Dark Souls 2
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I used the mastodon halberd on that fight which as far as i know has the same animation speeds as the BK Halbred, and while yeah its slow, it still gives you enough time to be prepared to roll after getting a heavy swing in after a attack sequence. That fight specifically though has been the toughest in the game for me, and i only have 3 left. The key to the encounter for me was rolling like a pro.
I am going against the grain a little bit, and I think that faith is actually in a better position than it was in Dark Souls 1.
Lots of different "viable" faith builds out there. First there is the caster oriented dark dmg build, which is cool change from DS1. Sorceries seem quite powerful and there are a few dark oriented weapons that help out in the dark damage department depending on where you want to stick your str/dex at. Even at only 12 str/14 dex you you 1-hand the great scythe and equip a 100% physical reduction shield lots of weapons are available to two hand at 12/24 str.
Or you can ignore int, and focus on lightning or even bleed damage depending on whether you want to pump up your dex or your faith more.
Defenders greatsword has a decent lightning stat on it already, but does additional lightning damage when you buff it. Can cast the lightning buff miracle to buff it even further, plus infusing it to do an even greater amount of lightning damage. Sure, your weapon choice is a little limited as a paladinbro, but I think most faith users used pretty much just used a) an occult bow, B) claymore, c) scythe/lucerne/halbred depending on preference d) 2handing a zweihander
defenders greatsword is kind of like claymore and zweihander in one.
Holy Defender Build (STR/FTH) - Dark Souls II Message Board for PlayStation 3 - GameFAQs
I've not actually leveled up my faith yet, I'm at
20 vig
15 end
15 vit (currently using all drangleic with the merchant cap and short sword puts me at 69%)
base atunement
16 str (enough to use drangleic shield for now), at 20 str to 1hand the defenders greatsword I can also 2-hand anything up to 40str requirement.
14 dex (which lets me use a few weapons like the halberd which is gotten really early)
3 adp
1 int
12 faith
Lots of different "viable" faith builds out there. First there is the caster oriented dark dmg build, which is cool change from DS1. Sorceries seem quite powerful and there are a few dark oriented weapons that help out in the dark damage department depending on where you want to stick your str/dex at. Even at only 12 str/14 dex you you 1-hand the great scythe and equip a 100% physical reduction shield lots of weapons are available to two hand at 12/24 str.
Or you can ignore int, and focus on lightning or even bleed damage depending on whether you want to pump up your dex or your faith more.
Defenders greatsword has a decent lightning stat on it already, but does additional lightning damage when you buff it. Can cast the lightning buff miracle to buff it even further, plus infusing it to do an even greater amount of lightning damage. Sure, your weapon choice is a little limited as a paladinbro, but I think most faith users used pretty much just used a) an occult bow, B) claymore, c) scythe/lucerne/halbred depending on preference d) 2handing a zweihander
defenders greatsword is kind of like claymore and zweihander in one.
Holy Defender Build (STR/FTH) - Dark Souls II Message Board for PlayStation 3 - GameFAQs
I've not actually leveled up my faith yet, I'm at
20 vig
15 end
15 vit (currently using all drangleic with the merchant cap and short sword puts me at 69%)
base atunement
16 str (enough to use drangleic shield for now), at 20 str to 1hand the defenders greatsword I can also 2-hand anything up to 40str requirement.
14 dex (which lets me use a few weapons like the halberd which is gotten really early)
3 adp
1 int
12 faith
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I hate that this game has the same issue as DS1 in terms of weapon choice, half of the boss souls weapons are swords and a lot of item types are underrepresented. I wanted to make a DW dagger and on top of having shit choice for normal weapons, there's also only one soul dagger, which is kinda ok but it's really just a dagger with a poison stone on it and that needs dragonbones to be upgraded(and also has less scaling). Also why the fuck can I only get one dagger in the game unless I start a specific class? I mean dagger dagger, it's basically the best dagger for a long time(seems there's a Royal Dirk somewhere to be had and NG+ shadow daggers), for some reason, yet you can only get one at the start of the game, mobs don't drop it, vendors don't sell it.
