Take care of your threads

Armor and its many variants often become apparent to a player a little way in or on second playthrough. Yet it is in investing and understanding armors and sets that a player can reap some of the best rewards the game has to offer. Combining and elevating armor pieces with statsitics can leave the player more powerful and capable than an early game consideration would dream.

Here are 10 of the very best builds avaialble in Dark Souls and all the details of what is required to get them.

10. Triple Hybrid Caster Build

 

A build bespoke for movement and casting based gameplay. The relative lightness of the build and control to the pacing of many encounters through projectiles gives a unique combat style. Though the endless supply of blade and steel in the game may appear the way to go in Dark Souls, there is an entire arsenal of magic and casting to dominate a playthrough.

What Triple Hybrid Caster Build Excels In: 

• Highly effective regular offense available - Black flame, Great Chaos Fireball, Wrath of the gods, Fire tempest 
• Powerful casts Dark orb, Dark bead, etc. can utterly dominate enemies
• The casts have a range suiting both nearby and distant enemy encounters
• Despite light and not defensively minded - can tank for 1 or 2 hits

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: 43 Vitality, 45 Faith, 34 Attunement, 25 Endurance,16 Intelligence, 15 Dexterity

Weapons: Darkmoon Talisman, Divine Winged Spear, Tin Darkmoon Catalyst, Dark Moon Catalyst Pyromancy

Armor: Crown of the Dark Sun, Dingy Robe (buffed), Gauntlet of Thorns (buffed), Shadow Leggings (buffed)

Rings: Ring of favor and protection, Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring

9. Paladin of Lightning Build

 

A build designed to get the very best of lightning effect in equipment, weapon buffs, armor and resistances. Ultimately, more of a strength build than other magic and casting sets. Furthermore, unlike other faith builds, this does not come with a fast roll, so shield use is a must. That being said, between the Fashion of the build and the power of its faith attacks, the Paladin Lightning Build has been popular across souls games.

What Paladin of Lightning Excels In:

• Most damage for Wrath of the Dark Gods casting from a Faith build
• 27 strength offering the two handed strength the same as soft cap 
• Superb lightning buffs, make light work of enemies
• Balanced output between casting and striking

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: 47 Vitality, 43 Endurance, 35 Faith, 27 Strength, Attunement 16, Dexterity 14, Resistance 11 – 76+ Poise

Weapons: Lightning Balder Side Sword, Lightning Shotel, Lightning Rapier, Mace, Reinforced Club, Morning Star, Canvas Talisman

Shield: Sanctus

Armor: Crown of the Dark Sun, Black Iron Armor and Leggings, Havel’s Gauntlets

Rings: Ring of the Sun's Firstborn, Ring of Favor and Protection

8. Bleed Build

 

 

A fun build to use equipped with an enemy mashing classic in the Life hunt Scythe. At heart a dexterity build morphed to bring out the best of the game’s bleed capacities. This build’s powerful output may not even leave time for bleed build up! Speed and bleed is the successful aim of this build and the gothic fashion set up only compliments it. 

What Bleed Build Excels In:

• Fast Roll with high damage capacities
• Havel’s Armor parts for high defense with mobility
• Death by a thousand cuts with bleedout
• Mobility to pull off regular backstabs

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: Vitality 50, Endurance 50, Dexterity 45, Strength 16, Attunement 12,

Weapons: Gold Tracer, Lifehunt Scythe, Katanas, Flamberge 

Shield: Bloodshield

Armor: Snickering Top Hat, Havel’s Armor, Havel’s Gauntlets, Hollow Soldiers Waistcloth

Rings: Ring of Favor and Protection, Havel’s Ring

7. Dragon Slayer Ornstein Build

 

This should be preambled by pointing out this is as much a cosplay and a build. It just happens to be a cosplay of one of the coolest, most memorable and powerful bosses in the game. Low and behold, that very boss had some remarkable armor and a pretty powerful move set. While you can't quite fly across a room like Ornstein himself, your damage output and general deadliness makes this build a fitting tribute.  

What Dragon Slayer Ornstein Build Excels In:

• Precise devastating thrust attacks
• Greatly complimented with faith attributes
• Mobile, aggressive combat
• Deadly attacks with huge reach

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: 42 Vitality, 38 Endurance, 34 Dexterity, 30 Faith, 24 Strength,14 Attunement 

Weapons: DragonSlayer Spear or Great Lightning Spear

Shield: Grass Crest Shield

Armor: Ornstein Armor Set

Rings: Ring of Favor and Protection, Leo Ring

6. Pure Faith Build

 

 

While its fashion definitely appears entirely of faith character, it is the mix of speed, magic and available buffs that make the build. It is light, it can fast roll and yes, runs the risk of being in ‘glass cannon’ terrain. Yet, opening up the avenue of combos with wrath of gods and a buffed weapon leaves mincemeat of enemies. Perhaps most effectively, use of Great Magic Barrier leaves the player a magic tank in this build.

