Doom878

I only recall the Claymore. But now that I can level up, I might grind. I'm on PTO tomorrow so if I don't go out, I'll be sure to power it up.

Yumcha

Oh nonono...the Storm world is great for leveling up throughout the game in different parts of it.

In the early stages, as soon as you can make it there, you stay in the entrance area and even past the castle gates (but NOT past the giant fatass mid-level boss)...fight the Skeletons and etc. with projectile attacks or magic...you'll level up QUICK and also, you will have access to some really good weaponry like the Kilij.

Later on, when you advance to the mid-stage, you will have this loop you can take to farm: taking on the non-stop ghosts generated. And then, even later, when you've beaten the boss of the level, his stage is full of flying rays that you can totally level up on.

Great stage for that.

And if you recall, avoid the mud stage until as late as possible.

Doom878

Yeah so I leveled up there. I recall doing that last time too. 300 souls each skeleton and I leveled up quick. I'm going primarily strength so I was 2-handing a club which the skeles were weak too by 2 shotting them. As soon as I was satisfied, I took out the Tower Knight. God I hate that fucking walk back even with the dragons doing most of the work. I went to 2-1 briefly to get the Crushing Axe which I'll use for now. I'm pretty much keeping weight right under 50% so that I can roll so no 100% shield and I'm 2-handing my weapons.

Yumcha

Nice...yeah, I actually had challenges with the Tower Knight of all the bosses because it kept stomping on me and/or falling on me. The dragon that flies through that path is annoying AF...if you have Poison Cloud, it can be dealt with albeit with some patience.

Doom878

Yesterday called out sick. I swear it wasn't because I wanted to play Took out the Armor Spider which took some more leveling up and lots of trial and error. Really easy if you just stand face to face with her and run back when she shits the oil. I'll link my videos of her and Tower Knight if you want to watch. Anyhow I'm rocking the Great Club 2-handed. I was clearing out 3-1, the Tower of Latria, and right before I was going to the room with the giant arrows, I fucking fell in some randomly placed hole on the 1st floor Sadly, I probably won't be able to play for a few days but after beating 3-1, I plan on pushing through from 4-1 to the Storm King so that I can earn way more souls. I need to find a merchant who sells Half Moon Grass though.

Yumcha

Nicely done on taking out the giantass bug. I suppose none of the bosses are truly that easy though, I won't lie, I do take a rather awful (cheap) approach to the Leechmonster in the mudworld...

The Tower is just evil...and yeah, sorry about that hole and I think I know exactly which one you're talking about. Running at times during the jail cells floors is hazardous and in my initial go-throughs, I went slower after falling for that hole on more than 1 occasion ( )...The upper floors of the Tower world is stressful given the catwalks you're on and those awful Gargoyles but you're not there yet. I also recall getting lost in the jail cells world initially as it all started to blend in and I kept going in a loop of the same staircases...

The stage is just a bit disconcerting with the darkness, noises, pits, and those Chtulhu-type monsters. Nice build...I was never great at the massive weaponry despite how tempting they were as I depended on more agility/speed and magic. So, my melee weapons were usually the one-handed swords.

Yumcha

I recall using the Large Sword of Searching (basically a curved sword) and then, almost exclusively the Blueblood Sword.

Doom878

Yeah I saw in my DS3 videos I'm using the Giant Club on Midir, who is arguably top 3 hardest boss in all Souls games. I play a Bloodborne style where I roll, carry no shield, but hit with a big stick/sword.

Yeah what sucks now is that all those cell doors I opened will have free enemies running around who will be more nuisance as their souls payout is terrible. And those Cthulhu dudes are strong if they catch you with the freeze magic. I def remember those gargoyles and those thin catwalks. I'm shuddering thinking about it.

Yumcha

Yeah, dodging in the narrow walkways in the Tower will be hazardous...this is where you may want to consider a speed weapon and something projectile-related if possible. Albeit, old habits die hard for me and I'm not a brute-strength sort until I have basically become a walking tank from leveling up...but, even then, I'm using a faster attacking weapon.

