'm the same way with rare consumables. I worry that I'll use it at an inopportune time and waste it, so I end up never using it at all which is essentially the same result.

I lol'd at this too. lol

- certain armor pieces like the hexers hood increase spell casts
- the northern ritual band, but that cuts some of your HP
- you can attune multiple copies of the same pyro
- boosting ATT will raise cast numbers slightly too
- you can use consumable herbs to refill casts

Forgot Southern Ritual band, the +1 version of which gives two slots without the HP hit.

 

[Palette Swap]

I feel like I'm at a crossroads development wise.

My caster is 50/50/30 in ATT/INT/FTH and I'm wondering what stats I should pursue next. I haven't upgraded anything else and so far I've used mostly sorcery and a bit of hexes to clean mobs and flame swathe + soul spear against bosses.

What should I pursue next? I don't particularly want to get into melee as I'm pretty happy with playing an asshole caster. Hexes haven't particularly wowed me so far and I haven't tried any offensive miracles.
I just reached Iron Keep, I've been taking my sweet time cooping because Sun Bros are awesome.

 

[Flying High]

Out here in Lordran, this is how we praise the Sun

Source: http://fenfunhouse.tumblr.com/post/81774925982/malcis-out-here-in-lordran-this-is-how-we

 

[Gr1mLock]

Spoiler

Dragon Shrine

is seriously kicking my ass.

 

[Ghazi]

Before heading to NG+ is there anything I absolutely need/should do?

 

[Leezard]

Ohh I see cheers! does this affect weapons too?

I don't think so. It's supposed to give a better recovery animation for some actions like estus drinking though.

 

[Reule]

Guys
Guys
I'm gonna cry

After five days of farming, the Mad Warrior dropped his last item... But we killed each other at the same damn time. Anyone know if that's gone forever or can I still farm him for it?

That's terrible. I have no idea about your question and the very thought of it frightens me. All I've read is that once you pick up one item from his set, it won't show up again until you try again next playthrough or by using a Bonfire Aesthetic.

I had gotten almost all the pieces and his weapon within the first hour of farming but then spent six hours trying to get the leggings. Still haven't gotten it. I don't know if farming for the Shadow Set is more annoying than this or not.

 

[krakov]

Which lighter weapons would I want to find then?

I haven't upgraded a lot of greatsword but as far as I can remember Drangleic sword is one of the heavier greatswords around. Royal greatsword and Flamberge I think have the same moveset but a lower weight, probably lower dmg in total but both have bleed. Claymore is probably a bit stronger but with a different moveset. Defender greatsword gets a lot of praise and has a very similar moveset as well. Only greatsword I can think of that is heavier than drangleic is mastodon, but there are probably a few I haven't tried out.

I have been in a lot of situations where avoiding a spell was difficult to impossible. For instance, yesterday I got invaded while in one of the Dark levels where it is all narrow passageways and narrow ledges with pits on either side, so there is no way to roll left or right.

You also need to factor in the effect of lag, which means that you basically have to guess at when to time your rolls even when you have room to roll.

I would usually try to roll towards a spell, simply strafing seems to be enough in most cases though. There are some tricky ones that have lingering hitboxes but resonant souls/magic arrows/spears etc are as easy to dodge as always. I'm positive in a few weeks only a handful of spells will be considered viable in PvP. Of course it's easy to land spells these days when people haven't even seen them before.

Lag is different matter though and it seems worse in DkS2 than what we are used to unfortunately.

 

[Reule]

Before heading to NG+ is there anything I absolutely need/should do?

- Load up on materials.
- Talk to

Spoiler

Cale

in the

Spoiler

Mansion

in Majula.
-

Spoiler

Navlaan's quest

in

Spoiler

Aldia's Keep

- Upgrade anything you'll need,

Spoiler

Dull Ember

doesn't carry over so you'd have to wait till

Spoiler

Iron Keep

to get access to it again.
- If you've killed

Spoiler

Vendrick

, pick up his

Spoiler

Soul and Armor

behind this one door in the

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

.
- Join

Spoiler

Pilgrims of Dark

and fight

Spoiler

Darklurker

.
- Trade boss souls for stuff.

