by So, I've seen a lot of threads recently about help with creating builds. I thought I'd share my knowledge; how I make builds. While I'm not the best at PvP, I do have a good understanding on stat points and making the builds.
I'll put the individual topics in spoilers, so this doesn't look like a huge wall of text.
*Note: this is how I make builds. Everyone has different methods, but all the concepts are the same.*
Ok, we've covered the basics. Now, here's a step-by-step planning guide.
I'll put the individual topics in spoilers, so this doesn't look like a huge wall of text.
*Note: this is how I make builds. Everyone has different methods, but all the concepts are the same.*
- Basics:
- Dark Souls Build Planner
- Dark Souls Armor Planner
- If you want to know what the best weapon is, look in the mirror.
- If a weapon has multiple upgrade paths, +15 will almost always be the most powerful (crystal is slightly more powerful) with the proper stats.
- AR is misleading. You have to take defenses into account. Weapons that do multiple types of damage (physical, magic, fire, lightning, etc) go through 2 different damage reductions and are usually much weaker than their AR suggests.
- Diminishing returns. There comes a point where putting extra points into a stat is virtually worthless. See below for details.
- The absolute most important thing to do is maximize weapon damage. This should be easily done at 80+ without sacrificing much.
- Do not try to be a jack of all trades, unless your SL is very high (200+ range).
- Min/Max concept. Chose a couple things you want your build to be very powerful at. Then, sacrifice other things to allow you to reach it.
- Know your playing style and focus your builds around that. Defensive, aggressive, spellsword, dodgy, meticulous, etc.
- Pick 1 or 2 weapons and design your build around that.
- Dark Souls Build Planner
- Vitality:
- Not the most important stat.
- Diminishing returns start at 40. It becomes worse at 45. At 50 and above, it is pathetic (400 total HP from 50 - 99).
- The only reason to go above 50 is with a Vitality build, and you had better wear your FoFaP and MoM to compensate for the diminishing returns.
- A decent HP to shoot for is 1500 (at SL 80-100+).
- At lower levels, 30 vitality is plenty.
- Not the most important stat.
- Attunement:
- At 16, you start to have diminishing returns. 16 should be plenty, unless you want to focus on spells/miracles/pyros. 23 should be an absolute max (the diminishing returns become oppressive). Only go above 23 if you want to be a pure spell caster, or have that be the main focus of your attacks.
- Not much more here. Pretty simple stat.
- At 16, you start to have diminishing returns. 16 should be plenty, unless you want to focus on spells/miracles/pyros. 23 should be an absolute max (the diminishing returns become oppressive). Only go above 23 if you want to be a pure spell caster, or have that be the main focus of your attacks.
- Endurance:
- For most melee builds, one of the most important stats.
- Shoot for 30 or 40, see below.
- At 40, your stamina stops increasing. The only reason to go above 40 is equipment weight. Figure out exactly what your equipment weight is. And put your endurance so you hit it. Do not go any higher than that.
- Most dex builds (excluding the Mura and +/- Great Scythe/Lifehunt), 30 endurance is plenty of stamina. For strength builds, you need to be at least 40. For caster builds, you don't need much endurance at all.
- For most melee builds, one of the most important stats.
- Strength:
- 40 is the number, and the number shall be 40. Never go above 40, unless your weapon requires that as a minimum stat. Then, don't go above that stat (50 for Havel's for example).
- After 40, you barely get any AR increase.
- Special note, when you 2 hand a weapon, 27 strength is the same damage output as 40. So, if you plan on mainly 2 handing a weapon (Great Club or Zwei for example), 27 Strength is perfect.
- 40 is the number, and the number shall be 40. Never go above 40, unless your weapon requires that as a minimum stat. Then, don't go above that stat (50 for Havel's for example).
- Dexterity:
- Again, 40 is the number, and the number shall be 40 (for the same reason as strength).
- 45 dex will max out pell cast speed. There is only a small difference between 40 and 45. So, if you want spells to augment your melee, 40 Dex will be fine. If you want your focus to be spells, then go to 45.
- There is no reason at all to go above 45, ever.
- Again, 40 is the number, and the number shall be 40 (for the same reason as strength).
- resistance:
Resistance is futile. Never increase it. It is worthless in PvP.
- Intelligence:
- Basically, stop at 45. This will allow you the Crystal Spear and use Logan's at high power. There really is no need to go above unless you really want White Dragon Breath, or have 6 extra stat points laying around.
- 32 Int is the minimum if you want to use Homing Crystal Soul Mass.
- Plan your Intelligence around your Catalyst AR (similar to Strength and Dex for your weapon AR).
- Catalyst Selection Guide
- Never go above 50
- Basically, stop at 45. This will allow you the Crystal Spear and use Logan's at high power. There really is no need to go above unless you really want White Dragon Breath, or have 6 extra stat points laying around.
- Faith:
- Never go above 50 Faith.
- Cutoffs are 30 Faith and 50 Faith. Between 30 and 50, there are diminishing returns, and those stats can be better placed elsewhere.
- Again, plan your Faith points around your Talisman.
- Talisman Selection Guide
- Never go above 50 Faith.
Ok, we've covered the basics. Now, here's a step-by-step planning guide.
- Pick your play style, and pick one play style. Power, speed, spells, spellsword, pyro, etc.
- Pick your desired Soul Level. Common ones are 20, 55, 75, 80, 100, 120, and 200.
- Pick your weapon(s)
- Pick your spells/miracles/pyros and put the appropriate numbers into attenuation. 12, 14, 16, 19, and 23 are the only numbers you will put here, unless you are a heavy spell caster.
- Go to Dark Souls Character Planner and max out your weapon. But, don't go above the stats I've listed above (pretty much, don't go over 40). This includes your spells as well.
- Pick your endurance, based on the stamina you want (40 for most cases, 30 for lighter faster weapons, base for pure spell casters).
- Pick your armor
- Adjust your endurance up until you get to the exact point to get the roll you want (fast, mid, fat, etc) and don't go one point above that.
- Dump the rest of your points into Vitality. Is it enough? If not, make some adjustments, but do sacrifice vitality for weapon power.
- Strongest build possible is 380:
- Check it out There is not a build that is significantly stronger than this one. Going above is a complete waste of stats and you will barely gain anything.
- This build can use any weapon in the game and the AR is essentially maxed out.
- Check it out There is not a build that is significantly stronger than this one. Going above is a complete waste of stats and you will barely gain anything.
- TL;DR:
- http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/
- Vit: 30, 40, 45, 50
- Att: 12, 14, 16, 19, 23
- End: 30, 40, above 40 only for equip weight
- Strngth: 27, 40
- Dex: 40, 45
- Faith: 30, 50
- Int 32, 45
- http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/
Last edited by reim0027 on Mon Nov 19, 2012 1:12 am; edited 2 times in total
