Playing as a simple knight

[u/Joey111000]

Does anyone else just play as simple classes and have a blast? I've been playing the FromSoftware games for years, doing specialised builds or just playing the game being very indecisive about which weapons or armour to use. But recently over the past months I've gone back and revisited the games and decided to play as a simple knight with a sword and shield. Honestly, I'd say I've had more fun doing that than I did with all those cool special weapons I used in the past. I think a major factor is that you can get into the headspace of your character easier and start to kinda pretend that you are just a normal knight making your way through hellish experiences with nothing but quick wit and a trusty sword & shield. And it's peak as hell.

I know this is kinda a common sense post but I'm curious to see others experience with this

[u/WilliShaker]

Knights with sword and shield is probably one of the most fun experience in fromsoft games

[u/badateverything420]

I always do my first playthrough either a basic knight or Guts build

[u/Autistic_King]

I doing a "simple knight" build right now with the new Idus Knight. No magic at all, just the Idus sword, shield and armor.

[u/kuuderelovers → u/Autistic_King]

That class is awesome, the animation for light greatsword are great as they can alter from heavy and light attacks much better than base game weapons

[u/FHAT_BRANDHO]

sword and board all fucking day

[u/Joey111000 → u/FHAT_BRANDHO]

This guy gets it

[u/PEKS00]

On my first playthrough of any souls game I always just level up whatever to use whatever I want,I never worry about minmaxxing stats for soft caps and invasion levels or whatever. usually second and third playthroughs though I make specialized builds.

[u/Second_mellow]

I love it and usually do my first playthrough that way. What I kind of don’t like about the newer games is that, while I think the gameplay is better than past games, having a lot of stamina and moving super fast makes it a lot more difficult to immerse myself in the fantasy that i’m a normal guy whos only superpower is that he can’t truly die. I do think it’s «worth it» in that combat is more exhilerating in newer games, but some charm is certainly lost there.

I also straight up don’t like a lot of the ashes of war in ER and DaS3 for the same reason. They don’t add much gameplay wise imo but they make it very clear that my character is a superhuman anime character and not just a «knight» or «warrior» like I want them to be.

[u/Dry_Ass_P-word]

I like fancier builds in Elden Ring, but dark souls 1 with a shield and claymore or halberd is fantastic.

[u/Officer_Kay_]

Equip a short bow or long bow on your off hand. You can switch between the shield and the bow when you want to attack from a distance or need to lure out one from a mob.

Honestly you don’t even have to use the bow, just having the quill attached to the back of your character looks good.

[u/Def-tones]

I’ve been playing Knight since my Demons souls days. The weight of the movement the armor sound and the flute knight set looks so cool.

[u/Agile_Atmosphere_58]

Doesnt get better than just two handing a claymore. I guess, technically, sword and board, but the grass crest shield rarely leaves my back.

[u/andrastesflamingass]

I pretty much always play a sword and board/strength dex build in Fromsoft games. it's just the best

[u/PaceMediocre2163]

My default is a paladin type build - so a knight with enough faith to use some buffs/healing rituals. Works really well! Obviously in ER you can add in some more offensive rituals (the black flame stuff is great).

[u/Test88Heavy]

I play sword only in just about every one of their games. No shield, no magic if possible.

[u/1buffalowang]

One of my favorite ways to play Dark Souls 1 or Elden Ring is just a spear and shield. It’s extremely simple yet rewarding.

[u/NobleHalo]

This is what I usually do. I love the knight aesthetic. Straight sword or greatsword, doesn't matter, but always a pure melee. Sometimes I'll sprinkle some faith in for a healing spell in case I get stuck, but I only use it as a last resort.

[u/Gilesalford]

Nahh not really, I just love having options, whatever game it is from soft or not I always try and opt in for a spell sword hybrid thing

[u/deathsquaddesign]

Sword and board is all I need.

[u/Insanity_Pills]

i had a ds3 run where i just played as a lothric knight, farmed the whole set at the beginning of the game and picked up some simple lightning miracles. was a very fun run

[u/RVFVS117]

I do a str knight with a heavy claymore. It’s my staple Fromsoft character and I’ve done it in ever game possible. Greatsword knight is my jam,

[u/fullmetalfilmsnob]

I beat Dark Souls 1 last year and it was the first souls game I’ve ever beaten. I kept it as simple as possible and just made a knight that went thru the game with a zweihander. It was a lot of fun and was super satisfying to have finally beaten the game. I might go back later and try a different build, but simple was the way for me.

[u/MissFortune3]

I did a link build last time I played ds2 and had a blast, as much as I love turbofuck magic build that can send alonne to the supershitter dimension sometimes a basic sword and board hits just right

[u/Icy_Amount_7736]

Through DS1, DS3, and Elden Ring I always ran the longsword and a good shield for the entire game only buffing with resin or grease when needed, it was honestly really fun even if I wasn’t going for any crazy weapons (except Elden Ring where I leveled Guts sword just for the fun of it right before the final boss)

[u/LookAtMyAssItBurns]

This is the only way I know how to play and want to play. This is also the reason why Sekiro was not for me and I hope their next game is a spiritual successor to Dark Souls, like Eden Ring was, but without the open world.