2 handed is op, instead of parrying or blocking, just roll. Roll souls.
Shields have their place though, especially in dark souls 2. I think Dark Souls 2 might be the only game where I was actively using a shield throughout the game.
Does that lvl30 sword I got off the first (or second?) boss count, or do you mean one of those ~20lb behemoths?Get yourself what we like to call a fuck you greatsword. Two-hand it.
Profit.
I'll give the Sellsword Twinblades a shot. Any thoughts on how you'd buff it?I love two handed big ass weapons, or even just something like a Reinforced Club. It's so much fun to use, particularly in Dark Souls 1. In DS3, I enjoy the dual weapons a lot, so I'm rarely using shields.
Still equip them for Stamina Regen, but it's very rare for me to block anything. Dodging is just more efficient and fun. You don't deal with stunlock, you lose less stamina, don't have to worry about stability and can retaliate right away. It's less about not wanting to rely on shields and more about just having fun with it. If you enjoy sword and shield builds, more power to you. This isn't Bloodborne, those builds are there for you to use them.
The idea of playing without shields is pretty much the same behind "fashion souls > stats". As long as you time your dodge rolls correctly, you'll take 0 damage anyway. How much damage you can block/absorb is irrelevant as long as you don't get hit, so focus on that instead and free that L1 to spam the Sellsword Twinblades, which are by far the best weapons in DS3 for PVE, in my opinion.
Ultra Greatswords can indeed give you some trouble in the DLCs, though, especially Ashes of Ariandel with the infinite combos and very little space for retaliation. Dark Souls III heavily favors faster weapons.
Bleed used to be absurdly OP, but it has been nerfed. Still good if you're not necessarily aiming for the absolute best damage, though. Lightning is almost always a great choice as well.I'll give the Sellsword Twinblades a shot. Any thoughts on how you'd buff it?
Yeah, that's you getting Dark Souls 3'dA noob thing with heavy swords is, it seems harder to sneak in a hit between boss attacks w/o getting wrecked on recovery.
Yeah I just realized on my Demon's build right now I'm using a shield but I'm just double handing a sword. Whoops.what's weird is, i'll often walk around with a shield (usually before i get a good weapon to go either one or two hand), but i'll always be dodging/rolling, & never actually be using the damn thing. don't ask me why...
That's the roll at < 30% weight load?I chose two hander but I usually two hand smaller swords more. Never a shield anymore. That was for my noobie days. If I have one, it sits on my back for a buff like regenerate health/stamina. Always fast rolling as well.
in 3, you basically only need to aim to have your equip load be below 70%, though your roll distance will be longer when you are below 30% but it's not that important to get that low.That's the roll at < 30% weight load?
Going in blind, I played (died) several days before I learned I was fat rolling. 😰
The more behemothy the better imho. That is my favorite play style, but you should experiment with the options in the game to figure out what you like.Does that lvl30 sword I got off the first (or second?) boss count, or do you mean one of those ~20lb behemoths?
Yeah, Vordt's Hammer. Since I got that at the start, I set it aside as a goal to reach as I pumped levels into STR. I actually don't see how one can go even heavier w/o going into NG+ or farming hard.The more behemothy the better imho. That is my favorite play style, but you should experiment with the options in the game to figure out what you like.
I'm not sure which weapon you're referencing, maybe Vordt's hammer? Great hammers and great axes are also fun two handed.
Nonetheless, if my memory serves me correctly I think some of the early-ish options for ultra great swords would include the:
Greatsword
Zweihander
Astora Greatsword
I'm not sure if this was mentioned elsewhere, but one thing to keep in mind is that when you two-hand a weapon your strength increases by 50%. This not only increases damage, but also means you can wield weapons sooner by two-handing. For example, if a weapon requires 30 strength to wield, you can two-hand it as soon as you have 20 strength.Yeah, Vordt's Hammer. Since I got that at the start, I set it aside as a goal to reach as I pumped levels into STR. I actually don't see how one can go even heavier w/o going into NG+ or farming hard.
Aw, crap! I learned about the 2H boost mid-game and mistook it for a 1.5x damage boost when 2-handing a 1H sword. That helps!I'm not sure if this was mentioned elsewhere, but one thing to keep in mind is that when you two-hand a weapon your strength increases by 50%. This not only increases damage, but also means you can wield weapons sooner by two-handing. For example, if a weapon requires 30 strength to wield, you can two-hand it as soon as you have 20 strength.
Edit: I also recommend eventually getting rings that boost your equip load so you can get by with heavier stuff. You can make Havel's Ring relatively early with a Demon Soul. Ring of Favor and Prisoner's Chain are also fantastic, but they come later.
Wasn't poise and/or stability nerfed in DS3? I kept upping those, wondering if they were helping.I played DS1 without a shield for a good long time before swapping over to a sword and board build. That game feels better to me with a shield. But if you are going without a shield, I'd recommend two handing one of the heavier weapon types. Apart from that, keep a light build because you'll need to stay nimble (read: fast roll a lot). I played everything without a shield in DS2 and that worked out just fine. Quite fun even. In DS3 I went back to sword and board because of the insane stamina on enemies, how fast everyone is, and the hit and miss poise (I could never tell on which two or three frames I'd get poise; obnoxious system).
poise is a different thing and the way it works in Dark Souls 1 is unique to that title alone. in 3 it's vaguely similar but ONLY applies during specific weapons' attacks rather than all of the time. i believe shield stability is basically the same across the titlesWasn't poise and/or stability nerfed in DS3? I kept upping those, wondering if they were helping.
Hey, thanks! I considered a fire stone, assuming it'd be useful in Ariandel, but lightning looks more versatile.DS1 is much more forgiving in that sense. The downside is that for that to be true, the bosses are also more forgiving in general. Coming from Dark Souls III, you'll likely find almost all of them a little too easy. The more freedom they give you to tackle bosses, the less punishing the bosses can be, I suppose. It holds true going the other way around, with Sekiro having some really demanding fights by not giving you any build choice at all.
There's not reeeally builds in Sekiro, and you only have the one sword (though there are tools and items). There is a skill tree though!Hey, thanks! I considered a fire stone, assuming it'd be useful in Ariandel, but lightning looks more versatile.
As for Sekiro, that's loaded up as my second Souls-like to tackle. Stick to a speed build to start off in that, then?
Ah, misunderstood and thought you meant the game could frustrate similarly to DS3 if I were to choose the "wrong" equipment.There's not reeeally builds in Sekiro, and you only have the one sword (though there are tools and items). There is a skill tree though!
Also, combat-wise, I wouldn't call it a Souls-like either.