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Where Dark Souls 1 and 3 didn't offer many incentives to experiment with new weapons or magic, Dark Souls 2 encouraged you to try out new things more. Power stances (which made a triumphant return in Elden Ring) are a great example of this, whereby dual-wielding weapons of the same class would put you into a "power stance", unlocking a whole new move

But I've always had a soft spot for Dark Souls 2. It did a lot wrong, but I've always maintained that it also did a lot right. There's a creativity and variety to it that I feel has been almost completely overlooked. For the longest time, I was resigned to Dark Souls' first sequel being a one-off, a failed experiment, a dead end. That being the case, Elden Ring felt like a massive vindication of my love for Dark Souls 2. At times, it almost feels like its spiritual succes

Upon reading each class' stats, most players would immediately recognize that the Vagabond stands out. Boasting extremely high starter numbers, it is no wonder why so many fans love the vagabond. That being said, there are still two areas where the Vagabond truly shines. A Very high health pool (vigor,) and a massive strength level instantly place him under the " tank " categ

Once you enter the interior of the fort, and the Fire Prelate notices you, he will immediately erupt in flames . The bowl atop his helm will begin spewing fire all around, and this will last for a little while into the fight. The fire isn’t likely to hit you when you’re close, but it’s more intended to catch you at middle range . This is meant to keep you close, where the Fire Prelate can do the most dam

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This guide will cover one of the most powerful and beginner-friendly classes: the Vagabond. So whether you are new to Souls-like games or you are a returning veteran, here is how to best build the Vagab

Past the deactivated flame pillar, you’ll spot the next hallway, which will lead into another small room. This next room contains four skeleton warriors , all of which will rise from piles of bones in the corners of the room. Be aggressive when fighting them. They can be defeated fairly quickly, but if allowed to gang up on you, they can quickly end your

The connection between Dark Souls 2 and Elden Ring runs deeper than that though. The way the player is orientated to the world is also a significant point of convergence. Generally in a FromSoftware game there is one obvious way forward, that may branch out later. The Undead Burg, The streets of Yharnham in Bloodborne and so on. The exact reverse is true of both Elden Ring and Dark Souls 2. There are multiple paths to take at the outset, which all converge later. Your typical Soulsborne game is like a tree. You begin by climbing the trunk and are given options on how to proceed nearer the top. Dark Souls 2 is like the same tree but turned upside d

Not only does the Vagabond begin with more-than-ideal stats, but he also comes equipped with some of the best starting equipment in the game. This kit includes the Longsword , Halberd , and the Heater Shield . The entire Vagabond Knight armor set is also inclu

This hammer is classified as a Colossal Weapon , weighing 23.5 pounds and requiring a massive 45(!) Strength to wield it effectively . If you have the Strength to wield this weapon, it can be devastating in your hands. It has a fairly slow move set, typical of most Colossal Weapons, but what it lacks in speed and finesse it more than makes up with raw power. The heavy attack uses the upward swing motion the Fire Prelate used against you in the battle, and when charged, the move will fling most regular enemies high into the

For the FromSoftware die-hard, there is only one Dark Souls sequel, namely Dark Souls 3. Dark Souls 2 is very much the black sheep and has received more than its fair share of criticism over the years. Even among those who don't actively despise it, it is largely forgot

This opened up a whole host of tactical options, and let players run wild with their builds, as the awesome video below by SunlightBlade demonstrates. There's nothing quite like power-stancing dual greatswords. There's even a pair of matching great shields that can be used as weapons when in power stance. Elden Ring brought all that back and was better for it. It's all too easy to find one thing that works and stick with it to the point that it gets boring, but these games gave the player a reason to try something new. Fun, unique mechanics are a great way to do that and Dark Souls 2 is full of t

He mixes in a few basic variant attacks to watch out for. Sometimes, it’s a simple overhead slam. Other times, it’s a quick upward swing. Sometimes, he swipes from his right, then back across, and sometimes he swings from the right, spins around, and swings from the right ag

Neither approach is better than the other (although you wouldn't think it given the way people talk about Dark Souls 2), but as Elden Ring demonstrates, the second certainly has its strengths . There's an immediate emphasis on exploration, and the world feels genuinely big. It’s actually very similar to the way The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is structured, and we all know how that was received. Not being an all-out open-world game, Dark Souls 2 didn't quite have the same degree of exploratory freedom, but in its own way, it anticipated what was to come with Elden R