What Pure Faith Build Excels In:

• Buff the balder side sword and fear no one
• Emit Force is a crowd clearer
• Great Lightning Spear for picking off enemies from a distance
• High resistant to magic and very mobile to dodge casts

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: 50 Faith, 44 Vitality, 35 Endurance, 23 Attunement, 16 Strength, 14 Dexterity, 11 Resistance

Weapons: Divine Claymore, Balder Side Sword, Dark Moon Talisman

Shield: Heater Shield

Armor: Crown of the Dark Sun, Dingy Robe, Elite Knight Gauntlets, Hollow Soldier Waistcloth

Rings: Ring of Favor and Protection, Ring of the Sun’s Firstborn

5. Pure Strength Build

 

The build most players will naturally lean to without necessarily noticing when first timing a game of dark souls. Though endurance soon seems all, strength is commonly a players go to, to up their output once mobility has been harnessed. Picking chocolate over broccoli comes with its immediate upsides as this build will grant the player some of the largest and most devastating weapons in the game. 

What Pure Strength Build Excels In:

• Huge weapons with fast rolling
• Universally high damage output
• Heavy armor accessibility
• Access some of the best movesets in game

Build details:

Statistic Requirements: Vitality 45, Endurance 60, Strength 40, Dexterity 18, 

Weapons: Man-Serpent GreatSword, Black Knight Sword, Demon Great Machete, Black Knight Greatsword, Butcher Knife, Black Knight Halberd, Black Knight Greataxe

Armor: Mask of the Father, Knight Armor, Knight Gauntlets, Knight Leggings

Shield: Balder Shield

Rings: Ring of Favor and Protection, Havel’s Ring

4. Pure Pyromancer Ninja Build

 

As the name suggests, fast mobility and flame damage output make the strengths of this build. The curved sword move set opens a lighter build to cartwheels, flurries and all the tools of fast movement and agility. Ideally started with either a warrior or pyro class, the dynamic pace attacks and wicked fashion make up a solid choice for any adventurous player.

What Pyromancer Ninja Build Excels In:

• Only necessary attribute is 45 dexterity
• Power Within for one shotting opponents
• Poison mist shield for casting protection
• Poison mist followed by fire tempest, for total domination

Build Details:

Stat Requirements: Vitality 50, Attunement 28, Endurance 36,  Dexterity 45, Strength 13, Intelligence 10

Weapons: Queelaags Furysword, Dagger, balder side sword for flame resistant enemies, power within for spell

Shield: Heater Shield

Armor: Crown of the dark sun, Shadow Garb, Gauntlet of thorns, Shadow leggings

Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring

3. Pure Dexterity Build

 

Developing dexterity is one the savviest moves any player can make. Having a build dedicated to the best of it opens access to some of the most creative and devastating weapons in the game. This build also includes a strong stack of vitality and reliable back up of pyromancy, inviting the player to master its weapons, move sets and control encounters. 

What Pure Dexterity Build Excels In

• Two unique weapon movesets in one hand wreck havoc
• Mobility and movement based combat
• High HP from vitality scaling
• Near any range of effective attack available

Build details: 

Statistic Requirements: Vitality 53, Dexterity 45, Endurance 45, Attunement 14 for slots, Strength 14-16

Weapons: Great Scythe, Queelaags Furysword, flamberge, silver knights spear, Silver Knight’s Straight Sword, 

Sheilds; Heater Shield, tower shield, kite shield, balder knights shield, Grass Crest Shield, Blood Shield

Armor: Mask of the mother, chain armor, traveling gloves, Knight leggings

Ring of Favor and protection, Wolf Ring

2. Pure Strength Tank Build

 

 

The most accessible, the least technical, the lowest hanging fruit? Well, potentially, yes… to all three and that would leave the player with… a powerful, reliable build to get them through every encounter from trickiest enemies to ghastly bosses. So the playstyle is based around the idea that the player will essentially soak up damage until the enemies are vanquished. The player will be left with a challenging and memorable Dark Souls run through irrespectively…

What Pure Strength Tank Build Excels In:

• Hiding behind big shields
• Delivering big hits
• Using heavy weapons
• The safe bet of Dark Souls builds

Build details: 

Stat Requirements: Vitality as high as possible, 40 endurance, 40 strength, 16 attunement for four attunement slots, 10 Dex, 

Weapons: 1st heavy hitting weapon for example; man-serpent great sword, large club, Zweihander, 2nd weapons, something with reach and speed, spears (Demon Spear) and halberds.

Sheilds: Great Shield of Artorias – 88 stability, enemies don’t stand a chance

Armor: Mask of Mother, Golum armor, Havel's gauntlets, Golum Leggings

Rings: Ring of Favor and Protection and Havel's ring

1. Pure Quality Build

 

This is essentially the most straightforward balancing of strength and dexterity statistics. Because of the gravity and natural inclination of strength as a developed stat, many players will find this build an available and worthwhile pursuit. It is a build that doesn’t demand rare or niche acquisitions from the player. Furthermore, it brings the best out of many of the games strongest easily available weapons.

What Pure Quality Build Excels In:

• Offers  an array of armor choices
• Offers access to around 80% of the games weapons, in majority buffable and very durable
• Popular and solid entry to the depth of Dark Souls customizable nature 
• Builds stats that a player will appreciate during build.

Build details:

Statistic Requirements: Soft cap (Level 40) for endurance, strength, dexterity and vitality too. Only 12 for attunement, it should be noted heavier armor may require further leveling of endurance.

Supports a variety of powerful and durable weapons: falchion, claymore, halberds, zweihander, many in the curved sword class weapons

Shields: nearly half in game accessible, many of low weights yet high stability and durability, tower kite shield, grass cress shield, Bloodshield, cress shield, silver knight shield highest in game stability very low weight

Armor: Mask of the Mother, Hollow Thief’s Leather Armor, Knight Gauntlets, Chain Leggings

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