Settled for double bandit knives, I fucking hate the fact they only scale off str(really?) but with poison stones they're basically what I wanted out of DW daggers, you bleed+poison and since DW hits more or less twice as fast, you can stack that shit really quickly. Poison also doesn't suck too much as far as I can tell, few enemies are obviously immune to it but a lot aren't including bosses. That fire smelter guy you guys were talking about? Dies in 3poisons. Just proc poisons, afk block/roll, he goes into phase 2, poison again(only takes like 6hits and those are really fast hits so you take very little dmg from the fire aura), run around, goes into phase 3, just poison again, then run around some more. Might need a few more hits, generally during phase change I'd swap weapons to my +6 Estoc I used until I could get the poison bandit knives and just hit it a few times. Do that shit to normal mobs too, or I backstab them if I can it makes shit go faster.
I just hoped there would be a bleeding dagger or a poison dagger, one that can be enchanted that is, but only the bandit knife does that.
Settled for double bandit knives, I fucking hate the fact they only scale off str(really?) but with poison stones they're basically what I wanted out of DW daggers, you bleed+poison and since DW hits more or less twice as fast, you can stack that shit really quickly. Poison also doesn't suck too much as far as I can tell, few enemies are obviously immune to it but a lot aren't including bosses. That fire smelter guy you guys were talking about? Dies in 3poisons. Just proc poisons, afk block/roll, he goes into phase 2, poison again(only takes like 6hits and those are really fast hits so you take very little dmg from the fire aura), run around, goes into phase 3, just poison again, then run around some more. Might need a few more hits, generally during phase change I'd swap weapons to my +6 Estoc I used until I could get the poison bandit knives and just hit it a few times. Do that shit to normal mobs too, or I backstab them if I can it makes shit go faster.
I just hoped there would be a bleeding dagger or a poison dagger, one that can be enchanted that is, but only the bandit knife does that.
Wildly speculating here, but I'd suspect that there is still double dipping, it's just that they made the elemental weapons a little bit bigger numbers which helps compensate for it (and you can stack bonuses, unlike DS where normal weapons + enchant were universally stronger except for the fact that you're using a consumable), and b) seems like there are less enemies with multiple resists (that I've found, using lightning).
Needless
Toe Sucker
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I went pure strength to blow up all the bosses pretty easily with a normal club and a 95% reduction shield (i have 100% but it's ugly so i still rock the twin dragons shield)
will swap stats later for sorcerer build once i get equip for it lol
I also find it hilarious that there is a ring that makes you appear as a white phantom... that + rat covenant = troll scrubs
will swap stats later for sorcerer build once i get equip for it lol
I also find it hilarious that there is a ring that makes you appear as a white phantom... that + rat covenant = troll scrubs
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Can add poison or bleed to your elemental weapon, those don't suffer as much but since they reduce both the phys and elemental dmg of the weapon you'll hit for noticeably less on highly armored targets. My bandit knives generally hit for 2-4 on bosses.
As a side note I've been using pyromancy too since there's no int reqs on spells so that's nice for utility and shit, damn the pyro spells still rape. I have 10int(leveled it to 10 to use repair/greater magic weapon if I ever want to, but haven't used it yet) but still hitting for 1000+ with flame swathe or chaos storm. Wonder how strong the actual mage spells are.
As a side note I've been using pyromancy too since there's no int reqs on spells so that's nice for utility and shit, damn the pyro spells still rape. I have 10int(leveled it to 10 to use repair/greater magic weapon if I ever want to, but haven't used it yet) but still hitting for 1000+ with flame swathe or chaos storm. Wonder how strong the actual mage spells are.
Phazael
Confirmed Beta Shitlord, Fat Bastard
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I am about mid game and the Sorc spells are still pretty clutch, though there is a scaling issue where the higher end spells do not do enough damage to compensate for their longer casting times and limited uses. Most of the tougher trash and bosses can be picked apart by rolling soul arrow spam. Undead Lords was basically a completely trivial fight and I one shotted it with no prior knowledge of the fight, as an example. Fights where the boss is super aggressive with some sort of leap/piercing attack are much more problematic. So, Pursuer, Medusa Bitch, and Old Dragon Rider were all tricky to solo. Without getting too laughed at, the one boss I cannot seem to drop is the Chariot thing, because the adds stun lock the fuck out of me if I remain stationary when the rape train circles around. That is also one of the early boss fights with the most brutal approaches to it, so keeping your mind focused on it is a little harder.
