Dark Souls beginners guide (basic builds / dmg scaling / staring weapons)

[@Musik-cs5nd]

Many say Dark Souls is best expirienced blind. And that can be an awesome expirience if one is already familiar with the genre. However if one is a total beginner (like me) this will only lead to unnecessery hardship and frustration. In fact I almost gave up on the game when reaching the depth (which btw took me hours to find. Who remembers that one random locked door by the bridge after fighting the Gargoyls for the last week? Srsl.) Luckly I swallowed my pride and looked up some tutorials. Thanks to great guides (like yours) I managed to fully embrace this gaming epic for over 100 hours and I'm not stopping anytime soon! So in conclusion: Dark Souls is best expirienced, when it can be enjoyed!

[@PrettyPinkPersephone]

I think the “experience it blind” thing is part of the streamer effect. If a streamer can go in “blind” then so should you is the sentiment. Even tho they have live help and an audience that can keep them relaxed so the silence doesn’t set in.

[@tallspartan117]

I literally had no idea what I was doing my first playthrough I picked the pyromancer class because everyone said that's the best one barely upgraded any my stats cuz I died so much didn't even know I could upgrade my weapons didn't know I could upgrade my pyro flame accidentally picked the master key because everyone said it's the best starter gift didn't even know the depths existed had gotten to the iron golem and then gave up on the next character I made it was a lot easier cuz I learned a lot more afterwards

[@keyman245]

I believe It all comes from personal opinion, maybe one Will enjoy the game more using a Lot of saves to test and explore builds, or.maybe other will find more joy in seeing builds online In my case I had a blast crawling to the deaps with the most atrocious build with shit damage, Just to create another character and reach the deaphs with half of my previous time with a decent full strenght naked build

[@theo_st]

Exactly the same for me. I had collected the basement key behind the pig but had no recollection of it and even if I did it wouldn't have crossed my mind. So I naturally went straight to dark root garden because it seemed it was the next place for me to be. There were no obstacles and it was right next to the bonfire at Andre. However a friend watched me play and told me I wasn't supposed to be there yet (it was my first playthrough, so it wasn't the "intended" course anyway) and told me to go back towards the depths. Now that I think about it, paying more attention to the items you collect and keeping notes of doors/passages would have made my playthrough much easier.

[@jenniferw8963]

4:31 Weapon Scaling; 5:27 The Weapons; 5:37 Estoc; 6:01 Upgrading Weapons (link provided); 6:25 Zweihander; 7:20 Astora's Straight Sword (cleric, etc.); 8:37 Claymore; 10:07 Great Club (bandit etc.); 11:21 Gravelord (warrior/bandit); 12:40 Drakesword; [13:15 Undead Merchant Locaton, for bows/arrows] .... 14:49 Rings; 16:13 Shields; 17:43 Fast way to Blacksmith

[@degrind6496]

This video helped me even though it's so old, thank you :)

[@rjrulz327]

Just picked this up myself and best vid yet for sure!

[@Andrukahn]

It just helped me too lol

[@blueodin0946]

Crazy to think that we’re at a point where 2016 is considered old, let that sink in

[@degrind6496]

@@blueodin0946 i think at the time of writing this comment i thought that there wouldve been balance changes or something, but ive played only singleplayer and i dont think there were any balance changes lmao. Anyway, still a very helpful video

[@mmcmullen8543]

Every other video says "it's hard but fair" like 17 times and then goes on to repeat every IGN article. Doesn't give any information you can really use. This one gave me stuff to look out for

[@leroyrowe638]

So I came back to Dark Souls after Skyrim. I played mage in Skyrim and the magic was strong so I thought it would work in Dark Souls. I found that magic, at least in early game, is just nonexistent. At least it’s not as cool or powerful as the swords you pick up off of the enemies and in early game you get so many opportunities to upgrade and infuse your weapons as well. I guess I am restarting as a knight lol

[@thrashspeed007]

I am one of the people who initially abandoned the game because I felt lost. After a while I decided to play again and in the end I managed to progress somehow, but now watching this video with some knowledge of the game, I regret not having seen it before, it is a perfect introduction and explanation of absolutely everything, congratulations for this great video man.

[@stegwise]

Just a note that you only need 16 END and a Heater Shield to block Havel with full stamina and take no HP damage. Heater is 100% damage reduction for 2.0 equip load. Warrior starts with it or it can be purchased from the Undead Merchant.

