Dark Souls Build

[Someguy 24]

I recently bought Dark Souls (I have finished it in the past) and I don't really want to start choosing skills to increase until I know what build I want. I have looked online for builds but they all seem to be recommendations for starter weapons or joke builds. No one is recommending builds that are actually good. I have learnt that you only increase your soul level to meet the requirements of the weapon you want to use but I don't know what weapons are in the game so that doesn't help me.

How do I make a build/choose what weapon to use?

 

[Exius Xavarus]

There are many different ways to play the game. Just keep in mind that Int does not affect Pyromancy strength. Your Pyromancy Flame does. So it's a form of magic that can be used effectively with any build.

There does exist a Dark Souls user group: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Dark-Souls

You can join the chat and ask for advice from other players, just be warned that with lack of new discussion, it's rather dead. A new player asking advice might just get some people talking again.

 

[Tomaius]

snip

First of all, you shouldn't neglect leveling up on your first run. Prioritise upgrading your weapon, shield and pyromancy definitely, but don't stop just because you have more than enough to use your weapon.

I'd recommend for new players building around the Halbeard (Found early in the undead parish, behind the gate guarded by the iron boar). Its a good solid weapon found in the early game and has good utility right until the endgame.

As for stats I'd recommend focusing on getting to:

Firstly - 12 Faith (So you can use Heal, takes the edge of some of the longer more difficult sections)

27 Strength (Gives the maximum amount of damage when going two handed, any more points provide diminishing returns)
40 Endurance (You want the maneuverability and stamina for boss fights)
40 Dexterity (For the damage buff)


Equipment wise:

+15 Halbeard - This thing is really useful as a weapon, its quick, has good range, and does a decent amount of damage. Only trade off being it needs a Titanite Slab or some chunks so it limits you upgrade until you eventually get the required materials)

+14 Grass Crest Shield - You can find this in the Darkwood Forest. Best Shield in the game, in my opinion. Main benefit is the stamina regeneration it gives you, together with decent stability and damage reduction)

For armour, mix and match what you find. Unless your going for a heavy armour build (Which I wouldnt recommend) you dont need to be picky.

Also, there is no reason not to upgrade your pyromancy. Its a highly useful tool to have throughout the game.

 

[Someguy 24]

OK I have spent about 5 hours looking for a build and I just can't find any. They are either joke builds, cosplay builds or just bad builds. I was planning on only doing pve but you would probably need a very specific boring build to get to the later NG+'s so I will probably get a pvp build instead. If anyone knows a good pvp build with all the specifics please link/write it. If anyone knows what the best weapons from certain weapon types are please write them. I don't want to spend all the time required to get to the right level and getting the equipment if it is only for a mediocre build. I would make my own but it probably wouldn't be as good as someone else's build and I don't know about the weapons and certain factors to consider when making a build.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

You can't decide a build until you understand the mechanics of the game, to do that, you have to experiment on your first run through.

Basically, don't worry about builds now.

 

[Someguy 24]

I have already played through the game and finished it as I said.

 

[Headdrivehardscrew]

Since you're already quite willing to spoilerify everything, why not check out the two main Dark Souls wikis? There, you can indeed choose a weapon, check out its minimum 'requirements'... and decide how you want to upgrade it and how much bonus damage / max damage you want to go for.

I myself am very partial to a high STR/DEX build, so I can wield the asian swords with great efficiency, switch to the black halberd to 1-2-3 shot big bads (two-handing when things are less... stressful) and, depending on your own play style and preference you will want to go either for a shield that blocks 100% of incoming damage or a shield that maybe makes parrying-riposting easier.

I also like to go for max damage with bows, which might or might not tingle your tastebuds.

All that is pretty much moot when you want to skip down the frock-wearing magic user path.

Somehow, it feels like you mistake Dark Souls as some kind of League Of Legends thing.

 

[Lovely Mixture]

I have already played through the game and finished it as I said.

Huh, I missed that somehow.

Anyway, you use this right?
http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/


Are you trying to make a build for PvP or PvE.

For PvP
1. No poise or atleast 40 poise
2. 1500 health
3. At least 40 END for second most stamina

You plan on using a shield often? If no, then make you sure you have a weapon that benefits most from two handing (Strength weapons). But keep in mind that the damage increase of two-handing goes down as your strength increases (it evens out).

