I just bought Dark Souls. Any tips?

[Gurgleflob]

Yes this is pretty much the the thread I made a while back only for Dark Souls, instead of Demons' Souls.

I found it for $15 today. Is there anything i should know about it that isn't told in-game?

A note: I do have Demons' Souls and know about it, so if there is something that the games both share, then i don't need to be told about it.

 

[sanquin]

I'm not sure what was in demon's souls, but let's see...

1: Humanity is there for 2 reasons. One, better drop chance on gear. And two, to kindle bonfires, which lets you recharge your health potion thing to full instead of only 5.
2: Blighttown is a *****. It's better to take the shortcut, imo.
3: In the graveyard very close to the starting area after the tutorial you can get a very strong weapon that can last you the entire game if you want. It takes a bit of getting used to.
4: Cut off tails of boss enemies. They usually give you a nice weapon or some such.
5: For the love of god learn to time blocks/dodges properly.
6: Heavy armour may give more defense, but with a shield that doesn't matter much. The mobility of light armour early game is far more useful to get behind enemies and avoid attacks without dodging.

That's about all I can think of right now. And as I said, not sure what was in demon's souls so I just listed a bunch of things I only found out later on my own.

 

[hazabaza1]

Shield up, manage stamina, take your time.
Also easy mode is upgrading heavy armour so you get enough poise (press X on Xbox or your equivalent on equipment to browse statistics and descriptions) and tank everything like a ************.

There's no shame in summoning a phantom to help fight a boss and BEWARE THE BRIDGES.

 

[Mikejames]

Off the top of my head, pyromance it up.

Don't kill friendlies unless they give you clear reason to do so. If you find a guy stuck in a barrel, roll into him. Don't try to cut him out.

Skeletons and ghosts aren't on the first path you're meant to take.

Use humanity to be able to see summoning messages before boss fights.

90% of messages saying "Try Jumping Off" can be dismissed for obvious reasons.

 

[dumbseizure]

Here is something to help you in Dark Souls.

Learn to love crying. =D

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

Yes this is pretty much the the thread I made a while back only for Dark Souls, instead of Demons' Souls.

I found it for $15 today. Is there anything i should know about it that isn't told in-game?

A note: I do have Demons' Souls and know about it, so if there is something that the games both share, then i don't need to be told about it.

Yes.

Your going to need a teddy bear to cry into and a therapist because your going to die.

And die.

And die.

And die.

 

[Little Gray]

The best advise I can possibly give you is parry parry parry. Parrying is much easier in Dark Souls then Demon Souls and it seems like far more enemies can be parried and it will trivialize several tough areas including the final boss.


While it is not the easiest if you dont know what you are doing I think the catacombs is the best possible area to do first. It allows you to kindle bonfires even higher then before which is important because it gives you more estus flasks.

You probably already know this if you have started the game but they ditched the healing herbs and went with estus flasks instead. It means you have to be more careful and cant just power through an area with healing items because you can only restore them at a bonfire which resets all enemies in the area.

If you are having trouble with a boss then turn human and look for a summon sign. I suggest trying all the bosses at least once before you try and summon somebody because with every single one it will trivialize the boss fights and for me completely ruined them.


I think pretty much everything else is more enjoyable if discovered while playing the game.

Oh yea and if you see Patches the obvious will soon follow.

 

[sethisjimmy]

The question is not about what isn't told in the game, it's about what extremely little is told.

Seriously, Demon's Souls gave you the controls, a plot, and told you how some stats and items work, as well as a basic goal to work towards. Dark Souls gives you the controls, and that's it. Yeah, this is one of those games where you're going to want to have the wiki open at all times to figure out which items affect which stats and what x does to y etc.

 

[Windcaler]

Explore and experiement. Try out all the weapons and magics, try out different armor sets. Search every inch of Lordoran. You never know what youre going to find. Oh and if you get stuck come back and let us know, the dark souls community will be happy to help you out

 

[Mikejames]

The best advise I can possibly give you is parry parry parry. Parrying is much easier in Dark Souls then Demon Souls and it seems like far more enemies can be parried and it will trivialize several tough areas including the final boss.

I never really resorted to parrying to be honest. I used it a few times in the beginning, but stopped risking it when fighting groups became the norm, and with every enemy having different patterns of attack.

 

[Sack of Cheese]

Use my method. Worked every time: Chaaaaaaaarge!! Then run and scream mama.

 

[Kururu999]

If you picked anything besides a fighter type for your first guy, just start over. I'm serious, save the fancy pants crap for when you actually know how to play the game. Then pick master key since its the only worthwhile starting gift.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

Keep in mind that the Intelligence stat does not, in any possible way, affect Pyromancy damage. Period. The Pyromancy Flame does have a high stat scaling in Intelligence, but that only affects the L2/R2 'punch attack' that you'll do. Which is beyond weak and is not at all worth using.