I noticed in your video you also have no shield! But I guess 2 handed weaponry has that challenge too. For a while, I was mostly in the Spiked Shield and then afterwards, using the giant one that heals you (I forget the name).

Doom878

Too much weight and I don't own a 100 DEF shield that's light. Is the Spiked Shield 100? I don't have the DEX for it anyways. The great club and light armor is right at the fast roll mark. I don't wear a helmet nor gloves.

Yumcha

The Spiked Shield is low in weight...like, 2 or 3...I recall...which was why I loved it initially in the game. It also can be used to attack versus parry. Look it up...it's on the bridge where that annoying dragon is breathing fire on.

Yumcha

Yeah, I noticed you're quite...naked...LOL.

I have gloves or helmet...depending on overall weight...like you. But...once I was leveled up, well, I was carrying full gear.

Again, I don't believe in any form of fairness...like to steamroll everything.

Doom878

Yeah I have the Spiked Shield. I can't equip it due to lack of DEX. But agreed. I'm not trying to do an SL1 run or have any kind of handicap.

Yumcha

K...you can arm it later on. It probably is going to be something you need to consider anyways as a slow weapon in the swamp is IMO, not possible. So, you'll probably start upping your Dex at some point.

Doom878

Dreading that level. Leaving that for last By then I should have access to more weapons.

Yumcha

Oh yeah...you'll need something for the poison...for the slogging in the mud...that stage is just the worst.

And those giant brutes...man...just unforgiving level. That mound of slugs covering the sword is always memorable.

Yumcha

I won't lie about cheesing Garland either.

Doom878

Got back to the Tower and took out the Fool's Idol. Didn't know you have to full white tendency to get the 2F key. I'm not even focused on that for this playthrough so I guess I won't be exploring that floor. This boss is just an annoying trick boss. Fortunately I remembered to kill the servant and beat her my first go as sloppy as it was. I noticed there's a distinction in fireballs from the real boss.

Yumcha

Good stuff...now you get more catwalks to deal with next in the Tower.

FWIW, 2F just holds an NPC who gives you some loot that you don't terribly need...at least for me, not huge assets...

Doom878

Might wrap the 4's first so I can farm the flying sting rays. Plus Maneater is a fucking pain and I'm sure he's smarter and harder in the remake.

Yumcha

Yeah, he was one of the hardest bosses.

Yumcha

It was not until I discovered the Poison Cloud that the fight was stress free...but, that's well, a super super cheese way to beat him. So, it's gonna be the hard way for now.

Doom878

I think the only boss I've cheesed was in DS2 but I've never seen him anyone fight him head on. Don't remember if you played DS2.

Yumcha

No sir. My first exposure to the From world was Bloodbourne...and then, this game on the PS5.

I had to fight Maneater non-cheesed by using the center part of the arena where the fireplace was and using that to block his swipes. When he summoned his clone, I am unsure honestly how I won (and it was after a few sweaty-palmed tries) but it was luck, I think. Lots of running once the second one showed up.

Every time afterwards, I think I saved myself the stress and used...Poison Cloud.

Doom878

Dude you gotta try the Dark Souls games. They're very iconic though BB might be my favorite. DS1 is a better version of Demon's Souls. DS2 catches flack because it wasn't done completely by From but I loved it and platinumed it too. DS3 has a nice mix of Dark Souls and BB and some amazing bosses. I never got Sekiro

Yumcha

I hear you man...I barely have enough time to play games as it is. I still have the PS5 Miles Morales that I hardly played...and probably forget how to play. Batman's final Arkham game is still unplayed (I have up trying to find time to play it)...and now, I have GT7...which currently is trying to meet my goal of hitting the daily workout number while completing a menu item.

I have to get Elden Ring. Just waiting for the price to drop a bit...

Doom878

Yeah I wanted GT7 but will definitely defer until they add content and fix some stuff. Same for Elden unless I beat Demon's Souls quickly and get sick of it Arkham Knight was great even though some didn't like the Batmobile. Miss those Rock Steady games.

