Fun, Interesting, OP Build Recommendation?

[Sarstan]

So I suck at this game. I've managed to get to the end (and not beat the final boss...). I've gone with a magic build and it carried me through most of the game. But I realize I've used none of the arts or weapon skills and purely relied in a handful of spells.
Now I feel I've missed out on a lot of fun of the game. I've gotten beaten down hard the last time I played melee (typical sword and board knight build focus) and it's just not fun to die over and over. So any suggestions on a build focus that is fun and can steamroll most situations?

[Seal Enthusiast]

Go for a paladin build. Get prawns/crabs, the dragoncrest shield talismans, Golden vow, and later replace prawns and crabs with blackflame protection from Gideon. I would go for a greatsword, but sword and shield works. If you do go for a greatsword, a starting blade that works well is the knight's greatsword that just requires a bit of grinding to get (very good skill too, you can juggle most humanoids with the stamp uppercut; it was hilarious against Melania).

For armor, any knight set would work, but I prefer the Tree sentinel set for looks and the superb armor value.

Finally, I would go for a decent amount in vigor, endurance, and mind, keeping the bars relatively close (still pump vigor, 40 or 50 for the end game works great).

This set-up is pretty friendly for people that aren't great at melee but still want to experience it, since with all the buffs you can take an absolute beating and still keep going.

[LuckyCheshire]

If you want to try a Dex build, Keen Guardian's Swordspear with either Giant Hunt of Piercing Fang is my go-to. For talismans, Alexander's Shard, Carian Emblem, Green Turtle, and a free slot. For the final boss, probably the holy resistance drake.

From there, to round out I usually go for Fth over Int, and use lots of buffs. The swordspear can be infused, so you have a number of options, and in general Electrify Blade is great for that build. For the final boss in particular the Lord's Divine Protection (I think is the right name) is a massive holy damage resistance buff. Blessing of the Erdtree and Flame, Grant Me Strength are also good. If you're using lots of buffs regularly, you might want to put the Old Lord's Talisman in your free slot. For ranged damage options, I usually toss in the Black Blade incantation, and something fast and cheap. For the final boss, Black Flame is perfect.

If you want to focus on your faith more than dexterity in that build, swap your talismans out for Radagon Icon, Godfrey Icon (for the Black Flame), Flock's Canvas, and another free slot with either Green Turtle or Haligdrake for the Elden Beast.

For armor, basically the heaviest thing you can use and still medium roll. You can do the Tree Sentinel set (which incidentally looks fantastic with the swordspear) with that loadout somewhere in the vicinity of 35 Endurance iirc.

Hopefully all that was coherent, and helpful. Good luck!

[Strawberry]

OP? Twiblade imbued with frost (or bleed). For extra OP, you can get two of them in each hand, one will be bleed and the other frost imbued. The procs will eat chunks of hp.

[Strawberry]

Get varres mask and lord of blood exultation for extra dmg when bleed procs.

[Strawberry]

Armor? Who cares, run naked, just apply 5 quintillion buffs before fights, haha. (Pick any armor)

[Strawberry]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jROFPElEjs&t=40&themeRefresh=1

[Ratatui]

thx bro

[impuretrash2878]

the easiest time I had with the game was when my melee build started using a greatshield and a poke weapon; specifically the great epee but probably any old spear or thrusting sword would do. Way easier than a caster build because I dont have to allocate flasks for magic at all. By the time I got to the late game, pretty much nothing could break my guard.

[Zerwaxle]

Go for str build. Really fun shields involved :D

[mordecaiseven]

Try to use a Faith focused build.
Faith is arguably has a diverse range of incantation you could use that provides offensive, defensive, and supportive utilities

For offensive stuff, you could use alot of stuff like blackflame, bestial, or even frenzied flame (Unendurable Frenzy is one of my favourites). I like Dragon communion incantations better for offensive, since they're easy to find early and also looks cool and scales late game.

For defensive stuff, you could use Fire Monk, Two Fingers, Golden Order Incantations

For supportive and buff stuff, you could use Fire Monk incantations like "Flame, Grant Me Strength" or use Erdtree Incantations like "Blessing of the Erdtree"

For the seal, you could use any seal that boost your incantation type like Erdtree Seal or Dragon Communion Seal (Except the Frenzied Flame seal which is the actual worse for the Frenzied Flame Incantations somehow).