Dark Souls II

manus is my personal favorite boss in Souls but ymmv

He's aggressive boss taken too far IMO.

It's like I'm fighting a button masher.

ionno, different tastes

to me, i feel as if i'm fighting a truly primordial beast, a menace with no mind

Manus is the hardest boss in the original DS. I can do Artorias near perfectly and don't find O&S solo *that* bad, but Manus is hard no matter what character i'm playing as. i think the problem is he has just way too much hp and his aggressive patterns are relentless; you can very easily get stunlocked and die.

Some update after trying out the DLC weapons:

• Smelter Hammer is the biggest motherfucking chicken wing I ever saw, and having a weight of 35 and 70 STR requirement will intimidate even players who are used to one-handing Great Warrior Clubs like chumps. The special two-handed L2 is disappointingly weak for how savage its animation is, so you better stick to R1s and R2s. Of note I have knocked Sir Alonne off his feet with the second 2HR2 as the killing blow, which made for an awkward moment between me and the host. This is a weapon made by men, for men. Dexterity wusses need not apply.

• Bewitched Alonne Sword is a very powerful katana of its own right, but you can gain an immense boost just by using the special two-handed L2, which costs you a minute amount of health for an uber-cool buff not seen in any other weapon. Durability is poor (20!), but this is more of a PVP-oriented weapon. Wrecked several invaders while cosplaying as Sir Alonne, and then I met an identical cosplayer in the area preceding the boss. Surprise, surprise.

• Fume Ultra Greatsword is an unique UGS with the weight of the King's UGS and the power to match it (S strength scaling right off the bat). Instead of parries, the two-handed L2 delivers an slow-but-powerful swing that doubles as a counter-blocking, and the one-handed R1 are fast. Very fast. Also, the resistances on the sword are decent, so you got your shield substitute here.

• Fume Sword not traded yet, but according to some it's the longest reach of any regular sword. Also, Dark scaling.

• The Majestic Greatsword's unique moves only manifest if you are holding it in the left hand. You will be able to recognize the first game's R2, both one hand and two hands.

• The Possessed Armor Sword has the unique Flame Weapon self-buff, and the scaling will certainly make you lean towards infusing it with Fire. A cool-looking light weapon.

• I have the Possessed Armor Greatbow, but it's not upgraded and I don't have the stats of a quality-hex hybrid, since this is what the scaling on this weapon is going for.

• The two sorcerer daggers I haven't acquired, and the Chime of Screams obtained from Nadalia's true soul was instead wasted on the pyromancy Outcry. Better luck next playthrough I guess.

Btw, the pyromancies look cool, but still aren't up to snuff compared to other magic. Recollection is a nifty new addition to hexes, though.

edited 28th Aug '14 8:51:33 PM by AnoBakaDesu

Hmmm... Decisions decisions whether to choose between the Fume Normal or Greatsword. I'm kinda leaning closer to the Sword, since i've got a ton of Greatswords and Ultra Greatswords. I think i'll make Vendrick's UGS this play through and The King's Sword next one, so I can fill the UGS itch this play through.

Ah man today was something.

So I fought Darklurker for the first time(screw the Haveljerk on the way to him though) and while I was tearing through his health he really does amp up in difficulty after he splits. However after dealing with the likes of Elana and the Gank squad he wasn't too bad and after 4 or 5 tries I got him. Melee seems like it'd be a pain so I just relied on my pyromancy instead.

Speaking of Elana, it was that time again since I had only done the shulva DLC with my other file so I bucked up and went after her. Now after countless losses I've learned how to fight her and my buffed ups caustus was actually doing some serious hurt on her, first and second attempt I got her below 30%. But Velstadt. FREAKING VELSTADT. That guy takes a normally challenging yet manageable boss and turns it into That One Boss. Jeez he just ruins everything and what was a match I was dominating suddenly becomes me running around like a headless chicken pecking away at Elana every 50 seconds. I died either 3 or 4 times, but the time I did beat her she had 3 skeletons AND Velstadt on the field at once, let me tell you that takes some real camera magic and patience to survive, not sure how I pulled it off TBH. But yeah the big V can go suck a bigger D, that guy argrgrgrhhh.

