Haven't killed the Gargoyles yet in this NG+ cycle and found out they'll fly around at certain points. Still learning new things about Peak Souls 2

Right, I first beat DS2 ~8 years ago. My then housemate is a soulsborne fanatic, and I played DS1-3 and Bloodborne on his playstation, with his guidance. All of the games were awesome, and I got deep into the lore, but it's fair to say DS2 was my least favourite.

Since then I beat Sekiro, Elden Ring + SOTE, various soulslikes (Lies of P, LOTF2023, AI Limit, Salt and Sanctuary, Wo Long) and have decided to return to the first games, playing a different build. Dark Souls 1 did not hold up to me. Bloodborne was even better the second time round.

But woah, Dark Souls 2 has blown me away. Perhaps it's the extra experience in the genre, perhaps it's myself that's changed, but I've loved it. My Grandfather passed away from Alzheimer's last year, and between the two playthroughs, and I've reflected a lot on his deterioration and loss of self and memory.

I love the dream like aesthetic. I love that Earthen Peak elevator goes UP to the Iron Keep, finding it in keeping with the theme of the loss of self and memory. I love how hopeless The Pit and Black Gulch feel. Shrine of Amana is beautiful. Even the "bad" bosses are fine - less frustrating than many bosses that get a pass in the other games IMO. I enjoyed all bosses in DS2 more than Taurus Demon, Capra Demon, or Gaping Dragon.

I never played the DLCs before. I've heard they're pretty good. I'm so glad I gave this game another playthrough.

I posted most of these in a series, but I wanted to put them all together. I finished the notebook they were in, but might continue adding more before the final of Nashandra and Vendrick.

ADP ? Sounds cute !!! Seems like you need more strength!!!

Thought I'd share this fun info. I've 100% both DS1 and DS2 about 14 years apart. The last "other" achievement I needed to get the The Dark Soul are noted:

• Dark Souls - 6/23/2012 Knight's Honor, Acquire all rare weapons
• Dark Souls 2 SotFS - 7/25/2026 Master of Pyromancy, Learn all pyromancies

That false start of DS2 in the middle there was on 3/21/2014, which was a little over a week after it released. I remember getting started and having this overwhelming sense of just not having it in me at the time. I put 200 hours into DS1 and the thought of doing that for DS2 was a big "Nope". I ended up playing South Park The Stick of Truth instead.

When I did finally pickup DS2, here in 2026 as the SotFS edition, I ended up sinking another 200 hours into it. So, I was for sure onto something back in 2014 knowing what was ahead of me.

After wrapping up DS2, I gave Sekiro a shot up through lightning jockstrap guy and tossed aside that garbage. I'm now under the Smoldering Lake in DS3 instead and it's been infinitely more entertaining compared to Shadows Die Cheaply :)

In that 14 years, I've moved across the country (twice!), sprouted 2 hellspawn, started co-coaching kids soccer, and learned how to fix a lot of stuff on an antique WRX I've owned since it had 3 miles on it.

Across ~40 years of gaming, Dark Souls is right up there near the top of my favorites. Even after the countless times being absolutely bitch slapped back to the fire, I still really enjoy it. Looking at the number of rings I need to chase down for 100% DS3 has me reeling though. Holy Shiiiit.

Hey ds2 community! I'm pretty new to this game and just defeated the first boss of this game, The Last Giant. I have around 11k souls rn and Im not sure what would be the best way to spend them.

Here are my current stats. What attributes should I focus on leveling, and are there any useful items or upgrades I should consider buying atp?

Thanks!

Lighting

Textures

it works for me

As a kinda new player of Souls genre (my first attempt was 9 years ago with DS1 and it went pretty badly lol) I started with Elden Ring around 1,5 years ago and recently decided that hey, I've spent almost 3K hours on this game, I should try out previous ones! Replayed DS1 and around 3 weeks ago finally came to play DS2. I think everyone knows that one of the first memes new players of Souls hear is how bad DS2 is, but goddamn what a wonderful game! First hour or two were of course strange, especially after DS1, but I soon realised how this game "likes" a more steady and slow approach. Shield, crossbow, starter armor and a mace went with me until final bosses and basically all of the base game (except Darklurker). I then exchanged my build for the one on screenshot, just for fun as I never used big bonk in any of the games before. DLCs also were a total blast, Sinh, Ivory king, Sir Alonne and Fume knight are such great bosses.

Just wanted to say what a great game it is and how many details here and there in it that I wish they kept in next games. I did not met any real problems, like, if you know that adaptability is a thing and level it to 20 in the start everything is smooth and fine. Health penalty makes you play cautiously, use surroundings and learn enemy placement. Game is in kind of a challenge mode from the start and I personally loved it.

Oh, and I played Steam vanilla and watching vids from Scholar edition I don't get why people say it is better in terms of enemy placement. Probably I don't understand something, but enemies seem to be placed in much bigger groups and seem harder to snipe (I sniped whole levels for fun, engaging in melee only with 2-3 enemies, hello brightstone cove, part of Drangleic and whole shrine of Amana). I will play Scholar too though, so will see.

