The artful mincer
Member
there much easier to fully upgrade late game than regular weapons where you have to arse about in New Londo Ruins farming chunks and slabs.
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Did I “get gud” at Dark Souls?
- Thread starter Maddux4164
- Start date
there much easier to fully upgrade late game than regular weapons where you have to arse about in New Londo Ruins farming chunks and slabs.
Maddux4164
Member
Gonna do it for sure.
The artful mincer
Member
Cool you sound much better prepared this time!
what level was your weapon last time
Maddux4164
Member
No idea at all. No clue on anything from last time. Zero lol. But yes, I feel more battle tested and ready now.
The artful mincer
Member
Thats not to bad I think i was about 50 to 60 hours at them on my first tryIt’s insane. Steam says I’ve put 32 hours in. I’m not even to O&S yet
Maddux4164
Member
Wow. Really? So my 32 hours are like speed running material? Lol
Maddux4164
Member
Nah. Could easily see that. I’ve got the “knowledge“ to make good progress prior to Anor Londo (knowledge ends there). Also I skipped the depths and gaping dragon. Not because he’s hard… he ain’t… but because it’s useless. But… I’ve done things not required for Anor Londo like
Beating SIF
beating pinwheel
beating moonlight butterfly
Hydra and Dust
Havel
Undead Asylum (2.0) * Stray Demon
New Londo
I have taken my time. Explored. Upgraded. Gotten cool rings. Etc. been a blast.
Beating SIF
beating pinwheel
beating moonlight butterfly
Hydra and Dust
Havel
Undead Asylum (2.0) * Stray Demon
New Londo
I have taken my time. Explored. Upgraded. Gotten cool rings. Etc. been a blast.
The artful mincer
Member
Yeah I think that's a fairly reasonably good first try. Most people complete the game in about 45 to 60 hours depending on how much extra stuff they do.
You have done a lot of other stuff already that is usually done later so you might speed up!
I took so long first try because like you I had no idea what I was doing and I have ability (or problem lol) to throw myself at a hard boss for hours on end.
Alright chief have a good one I got to go to work!
Maddux4164
Member
Thanks for the convo. Yes a fully “blind” run is…. well…. SCARY.
hence why it’s 12 years later and I’m just now trying to finish the game lol.
Be well. Let’s chat later and hope we can finish and beat O&S.
Soodanim
Gold Member
The average level for O&S is around 40-45, and you're 53 with a weapon and shield upgraded past what is normally available. All you need to do is learn to manage 2 bosses at once, and that's manageable once you take stock of what you're up against.
Now you can see why even though I platinumed it on PS3, I have 390 hours across both Steam versions. I have days where I randomly decide to do an ultra-specific build and I'll spend the whole day playing to get to that point. Even reading this thread I start thinking "I should do X again, that was fun". If you keep playing after the first run and you start to really know the game, that for me is when the true fun begins. The sheer amount of freedom you get opens up so much. I once did a character where I wanted to find out just how much I could do/get without beating any bosses past the tutorial.It’s insane. Steam says I’ve put 32 hours in. I’m not even to O&S yet
Reality Czar
Banned
O&S is indeed the big difficulty spike. But once you get over it, you will feel confident that you can beat the rest.
The way I usually do it is by fighting Orenstein while keeping Smough in eyesite so I can dodge his attacks. I don't know why but I always take out the smaller one and leave the big guy for 2nd.
When you are solo fighting Smough he does this hammer smash attack where by instinct you are going to want to dodge away but actually the thing to do is dodge into the attack. Very counter intuitive but it works for me.
Also if you get seriously stuck then just grind levels in Anor Londo by parry killing all the silver knights. This is the point in the game where I learned parry.
The way I usually do it is by fighting Orenstein while keeping Smough in eyesite so I can dodge his attacks. I don't know why but I always take out the smaller one and leave the big guy for 2nd.
When you are solo fighting Smough he does this hammer smash attack where by instinct you are going to want to dodge away but actually the thing to do is dodge into the attack. Very counter intuitive but it works for me.
Also if you get seriously stuck then just grind levels in Anor Londo by parry killing all the silver knights. This is the point in the game where I learned parry.
laynelane
Member
Onion Bro is next met inside Sens Fortress. Right below where you encounter the first rolling ball. After that, you'll find him in Anor Londo outside a room of Silver Knights (that you need to clear to continue his quest). The quest continues from there too, but you might want to check if he's in those places first.