Now Sihn...beat him first attempt? Was not expecting that but it happened. He almost killed me when he divebombed me from offscreen(thanks camera) but really he's probably the easiest(or 2nd easiest) DLC boss so far. Fun fight and his theme has grown on me but yeah it's pretty awesome punching a dragon to death.

I also finally beat Sir Alonne who gave me quite a bit of trouble! He was pretty tough and has a really weird rhythm to his attacks, but staying up close and whittling him down little by little works pretty well. I think Raime was a bit more fun but it was still a good boss fight. Always wanted to fight a samurai in a Souls game.

edited 28th Aug '14 8:58:27 PM by Vertigo_High

brb facing fears

Sir Alonne is an awesome fight. He reminds me of Ornstein, just like the Fume Knight reminds me of Artorias. They're both possibly the best bosses in Dark Souls II.

edited 29th Aug '14 6:32:30 AM by JimmyTMalice

Is it me, or has sorcery gotten majorly neutered in damage output?

I'm at over 70 intelligence, Magic Staff of Wisdom +10 and it feels like I'm not doing damage worth shit on any of the new bosses. Also, has melee always out damaged magic so hard?

Fuck. Why even give us so many spells if the only way to play the game is "bigst sord = win?"

I have 1 more Soul Vessel left, and I'm not sure if I should change my build or not.

Everything in the game has a large magic defense now.

So the puny number of Soul Spears now might as well be replaced by the nigh infinite number of giant sword swings as they both have the basicly the same effectiveness now, despite the fact that I can't chomp down herbs all day and not run out, while some other mcwarrior with bacon can swing his over compensation about all day without any drawbacks?

Great job From. Your ideas of Competetive Balance means "nerf anything with longer range than 3 feet!" now.

<sigh> Why must half the games with multiple playstyles make the ones I like useless?

Guess I have to Soul Vessel myself to a faux sorceror with only 12 or so inteligence and 99 strenght, or something to that effect. Are hexes any good still, or did those get murdered too?

I was a hexer at first, but it was a tad frail and all the good spells ate up so much attunement. Except for Dark Orb. Dark Orb is a hexers Dark Bread And Butter Orb.

Later I gave up my faith in humanity, er "miracles", and went full time sorceror and part time pyro. Worked well, until now. Is it just the new enemies, or is everything in the game like this?

Man, I just prefer being a caster... Even before I knew how MLGS used to be OP as all hell.

</rant>

I think I over did this post. Didn't realize how much I typed... It's pretty late, I should rest.

edited 29th Aug '14 12:22:16 PM by Kurgy

Finally beat Smelty's Revenge today. All in all... He's honestly not that hard. Hell, Sir Alonne is about in his ballpark. His main issue that compared to Fume and Alonne, his attacks are much more predictable, fire sword or no fire sword. You just also need to learn to GTFO when he does his flame fart AOE.

On Fume, i've lightened up on him. The source of my frustration was really that I had several times where I chipped him down to a tiny bit of health, only for him to bust out a combo that I whiffed on dodge that insta killed me. The issue I have with the battle is that it's too long, and leaves too little room for error. It really did tire me out to have to keep up dodge timing for as long as the fight was.

The other main issue is essentially over saturation from all the other Knight bosses. All their attack patters blended together after a while. It made future knight bosses get less and less interesting, and made them feel like much more of a chore, when you've essentially fought a similar boss half a dozen times. It spoilt otherwise good bosses like Fume and Sir Alonne. I still like Sir Alonne alot, and his battle feels more distinct (He's also one of the only knight bosses who's quick steps feel right for him) but the fatigue from all of the other Knight bosses was really setting in my that point.