That said, there's little to no reason not to use Pyromancy, itself. Upgrading the Pyromancy Flame upgrades your damage output. So anyone with a well upgraded flame can do lots of damage. It's pretty much a form of magic that anyone can use. Even Sorcerers.

Make sure to keep your shield up when moving through tight or enclosed areas and most of all, be patient. You can be gung ho and sure, that'll work for a short while at the beginning of the game, but it's a very short-lived strategy. Later in the game, patience and observation are key to surviving.

While you're holding the button to sprint, let go and quickly tap it while you're sprinting. You'll do a short range running jump. Just be careful about how you aim the jump because you will do a roll when you land and you will end up running your ass off a cliff if you aim it poorly.

One last thing: Do not go into the game with the mindset that you're going to get mutilated and the game's just going to ruin your day. Dark Souls is not, by any means, controller breakingly difficult. Go into it with the mindset that you're going to trash every obstacle in your way, slay every foe that dares cross your path and make every mad dash. Do not falter in resolve and may your confidence waver not. The moment you allow weakness, hesitation or fear to creep in, you have already lost.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

Just play it.

Really.

It's not "hard" so much as it doesn't tell you any information. The fun, however, comes from discovering for yourself. Exploration. Dying and finding out why. It may seem difficult, but it is in the difficulty that it teaches you how to better yourself. Just pay attention, persevere, and enjoy the world. Savour the experience.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I found it for $15 today. Is there anything i should know about it that isn't told in-game?

Here.

I'm not even being sarcastic or passing the buck. Very little is explained in-game, and even what is explained can be confusing. I'm led to understand that playing Demons' Souls ameliorates that a little bit, though.

People will tell you classes are fairly meaningless after a certain point, and only affect the beginning of the game, but they're filthy, filthy liars. It is semi-possible to shift "class" playstyles, to the point where my own general fighting style evolved over time from speedy dual-wielding to primary ranged to fast, two-handed glass cannon...but all of those could be fit into the stats I'd built up (mainly Dexterity and Endurance). It's very easy to die, the death mechanic is horrible, and leveling up stats requires increasing amounts of souls. Translation: the game requires grinding and punishes you for grinding poorly, so there's going to be a limit to how much you'll level.

In other words, your starting class matters for the initial stat boost, and it's best to pick stats to focus on at the beginning and stick with them. Doing otherwise means you're either gimping yourself and plan to test the very limits of human patience, or you're playing a pyromancer (who don't really have any controlling stats, so go nuts).

All classes can use Endurance and Vitality, especially the former (stamina is required for basically everything, while HP can be made up slightly by armor and dodging). Otherwise, Strength for heavy fighters, Dexterity for fast fighters, Intellect for Sorcerers (or anyone using sorcery), Faith for Clerics (or anyone using divine magic), and nothing for Pyromancers.

You will eventually want to upgrade your weapons, and which upgrade path you take depends on your stats. Generally the best way is to just upgrade your primary gear along the Regular path (+1 to +15), because it's a universal upgrade and doesn't detract from your gear. Avoid Raw upgrades, unless you're using a weapon you don't have the right stats for. Fire and Lightning upgrade is only worth it for the cool factor, otherwise, you're just complicating things by targeting more resistances. Don't make Magic or Divine upgrades unless you have high Intellect or Faith.

Shields are generally worth it, though not absolutely necessary. You'll want one that has full damage resistance, if you use one, though the buckler makes parrying easier.

 

[BakaSmurf]

Yes this is pretty much the the thread I made a while back only for Dark Souls, instead of Demons' Souls.

I found it for $15 today. Is there anything i should know about it that isn't told in-game?

A note: I do have Demons' Souls and know about it, so if there is something that the games both share, then i don't need to be told about it.

1. Choose the Pyromancer class.

2. The 'Resistance' stat is functionally USELESS, do not be tricked by it!

3. A shield + thrusting weapon will be your best friend, assuming you had the foresight to place great emphasis on the Endurance stat, on that note...

4. INVEST IN THE ENDURANCE STAT.

5. Do NOT go into the Catacombs without a Divine weapon.

6. Pyromancy is your best goddamn friend and don't you dare forget that.

7. DO NOT USE THE FIREKEEPER'S SOULS LIKE ITEMS! YOU MUST BRING THEM TO A FIREKEEPER TO REINFORCE YOUR ESTUS FLASK!

8. The Master Key is the one and only worthwhile starting gift in the game, choose it.

9. Knight Solaire is your best friend, don't be afraid to accept his help.

10. Raw reinforcement is worthless, don't bother with it.

11. Weapon and armor reinforcement will always produce a more noticable boost in survivability and killing power than leveling up will.

12. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS, it only takes one unnoticed pressure plate to ruin your day.

13. Use light armour, being able to dodge effectively will save your life far more often then being able to take one or two extra hits will.

14. If they sound like an evil bastard that you suspect will eventually betray you, they probably will.

Those are my tips, heed them wisely and you should do well.

 

[DementedSheep]

Well I?ve never played demon souls so I don?t know what is carried over from that.

Mostly just don?t get intimidated and don?t run is swinging without thinking. Use a shield and when encountering a new enemy type hang back and block so you can see their attack pattern.

Upgrading weapons and armour is very important. Its where most of your power increase comes from. Just leveling isn't enough.

Do not use firekeeper souls. You have to take it to a firekeepr to upgrade your flask which is far more valuable that the souls you get out of using it.

Talk to everyone multiple times, you have to repeatedly talk too some of the npc?s before they give you what you need.

I recommend playing this game twice. First time do it mostly blind and don?t expect to find everything. You?ll likely miss many things but it?s better when you don?t know what to expect. Then do it with a guide to see what you missed.

There really isn?t any reason to not use some pyromancy. Its effectiveness of its spells isn?t affected by any stats though you will be able to use more of it if you have more attunement slots. You just need to spend souls to upgrade your flame. I don't use ti a heck of a lot on my first character cause I had sorcery but it was still very useful at the start and in certain situations later.

Going human will allow you to kindle bonfires (which increases the amount of flask you get) and see summon signs to summon help from other players and NPC's but it will also open you up for pvp.

Most covenants are for pvp. The convent Way for the White (the guys you talk with to join is near firelink) lowers your chance of being invaded so if you don?t want pvp that one is a good choice. There is also Chaos Servant later which gives you access to some pyromancy. You can rejoin a covenant if you leave it though you lose your rank.

The gargoyles are much much easier with summoned help. You can get 2 npcs to help you with it provided you met them however be aware that a lot of people hang around undead burg to invade new players with their fully upgraded gear so I wouldn?t go human until you are about to do the boss fight. Invaders can?t follow you into the boss fight itself.

Take toxin curing moss with you to blight town (the female undead merchant in the shortcut from lower burg to the fire link has some) you will need it and you can?t get it while you?re there.

If you hit a friendly npc you can go to the creepy ?come at me bro? guy (I?m not good with names) in the bell tower and ask him to ?absolve your sins?. It will make them friendly again but NOT bring them back to life if you killed them.

I?ve never actually been cursed in the game (aside from the harmless one used to kill ghosts) but it apparently makes you die, be unable to become human and lose half your heath until you use a purging stone so be careful of the frogs in the sewer and watch out if you get a bar with a skull icon getting filled.

There are a few invisible walls around the place, you hit them once to make them disappear (including one very hard to find one that takes you to a whole new area). Usually someone will have left a message saying there is an invisible wall. Naturally People like to leave messages saying there is one where there isn?t as well but no harm in checking.

And that?s all I think of for now.

 

[Mr Dizazta]

Play offline to avoid griefers.

 

[exp. 99]

Best advice I got?

Play the game, take your time, keep your eyes open, and enjoy. You do not need to grind, you do not need a walkthrough. The value of the game is being able to explore and find your own way.

That said, the wiki makes managing equipment a lot easier. Find a weapon type you like, stick with it. It's much easier and costs you fewer souls.

Don't be afraid to explore and check out new places. Yes, you may have a place you're *supposed* to go, but most of the areas in the game are required eventually. Once again, take it slow, and don't be afraid to run away.

If you don't mind added danger, online play lets people attack you if you're human. If you kill them, you get humanity, assuming you can kill them. If this doesn't appeal, then either don't be human, or don't play online. At the same time, playing online can help you in a pinch; if you're human people will often set up in difficult areas and let people summon them to help. Having a wingman will make bosses easier and can make an otherwise seemingly impossible area much more doable.

tl;dr, it's a NES action/adventure game brought to the modern day. Play it as such.

 

[Talyn Wulf]

Well, this looks like a good thread for me to follow, as I too recently bought Dark Souls for my PC after having played it for about 8 hours on my friend's 360, and OT all I have to say is this: patience and lack of care. Might sound a bit conflicting, but by "lack of care" I mean not caring about what happens. You will die. Take it in stride and keep going. I found myself having lots more fun after I got myself in the right mindset. Have fun!