Dark Souls II Character Creation: Crafting Your Ideal Warrior

Dark Souls II, renowned for its captivating gameplay and challenging combat, offers an intricate character creation system that empowers players to tailor their warriors to their strategic preferences. By carefully selecting attributes, class, and appearance, you embark on a journey with a character perfectly suited to your combat style and aesthetic sensibilities.

Attributes: Defining Your Warrior’s Core

Dark Souls II employs a robust attribute system, allowing you to mold your character’s strengths and weaknesses. Each attribute governs specific aspects of your warrior’s capabilities:

Attribute	Description
Vigor	Increases your health pool and resistance to bleeding.
Endurance	Enhances your stamina, allowing you to swing your weapon more frequently and block attacks.
Vitality	Boosts your maximum equip load, enabling you to wear heavier armor and wield bulkier weapons.
Strength	Augments your physical attack power, crucial for wielding melee weapons effectively.
Dexterity	Improves your agility and finesse, benefiting ranged attacks and certain melee weapons.
Adaptability	Accelerates the speed at which you cast spells, recover from rolls, and consume items.
Intelligence	Enhances your magical prowess, allowing you to cast powerful sorceries.
Faith	Strengthens your connection to the divine, bestowing access to miracles and pyromancies.

Class Selection: Embracing Predefined Character Types

Dark Souls II presents a diverse selection of classes, each tailored to a specific playstyle. While classes provide a starting point, you remain free to shape your warrior’s trajectory through subsequent attribute allocation and equipment choices.

Class	Description
Warrior	A balanced class with proficiency in melee combat.
Knight	A heavily armored tank with exceptional defense.
Sorcerer	A frail yet powerful mage specializing in sorceries.
Cleric	A versatile class proficient in healing and lightning miracles.
Bandit	A nimble rogue with high dexterity and evasion skills.
Explorer	A balanced class with no particular strengths or weaknesses.
Deprived	A class starting with minimal equipment and attributes, offering maximum customization potential.

Appearance Customization: Shaping Your Warrior’s Persona

Beyond attributes and class, Dark Souls II grants you the freedom to define your warrior’s physical appearance. From facial features to hairstyles and apparel, the customization options empower you to create a character that truly embodies your vision.

Conclusion

The character creation process in Dark Souls II is a fundamental aspect of the game, offering immense depth and flexibility. By carefully considering attributes, class, and appearance, you forge a warrior perfectly suited to your combat preferences and aesthetic sensibilities. As you progress through the game, your character’s development and choices shape the narrative and provide endless opportunities for strategic experimentation and conquest.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How do I reset my character’s attributes?
A: In the game’s hub area, Majula, speak to the NPC "Sculptress of Time" to reallocate your attributes.

Q: Can I change my class after creating my character?
A: No, your character’s class is permanent and cannot be changed.

Q: What is the maximum level I can reach in Dark Souls II?
A: The maximum character level in Dark Souls II is 838.

Q: How do I increase my Adaptability attribute?
A: Adaptability is primarily increased by leveling up your character. Alternatively, you can equip certain armor pieces or rings that boost Adaptability.

Q: What is the best class for a beginner in Dark Souls II?
A: For beginners, the Warrior class offers a balanced and versatile starting point.

Dark Souls II Boss Guide

Dark Souls II features a challenging array of bosses, each with unique abilities and strategies. To successfully defeat them, players must carefully observe their attack patterns, weaknesses, and the environment. Common strategies include dodging, parrying, and using effective weapons and spells.

The Last Giant, a massive stone creature, is susceptible to fire attacks and slow, predictable moves. The Old Dragonslayer, a dragon-like boss, is vulnerable to lightning and can be staggered by heavy attacks. The Pursuer, a relentless pursuer, requires quick reactions and a ranged weapon to control its distance.

Smelter Demon, a fiery beast, is resistant to fire and requires prudent timing to avoid its lethal attacks. The Looking Glass Knight, a spectral knight, can be staggered with heavy attacks and is vulnerable to magic. Velstadt, the Royal Aegis, wields a powerful halberd and requires careful dodging to avoid his devastating strikes.

Darklurker, a shadowy creature, requires a precise strategy to defeat its two forms. The Executioner’s Chariot, a rolling prison, necessitates careful timing to avoid its traps and use its wheels as platforms. Nashandra, the final boss, is a formidable sorceress who requires patience, dodging skills, and the ability to quickly adapt to her shifting abilities.

Dark Souls II Covenants

Covenants in Dark Souls II are factions players can join to gain unique rewards, items, and abilities. Each covenant has its own goals, objectives, and unique rewards.

