{"id":63189,"date":"2014-03-24T19:32:24","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T17:32:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/?p=63189"},"modified":"2025-07-02T00:47:58","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T07:47:58","slug":"8-survival-tips-for-dark-souls-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/8-survival-tips-for-dark-souls-2\/","title":{"rendered":"8 survival tips for Dark Souls II"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dark Souls 2<\/strong><\/a> is currently one of the most difficult games on the market<\/strong>. To spare\u00a0you a little heartache, we’ve put together a\u00a0few survival tips to help you make it through, but remember, dying over and over again are\u00a0part of the normal learning process in this relentless action role-player.<\/p>\n

Tip\u00a01: In calmness lies strength<\/h3>\n

The nasty part of\u00a0Dark Souls 2 is that around every corner, a monster might be lurking, and that’s often exactly what happens.\u00a0Make sure not to run blindly into a trap<\/strong> and remember that your character takes a great deal of damage if attacked from behind. If you get off on the wrong foot with a particular creature, don’t retaliate straight away\u2013instead, take a break and try again.<\/p>\n

Tip\u00a02: Dodge properly<\/h3>\n

Only those who learn to dodge\u00a0correctly will do well in Dark Souls 2. It doesn’t\u00a0matter which class you’re in. In the beginning, without any training, no one is strong enough to defeat enemies in a frontal fight with shield and armor alone. The pike roll<\/strong> is an important alternative; the advantage of rolling at the right moment means that you can avoid attacks. For a split second, you’re not as vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Start to\u00a0dodge as soon as the opponent starts to draw their weapon. At the right moment, roll under the arc of their strike. A<\/strong> disadvantage of the roll?<\/strong> Every roll consumes stamina, which you need for attacking. It makes sense to combine rolling and normal evasive moves\u00a0as much as possible. This requires a lot of practice, but the earlier you start practicing this move, the easier Dark Souls 2 is later.<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

Rolling allows you to dodge enemy blows<\/em><\/p>\n

Tip\u00a03: Know your opponent<\/h3>\n

In order to dodge properly, it’s vital that you\u00a0know your enemy. Each has its own attack pattern;<\/strong> if an opponent raises his shield and then always goes for a shock attack with its\u00a0spear, that’s\u00a0valuable information. Use it to dodge and launch a clever counterattack.<\/p>\n

Tip\u00a04: The right equipment<\/h3>\n

Don’t\u00a0overload\u00a0yourself.<\/strong> If you’re too heavy, you can’t\u00a0roll and it’s difficult to dodge. Balance your\u00a0equipment and stamina value\u00a0so that your mobility isn’t\u00a0impaired. Also, make use of equipment<\/strong> availability and assign\u00a0different weapons\u2013 this means that you can quickly switch weapons if (and when) an ax or dagger breaks in combat. If\u00a0your only\u00a0sword is broken, it loses much of its attack power and weakens you in battles to come.<\/p>\n

You need to be equipped with a shield <\/strong>to defend against blows, which can’t be avoided any other way, but it’s important to lower <\/strong>the shield as soon as it’s no longer needed. If you don’t, your stamina will recover slowly. If you let this happen, you don’t have strength for blocking the next blow, attacking or to rolling.<\/p>\n

Tip 5: Keep your distance<\/h3>\n

The enemies in Dark Souls 2 have limited sight<\/strong>. Leverage this\u00a0to your advantage by singling out opponents and avoiding\u00a0group combat. Fire\u00a0an arrow at an individual and lure them out into\u00a0an open area so that you have as much freedom of movement as possible. Fighting enemies individually is much easier than being surrounded.<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

Keep your distance: Lure\u00a0enemies away individually to make fights easier<\/em><\/p>\n

Tip 6: Use your surroundings<\/h3>\n

Have you ever thrown a ferocious beast off a cliff? It’s a perfect example of turning the tables and using the environment to your advantage<\/strong>. Often, you can lure an enemy to the top of a cliff and watch as they slip into the abyss. A proven strategy is also to attract large enemies into bottlenecks where they can’t get through.\u00a0From there, you can fight them safely from a distance. Access them with your\u00a0bow or magic.<\/p>\n

Tip\u00a07: Use your souls<\/h3>\n

Souls are a volatile commodity that you shouldn’t carry around with you, and it’s even worse when you lose \u00a0them unnecessarily. Use\u00a0the souls you gain as quickly as you can<\/strong> to advance to\u00a0the next level or buy items that benefit you on your travels.<\/p>\n

Tip\u00a08: Use the campfire tactically<\/h3>\n

Campfires are all-in-one tools in Dark Souls 2. You can use them to heal <\/strong>you, do simple repairs <\/strong>to\u00a0armor and weapons, replenish spells, and travel <\/strong>the world. On top of that, they\u00a0are spawn points. By building a campfire near a tough spot, you can save yourself unnecessary trips and running around.<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

Campfires provide health, repair armor\u00a0and restore spells<\/em><\/p>\n

Conclusion: Patience brings success<\/h3>\n

Following these tips should help you get to grips with Dark Souls 2 pretty quickly, where every death is a lesson from which you can learn and improve. You may gain some experience only to reach the boss again and die, but you’ll have learned something too. In this eternal cycle, you’ll evolve into a skillful player who the demons fear, not vice versa.<\/p>\n

Read our review of Dark Souls 2<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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