Nice job on getting past the archers and good luck with O&S!
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
This thing with O&S is getting in your head a bit. You're much stronger than when you fought them back then.
Yumi
Member
Onion Bro is in Anor Londo. If you beat Orntein and Smough before finding him, his quest line will end. His questline I find especially easy to mess up. Had to use a guide the one time I finished it.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Yeh it gets really finicky in lost Izalith. Always nice to get a slab tho
Maddux4164
Member
Kinda screwed. Onion face is in Sens still per a poster up above. Truly don’t feel like jetting all the way back to Sens for that. Blahhhh. Guess I’ll have to get his quest line another time. Oh well.
Maddux4164
Member
Bingo. Yes…. I’ve started this game from scratch maybe 5-8 times over the years. Mainly just because it’s extremely fun to explore. Usually get my ”itch” scratched somewhere around beating the depths.
But not this time. It’s full force. I’ve done things and beaten bosses this run that I’ve never done before. I’m in it for the end
Maddux4164
Member
Yeah. See he’s not in Anor Londo for me. Because I messed Up apparently and he’s inside of Sens fortress. Didn’t know and never went to seek him out. It’s fine, I’ll do more runs and catch his quest next time. Do not feel like leaving my comfy bonfire in Anor Londo castle (or whatever it’s called) and going to Sens
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Don't worry, I've succeeded and failed the quest many times. Sometimes Siegmeyer just never shows up in Anor Londo, or his daughter never shows up later and I'm like "ehh, maybe next time." As you've said you already have 1 slab for +15 Uchi.
laynelane
Member
The last time I tried to do his quest, he died in one hit. It must have been counter damage. I was so mad. I mean, I wanted the slab but also wanted to complete the quest since it's been a while.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Yeah it's kind of a touching quest, a father and daughter going the distance as much as they can. That poison pit and the oogly booglys in it, well sometimes it's a mess managing the right amount of protecting Seigmeyer while also making him feel like he's contributing, lol
Maddux4164
Member
Yep. I’m good on the +15 Uchi upgrade With my one slab. So it’s fine. Not really needing to progress other weapons or armor to +15. Uchi is deadly something serious!! My Drake sword is almost useless. I keep it for if I’m ever in battle and my “weapon breaks” Before I can Repair it at a bonfire
TheMay30thMan
Member
You didn’t “git gud” if you have to ask. Those that stand atop that mountain know the power they hold as they spit on us peasants below...
Maddux4164
Member
Question for the peeps here
I will at some point face O&S tonight
Should I try and summon an NPC? Or… really go it at hard solo for the “fun factor” of being solo?
I will at some point face O&S tonight
Should I try and summon an NPC? Or… really go it at hard solo for the “fun factor” of being solo?
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Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
You should stock some repair powders (merchant sitting in undead burg) to help you in a pinch to fix uchi, but it also makes drake sword a bit less trash. The good thing about drake sword is it can shoot a blast of energy with it's 2 handed R2. But it rapidly degrades the weapon. But could shoot blasts from it and then just repair it with powder. It's long past it's usefulness by Anor Londo though, the weakest of all the tail weapons.
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Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Totally up to you. Either is completely respectable. Maybe start solo and if you have a really hard time summon Solaire as a meat shield. Remember it's two on one, so you're only evening the odds.
My main advice though, would be to continue nuding up like you have been doing before each boss. That is, get your equipment load under 25% so you can fast roll. That way when the boss jumps high in the air to do a lightning charged AoE bo0ty slam, you can quickly roll to safety
Maddux4164
Member
It’s such a badass starter weapon though. Anyone wanting an OP weapon at the beginning of the game….. this is the one!
Maddux4164
Member
Oh yes. I’ll absolutely be fast rolling. No way I’m walking in with the Havel armor set on hahah. Nope. Not worth it.
Fast rolling is what helped me beat Sif and well…. Pretty much every other boss too. I am Fine with a good “mid roll” in normal exploration. But fast roll only for bosses.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Once you start timing all your rolls so that you use their invincibility frames to perfectly dodge huge boss attacks, you feel like you're Neo dodging everything in the Matrix, it's awesome. I feel sorry for the guys putting all their hope in their shields.
