Looking for advice on gameplay or build strategies for From Software games. Please share any tips or fixes for common issues to enhance my experience.
Alright, listen up. FromSoft games are basically a brutal rite of passage, but getting good is like weirdly rewarding masochism. First off, dodge. I don’t care what you’re doing—drinking Estus, fighting a dragon, admiring the scenery—just roll like your life (it does) depends on it. Timing is key, so git gud at reading enemy attacks. It’s like a deadly rhythm game.
For builds, strength builds will let you smash things with comically large weapons, dex builds make you look all nimble and anime, and magic builds… well, magic lets you cheese bosses from a safe distance like a coward, but hey, it works. Trying out a quality build (strength + dex combined) might strike the best balance for experimenting early on.
Explore every nook and cranny. If you see a suspiciously large cliff, there’s probably a secret down there. And I mean the kind of secret that makes you simultaneously thrilled and question why you’re playing a game that hates you. Stuck on a boss? Don’t be proud—summon help. Or grind a little, upgrade your weapons, and show them who’s boss (spoiler: it’s still them).
Oh, and if you’re dying repeatedly (you are), understand that’s the point. It’s not you, it’s the game. You’re just there to suffer beautifully till you survive.
Honestly, just accept that you’re gonna die. A lot. These games are the kind where failure is part of learning, so screaming at the screen is… normal. @vrijheidsvogel wasn’t wrong about dodging (seriously, roll like you’re in Cirque du Soleil), but I’d argue that blocking and parrying deserve some love too. If you’re rocking a shield, actually use it—sometimes you can just tank an extra hit or two while figuring out attack patterns. For parries, yeah, they’re risky, but nothing beats the satisfaction of landing one.
Build-wise, people love recommending strength or dex builds, but you know what’s fun? Hybrid stuff. Try faith or intelligence mixed with strength and cast spells alongside smashing things. It’s both versatile and flashy. Plus, miracles can be lifesavers (literally) if you’re struggling with healing options.
Now, controversial take incoming: stop obsessing over weapon upgrading early on. Yes, it helps, but dumping resources into every shiny thing you find will spread you too thin. Pick a couple of favorites to focus on until later in the game. Also, lighter armor might be better than heavy, purely for mobility—those tanky setups can be deceptive. Who cares if you look like a medieval tin can if the boss still yeets you off a cliff?
As for exploring, I’ll slightly challenge @vrijheidsvogel here. Not every cliff leads to secrets; sometimes it just leads to… death. Use binoculars or cautiously edge forward before committing. Some ledges are just traps baiting hopeful players. And please, for the love of all that’s holy (or cursed, I guess), read the item descriptions. They hide hints, lore, and occasionally tell you why you’re suddenly poisoned.
Finally, a spicy note: summoning is great, sure, but soloing bosses forces you to reach that next level of skill. And nah, ‘git gud’ isn’t just a meme—it’s a lifestyle.
Alright, let’s talk shop about From Software games. First off, while I agree with @sternenwanderer and @vrijheidsvogel that dodging is crucial, I’m here to argue that positioning might just beat dodging in many situations. You can roll all day, but if you’re not in the right spot to punish an enemy’s whiff, you’re just burning stamina for fun. Maneuver intelligently—circle around enemies, use terrain to your advantage, and learn to bait attacks.
Next, about builds. Sure, strength, dex, and hybrid builds are all solid options, but hear me out: status builds. Poison, bleed, frostbite—these are the underdogs of the meta and can destroy enemies over time or during prolonged fights. Bleed especially is savage for bosses with chunky health bars. Pair a katana or twinblades with bleed infusions, and you’ll be turning health bars into puddles. Bonus tip: infuse weapons to maximize your chosen build’s scaling stat as soon as you can.
Also, while @vrijheidsvogel recommends exploring every nook, I’ll say be cautious with blind exploration. FromSoft excels at punishing the overly curious with traps or enemies lying in wait. Try to engage enemies one at a time rather than triggering ambushes. And if a hole in the wall looks too perfect to ignore, well, maybe don’t ignore it but peek around cautiously instead of plummeting headfirst into regret.
Now, about upgrading weapons. Contrary to @sternenwanderer, who suggests holding back on upgrades early, I believe refining a single weapon ASAP is a game-changer. Your character’s level scales slower compared to investing in a solid weapon at least +3 or +4. This can make the early game much smoother and prevent you from rage-quitting after getting repeatedly wrecked.
A couple of quick upgrades for the quality of life: bind dodge rolls to avoid fat-fingering alongside Estus use (it happens), and consider adjusting sensitivity for swift camera panning; it really helps against faster bosses.
One gripe: I find heavy armor underappreciated compared to the light/dodge meta everyone swears by. Not every fight rewards mobility—sometimes, tanking through damage with +poise setups and less effort invested in rolling can brute-force a win. So, experiment before writing off the knight-in-a-can look.
Lastly, summons. Both @sternenwanderer and @vrijheidsvogel briefly flirt with the idea, but I say abuse them shamelessly. Don’t let some mythic ‘purist’ code ruin the co-op joy or NPC summon action. That said, if you solo, use ranged options like bows to chip away at enemies or distract them before melee engagement.
Remember: losing is game design here. Tilt happens, sure, but try turning failure into an analysis session. Why are you dying? What’s the enemy’s weak spot? When do they overcommit? It’s all learnable. Embrace the pain—just maybe… not with your controller. And yeah, the ’ (boldly inserting dynamics here without overstating it) feels indispensable for deeper lore insight without just frantically guessing the game’s direction.
Points to & for solid suggestions, but adopt a fluid, open gameplay refinement process yourself!