Notable Covenants:

• Way of Blue: Protects the weak and punishes invaders.
• Bell Keepers: Invade other worlds as a "Blue Spirit."
• Blue Sentinels: Protect the Way of Blue from invaders.
• Darkmoon Blades: Invade worlds of those who committed sins.
• Pilgrims of Dark: Worship the Dark and seek to gain its power.
• Heirs of Sun: Support the Sun and seek to share its warmth.
• Rat King Covenant: Transformation into a rat creature with special abilities.
• Company of Champions: Promotes a challenging gameplay experience without summons or AI assistance.

Dark Souls II Co-op

In Dark Souls II, players can summon others to help them overcome challenging areas. Co-op is a crucial element of the game, allowing players to tackle difficult bosses and areas together. To initiate co-op, players must use an item called a White Sign Soapstone to place a summon sign on the ground. Other players can then interact with the sign to be summoned into the host’s world.

Co-op allows players to team up to face bosses, explore hidden areas, and overcome difficult encounters. It can be a valuable way to learn the game and experience it with friends. However, it’s important to remember that co-op is not mandatory, and players can choose to complete the game solo if they prefer.

Dark Souls II DLC

Dark Souls II features three downloadable content (DLC) expansions:

1. Crown of the Sunken King: Adds a new area, Shulva, the Sunken City, featuring a maze-like layout and lava traps. It introduces new bosses such as the Rotten and Elana, the Squalid Queen.

2. Crown of the Old Iron King: Includes the Brume Tower area, an industrial fortress with challenging platforming and fire-based traps. It features bosses like Sir Alonne and the Smelter Demon.

3. Crown of the Ivory King: Takes players to the Eleum Loyce area, a snowy mountain pass with icy caves and treacherous drop-offs. It introduces bosses such as the Ivory King and Lud, the King’s Pet. Each DLC brings its unique challenges, bosses, and story elements, expanding the lore and gameplay of Dark Souls II.

Dark Souls II Ending

In Dark Souls II, the protagonist faces a choice between three endings:

• Throne of Want: The protagonist decides to link the First Flame, sacrificing themselves to extend the Age of Fire indefinitely. This ending is considered the most "canonical" and leads to a cyclical nature of the Dark Souls universe.
• Usurpation of Fire: The protagonist chooses to reject linking the First Flame and instead usurps its power, becoming a new Lord of Hollows. This ending signifies the beginning of a new age of darkness.
• Seeker of Darkness: The protagonist embraces their hollowed nature and chooses to remain in the Abyss, fading into darkness and obscurity. This ending is considered the most enigmatic and leaves the fate of the world uncertain.

Dark Souls II Equipment

Dark Souls II features a diverse array of equipment, including weapons, armor, shields, rings, and spells. Each type of equipment offers unique stats, abilities, and playstyles.

Weapons: Weapons range from swords and axes to bows and staffs, with each type specializing in different damage types and attack patterns. Some weapons have special abilities, such as bleed or poison damage.

Armor: Armor pieces provide protection against physical and elemental damage. Heavier armor offers greater defense but reduces agility, while lighter armor allows for faster movement and faster recovery times.

Shields: Shields can be used to block attacks, absorb damage, and perform special abilities, such as parrying or countering. Different shields offer varying levels of protection and stability.

Rings: Rings are accessories that provide various bonuses, such as increased health, stamina, resistances, or special abilities. Some rings stack, allowing players to customize their stats and playstyles.

Spells: Spells are magical abilities that can be used to damage enemies, buff allies, or heal. Spells are typically cast using staffs or talismans and require intelligence or faith attributes to use. Each spell has unique effects and costs varying amounts of mana.

Dark Souls II Farming

Farming in Dark Souls II involves repeatedly defeating enemies to acquire items, souls, or other resources. Here’s a summary:

• Soul Farming: The most common type of farming, where players defeat enemies to gain souls for leveling up.
• Item Farming: Players can farm specific enemies for rare or valuable items, such as weapons, armor, upgrade materials, or crafting items.
• Covenants: Some covenants provide farming bonuses, such as increased item drop rates or additional souls.
• Best Farming Spots: Popular farming spots include the Lost Bastille for souls, Brightstone Cove Tseldora for items, and the Shaded Woods for covenant items.
• Tips: Use the "Agate Cracked Red Eye Orb" to summon other players as phantoms, who can help you farm. Use items like the "Symbol of Avarice" or "Covetous Gold Serpent Ring" to increase item drop rates.

Dark Souls II Lore

Dark Souls II, a role-playing action game, is set in the fictional kingdom of Drangleic. The kingdom is a desolate and unforgiving place, haunted by the remnants of a lost civilization.

