Advanced Combat

Learn about Weapon Skills, Shield Parries, and Status Ailments in Dark Souls III. Master these advanced combat mechanics to overcome challenging enemies and bosses.

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.