DARK SOULS I - Tips and tricks

Why you should backup save files ? Well the game is unforgiving on many aspects not only the boss fights and general survivability but also regardings the loot (unique enemies that reward nothing); stats (no way to respec your char); upgrade ore (waste of ultra rare materials on useless upgrades) and online activity where a hacker can in a glance poison all your saves, nullifying all your progress and there is no way to "cure" it.

Avoid tons of unnecessary frustration and backup save files:

-> before fight/farm that unique black knight with his juicy weapon you want so much

-> before level up your choosen undead

-> before going down an upgrade path using unique or very rare ore

-> going online and risking all your progress across all your chars because of a hacker

So how to ?
It's just about "copy/paste" but for the sake of organization - first create a folder let's say on your desktop and call it "Dark Souls R". Within this folder create another one and call it for example "saves_backup". So it will looks like Desktop\Dark Souls R\saves_backup

Now go in Documents\NBGI\DARK SOULS REMASTERED:

Copy "919..." folder (it contains all your chars) and paste it into "saves_backup".

Now since you will repeat this task quite often I recommend you 2 things:
- create a shortcut to DARK SOULS REMASTERED folder and place it in "Dark Souls R"
- create a sub-folder in saves_backup each time you copy/paste to follow progression and roll back stage.

Here an example:

So this way I know "when" / "what lvl I was" / "what I was doing" and if something go wrong I just roll back to any stage of progress.

Humanity level (also called "liquid humanity") is the number shown on your top left corner.

Humanity level have different properties:

- Increase your Item Discovery (later "ID") with diminishing returns. Maximum bonus reached at Humanity x10 => 210 ID rate. The base rate is 100. Now having Humanity x1 gives you 150 ID rate. So yea wearing as often as possible x1 liquid humanity is a cheap way to boost your ID rate. No need go further unless you farming something specific.

- Increase your Defense (Physical/Magic/Fire/Lightning) with diminishing returns; optimal is 30 liguid humanities for +40 to all defenses bonus.

- Increase damage of Quelaags Furysword - maximum at 10

- Increase damage of Chaos Blade - maximum at 10

- recover Human form and activate online interactions (co-op/PvP), in Hollow (non-Human) state you cannot invite friend into your world, invade another player or being invaded.

To increase humanity level you can use humanity consumable item from your inventory.

Also the same consumable fully restores your HP bar (in PvE as well as in PvP). Could be a nice addition to Estus Flask in emergency cases. No worries around mid game you will reach spot to farm them as many as you want (see Farming Locations).

The Poise value determines how easy you can get stunned. More poise = less chances to get stunned during an action.

It's like a stamina bar except you cannot see it on HUD. With each hit you loose an amount of poise, once poise reach 0 - you will get stunned/interrupted.

The amount of poise available can be seen on your stats sheet.

The default poise recovery time is 5 seconds.

The amount of armor pieces you wearing reduce the poise recovery time:
-> 1 piece = 4.5 s
-> 2 pieces = 4 s
-> 3 pieces = 3.6 s
-> 4 pieces = 3.2 s

So it's always useful wearing something on you even if armor set have very low physical/elemental defenses.

The first Dark Soul game have unique mechanic regarding dragons.
If you manage to cut the dragon tail before killing him you obtain a unique blade.

There are 8 weapons obtainable this way: x5 in main game and x3 from DLC.
To avoid kill the dragon - always hit the very end part of the tail.

[Hellkite Wyvern]
Location: Undead Burg
Reward: Drake Sword
Note: good starting weapon, easiest way to cut the tail is go under the bridge towards rat area and aim for tail from there (around 300 wooden arrows will be required, less depending on your bow/dex and upgrade level of bow. [Gaping Dragon] [BOSS]
Location: Depths
Reward: Dragon King Greataxe

Note: It's Special attack is devastating! One of the most powerful in the game but right timing is required. Fully upgraded - it can wipe Artorias boss with x4 successfully landed special attacks. [Bell Gargoyle] [BOSS]
Location: Undead Parish
Reward: Gargoyle Tail Axe

Note: no worries if you kill the boss before cut - later you will reach Anor Londo - there is x2 non-boss Gargoyles so you will have another chance.

[Everlasting Dragon] [NPC]
Location: Ash Lake
Reward: Dragon Greatsword
Notes: This is easiest tail cut you'll have - the NPC Everlasting Dragon do not move and go no aggro if you hit him. Also you do not loose Path of the Dragon covenantship.
Now this Ultra Greatsword is fantastic! Yes it have no scaling and can't be enchanted but it's base damage is already tremendous, hits like a big truck and if you manage to connect the Special attack's physical part to the Wave (magical part) you double the damage output - near 1000.
No matter how far you go into NG+++ nothing will overwhelm this weapon ever. The only downside - it's weight...24 you will struggle to wear it without fatrollong at the beginning. I recommend to try it - you will cut through NG's like hot knife through butter. Needs 34STR for two handing. [Seath The Scaleless] [BOSS]
Location: Crystal Cave
Reward: Moonlight Greatsword

Notes: The Miyazaki's signature. The low weight, low stats requirements and excellent INT scaling (up to 40), stylish and varied attacks makes this greatsword the very best friend of all mages.