The player takes on the role of an undead warrior who has been cursed to wander Drangleic in search of a cure. Along the way, they encounter a cast of memorable characters and learn the dark secrets of the kingdom’s past.

The lore of Dark Souls II is complex and enigmatic, and it draws on a variety of sources, including medieval history, mythology, and psychology. The game’s world is a place of constant struggle, where light and darkness are constantly at war. The player must navigate this dangerous world and make difficult choices that will shape their destiny.

Dark Souls II Multiplayer

Dark Souls II’s multiplayer offers a rich and varied experience for players. It allows users to join forces, engage in tense confrontations, and explore the world of Drangleic together.

Co-operative Play: Players can team up with up to three other players to overcome challenges. They can share items, resurrect fallen comrades, and strategically approach encounters.

Competitive Play: In addition to cooperative play, Dark Souls II also offers competitive modes. Players can join Covenants, each with unique goals and abilities. These Covenants engage in battles against each other, earning rewards for victories.

Asynchronous Interactions: Beyond direct multiplayer, Dark Souls II also features asynchronous interactions. Players can leave messages for others to find, giving hints or seeking guidance. They can also summon the phantom of another player to aid them, even if that player is not actively online.

Multiplayer in Dark Souls II enhances the game’s depth, offering players a range of ways to experience its challenging world. It fosters a sense of community, allowing players to connect with others and engage in unique and unforgettable encounters.

Dark Souls II PC Mods

Dark Souls II on PC offers a vast array of modifications that enhance and alter the gameplay experience. These mods range from minor graphical tweaks to complete overhauls of the game’s systems and mechanics. Some popular mod categories include:

• Reshades and ENB Presets: Improve the game’s visuals with color correction, lighting adjustments, and other post-processing effects.
• Gameplay Tweaks: Modify various gameplay aspects such as stamina regeneration, health scaling, and enemy AI to create more challenging or accessible experiences.
• Overhauls: Introduce significant changes to the game’s core mechanics, including new combat systems, item distributions, and world design.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Add convenience features such as UI enhancements, inventory management tools, and boss checkpoint skips.
• Cosmetic Mods: Alter the appearance of the game’s characters, weapons, and environments with custom textures, models, and animations.

Dark Souls II PvP

Dark Souls II’s Player versus Player (PvP) system is a complex and challenging component of the game. It allows players to engage in duels, invasions, or coop play with other players online.

Gameplay:

PvP in Dark Souls II involves melee combat, magic spells, and ranged attacks. Players can invade other player’s worlds as hostile adversaries or use summoning signs to cooperate as phantoms. Duels and invasions have specific arenas and rules, while coop play allows players to assist each other in completing levels or defeating bosses.

Builds:

Players can customize their characters with various armor, weapons, and skills to create unique builds optimized for PvP. Different builds focus on different playstyles, such as heavy armor with high defense, fast-paced dexterity builds, or spellcasting sorcerers.

Meta:

The PvP community has established certain "meta" levels and areas where most players engage in PvP. These meta levels typically range from 120-150, and popular areas include the Iron Keep and Dragon Shrine.

Invasions:

Invasions allow players to enter other player’s worlds as hostile spirits. Invaders can ambush hosts or engage in fair duels. Hosts can summon phantoms to assist them in defending against invaders.

Duels:

Duels are pre-arranged PvP battles between two players. They take place in specific arenas and follow agreed-upon rules, such as no healing or using certain items.

Coop Play:

Coop play allows players to summon phantoms to assist them in completing levels or defeating bosses. Phantoms can be controlled by other players or by the game’s AI.

Dark Souls II Secrets

Dark Souls II is known for its brutal difficulty and cryptic lore. However, the game also hides a wealth of secrets to discover. Here are some of the lesser-known secrets of Dark Souls II:

• Hidden walls: Throughout the game, there are many hidden walls that can be opened by attacking them or using the "Hidden Body" spell. Behind these walls, you can find secret areas, items, and even bosses.
• Illusory floors: Similar to hidden walls, there are also illusory floors that can be walked through. These floors are typically found in areas with water or lava. If you fall through an illusory floor, you will be transported to a secret area.
• Secret NPC quests: There are several NPCs in the game who have secret quests that you can complete. These quests can be difficult to find, but they often reward you with unique items or weapons.
• Optional bosses: In addition to the main bosses, there are also several optional bosses that you can fight in Dark Souls II. These bosses are typically more difficult than the main bosses, but they also reward you with unique souls and items.
• Easter eggs: Dark Souls II is full of Easter eggs, which are references to other games, movies, and real-world events. Some of the most famous Easter eggs include the appearance of the character Solaire from Dark Souls, the reference to the movie "The Evil Dead", and the inclusion of a real-world location, namely the city of Jerusalem.