I began the game as a Deprived on my livingroom PS3, but rerolled on my bedroom PS3 as a sorcerer and found it infinitely easier. I was building the Deprived as more of a mele guy with magic to supplement and he was not really panning out, but I plan on respeccing faith with him once I beat the game with my Sorc. Anyhow, my build is something like: VIT18, STR14, DEX26, ATN25, INT32, and the rest base stats. I milked the Fire Sword for a good long while, but I am planning on building up Faith next for Hexes and lightning weapons, so I have a descently upgraded Heide Spear and Magic Mace as well. I like the Spear the best (hoplite 4life!) for a variety of reasons, but I generally use whatever element is most useful for the fight, otherwise. My next crafting project is going to be to work up a poisonous twin blade and a Dark pike. Biggest thing I have noticed in this time is that keeping the Encumbrance under 50% is critical, since poise is so meaningless and its important to move as fast as you can as a caster build.
And it sure seems like no invader is anything other than a twinked out mele build with _maybe_ one Pyro spell slotted. Basically, whenever I get invaded, I find a hard to reach spot, bust out the spear, and spam Soul Arrow when they get to me. Well, that or burn a seed and let them clear the zone trash for me for the Lulz.
I began the game as a Deprived on my livingroom PS3, but rerolled on my bedroom PS3 as a sorcerer and found it infinitely easier. I was building the Deprived as more of a mele guy with magic to supplement and he was not really panning out, but I plan on respeccing faith with him once I beat the game with my Sorc. Anyhow, my build is something like: VIT18, STR14, DEX26, ATN25, INT32, and the rest base stats. I milked the Fire Sword for a good long while, but I am planning on building up Faith next for Hexes and lightning weapons, so I have a descently upgraded Heide Spear and Magic Mace as well. I like the Spear the best (hoplite 4life!) for a variety of reasons, but I generally use whatever element is most useful for the fight, otherwise. My next crafting project is going to be to work up a poisonous twin blade and a Dark pike. Biggest thing I have noticed in this time is that keeping the Encumbrance under 50% is critical, since poise is so meaningless and its important to move as fast as you can as a caster build.
And it sure seems like no invader is anything other than a twinked out mele build with _maybe_ one Pyro spell slotted. Basically, whenever I get invaded, I find a hard to reach spot, bust out the spear, and spam Soul Arrow when they get to me. Well, that or burn a seed and let them clear the zone trash for me for the Lulz.
Lenas
Trump's Staff
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For the Chariot just ignore the skeletons and dodge under the wheel spikes when he comes by. Run to the very end and kill the necromancer, kill the remaining skeletons and then use the lever near the end to close the gate and stop the chariot from circling. Pretty basic after that.
Needless
Toe Sucker
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Pursuer is actually really easy as any class
Equip a shield.
When you enter the fog gate, while hes still "apparating" immediately run forward in front of the left crossbow launcher.
When he's ready to fight the first attack he'll do is his lunge attack.
Parry it (but do not attack him), run around to the crossbow launcher and shoot him which will do about 95% of his life.
Hit him once and he's dead.. (or in my case, i threw a fire bomb at him)
It literally takes like 10-15 seconds lol
When you enter the fog gate, while hes still "apparating" immediately run forward in front of the left crossbow launcher.
When he's ready to fight the first attack he'll do is his lunge attack.
Parry it (but do not attack him), run around to the crossbow launcher and shoot him which will do about 95% of his life.
Hit him once and he's dead.. (or in my case, i threw a fire bomb at him)
It literally takes like 10-15 seconds lol
Used opposite approach to the chariot... slow and steady ... inching my way forward... think it took me like 3 minutes just to get around the circle and 2 passes while near the lever before I actually pulled it.
Noodleface
A Mod Real Quick
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I did it fairly slow too, but a couple of deaths were due to getting boxed by the skeletons and stunlocking me in a corner. Best way I found to prevent that was to stay in the main area until the chariot was just about to arrive then run to the little alcoves so the skeletons get raped without jumping you in there. If you go hide right away they all pile on you and unless you have crazy stamina/poise/whatever, they'll shield break and kill you. Guess dodging through the chariot was an option, I didn't try.
I fucking hate when they put mobs right in front of the gate to a boss. At least with their new limited spawn thing I can just farm the mobs until they don't respawn but it's annoying as shit. Oh and also hate that crystal lizard loot can drop down cliffs and shit if you make the mistake of killing it too late. Took me a dozen of tries to get the huntsman's corpse lizard right so I could kill it, and my last arrow shot it off the cliff and lost the loot.