[@idlenaut_]

This is a super helpful video yet somehow it only has 416 likes??? You deserve more credit than that, good stuff man!

[@gb9884]

It's so easy to get all the weapons from the graveyard at the start. I always run through and grab everything from the spear, zweihander, shield, binoculars, souls of fallen soldiers etc. Spend all your curent souls on leveling up, stay hollow and then do as many runs as you can to get all the loot from the graveyard, doesn't matter how many times you die and if you don't reach your bloodstain as you will still have 0 humanity and souls.

[@MayteraMarble]

I'm just getting into this series. Started with Demons Souls Remake and instantly fell in love. I am currently playing Dark Souls 2 and am having a blast so far. DS remastered and DS 3 are next up on my play list.

[@WolfXrd]

Very nice, I recommend that you also play Bloodborne and Sekiro.

[@Nico-dh4pv]

I‘m going to do the same after Elden Ring, I already played Demons Souls and it’s amazing

[@toadlord8594]

I’ve never had the experience of Playing Demon Souls yet until I get a PS5 to play the remastered.

[@davefekete7187]

@@toadlord8594 lol i bought a ps3, jailbreak the thing and downloaded demons souls for free, the game was good but dark souls 1 is a masterpiece.

[@AxeBum]

i had no clue about the scaling system in the game so i learned alot from this video :)

[@big94RED]

Thanks dude! Just picked this up because my friends said I had to play it. I was totally lost at first, but this video really helps!

[@anders653]

Great video! I’ve already beaten the game before without knowing a bunch of the stuff you showed. Everyone and their mother should see this video before playing the game!

[@toadlord8594]

I’m just getting into the series Starting with Dark Souls 1 and planning to play Dark Souls 2 and 3 as well so I could kind of train myself for Elden Ring.

[@nemo0036]

Regarding the Gravelord Sword mentioned in video: Great for relatively low level builds, but note you CAN'T buff it. Also not great damage-wise beyond 24 Str (16 Str when 2-handed) due to low scaling. If you're the player that likes to "turtle" (block, stab, block, stab), use WINGED SPEAR found in the graveyard as the Zweihander. Requires 13 Str and 15 Dex so Warrior is a great starting class. Sold by the Merchant in the Undead Burg for CHEAP, the HAND AXE is a decent strength weapon. Hand Axe is the starting weapon of Pyromancers and it is probably the fastest hitting Strength weapon in the game. It also has low stat requirements and better recovery than other Strength weapons, though it (ironically) sacrifices damage output, scaling (Only C scaling in strength), and range. Still, can carry the dedicated user the entire game, though it shines even more as a side weapon for purely Strength builds (i.e. low Dex). Pyromancer (who starts WITH the weapon) and Bandit can benefit from using the Hand Axe, though ANY class can use it from the start due to the measly 7 Str. requirement. Another CHEAP weapon courtesy of Undead Burg Merchant is the REINFORCED CLUB. Has the same 1-hand and 2-hand attack animation as other "1-hand" axe/hammer weapons (e.g. mace, battle axe), but the 1-hand and 2-hand Strong attacks are guaranteed JUMPING attacks for even more damage (so be careful using it in terrain where it's easy to fall off). Hits like a truck, Has BLEED effect, and PURELY scales with strength, but has relatively low durability (i.e. not much of a problem as it's not THAT low) and short range (being a 1-hand axe/hammer). It is the hardest hitting weapon for anyone doing SL1 Pyro runs, and can carry the dedicated user for the entire game. Also, what's not to love about what's basically A BAT WITH NAILS ON IT (some ghetto swag, right there)? ANY class can use the weapon from the start due to its measly 12 Str requirement (even low-str. classes can 2-hand it from the start without leveling), though it definitely OPTIMIZED for Low Dex and high Str classes like the Pyromancer, Cleric, and Bandit.

[@sry4head]

great video man. needed that like 30 hrs. ago. just got the lordvessel. but i somehow found the gravesord myself because i was stuck in down there and tried everything.

[@drtompki]

You made it more complicated than necessary to get to a blacksmith. Sure, Andre is better but you can safely access one as soon as you reach the firelink shrine. You don’t even need a master key. Just go down to New Londo Ruins, turn right, pass the tower leading to the valley of drakes, and take the path along the edge overlooking the water. There’s one hiding away in a cell there.