[Black Dragon Kalameet] [BOSS] [DLC Artorias of the Abyss]

Location: Royal Wood
Reward: Obsidian Greatsword

Note: This greatsword's special attack inflicts 360° physical, magic and high poise damage. Can be buffed. Requires only 14STR for both hand wield. Very nice stuff here but getting to his tail is a hardcore deal. Here is how you can easier the task: die at least once fighting him then go back near Artorias boss fight area and find NPC Hawkeye Gough. Answer "yes" twice and see Kalameet hitting the floor.

[Sanctuary Guardian] [BOSS] [DLC Artorias of the Abyss]

Location: Sanctuary Garden
Reward: Sanctuary Guardian Tail
[Crossbreed Priscilla] [BOSS] [DLC Painted World of Ariamis]

Location: Painted World of Ariamis
Reward: Priscilla's Dagger

[Do NOT speak to NPC Kingseeker Frampt after obtaining the Lordvessel]

- Kill BOSS Great Grey Wolf Sif to obtain Covenant of Artorias ring (to be able to walk in Abyss)

*- Get Lordvessel in Anor Londo

- Speak to NPC Ingward in New Londo Ruins to receive the key to access The Abyss

- Equip Covenant of Artorias ring and enter the Abyss. Deafeat BOSS Four Kings

- Once boss defeated you can remove and store Covenant of Artorias ring - you don't need it anymore for current playthrough

- NPC Darkstalker Kaathe will appear near bonfire. Speak to Kaathe, the primordial serpent

- Answer "YES" to his question (or you won't be able to join the Darkwraiths Covenant)

- Place the Lordvessel

- Offer x10 Humanties to reach Rank 1 and get the Red Eye Orb

You are all set, just remember to use the Orb you must be in Human form and member of Darkwraith covenant.

When you back to Firelink Shrine , approach NPC Kingseeker Frampt (the other primordial serpent), he will throw a tantrum and go back to bed until next playthrough. Good riddance unless you need a lying, stinky recycling machine. !HAIL TO DARKSTALKER KAATHE!

*NOTE: you can skip the Lordvessel step if you kill NPC Ingward, he will drop the key

Rarest ore allowing last step of full upgrade path of your favorite weapon.

Locations:

-> Northern Undead Asylum [RETURN]: kill BOSS Stray Demon

-> Complete Siegmeyer's questline

-> [DLC] Kalameet Boss area: chest behind waterfall (you don't have to fight the boss)

-> The Great Hollow: there is 7 crystal lezards in this area, the Slab drops from one of the first two lezards. They disappear almost instantly when you approach or they hear your sound (footsteps, rolling). Two methods to get them:

1. upgraded bow (like Pharis bow) and arrows - DEX investment required
2. Slumbering Dragoncrest Ring + Hidden Body spell (INT14 required)

I hear often here and there that Blighttown is a most discouraging place to go or even a hell itself.
A lot of Choosen Undead avoid it as much as possible or try to run through asap.

The reasons are obvious: mobs poisons you, some folks with a bucket on their heads shoot at you with toxic darts and that mud all over the place poisonous and slows you down on top of that.

Alright and if I tell you that you can turn this area into cakewalk in a garden without too much effort ? Let's go.

You need to get x3 components:

Rusted Iron Ring
This ring will allow you run in Blighttown's mud unaffected by slow down.
To get it go back to Northen Undead Asylum (your starting location):
- once you reach Asylum go up from where you jumped on the Asylum Demon's boss face
- up there you should find a door guarded by 2 Undead Soldiers.
- get rid of enemies, open the door and voilà
Note: to get back in Asylum look above ruins in Firelink Shrine, see that Giant Crow ? That's your taxi. To get to the crow use elevator, go up and jump off on broken floor. Continue your way up to nest and use "Curl Up" emote. Wait a bit. Purple Moss Clump
Instantly cancels poison status and poison bar.
Two ways to get it:

-> buy it from NPC Undead Merchant (female) for 500 souls each. You can find her in long tunel when you go up from Firelink Shrine to Undead Burg.

-> farm by killing Ents (trees that hit you with "whips") in Darkroot Garden.
Get 15-20.

Blooming Purple Moss Clump
Instantly cancels toxic (and poison status).
Same ways to get like Purple Moss except the price is doubled - 1000 souls each.
Get 5-10.

Okay you are all set just don't forget to link the consumables to your belt for fast use.
Enjoy the exploration of the area with a peace of mind like never before.

Here on of the glitchless way to easily stomp the Capra Demon boss.
The only requirement here is a weapon that kill Undead Attack Dog in 1 hit.

As soon as you enter the fog do NOT try to fight but roll to the stairs.

