This has been a difficult post to make. Not only because I believe Dark Souls 3 is better experienced without much prior knowledge, but also because I didn’t want to repeat the same vague advice that is given so sporadically by several sites that it may as well be referring to any game. Things like “avoid getting hit,” “explore,” or “don’t jump off things unless you’re sure you’re going to land on something.”
Still, there are a lot of things that I would’ve loved knowing when I started this amazing game. And while some of them might be directed towards complete beginners, I’ll make sure to throw in there a few tips that even veterans of the Soulsborne games might not be aware of. Of course, as I said, it’s been challenging to make a list of really helpful tips without forcing players to play a certain way. If you wanna dodge everything or keep your shield up at all times, or if you want to do magic instead of a brute force warrior, then be my guest.
Here are some of the most essential beginner tips for Dark Souls 3.
Get Used To Parrying
This may be obvious to people who are already familiar with the mechanics of the game, but the truth is that this is often overlooked. I, for example, managed to finish Dark Souls 1 and 2 without ever learning to parry.
In the first one, I didn’t know it was a thing because once I saw the messages on the floor explaining how to walk or what button to push, I decided to skip them, figuring that I’d get the hang of the controls by myself like I’ve done in so many other games. This made me miss that one helpful message telling me how to parry, so I finished the entire game without ever doing so. And believe me, it is something I wish I would’ve known from the beginning, especially with a certain boss.
In Dark Souls 2, I did read the message but figured it was just an alternate way to play defensively, so I just didn’t pay any attention to it. It wasn’t until Bloodborne where parrying is not only helpful but borderline mandatory considering that it seems to be the main purpose of the guns (let’s be honest, the moment you saw the damage you dealt with firearms was peanut, you knew something was up).
So I basically forced myself to learn it and can’t imagine beating that game without parrying. Now, in Dark Souls 3, I decided to get the hang of it before facing any serious enemies, and let’s just say it saved my ass more than a few times.
Don’t Upgrade or Infuse Your Shield
I know I said I didn’t want to force anybody to play in a certain way, but this needs to be said. I’m sure there are already a few people who do this but to those who are thinking about it. Just don’t do it.
The upgrades and infusions in shields are negligible. It’s not worth to spend your hard-earned souls into something that’s not going to help you stay alive or progress. If you are using shields, simply use one that offers 100% physical resistance and that you can carry without your character fat rolling, and you should be fine.
Speaking of Upgrading
Your armor matters way less than your weapons. Same as before, if you got a good shield and have gotten used to the mobility of your character to feel comfortable enough to roll dodge attacks, then there’s not much you should worry about defense wise.
Your weapons, however, could mean the difference between breezing through an area or getting massacred at every corner. Pick the weapon that’s best suited for your character. Take a close look at what attributes your weapons scales, the damage, and the move sets.
You should feel comfortable with what you’re wielding. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with other weapon types and infusions. If you go for Strength, for example, you could have a hammer as your main infused with a Raw Gem to scale it, while your secondary could be a great sword infused with fire. Try to get out of your comfort zone.
Optimize Your Character
Before I dive into it, let me clarify that it doesn’t really matter what class you start with, unless you already know what your play style is going to be, what each attribute does and what you’re planning to do with your character, and I’d say that you’ll figure that out a couple of hours into the game, so creating your character right after the title screen shouldn’t be a major concern of yours.
With that said, it is important that once you get the hang of basic combat and have defeated a boss or two to really consider in what attributes you’re going to spend your souls in.
In a lot of other games with RPG elements or, hell, even other RPGs themselves, you can get away with spending your leveling points into certain attributes or abilities with little to no thinking, giving you room to mess up or explore what kind of playstyle you like. In Dark Souls, though, you’re better off thinking beforehand about how you’d like to play the game in order to spend your souls into the attributes that are going to be best for your character.
If you’re more into fast-paced and strategic combat, you may want to consider a Dexterity build. If you want to be able to deal a lot of damage at the expense of maneuverability, then Strength might be the stat for you. What’s best is to mix up two or three of these attributes for your build, so a Strength/Dex build or Magic/Strength is not unheard of. With that said, if you’re worried about wasting your souls, know that you can’t go wrong with Vitality and Endurance. Also, keep in mind that most attributes have diminishing returns after level 40, so I wouldn’t recommend you to go past that in most cases.
Avoid Summons Your First Time Around
And maybe the first ten attempts at a boss. I know, the online aspect of Dark Souls 3 is unique compared to other games, and not taking advantage of it seems like a waste. I’m not telling you not to use it. On the contrary, read and leave messages. Summon your friends and strangers. Invade and be invaded. But when it comes to a new area or a new boss, I would highly recommend you to go at it solo just to see how you handle yourself.
Even if you seem to be smacking your head against the wall with that one boss that won’t even let you land a couple of hits before obliterating you, it’s better to learn the ins and out of an area or memorize the move sets of a boss before calling for help. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish on your own, and with that, a deep sense of accomplishment that few games are able to provide.
Poke Chests Before Opening Them
Ok, if you’re a veteran, you probably learned this the hard way. This tip is an oldie but goodie. Basically, if you don’t want to be munched by a Mimic, strike every chest you encounter. Only hit it once, though, I’ve made the mistake of hitting it a few times to be completely sure for almost an entire playthrough and then wondering why all I got from real chests was Rubbish.
Engage In PVP For Extra Goodies
You can receive rewards like extra souls and various items by participating in PVP, either by invading other players or getting invaded, as well as helping other players through tough areas and bosses. Before you say I’m contradicting myself with one of my tips before, I recommend you to engage in multiplayer in areas you’ve already been or with bosses you’ve already defeated, or alternatively, doing so after completing the game once.
But, let’s be honest; the way Dark Souls 3 implements and encourages players to engage with each other is too good to pass up. And, at the end of the day, what’s important is for you to have fun. If you enjoy the company and don’t care that much about the challenge, then feel free to summon people, and if you prefer to be solo and experience this beautiful world on your own, the game gives you all the tools for it. Although be prepared to die a lot.
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