Source
r/darksouls3•
tchitty1

LF Build Advice/Critique for spellblade PvE Character

https://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls3/295580

This is my first draft of my dexterity/intelligence character and would appreciate feedback on stat-allocation/rings/best spells. Armor is just a placeholder for now.

My goal was to create a spellblade archetype character who buffs her katanas to achieve high burst damage, and to have magical support for enemies too dangerous/annoying to get close to. Damage becomes split 379 physical/227 magic when buffed if online tools are still accurate.

Posted Apr 2, 2018, 9:28 PM UTC · edited

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tchitty1OP•

what would be a good amount of Vigor? The other guy recommended I go sorcerer to start, I could get to 32 from there with base Vitality without changing my weapon choice, 35 if I change to Sellsword Twinblades, and 40 if I do both + the Magic ring.

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ds3-pvp-variety•

look at the drop off as you level up the vigor and make your own choice how you want to play. anything after 40 vigor (with ring of favor +3) at sl120 is generally not worth it. here is a sample build adjustment which gives you a real greatsword instead of a fake one https://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls3/295614

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lol_nope_fuckers•

If it's a PvE build, why stop at 120? Round up your vigor, endurance, and attunement some, maybe up to SL150, and I'd call it done.

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ds3-pvp-variety•

well if truly for PVE, dont worry about being in the sl120 meta and just make the character as you want by continuing to level up. otherwise, id say bump endurance up to 34. its way better spent there. your leaving a lot of weight % on the board that could increase your absorbtion, or add other weapons/tools into the mix. keeping attunement low is a good idea, youd get more mileage swapping your lingering dragoncrest ring for a +2 spell slot ring (darkmoon ring i think)... do you really find the extra buff length that important? do you find yourself dying with estus available? also id drop soul greatsword for something more utility or interesting... something that makes you feel cool (you said pve right?).

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llcoolshay•

I would recommend starting as a sorcerer. Should give you a few extra levels that you should put into vigor or stamina

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XDFraXD•

knight is actually a better pick due to the high dexterity required for the build, the 13 str that comes for free (to wield O&U), high starting vigor, high starting stamina, basically everything. It also comes packes with 15 vitality.

On the contrary: i would ditch attunement for 3 more points into vigor, 5 more into endurance and ditching the bellowing dragoncrest ring for the prisoner's chain.

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ds3-pvp-variety•

to be fair, vitality is a poor investment on a build that is already seriously underweight and wont make use of poise. high starting value is also a pointless statistic for a designed sl120 build, the real issue that matters in abilities is low starting value (i.e. points not sunk in something you will have to level up no matter what the build is, like vig/end).

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XDFraXD•

That's exactly the point: if you want to keep that spread knight will actually have a lower final level, and ON TOP OF THAT you will have free VIT for fashion :P

Using soulsplanner as a calculator for the better starting class and using my suggested stat spread as a sample i got these results:

https://i.imgur.com/aKfLwwP.png

Now, mercenary is actually even better and you can choose to go to 32 VIG or 14 ATN and still keep SL 120 as shown here:

https://i.imgur.com/DNH74l7.png
https://i.imgur.com/J5YvQRQ.png

But as i said: if you ever want free VIT you can go knight:

https://i.imgur.com/kRyDFd5.png

As you can see from every screen sorcerer is always over SL 120 (min sl 121) that means an actuall loss on levels rather than a gain.

Now the choice for OP is: do i want 33 more HP (2 more VIG as a mercenary), 1 more spellslot or 9 more points in flat defence and more carrying weight? (all numbers account for RoF+3 and Prisoner's Chain equipped and no empty armor slots).

I personally would go for VIT, both for flat defence and potentially more absorption (that's arguably better than 33 hp), but nothing will stop him to go for the extra spell slot.

Oh and on the topic of Low starting values: Sorcerer's starting Vig and End (that are stats that EVERY build will level up quite a bit) are the lowest in the game: it's the only calss that starts with less than 10 vigor and one of the 3 classes that starts with just 9 endurance (the others being cleric and herald).

So unless you're going to make a glasscannon build (or maybe a pure caster) the sorcer will probably be at least a second choice for a starting class.

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tchitty1OP•

Thanks for the input! You have swayed me to stick with knight, I do like having more equipment load to play with.

https://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls3/295629

This is what I think I'm going to run with. Will probably still have different armor once I play with fashion stat a bit, just wanted to get an idea of how heavy I could go without fatrolling. Moved some stamina from your recommended Endurance to Attunement for a smudge more FP and a natural spell-slot. Added Sage's Crystal staff and a Spider Shield to add a "defense mode" of sorts with Greater Magic Shield. Plus, having 2 upgraded staffs (Sage staff art+Highest Magic Buff) means I can slap a Billowing Dragoncrest ring on and Nuke some muthas.

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ds3-pvp-variety•

since he is obviously underweight by over 30%, the extra vit is TOTALLY WASTED, especially in PVE. i'm not eventalking about whatever stat spread is best for this guy since he doesn't even know what he wants. your missing the point of maximizing a starting class. its not about starting level (i.e. sl7 or sl13) its about minimizing investment in stats not needed. the maximum starting stat is 16, and at sl120 anything you are going to invest at least 16 points in anything you will actually spend any points. looking at stats that fit his build (i.e. dex/int) he is going to go to at least 16 in vig/end/att/dex/int. go type 16 in each of those stats and see which is most optimal (sorcerer by 4). so ya, thats the best starting class for what hes suggesting, in general.

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ds3-pvp-variety•

i was more commenting on general stating class decision rather than his specific build (since he stated he doesnt know what he wants). he wants a sl120 int/dex build. the key stats for that are going to be vig/att/end/dex/int. go level each up to 16 (the highest of any starting stat) and you'll see the most optimal build is a sorcerer by 4 levels.

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tchitty1OP•

I'm fairly decent at stamina management, so I guess the tradeoff for me is more health or heavier armor. If I've already sunk a few days of play into knight, will the tradeoff be worth it? I'm used to bloodborne's armor system (they all suck, pick what is sexiest) does the same hold true here?

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