Honestly Sir Alonne was less distinct than Fume Knight.

Last night marked the day of my conquest of the Brume Tower.

Fuming Hatred, Smelter 2.0 with MAHJIK and Forever Alonne have fallen. And I had only 3 wedges left when I reached Fumey, so yeah... "Sidestep to heal UMADBRUH?"

Smelter was irritatingly resistant to my two main offenses (Sorcerous Pyro is how I roll^note though you can make that Sorcerous Stabber Pyro now...), so that took more tries than it should have.

Forever Alonne was cool, but it might have been The Katana Factor getting to me.

Also, I had joined the Sentinels quite a bit ago. I love pulling a Dynamic Entry Big Damn Heroes moment when summoned as a Guardian.

And Pv P isn't so bad when I'm not busy dealing with mobs at the same time.

Had a match with a fellow Sentinel. Cross Counter Double KO. We are buddies now.

Still haven't gone into either DLC, but I've invaded into them so that counts for something? They look nice. Sanctum City is confusing as hell. I've met that new katana in PvP and wow that thing's going to get nerfed. They're going to have to increase the damage you do to yourself to get its buff for that thing to be balanced.

Hit rank 3 Blue Sentinel a couple of days ago, so I'm trying to finish the main game before going into Sunken King and then into Old Iron King. I played my friend's level 1 character yesterday and fought the Fume Knight. He's definitely a great boss in the variation of his attacks' timing. Would've been nice to play a character that didn't die in one hit, but he definitely keeps you on your toes.

The nerf to Soul Spear's casting time wasn't nearly as bad as people made it out to be in PvP. The nerf to the Clear Bluestone Ring isn't really that bad, just required some retiming in strategies. (Disclosure: I went from casting speed 308 to 235. The only other piece of equipment I have on to increase casting speed is Lion Mage Cuffs +10. I had to go from 60 ATN to 75 to take on CSS's extra slot.) I've always played hexer/sorcerer, and CSS still wrecks people if it hits. (I use the Stone Ring in PvP; they reduced CSS's poise damage but increased the poise damage of the Stone Ring, so I saw next to no difference.) I found out they nerfed Soul Spear because you could use it in a combo with Soul Shower to stun people and kill them nearly instantly.

Has Forbidden Sun always taken 3 slots? I thought it took 2.

edited 1st Sep '14 9:51:48 AM by Zephid

Forbidden Sun always used 3. It's the main reason I never seriously used it.

I only used it against the twin Pursuers in Drangleic Castle. Along with a bunch of Soul Spears and a Crystal Soul Spear. I've had people use it on me, and it's certainly surprising.

Good golly, there's a goldmine of Guardian Seal summons at the Dragon Shrine. Guess I'll park here and collect some Tokens of Fidelity. I have absolutely no need to do this, I just like doing it. (Also if a red kills me, he gets a rank up in his covenant, so I might as well be sporting.)

why do people keep slapping they're red signs near the mirror knight?

So they can get summoned in as a blue phantom from it's mirror.

edited 1st Sep '14 2:30:39 PM by Moth13

oh so that's what that is? never let him do that really

Looking Glass Knight's one of the few bosses I'd say it's worth summoning on, at least on NG+ since you're bound to get other players thrown into the mix.

i just realized that smelter demon is basically gwyn on 'roids

he's swings a big fire sword aggressively and is the end of many playthroughs

but at least gwyn is parryable

Smelter isn't as bad as people claim really.

I think the sentinels are the bigger skill gate wall. With Smelter it's just about gettin GUD and learning his moveset/dodging. With Sentinels you actually have to be strategic or risk getting overwhelmed in addition to learning the moves.

Man do I feel like a beast today! With only 8 Bonfire Ascetics, I acquired all parts of the Aurous Set (and a Stone Twinblade), as well as all parts of the Shadow set (mask, leggings, claws, chestpiece). So long, No-man's Wharf.