All I could think off off the top of my head.

 

[Ghazi]

- Load up on materials.
- Talk to

Spoiler

Cale

in the

Spoiler

Mansion

in Majula.
-

Spoiler

Navlaan's quest

in

Spoiler

Aldia's Keep

- Upgrade anything you'll need,

Spoiler

Dull Ember

doesn't carry over so you'd have to wait till

Spoiler

Iron Keep

to get access to it again.
- If you've killed

Spoiler

Vendrick

, pick up his

Spoiler

Soul and Armor

behind this one door in the

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

.
- Join

Spoiler

Pilgrims of Dark

and fight

Spoiler

Darklurker

.
- Trade boss souls for stuff.

All I could think off off the top of my head.

I was just fighting

Spoiler

Vendrick

, got him to half health before I goofed.

I haven't done most of those, that's great!

 

[A Sentient Keyboard]

I was just fighting

Spoiler

Vendrick

, got him to half health before I goofed.

I haven't done most of those, that's great!

Also, if you don't mind farming, try killing the

Spoiler

dragon acolytes

in

Spoiler

Aldia's Keep

and

Spoiler

archdrake priests

in

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

to extinction. They drop petrified dragon bones and twinkling titanite respectively, and spawn really close to the right bonfires.

 

[Reule]

I was just fighting

Spoiler

Vendrick

, got him to half health before I goofed.

I haven't done most of those, that's great!

Haha, yeah. He took me out a few times due to me rolling too early or trying to block.

About

Spoiler

Cale

, speak to him after the credits but before NG+. Just wanted to make sure I clarified that in case you're wondering what was so special about him repeating the same dialogue you've probably already heard.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Do stats effect how fast you swing your weapon? I got a bastard sword but it's really slow. I am over the minimum requirements but not by much.

 

[Ghazi]

Haha, yeah. He took me out a few times due to me rolling too early or trying to block.

About

Spoiler

Cale

, speak to him after the credits but before NG+. Just wanted to make sure I clarified that in case you're wondering what was so special about him repeating the same dialogue you've probably already heard.

Well, I backed off to use a poison item on my sword and he just made a sprint to me which I wasn't expecting and I got killed haha.

I used some Bonfire Ascetics in the past in Majula, I assume that's why

Spoiler

Cale

is gone?

 

[Audioboxer]

Got invaded on the way up to the big Dragon, that stairway is such a bitch as well. Was aggroed on mobs, invader probably thought this is going to be easy. Great Resonant Soul 1 hit KO lol.

I'm just about to spec into pure INT as well and do a Moonlight Greatsword build for the final part. Hex strength makes me think otherwise, but I guess I'll see how strong Soul Geyser and Crystal Soul spear really are.

 

[Zukuu]

Do stats effect how fast you swing your weapon? I got a bastard sword but it's really slow. I am over the minimum requirements but not by much.

nope.

 

[Reule]

Well, I backed off to use a poison item on my sword and he just made a sprint to me which I wasn't expecting and I got killed haha.

I used some Bonfire Ascetics in the past in Majula, I assume that's why

Spoiler

Cale

is gone?

Might be. I'd try visiting the place where you first found him in the

Spoiler

Forest of the Fallen Giants

. Doing that and or killing the

Spoiler

skeletons in the basement

should have him show up. Not sure though, I've yet to use Bonfire Ascetics at all.

Also, if you don't mind farming, try killing the

Spoiler

dragon acolytes

in

Spoiler

Aldia's Keep

and

Spoiler

archdrake priests

in

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

to extinction. They drop petrified dragon bones and twinkling titanite respectively, and spawn really close to the right bonfires.

This is a good idea. Wish I'd done that more.

