I started up yet another build for Dark Souls 1 last night. It seems that I do about 2 playthroughs per year.
There is like a 75% chance I quit after getting out of Anor Londo and getting the Ember from New Londo Ruins.
I just don't feel like playing anymore after that due to the poor level designs. They are just not fun at all.
Tomb of Giants is good only if you managed to get a light source early. If not, it's just a major pain.
I decided in this run to try a club/mace build and see how that goes. The mace is very OP in DS2, but I never tried it here.
Until I get more STR I went with the Reinforced Club. It took me awhile to get used to it's poor reach and slow attacks.
I do love the jump attack though and spam that way too much.
I decided to go fight the Gargoyles way early. Not going to lie, I normally call Solaire for them. I don't need the hassle anymore.
This time I forgot to reverse hollowing so I went in solo expecting to die.
I used a +5 Reinforced Club with lightning buff and just spammed the jump attack. The first one was dead before the 2nd one arrived. I haven't had that happen a whole lot.
I think this was the first ever time I didn't use more than 1 or 2 Flasks for this fight.
One thing I also realized now is how pointless it is to go under the first dragon and get destroyed by rat poison! It's so easy to now skip those and get to the bonfire behind the dragon! I don't know why I never did that before.
I just run to the left side of the path where the dragon breaths fire and just wait. Immediately when it starts to fly down to you, run straight to the bonfire as fast as possible! It takes quite awhile for him to do this.
Since i'm a weakling at this point, I like to cheese the Black Knight around the bonfire. Pathetic, I know! The club i'm using kills them so fast in a few jump attacks!
Those guardians in the Garden also die in 2 jump attacks with the +5 reinforced club. They're much harder with swords.
Oh and I have to admit this, but I've never beaten Ornstein and Smough without cheesing Big Smough on the pillars. Ugh.
For them I usually don't use NPCs though.
I wait until he uses the butt smash move then go in and hit him a few times, then run back.
I don't hit him during any other moves! Hard to believe I know. It's very slow!
He can still do the lightning butt stomp move and hurt me, but I have to roll back super fast for that.
I also admit i've NEVER cleared Blightown doing the normal path! I've always used the master key! It almost feels like cheating. I just run in and run out after killing the boss.
Even in the depths I get a shortcut to the first bonfire. No need to get the key first.
Queelag is now one boss that is now super easy for me. She used to give me problems.
I also don't know why people say the Bed of Chaos is so hard? I aggro him, run back to the fog door and it kills itself.
I wonder if most people are not aware of that method? I don't think it's a bug.
I'm really surprised how easier Dark Souls gets the more you play it.
With some more practice I could probably get to Ornstein and Smough without dying once.
I know, not very impressive, but i'm not a highly skilled player.
I also now never forget to bring poison arrows for those archers in Anor Londo. It makes it so easy.
I poison them both and then go AFK for drinks!
If you're not careful the archers can still knock you off the pathway up there while you try to poison them.
It's also nice finally being able to get through Senn's Fortress on the first try.
I now have been doing the "Quit Out" method before the boulder hits me!
I'm close to fighting the Capra Demon again. I think this time i'm going to try beating him with a higher poise build and blocking a lot more. Just to see how it does. I've heard Havels Ring helps a ton vs him. I never usually have it that early! Maybe i'll enter, stop and see if I survive.
Normally I run to the stairs immediately, turn around and kill those 2 dogs.
I try to use the drop attack on the demon when I can.
I remember once when I was having no luck with him I just used my tankiest armor and spammed my 2-handed attack (and Estus Flasks) non-stop and he died lol
I usually do that with the Four Kings and equipped all Havels Gear.
Once I get the regular Club i'll probably use that as far as I can and level up STR. I don't really want to use the heaviest clubs.
The Reinforced Club only has C scaling. It's still pretty strong at low levels.