Yumcha

You won't get sick of it...I finished Demon's Souls I want to say 4 times?

Sure, it was still with my same character and tanked up each time but it's a satisfying play...

Doom878

Depends. I only did DS3 once but got really busy/new gf etc back then. I think I went a year without playing a non-Rock Band game.

Doom878

For some reason my Adjudicator video didn't properly upload. Whatever, it's basically hit him in the gut, dodge left, hit him in the gut, go apeshit on his head. Booooring.

Yumcha

Congrats! I stayed in the upper levels and just attacked the bird on his head. I didn't go to the ground floor.

Doom878

Thanks. That tongue attack I was having problems dodging so I preferred head to head. Lord knows how much experience we have fighting bosses like that. But it was so slow, I think the fight was at least 5 mins long.

Yumcha

Whatever works is basically how this brutal series has made it for peeps.

Got the blind boss coming up. But, the stage leading up to him is good to level up with esp. all the non-stop respawning anorexic ghosts...

Doom878

Yeah I gotta figure out the bow and arrows and which is ideal. BTW, in looking at the trophies, doubt I'll get platinum on this one.

Yumcha

Yeah, or magic.

Doom878

I had a busy weekend

Beat the Blind Roider, Giant Manta, and Flame Gorilla. I posted the Flamelurker video before. The Manta boss I didn't even upload and the Old Hero was like 7 mins long so feel free to watch it if you have absolutely nothing to do. Even the Flamelurker fight took a while.


I haven't bothered grinding levels since the Manta fight yielded me like 66K souls between him and the other mantas. I used the +1 Crescent Sword in 2-2 because the enemies hate the magic and it still staggers Flamelurker. I'll likely turn a Club into the Meat Cleaver now that I can give his soul to the blacksmith in 2-1. I'll probably grind some at 2-2 with the worms to get more stones for the Crushing Claymore since I'm big on strength. Now that I'm loaded with money, going to load up on herbs, poison heals (I bought the spell too), and other random stuff I need. I think the only challenges I have left before 1-3 are Maneaters, Dragon Arch Demon, swamp city, and doing stuff for trophies.

Yumcha

Nicely done! The best place to level up still now that you've cleared the Manta boss is his level. Just go nuts on Stormbringing/zapping the mantas. Once the sword is broken, return to get it fixed, repeat. You'll be richer than BoostedJack in no time.

Doom878

So I had saved it after beating Flamelurker and was still human when I loaded the game. I typically kill myself in the Nexus to avoid darkening world tendency but didn't this time because I didn't feel like climbing the stairs to recover my souls. After using some of my souls to level up, I went to 4-2 to buy healing items from the dude in the tunnel. After making my purchases, I can't teleport out and there's fog at the entrance. Uh oh, I got invaded!!! How the fuck did they guess my code "demon" Fortunately, I beat the shit out of the guy even though he healed like 4x. Light build plus high strength and a fast +1 Crescent Falchion made me OP. Thanks to him though, I got Pure White World Tendency for World 4 and met Satsuki. I didn't have the Makoto on me but I can get that in 4-2 and then beat him twice (once as a phantom). I spent most of the night farming greystones to get my Claymore up to +4 Crushing. I need like 8 chunks to +5 so yeah probably won't farm that for a while. Also didn't know that some weapons have to be leveled up before doing an alternate path as the Claymore needed to be +3 with the regular upgrade material. Also, I gave Blacksmith Ed the Flamelurker's soul but didn't bother getting the meat cleaver because I'd have to up my DEX and Faith stats too. I'm going all Strength so fuck wasting Adjudicator's soul. Guess I'll start 5-1 when I have a few hours to kill.

Yumcha

That'll teach that farker...good stuff.

You may like the Bramd or Dragon Bone Smasher...though, Meat Cleaver is great for the health replenishing abilities...

Yumcha

Though, given how strong you are, you could wield the Northern Regalia just fine...you have so many options.

Definitely a very different build than what I did...speed + magic was my approach though towards the end. I should look up my stats...but, I think my sword of choice was the Blueblood Sword.