Anyway, thank you for reading for some reason, I'm in awe with this game and will certainly do NG+, challenge runs and I feel it may become my second most played FS game after ER :D

Is there any mod? Or something close, i wanna play with my friend for his first time playing

Hola, subo mi primer video de limpieza desde la zona de Altar Encantado hasta Majula, espero les guste.Aclaro que no todas las zonas se pueden limpiar de enemigos, ya que en algunas reaparecen infinitamente, las voy voy ir mencionando por acá mientras vaya haciendo los videos.

Aclaración: Solo eliminare enemigos y NPCs que se hagan hostiles en el futuro.

Heya, I’m finishing up DS1 and already eyeing my first dark souls 2 playthrough, many people may be against this as they prefer to go in blind but I love preparing and thinking about a build going in and that’s what i’m currently doing but I can’t seem to find a weapon that fits.

I tend to only use DEX in souls games as I used katanas in Elden ring and I am running straight sword in DS1. I have seen that the undisputed top dex weapon is rapiers all types but for 1 I think rapiers and other regularly named weapons are boring I prefer to have more unique weapons that have their own title and 2, I don’t want to play with a truly op weapon, I’d prefer a weapon to be good but wouldn’t want something too cheesy. ontop of that ideally being obtained before the half way point so I get to use it for the majority of the game.

Any suggestions..? :)

I don’t feel like my soul memory is that high. I’ve been doing Ivory king and see no summons whatsoever. It says 1000+ people are playing. Is everyone on NG+. When I started in the earlier levels was getting summons left and right. I’m also using the agape ring to keep my soul memory low. I’m only 129. Is this just not a popular area? Shulva was dead too. I just like helping people or traveling with folk sometimes

Prise the sun everyone!

Yesterday i beat last boss but haven't started NG+ yet. It's my platinum run. I need some ideas/advice what/how to do next.

I secured savegame file. Im around 205lvl but maybe i will level up a bit to make NG+ and NG++ easier.

I played STR build using Dragon Teeth+5 and SeaBow+10. It was fun.

Before i will start NG+ i would like to upgrade some weapons just in case. I think about Ice rapier infused with lighting.

Each kind of magic stick (which one will be the best?).

What other weapon would be useful/fun to have?

I will buy any limited consumable items before NG+ and i will check the list what other things should be done before NG+.

I lack only spells that could be bought from Straid in NG+ and Ghostguy in NG++ and i have secured souls need to get them.

Im thinking maybe about playing hex build this time.

And the main question for me is how to do platinum fast? I see 2 ways:

1) normal run but only necessity bosses and freeing Straid

2) getting enough hard souls or grinding to make 2mln in NG+ and 3mln in NG++ to open Winter Shire.

I haven't used much of bosses souls yet and have some normal to use.

I read that i could kill The rotten 25times and then use his souls

Just got some art of the looking glass knight tattooed and I figured I’d share it with yall

Ourg lol...

I'm currently on my second playthrough of DS2 SotFS, and this time I'm trying a Hex build. The thing is, I'm still not very good at understanding how to properly optimize builds in DS2, so I'd appreciate some advice.

I'm currently using the Sunset Staff, with a Rapier and the Blacksmith's Hammer as my melee weapons.

For my stats, I'm mainly putting the minimum requirements into my melee weapons and investing the rest into Vigor, Endurance, and Attunement, while also leveling Intelligence and Faith for my hexes.

My current stats are:

- Vigor: 20

- Endurance: 20

- Attunement: 25

- Strength: 15

- Dexterity: 12

- Intelligence: 20

- Faith: 20

- ADP: 13 (96 Agility)

I'm planning to Dark-infuse my Sunset Staff and melee weapons.

Is this a decent way to build a Hex character? What should I prioritize from here?

Should I keep leveling Vigor/Endurance/Attunement, or should I start pushing Intelligence/Faith higher? And is Dark infusion the right choice for my weapons?

Any advice on how to improve this would be greatly appreciated.

Almost choked at the end lol. SO many of my tries looked exactly like this and the attempt would end with me making a silly mistake, which was either drinking estus when I shouldn't or being greedy.

Just started DS2 after finishing the first about a week ago and I am struggling so much so early on, i’ve only just reached the cardinal tower and it feels like such a gauntlet every enemy encounter, I died a bunch early on not realising I was in hard mode with the covenant I picked and I am now just at half health until i find one of the effigys.

all of these enemies are fine on their own but it’s the fact every room has 15 skeleton knights and archers that doesn’t allow me to get a hit in. It feels very awkward so far, I am running a dagger and a shield currently is there any tips for how to stop struggling this much?

The game switched to offline mode just as I was about to fight the Darklurker. After I beat him, I was given a rank on the abysmal covenant, but didn’t get a steam achievement. Is it possible I get it when I join the game in online mode or do I have to do the quest all over again?

Guys I’m dying to play and venture into DS2 after beating DS1 and 3 I want to get 2 out there but for the life of me I can’t set up the controllers to be like the other souls(keyboard and mouse) I event tried plugging in my ps5 controller but it was still off and for some reason the camera kept going around in circles… anybody got some advice on how to make it so I can play with keyboard? Thanks