[@downrightrude7423]

True! Its good to know about Rickert too, should have mentioned him in the Video. But Rickert dosen't sell Titanite Shards, so you will be limited to the few shards you found in the game

[@DStrormer]

Meanwhile sorcerer wrecking everything with a BSS in my pocket for oshit moments.

[@stegwise]

under rated weapon for sure. a good caster is pushing DEX too so it works well. Bandit's Knife can be pretty good too but both can be frustrating to farm.

[@drtompki]

Yeah, being a sorcerer can unmake the early game, especially if you buy extra souls arrows from the blacksmith in New Londo Ruins.

[@danielbrown5166]

I picked up Dark Souls Remastered in the recent PS4 spring sale, and I really need some help lol. Thank you for this!

[@nophion2-electricboogaloo647]

All those guides that first take 20 minutes telling me that I shouldnt use guides and then only explain basic stuff like "Vitality helps with the Vitality" and now I finally found a guide that does what I needed. THANK. YOU!

[@BahamutEx]

No Uchigatana? You can get it early by killing the merchant in the undead burg.

[@mal0561]

I love the zweihander its so ridiculously big

[@tuibarrett5431]

Watching in 2024

[@CHEEEEEEEEEZ]

hey man nice video but just to let you know, your microphone is picking up a lot of low frequencies that masks some of your annunciation. Try adding a high-pass filter of -10dB or so and boost your 1khz range. would make your speech much less muffled

[@thearchangel8372]

A huge Zweihander enjoyer right here

[@ZachAttack3710]

I think something similar to this could've been in the tutorial, like Oscar showing up at firelink and teaching you about this stuff, if he didn't go hollow. It would've been great to teach stuff they didn't, like humanity, equip load, all the damage stuff, and scaling/requirements.

[@pedromoraes2129]

Time to revive this comment seciton. I gave up dark souls in 2014 or so, now i'm giving it a try after playing remnant 2 and get more alike to this kind of game, the mistery and surprising ways of getting stronger are fun now.

[@zataiyo6738]

Bro, I beat this game with only shields. What am I doing here Very good vid

[@michaelsoftelbows]

i wish my weapons would stop staring at me.

[@VirtuelleWeltenMitKhan]

How about the Katana? I have seen it in a video and I'm thinking about using that for my first playthrough.

[@downrightrude7423]

The Uchigatana and the Iaito are decent, not as strong as many other Weapons you can get early on, but you can definitly make it work! Have fun on your first playthrough

[@VirtuelleWeltenMitKhan]

@@downrightrude7423 I just got myself the Black Knight Halberd. Took me 9 restarts :D Thx for you wishes

[@therealforestelf]

11:21 that is a loong loooong way lmao xD

[@hahadie.5051]

Omg I love final fantasy. At 2:18 that is Ark from final fantasy III Yes? Haha but yes dark souls and other rpg classes are completely different. I realized that very quickly

[@00tachanka]

i been listening to this guy asmr ahh voice since whenever

[@Darri3n]

In my ng+ run, but never knew what the scaling stat was for. Very nice vid. :D What is the song you use in your intro? Sounds really good.

[@downrightrude7423]

thank you! glad the video helped :D the song from the brief video summary at the start is the fire link shrine ost and the that plays during the short "get gud" intro is called "Battle of Stoicism" and i think it is the ost from the pvp area from the DLC ... but dont quote me on that ^^'

[@greenheadblackvoodochild2487]

Why does everyone on who talk about dark souls build talk like its dark soul asmr wtf ,

[@kaba1996]

I'll try it do you got video about upgrades?

[@BejorkDibut]

quick question. started yesterday i wanted to make something of a warior mage hybrid, like, 1h weapons, spells in ofhand is it ok to lvl up str + dex + int or fate, but im afraid of just being too weak in vitality and endurance how many points shod i invest more or less in this kind of stile?

[@larrysevigny589]

Wrong again I usually go for a melee build but could the mage build is OP right out the gate as it gives u the range the melee classes are miasing

[@robertgray3710]

I went with wanderer with master key and I’m going for pure dex and I have a plus 5 scimitar plus 1 bandit knife target shield wooden shield and the starter armor

[@rauleduardocanulavila9603]

Gracias por tu video! :)

[@MilesDei95]

but what about the bs in the underground? is he not good?