 

[Special C]

I played Dark Souls 1 late so there was tons of info out there. Where is the best walkthrough for Dark Souls 2 at the moment?

 

[E92 M3]

I lost my branches of yore for going into NG+?

 

[Incendiary]

I lost my branches of yore for going into NG+?

Yup. I was upset at that too, I wish they didn't do that so you could access areas and go to different areas at the beginning.

 

[33-Hit-Combo]

- certain armor pieces like the hexers hood increase spell casts
- the northern ritual band, but that cuts some of your HP
- you can attune multiple copies of the same pyro
- boosting ATT will raise cast numbers slightly too
- you can use consumable herbs to refill casts

Thanks!

 

[Gr1mLock]

I seriously love the

Spoiler

big mace knights in dragon shrine

. Spamming all day eerr day

 

[E92 M3]

Yup. I was upset at that too, I wish they didn't do that so you could access areas and go to different areas at the beginning.

If I knew I would have used more =/

 

[Spaaaaaaaaace]

I played Dark Souls 1 late so there was tons of info out there. Where is the best walkthrough for Dark Souls 2 at the moment?

The official guide has been good to me.

 

[UnObtainium17]

Should I unpetrify the monster blocking the path to the chest just in front of the alley leading to spiderwoman?

What's inside that chest?

 

[Skellig Gra]

nope.

Thanks

 

[krakov]

Should I unpetrify the monster blocking the path to the chest just in front of the alley leading to spiderwoman?

What's inside that chest?

Yes, it's worth it I promise.

 

[Mistel]

So erm is there like a way to do the looking glass knight I've figured out that there no point attacking from the shield side and that lighting does more damage. But is there like a general strategy for him with a great sword?

 

[maomaoIYP]

The ultra greatswords are fucking incredible for PvE.
Get the greatsword from No Man's, upgrade it to +10 lightning, one shot everything.

 

[Gr1mLock]

Holy fuck. I got 15 twinkling titanties. I thought i had like.. 3.

 

[Mistel]

The ultra greatswords are fucking incredible for PvE.
Get the greatsword from No Man's, upgrade it to +10 lightning, one shot everything.

Everything? Well if that's so mines already +5.

 

[Sickbean]

Wow,

Spoiler

Vendrick

hits like a truck. Wouldn't like this fight without the 4 giant souls.

 

[Sullichin]

I lol'd



I lol'd at this too. lol



Forgot Southern Ritual band, the +1 version of which gives two slots without the HP hit.

Yeah, Northen gives casts for your spells and Southern gives more slots. Every mage should use an ascetic to get the +2 southern band from

Spoiler

Najka

 

[Spaaaaaaaaace]

Used the seed of giant to kill a blue sentinel in the shrine area. Felt good.

 

[Lost Fragment]

What kind of build/adaptability are you guys who are having trouble with projectile magic rocking? I think magic weapon buffs are op, but I can probably count the number matches I've lost due to projectile magic on one hand.

 

[maomaoIYP]

Everything? Well if that's so mines already +5.

Well, anything in the earlier sections can be 1 shot. The ones later are 2 shot or 1 backstab. The important thing is that you can get to +10 lightning very early in the game, buy a boltstone from the blue sentinels, invade successfully in the belfry 6 times and get the slab in the forest of giants. With sunlight weapon I can do over 1000 per swipe on one of the final bosses.

 

[Fireflu]

I think i'm all ready to head into NG+ after killing

Spoiler

Vendrick, the Darklurker and Ancient Dragon (which was an absolute bitch to kill.....)

but I have a question for any of you currently in NG+ or further.

Do the portals to the

Spoiler

Dark Chasm of Old

(accessed via the Pilgrims of Dark covenant) remain permanently open now forever in NG+.

I ask because after you kill

Spoiler

Darklurker

they stay open without having to use a Human Effigy and they are a great place to farm Bonfire Ascetics.

Should I do all my farming now before I jump into NG+ or will they always remain permanently open (I know other covenant ranks remain so surely this one should do too?)