Toytown Assassin
Member
If you are still putting off O&S there are other options to pass the time in Arnor Londo. An optional hidden boss and an optional secret side area which is my favourite part of the game.
Maddux4164
Member
Yeah. It’s not worked for me. It’s bout that roll. The Stray Demon was impossible for me until I went in on a fast roll with 2 hands on my sword.
Maddux4164
Member
I’ll see how it goes. Think I’m at the “closest” bon fire to O&S. So we will see what happens later when I boot It up. Not ever opposed to doing other stuff hah. I put Off Anor Londo itself and messed around in the catacombs beating Pinwheel and Sif prior to that. Etc. procrastination has made me stronger hah
laynelane
Member
There's also Elizabeth in the DLC for repair powders although that will take some time to get to. The merchant in the Undead Burg was an unfortunate casualty in the OP's quest for the Uchigatana. On another note, I've never used the tailed weapons. Maybe I'll check them out next time.
Maddux4164
Member
Ahh yes. Good eye. Yep the Uchi was “loaned” to me by that merchant
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Love 2 handing as well. You're gonna be fine.
Lucky for you there are tougher bosses than Ornstein and Smough to look forward to.
There's something about that fight though. It's really epic, a great souls setpiece...fighting those crazy golden homeys in the deepening dusk of Anor Londo.
Of course, night can fall on Anor Londo as well. A deep dark, filled with crazy pvp
laynelane
Member
Have you decided which order you're going to beat O&S? Btw, they can both be bled with your Uchigatana (takes quite a few strikes, though) so I think that will help.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
Well then you'll need Elizabeth like Layne said, although Dusk also teaches a repair spell. Remember the girl you saved that you can summon near that rock where you killed the hydra?Ahh yes. Good eye. Yep the Uchi was “loaned” to me by that merchant
Maddux4164
Member
Tougher? Ooo. Yikes. Well… first things first. O&S!
Maddux4164
Member
Someone suggested killing O first. Leaving fatty for last. ? Perhaps I’ll give that a go first. The bleeding is what makes this weapon incredible. The way it absolutely shreds them is impressive
Maddux4164
Member
Yep. I will do whichever is easier I guess. Open to anything. Obviously gotta tackle the DLC too. Not sure “when“ is good for that stuff. But luckily I’ll get fast travel after O&S (I think). Make it easier to get around
laynelane
Member
I think it's the music too. As well, since I always beat Smough first, I have a lot of time to appreciate Orenstein's moveset. There's a certain regal quality to the way he moves which I appreciate.
Maddux4164
Member
Ugh. Now I’m conflicted. Wanted to beat the fatty last. Is there an objectively “easier” way to do it? By that I mean, which one to kill first?
laynelane
Member
Super Smough is easier to beat than Super O so it's a valid choice. I just like O's armour better (the pants go on and stay on for the rest of the game once I get it) and the boss weapon for his soul. For the bleeding damage, it might take longer to see the effect with them but that burst damage helps shorten the fight for sure.
Maddux4164
Member
I usually “Cash” in the boss souls. Hah. Oops
laynelane
Member
Super Smough is easier, for sure. Slower, simpler moveset which gives you plenty of opportunites to get in some damage. If you bring in Sunbro, he will always target Orenstein too, making it much faster to get to the second phase.
Maddux4164
Member
I’ll test it solo first. See what happens. If I need Solarie, ill use that strat.
Touch fuzZy. get BizZay
Member
I like to wear Artoria's chicken legs, makes my upper body seem even buffer.
The giant around the corner takes souls and turns them into unique weapons, for example the golem axe from Sen's which he used to fire blasts of air, you can get your own golem axe with his souls
Maybe just let the chips fall where they may on your first complete playthrough. If one of them is nearly dead, finish him off and fight the other, whoever it happens to be. Remember that the remaining boss's life will be fully restored when his ally falls
Maddux4164
Member
Sound advice. I’ll go in the fight and just let the chips fall where they may.
laynelane
Member
That's not a bad thing, really. The boss weapons require a lot of resources to create and the process is complicated too. Many of them need high stats or specific stats for good damage, as well. So, maybe consuming them for the souls is the wiser course of action.