[@shanx9750]

Why my weapon is staring at me

[@nickoleary1760]

Great video

[@yuumijungle548]

i dont think the astora straight sword is very good, the damage is insanely low, im pretty sure a +5 normal longsword/base drakesword already outdamages it completely. also you dont wanna waste your twinkling titanite on a shitty weapon, you wanna use them on black knight weapons if your lucky enough to get one. the great club and zweihander are the only 2 weapons that i would recommend out of all of these, also i would suggest a new player to save up the 20k for the artorias crest, or kill the hydra, an early stone armor is insanely good, just having this means you have beaten capra demon already pretty much and it doesnt even mattter if you fatroll, defense and poise are super op in pve, it pretty much also trivializes new londo as well, ghosts tickle your hp bar if you have that, i value the stone armor more than even the rings, but those are nice to get as well ofc. also some other tips: i would take the twin humanities as a starting gift and use up every humanity that you find as soon as you get them until you reach 10 humanity at least, this will significantly increase your item droprate, defense and curse resistance but the most important thing is the item droprate, with 10 humanity you should have a 40% droprate for a black knight weapon each time you fight one, you can even make a cloud save before you fight the ultra greatsword one and reset until you get that. using that weapon is almost like cheating the game, you can get 1 twinkling from the crystal lizard before taurus demon, 1 from one in darkroot garden and you can also get 4 more by farming the tree guys in darkroot as well and trading one of each of the mossclumps for another one with the crow (the blooming trades for 2 twinkling) and with that you can have a +4 black knight greatsword right from the start, this takes like 20 minutes or so, grabbing the stone armor along the way, you can then also go to blighttown if you have the master key and grab power within as well for stupid damage and you could even go to the great hollow while your there and fully upgrade your sword without having fought a single boss yet. you also could do this with the astoras straight sword as well ofc, if you are allergic to damage and wanna deal 10 times less for some reason xD

[@zopheir5019]

I hate the Astoria straight sword so much. Fun to use in the beginning, but disappointed me later on. However, tumblebuffling it made is fun to use

[@larrysevigny589]

Totally disagree with the starting gift. Get the Master Key so u can trek down and suicide run for a great legendary sword n shield. I had upgraded a long sword +3 who gave 121 damage. The legendary sword gives 196 right out the gate

[@robertgray3710]

I went to 27 vigor so I can have 1000 hp now I’m good and can level all my other stats

[@JohnGawainz]

I see the winged spear isn't on the list

[@renegadeemperor]

What about the depraved

[@lolno8406]

the garlgoyles lol, u don t actually need a good weapon, all you need is to buff your weapon with lightning but it took me so long to figure that out in the past cuz it didn t make any sense in my opinion why lightning should be effective against stone lol

[@ryanfalzii4450]

great video... :)

[@DARKthenoble]

my black knight sword trumps all of those XD

[@robertsilvermyst7325]

True, but you only get a chance of it dropping. It's never a guaranteed drop.

[@DARKthenoble]

@@robertsilvermyst7325 it's 100% guaranteed if you kill the first back knight with a ranged weapon like a crossbow.

[@stegwise]

@@DARKthenoble it's also 100% if you just restart the game every time you don't get the drop XD

[@DARKthenoble]

@@stegwise Only on new games plus. The black knight doesn't respawn on the first run.

[@stegwise]

@@DARKthenoble yeah on first run you have to delete save and play the 12 minutes or so it takes to get back to the first knight. you can also play another 3 minutes or so and try for Demon's Great Axe, another few minutes and let the BKGS knight get roasted by the Hellykite, and then another 10-15 to make your way down to cheese BKH from the tunnel. sometimes i just want to see what early weapon i can get before i spend souls if you know what i mean.

[@rylandsmathieux8076]

uchigatana pyromancer >>>

[@JedEye-o8w]

Kill the merchant in undead burg take his sword

[@geminivan1306]

I love you so much

[@K1ngKazuha]

Git Gud Bro is the most toxic thing anyone can say

[@downrightrude7423]

Dude, I WISH that was true

[@xionkale3688]

this didn't age well

[@freshmadgod]

How come?