 

[ebullientprism]

Which small shield will give me the highest stability with 100% block? And where do I find it?

 

[Finalow]

Wow,

Spoiler

Vendrick

hits like a truck. Wouldn't like this fight without the 4 giant souls.

yeah but he's really slow and easy to dodge.

- Load up on materials.
- Talk to

Spoiler

Cale

in the

Spoiler

Mansion

in Majula.
-

Spoiler

Navlaan's quest

in

Spoiler

Aldia's Keep

- Upgrade anything you'll need,

Spoiler

Dull Ember

doesn't carry over so you'd have to wait till

Spoiler

Iron Keep

to get access to it again.
- If you've killed

Spoiler

Vendrick

, pick up his

Spoiler

Soul and Armor

behind this one door in the

Spoiler

Shrine of Amana

.
- Join

Spoiler

Pilgrims of Dark

and fight

Spoiler

Darklurker

.
- Trade boss souls for stuff.

All I could think off off the top of my head.

I didn't know about

Spoiler

Vendrick soul and armor

, damn. I guess I'll kill him again in ng+.

also wow, those new enemies at the start of ng+ were really cool. they didn't drop me anything so no lore for me.

 

[Deified Data]

Holy fuck. I got 15 twinkling titanties. I thought i had like.. 3.

Nothing good to use them on that I've found.

 

[A Sentient Keyboard]

Which small shield will give me the highest stability with 100% block? And where do I find it?

Looking through the wiki, I don't think any small shield will give you 100% block. The best small shield seems to be the LLewellyn shield at 91.2% block and 53 stability at 2.5 weight. The stone soldier in D

Spoiler

rangleic

C

Spoiler

astle

are supposed to drop it.

 

[Sande]

Loving soul vortex in PvP. People usually thinks it's going to be a soul spear until it's already too late. At that point they're right in the middle of it with almost no hope of avoiding massive damage and stagger. It also serves as a great decoy to fire your soul spears. Hard to see them spears when your screen is full of soul vortex.

 

[Mentok]

Well, anything in the earlier sections can be 1 shot. The ones later are 2 shot or 1 backstab. The important thing is that you can get to +10 lightning very early in the game, buy a boltstone from the blue sentinels, invade successfully in the belfry 6 times and get the slab in the forest of giants. With sunlight weapon I can do over 1000 per swipe on one of the final bosses.

Seriously, 1000 with no buffs? Just a +10 lightning? That seems crazy OP!

My STR/HEX build is so much fun right now. Carrying the crypt greatsword with 1-hand looks so boss (I usually switch to 2H for bosses and tougher enemies, but just running around with it in 1H is fun). I'm finally at

Spoiler

Drangleic Castle

, but I think I'll do more co-op for a while.

 

[Bowler]

Nothing good to use them on that I've found.

Vengarl armor

 

[A Sentient Keyboard]

Nothing good to use them on that I've found.

The best chime (for miracles anyway) in the game uses twinkling titanite. I believe the best staff does too. I used mine on my dear Black Knight Ultra Greatsword.

 

[Gr1mLock]

Nothing good to use them on that I've found.

Im hoarding like its a job. I think i used a couple on the

Spoiler

Dragonslayer crescent axe.

. I guess i'll just hang on to them for now until i find a set i really wanna spend them on.

 

[Finalow]

finally killed that

Spoiler

Darklurker

fucker.

6 flame swathe did the job.

 

[ebullientprism]

Looking through the wiki, I don't think any small shield will give you 100% block. The best small shield seems to be the LLewellyn shield at 91.2% block and 53 stability at 2.5 weight. The stone soldier in D

Spoiler

rangleic

C

Spoiler

astle

are supposed to drop it.

Sorry. I misspoke. When I said small shields I meant like a normal shield. I have a Drangleic shield and a Kite shield and both block 100% physical but the stability is pretty poor. Was hoping there would be something that would give me like 70 without having to lug around a giant shield.