Do a first roll to right side to avoid pack then keep rolling to stairs:
Run up:
Run:
And jump:

CONGRATULATIONS :-) You won the fight.

Now get rid of mad dogs:
The gap here in floor will make Capra fall (always):

Remember that Asylum Demon ? Fall and hold RB:

Item Discovery

Your base Item Discovery rate is always at 100.
The maximum possible rate is 410.

To achieve this you need to wear x10 liquid humanities (+ 110) and Covetous Gold Serpent Ring (+200).

Note: Gold Serpent Ring ID rate do NOT stack with Symbol of Avarice.

Souls

To earn +73% of souls you need to wear Covetous Silver Serpent Ring (+20%) with Symbol of Avarice (+20%) and do Overkill (+20%).

Note: Overkill bonus is granted if landed at least x1 hit greater than 150% of enemy's HP. Can be achieved by Riposte, Backstab, Power within buff spell also by boosted Magic and Miracle offensive spells.

[Humanity]
- Dephs: rats
- Archive's Prison (in Duke Archive): Pisacas ("woman octopus")
- Chasm of the Abyss (in DLC) : Humanity Spirits ("dark ghosts") [Large Titanite Shard]
- Blightown: slugs all around the giant tree (The Great Hollow)
- Oolacile City: Bloatheads
- Painted World of Ariamis (DLC) : Tower Knight (100% drop rate) [Green Titanite Shard]
- Blightown: the x3 slugs, the closest to access The Great Hollow
- Oolacile city: Oolacile Sorceress [Souls]
- Darkroot Garden: Golems
- Darkroot Forest: x4 respawnable NPC forest hunters
- Archive's Prison (in Duke Archive): Pisacas [Twinkling titanite]
- Royal Wood (Oolacile): Stone Guardians
- Crystal Cave (after Duke Archive): Man-Eater Shells [Blue Titanite Chunk]
- Darkroot Forest (near Hydra Lake): Golems
- Kiln Of The First Flame: last Black Knight (100% drop rate) [Blue Titanite Slab]
- Crystal Cave: Moonlight Butterflies (0.2% chance) [Titanite Chunk]
- New Londo Ruins: DarkWraith Knights
- Kiln Of The First Flame: The Black Knights [Golden Pine Resin]
- Darkroot Forest: x2 giants mushrooms guarding a chest (near Great Grey Wolf Sif boss entrance) [Dragon Scale]
- Valley of Drakes: Drakes (access from Darkroot Bassin bonfire) [Titanite Slabs]
- New Londo Ruins: Darkwraith Knights (0.21% Chance)

[STRENGHT]

This stat have unique mechanic: two-handing a weapon will require less STR than marked on weapon stats sheet.
So let's a weapon require 50STR - this means that you will need 50STR to wield weapon by one hand. If you take it by two hands the STR requirement will be 34STR.

You can calculate it by dividing by 1.5 and rounding up.
So STR50 -> 50/1.5 = 33.33 -> round up -> 34.
Beware that if weapon have also DEX requirement - you will need to reach the required amount in order to avoid physical damage penalty.

Another thing, let's say you have STR34, INT15, FTH15 and have weapon that requires STR50, INT20 and/or FTH20. You can wield it with two hands and fully benefit from it's physical damage but the magical damage will be close to zero (fire, lightning or magic damage).

[EQUIPMENT LOAD]

Try to stay between 0 - 50% of equipment load:
- from 0 to 25% you are in fast roll range
- from 25 to 50 % you are in medium roll range.

So for example: if your stats screen says your Equipment Load is 72 try not go over 36 to stay in medium range. And stay under 18 for fast range.

The equipment load affects your roll, walk and run speed.
Level up Endurance is always a good idead.

[PYROMANCY]

If you are interested to do some magic damage in addition to physical but don't want to spend points in other stats why not try Pyromancy ?

Pyromancy in Dark Souls 1 is a unique type of magic that allows players to cast fire-based spells without any stat investment.
You just need 10ATT (Attunement stat) and you have it already unless you started as Hunter, Bandit or Warrior. So you have x1 spell slot. Now get for free a Pyromancy Flame from NPC Laurenthius (weapon that have no weight nor stat requirements). To increase fire damage just upgrade Pyromancy Flame (get ready to farm some souls).

[RESISTANCE STAT]
Completely useless stat - do not spend a single point into this.
Want be more resistant ? Raise your Vitality and Endurance.

CHEST vs MIMIC

You will find lot of chests during your playthrough. Some of it's content maybe useless, some unvaluable but also some may eat you alive.

So how you say which chest is safe to open and which is not ?
Two ways:
- look at the little chain, if the chain oriented towards you (front) then it's a mimic:
And this is how the chain looks on normal chest:

- another way is to approach the chest and zoom on the lid part, you can see it's "mouth" moving.
To open and loot safely a mimic chest just drop on it a Lloyd's Talisman (throwable item).