Dark Souls III

Classes:

• Knight (Level 9)
• Mercenary (Level 8)
• Warrior (Level 7)
• Herald (Level 9)
• Thief (Level 5)
• Assassin (Level 10)
• Sorcerer (Level 6)
• Pyromancer (Level 8)
• Cleric (Level 7)
• Deprived (Level 1)

Stats:

Stats define your character's capabilities, including Health, Stamina, and damage output. You can increase them by collecting Souls from enemies, using items, or selling to Merchants, then speaking with the Firekeeper in Firelink Shrine.

• Vigor (VIG): Governs maximum HP and Frost resistance. HP gains become marginal after 20-25 points, but resistances continue to increase.
• Attunement (ATN): Governs maximum FP and the number of spells you can equip. FP and Attunement gains become marginal after 24 points.
• Endurance (END): Governs maximum Stamina and resistance to Lightning and Bleeding. Stamina gains become marginal after 40 points, but resistances continue to increase.
• Vitality (VIT): Governs Equip Load and Poison resistance. This stat has steady growth.
• Strength (STR): Governs damage output for heavy weapons and Fire resistance. Damage increases become marginal after 40 points, but resistances continue to increase.
• Dexterity (DEX): Governs damage output for some weapons (like bows) and spell casting duration. Damage increases become marginal after 40 points, but casting speed caps at 50.
• Intelligence (INT): Governs the potency of Sorceries and Pyromancy, and Magic resistance. Potency increases slow after 40 points, capping at 60.
• Faith (FTH): Governs the potency of Miracles and Pyromancy, and Dark resistance. Pyromancy potency increases become marginal after 30 points, while Miracles can be pushed to 60.
• Luck (LCK): Governs Item Discovery and slightly affects Bleeding/Poison damage and Hollow Gem infused weapons. This stat has steady growth.

Alright, let's talk about some of the more advanced combat techniques in Dark Souls III. These aren't strictly necessary to finish the game, but they can seriously give you an edge, especially against tougher foes. We'll cover Weapon Skills, the nuances of Shield Parrying, and how to deal with Status Ailments.

Weapon Skills

Think of Weapon Skills as each weapon's special move. They're similar to Bloodborne's trick weapons, adding a unique flair to every weapon. Most skills pack a punch, either dealing extra damage or giving you a tactical advantage. The catch? They usually cost FP (Focus Points), the same resource you use for spells. If you're a sorcerer, you'll probably want to save your FP for casting. But remember, you can always replenish FP with an Ashen Estus Flask, so don't be afraid to experiment!

Shield Parry

Some shields in Dark Souls III have the ability to parry an incoming attack. If you nail the timing just right, you can stagger an enemy, opening them up for a devastating critical attack. While parrying was a cornerstone of combat in previous Souls games, the introduction of Weapon Skills means not all shields can parry anymore. It's worth experimenting with different shields to see if you prefer one with a parry or if you'd rather have a different benefit. If you struggled with parrying before, you now have the option to equip a shield that offers something else entirely.

Status Ailments

When you're hit with a status ailment, a bar will appear on your screen, slowly filling up. Once it's full, the ailment takes effect, and the bar starts counting down until it's gone. Some of these can be incredibly dangerous if you don't deal with them quickly, so it's a really good idea to keep curative items on your hotkey bar, especially if you know you're heading into an area where a specific ailment is common.