What level do you want to be at? The main level for PvP is 125-130. For some low level PvP or PvE builds, elemental weapons or raw weapons are recommended cause they do not scale, so you don't have to worry about upping STR and DEX. Obviously this does not apply to Divine/Occult and Magic/Enchanted weapons (and definitely not crystal weapons).


Where you do want to PvP? The prime spots are Duke's, Oolacile Township, Painted World, and Undead Burg.

Painted World and Undead Burg are most optimal cause you do not need to kill the boss of either, so the place will always be open for PvP.

 

[Exius Xavarus]

OK I have spent about 5 hours looking for a build and I just can't find any. They are either joke builds, cosplay builds or just bad builds. I was planning on only doing pve but you would probably need a very specific boring build to get to the later NG+'s so I will probably get a pvp build instead. If anyone knows a good pvp build with all the specifics please link/write it. If anyone knows what the best weapons from certain weapon types are please write them. I don't want to spend all the time required to get to the right level and getting the equipment if it is only for a mediocre build. I would make my own but it probably wouldn't be as good as someone else's build and I don't know about the weapons and certain factors to consider when making a build.

Until you can find rings suited specifically to what you want to build your character for, the Wolf's Ring(grants a fixed amount of poise, I think it grants 36 or so) and the Ring of Faith and Protection(grants extra health, stamina and increased equipment burden) are very good all-purpose rings to wear.

Wolf's Ring can be found in Darkroot Garden. Going toward where the Moonlight Butterfly is, once you reach the giant field you want to hang a right and keep watch for a very large tree that looks slightly different than the surrounding trees. Cut it down and proceed through the hidden pathway. Keep going and going and you'll soon come across a tunnel(a Stone Guardian will be in your way) and at the end is the Wolf's Ring.

The FaP ring can be obtained by killing Knight Lautrec. This can be done after you free him from the church in the Undead Parish, or during your battle with him and his two friends in Anor Londo, if you don't kill him right away.

Personally, my favorite weapons are Greatswords. The Claymore is a great weapon in the beginning, finding a Black Knight Sword is also a great weapon. Now, if you're a magic type character, you can put in 20 strength and wield the Moonlight Greatsword(easily one of the most powerful weapons a Sorcerer can wield, short of a power Enchanted weapon).

Also, there's little to no reason not to upgrade Pyromancy. Very little is resistant to fire damage(just don't use it in Blighttown, Pyromancy is worthless, there), you don't need any Int to use it, it does great damage and the Pyromancy Flame is weightless.

But it's hard for us to actually help you unless you tell us what kind of character you're aiming to be.

 

[Someguy 24]

Since you're already quite willing to spoilerify everything, why not check out the two main Dark Souls wikis? There, you can indeed choose a weapon, check out its minimum 'requirements'... and decide how you want to upgrade it and how much bonus damage / max damage you want to go for.

Thanks, I have looked at the wiki but I have no idea what any of the weapons are like so it doesn't help too much. In my first playthrough I was a pure magic user so I don't have much knowledge of the weapons, what stats they require etc.

But it's hard for us to actually help you unless you tell us what kind of character you're aiming to be.

I would like to do pve but if I wanted to take my pve character to NG+ and beyond I would probably need different builds to the standard pve build for the first run, I don't really know. My ideal weapon type to use would be greatsword. I don't know which stats would be best for a greatsword, I assume strength, vitality and endurance primarily. I don't really want a dexterity build as they become difficult to use in NG+ and beyond.

If a pvp build makes more sense then I would try that. For pvp I don't really have a preference for the weapon type or stat build.

 

[Someguy 24]

I have decided on using the zweihander, I am trying to make a build now. I will see this playthrough as just seeing the story with a different weapon and seeing the new DLC content. I was treating the game wrong before.

 

[Denamic]

A good build is to pick a playstyle and put points into that. People like to min/max, but it REALLY depends on the player how it performs. Just pick a stat and go with it. Going into the game with builds and shit really kinda ruins the experience.

Besides, how would you be able to determine what builds are good when you don't even know the weapons yet?

 

[Someguy 24]

Besides, how would you be able to determine what builds are good when you don't even know the weapons yet?

I have spent hours learning about everything. I now know for example that Zweihanders are best at +15 if you choose to upgrade the stats which scale.



Can anyone tell me how this build is?
http://mmdks.com/1oif