Combat Fundamentals
Poise & Hyper Armor
Poise determines if you get staggered. Hyper armor on heavy weapons lets you trade hits. Use a Great Hammer or Ultra Greatsword to hyper armor through enemy attacks.
Parrying
Small shields and caestus have the fastest parry frames. Parry just before the attack lands. Practice on Lothric Knights.
Backstabs
Circle behind enemies while they attack. Works on most humanoid enemies and some bosses. Hornet Ring boosts backstab damage by 30%.
Weapon Arts
Each weapon has a unique Weapon Art (L2). Some are attacks, some are buffs. Experiment — they cost FP but can turn the tide.
Equip Load
Under 30% = fast roll. 30-70% = medium roll (standard). Over 70% = fat roll (slow). Aim for under 70% for Medium Load.
Status Effects
Bleed, Poison, Toxic, Frostbite, and Curse all have buildup meters. Faster weapons apply buildup more frequently. Frostbite + Fire resets the frost meter for re-application.
Exploration & Progression
- Talk to NPCs multiple times — many have 3-4+ lines of dialogue. Exhaust their speech to unlock quests and items.
- Kindle bonfires — use Estus Shards to upgrade your flask. 11 shards total = 15 charges.
- Find Undead Bone Shards — burn them at Firelink Shrine to increase flask healing. 10 shards total.
- Don't kill NPCs — most are merchants or quest givers. Accidentally hit one? Visit Velka's statue in Undead Settlement to absolve sins.
- Use Homeward Bones — teleport back to the last bonfire. Useful when you're lost or out of Estus.
- Check for illusory walls — hit every suspicious dead-end wall. Many hide secret areas.
- Upgrade weapons first — weapon level matters more than character level. Prioritize Titanite Shards.
- Infuse weapons — visit Andre the Blacksmith. Raw infusion for early game, Refined/Sharp/Heavy for mid-late.
- Join covenants — each covenant has unique rewards. Blue Sentinels and Way of Blue help with invasions.
- Use Embers — embering increases HP by 30% and enables co-op. Pop an ember before tough bosses.
Estus Flask Upgrade Guide
| Item | Total | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Estus Shards | 11 | +1 flask charge each (max 15) |
| Undead Bone Shards | 10 | +healing potency each (max +10) |
| Estus Soup | Multiple | Free healing in certain areas |
Pro Tips (Spoiler-Free)
Farming Souls Early
Best spot: Lothric Knights near Vordt's bonfire. Each drops ~300 souls and Titanite Shards.
Farming Souls Late
Best spot: Grand Archives. The three Ascended Winged Knights on the roof drop ~30,000 souls total with Symbol of Avarice.
Respec Your Character
After defeating the Curse-Rotted Greatwood, give Rosaria a Pale Tongue to respec. 5 respecs per playthrough.
Weapon Upgrade Priority
A +10 weapon at level 60 deals more damage than a +3 weapon at level 100. Prioritize finding Titanite.
Co-op Level Ranges
Use the White Sign Soapstone. Matchmaking is based on soul level and weapon upgrade level.
Don't Skip Side Areas
Smouldering Lake, Archdragon Peak, and the Consumed King's Garden contain essential items and bosses.