Dark Souls II Walkthrough

Majula Hub:

• Meet Emerald Herald, who serves as a bonfire keeper and quest giver.
• Unlock the first bonfire, Majula Bonfire.
• Purchase essential items from Licia of Lindelt.

Forest of Fallen Giants:

• Defeat the Last Giant, the first boss.
• Find the Old Iron Key and unlock the path to Heide’s Tower of Flame.

Heide’s Tower of Flame:

• Ascend the tower and defeat the Dragonrider.
• Open the path to No Man’s Wharf.

No Man’s Wharf:

• Navigate the treacherous sea cliffs and fight the Flexile Sentry.
• Find the Old Witch’s Key and unlock the shortcut to Lost Bastille.

Lost Bastille:

• Explore the prison fortress and defeat the Ruin Sentinels.
• Obtain the King’s Ring and open the path to Sinner’s Rise.

Sinner’s Rise:

• Ascend the tower and defeat the Lost Sinner.
• Find the Fragrant Branch of Yore to unlock the path to Drangleic Castle.

Drangleic Castle:

• Traverse the depths of the castle and fight the Looking Glass Knight.
• Open the path to Iron Keep.

Iron Keep:

• Explore the industrial fortress and defeat the Smelter Demon.
• Find the Bastille Key to unlock the shortcut back to Lost Bastille.

Belfry Luna and Belfry Sol:

• Ascend both belfries and defeat the Gargoyles and the Belfry Gargoyles.
• Find the Key to the Old Iron King to unlock the path to the Old Iron King’s Keep.

Old Iron King’s Keep:

• Explore the fiery depths and defeat the Old Iron King.
• Obtain the Old Iron King Soul and open the path to Amana.

Shulva, Sanctum City:

• Enter the ancient city and fight the Ivory King.
• Find the Ashen Mist Heart and unlock the path to Eleum Loyce.

Eleum Loyce:

• Explore the icy wastes and defeat the Fume Knight.
• Find the King’s Ring and unlock the path to Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin.

Dragon Shrine:

• Defeat the Ancient Dragon and obtain its soul.
• Confront Aldia, Scholar of the First Sin, the final boss.

FromSoftware Inc. Games

FromSoftware Inc. is a Japanese video game developer known for their challenging action role-playing games. Their games are characterized by their atmospheric environments, punishing difficulty, and unique combat mechanics. Here are some notable games from FromSoftware:

• Dark Souls Series: A critically acclaimed series of action role-playing games known for their unforgiving gameplay and dark fantasy setting.
• Bloodborne: A Gothic action role-playing game set in the fictional city of Yharnam, where players fight against grotesque monsters and uncover a dark secret.
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice: An action-adventure game set in feudal Japan, featuring fast-paced swordplay, stealth mechanics, and a unique "Resurrection" system.
• Elden Ring: An open-world action role-playing game developed in collaboration with fantasy author George R.R. Martin, featuring a vast world to explore and a challenging combat system.

FromSoftware Inc. History

FromSoftware Inc., founded in 1986, is a Japanese video game developer known for its challenging action role-playing games (RPGs).

Early Years (1986-1994):

• Founded by Naotoshi Zin and Toshiro Tsuchida
• Developed games for various platforms, including MSX and PC Engine

King’s Field Series (1994-2009):

• Pioneered the first-person dungeon crawler genre
• Established FromSoftware’s reputation for challenging, immersive experiences

Demon’s Souls (2009):

• Revolutionary action RPG that introduced the Soulsborne genre
• Focused on punishing combat, cryptic lore, and a dark, medieval setting

Dark Souls Series (2011-2016):

• Spiritual successors to Demon’s Souls
• Expanded upon the Soulsborne formula with interconnected worlds and a deeper story
• Massively popular and critically acclaimed, solidifying FromSoftware’s reputation as a top developer

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019):

• Stealth-action game set in feudal Japan
• Departed from the Soulsborne formula, introducing a new combat system and a more linear narrative

Elden Ring (2022):

• Open-world action RPG collaboration with George R. R. Martin
• Huge critical and commercial success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide

FromSoftware Inc. Upcoming Releases

FromSoftware Inc., renowned for their critically acclaimed action RPGs, has several highly anticipated releases on the horizon.

Elden Ring:

• Open-world fantasy RPG collaboration with George R.R. Martin
• Scheduled for release on January 21, 2022, for PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon:

• Return to the Armored Core franchise
• Scheduled for release in late 2023
• Features fast-paced mecha combat and a dark and atmospheric setting

Shadow of the Erdtree:

• Expansion for Elden Ring
• Release date and details yet to be announced