Hornet Ring

Thoughts on currently using the hornet ring, it was nerfed so I was wondering if people still look down on it? Most of my builds are medium role so I dont need to use wolf/havels and think the hornet might be the next best option...thoughts?

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=153146371482564341

I used to look down on it, but honestly, I don't even take a second look at it now. If your a thief, your most obvious attack is a backstab or riposte, most thief weapons do little damage without the backstab, so that really is needed. But with your build, honestly, aren't you happy with the backstab damage you have? You don't want to waste a ring slot due to laziness. Maybe if you are fighting gankers and want to put one down quickly, then sure, but to waste a ring slot like that... It comes close to sacrilidge.

The build looks good. I'd keep the ring. I think it's your best option.

Steel protetion is near useless.

Cloranthy ring is irrelevant because of grass.

You don't need Havel's ring for more defense since you already have more than enough.

All the other rings aren't even worth mentioning.

I don't know, Blue tearstone would look mighty fine on that... But I guess that just comes down to personal preference.

Dutchy, good idea with blue tear but that brings me to another question...is it looked down upon to switch rings mid fight? So keep the hornet on until I get to the lower health where blue tear is usable?

Be less concerned with what's looked down upon, and more concerned about what's best for you. I think it is a brilliant idea, Why not. It's your build, it's now or never. It aint gonna live for ever... Sorry, drifted off there. Yeah, go for it.

ring swapping is not looked down upon.
Most people still look down on hornet ring, primarily because it tends to be used by backstab fishers. I'd recommend just not worrying about it and using it anyway.

The only other rings I even think about using are wolf which creates over 100 poise or belowing dragon for stronger flames...but are those better then a hornet? I dunno...

How often do you backstab?
Bellowing Dragoncrest ring would make most pyromancies do about 190 more damage a hit, and 100 poise is -incredibly- useful if you're tanking.

Nothing is wrong with menu switching rings or other stuff. I do it all day long.
And nothing is wrong about using hornet as your main ring too.
It's an investment, you realy well could use havel and optimise your armor differently to fast roll or even go for a stronger armor settings.
Regarding your stats, going 31str/40dex would make your bow and fury sword stronger. Or is your 36str for switching with an heavier str weapon?

LunarFog wrote:
Cloranthy ring is irrelevant because of grass.

I disagree. They stack quite nicely. I actually really like the Cloranthy Ring.


Red Tearstone is another great option as well.

Crack - I saw an ENB vid where he said that cloranthy doesn't stack with grass?

VaDoom - The build wasn't meant to go this way but im leaving it at 120 so I can get more battles, I definitely am going to use the black knight axe in the right hand too. Also I try to use havels/wolf when I can to get fast rolling but I can never seem to get a good combo of poise and def...any help? I like having high def/poise because I am dual weildin with this build.

Rynn - Is 76 poise not enough to tank?

Does the belowing dragon ring or dusk crown increase black flames power?

I often use the hornet ring when I go for a duelist character. Yesterday I caught the same guy several times with a SLB estoc+15 with a hornet ring, and would often 1-shot him with the parry. I rarely backstab with it though, because I used to be the kind of guy that would just BS you with the hornet ring, until I swore it off and decided to go for some real skills.

Cloranthy ring + grass = an excessive amount of stamina. Why stack stamina regen if just grass will do just fine?

Blue tearstone is useless. I thought we all knew this? By the time it activates, having 200 or so more defense won't save your life.

Red tearstone is a possibility, but unless you're quick at menu-swapping then you'll probably get hit one last time before you have a chance to put it on.

Safest bet would be the hornet ring.

I like to hornet backstab people with a 429 AR rapier, and watch them bleed out 1600 HP.
**** is so epic.

LunarFog wrote:Cloranthy ring + grass = an excessive amount of stamina. Why stack stamina regen if just grass will do just fine?

I suppose the massive use of stamina has to do with my own playstyles, and is probably not a big deal for the OPs character. Also, grass runs out for me more than not.

Although now that I've heard multiple people say "it doesn't stack", I am searching for proof of that right now.

Most people look down on it really as stated above because of BS fishers and the amount of dam increase on certain weps or even in general. Myself i absolutely LOVE that ring because , and i may be the only person here but, i get bsers and gankers and all the bull DkS has to offer 90% of the time and hardly get any decent fights. Not to mention how can one not like the animations for it?

That being said i like to think of it as me fighting fire with fire. Because how would you feel if you get a fisher , using the same wep, bs's you for 1000 plus dam and when you bs only get 500 plus? i feel that its more overly annoying and just rude so i use HR without a second thought. Now i assume you wont be bs fishing with a wep that can kill on its own as i havent yet looked at your build. Btw if you really feel that switching would be good why not use bellowing and HR and switch between the two? get more spell dam and bs/parry dam. again just me and my thoughts

IMO . . . Hornet ring is not OP. If is fair game. It uses up a ring slot. That means, you have to drop one slot from more powerful rings like FaP, Wolf, Havel's, Bellowing Dragoncrest.

Hornet ring only buffs parries and BSs. Parries, for the most part, are easy to avoid. Don't R1 spam, and don't be predictable. Parries are also punishable. Bait the parry, and BS them. Works even better with a target shield.

BSs, removing lag, are also punishable. Roll BS = unlock and aim behind you. Or, bait a roll, turn around, and parry. Pivot BS = counter BS. It is usually telegraphed when they are going to do it. Especially if they are BS fishing.

And, we can't say lag makes BSs OP. Lag affects everything. So, it makes everything OP. Which, in turn, makes nothing OP. Think phantom range. That can cause as much, if not more, damage than BS can.

Virtually every single time I've been parried or BSed, it has been my fault. HR is just another buff. And, in this case, a buff that is usually avoidable and punishable.

I use the hornet ring on my Pardoner build... I don't care if people look down on it- I think it fits the character very nicely and obviously compliments the
Build has 0 poise and no shield- the HR is what makes it dangerous though...

Also those riposte animations are awesome...

Good points everyone, i think after reading everyones opinion im going to go with the belowin dragon as I think it is more effective in a battle. Reim has good points - if i dont get a parry/bs then the ring slot is potentially wasted and i tend to use my pyro more often in the battle anyway.