Best rings for tank and heavy builds? (SPOILER ALERT?)

[Captain_Calvin]

Minor spoilers ahead (maybe)


I'm about to go into NG+ with my knight/tank build. I've always used Havel's and the Ring of Favor and Protection to allow him to midroll with all the equipment I use, but once I get him to 40 Endurance I will be able to mid-roll using only Havel's. When I get an extra ring of favor and protection I would like to break my old one and replace it with a different ring, since on many occasions i would like to use other rings alongside Havel's (an example being the Four Kings fight). I'm just not sure what ring I should use, I'm wondering what rings you folks think are ideal for heavy builds. Through a semi-derp mistake mistake I got the Speckled Stoneplate ring, and I feel like this may be a good option for boosting my elemental resistances to help myself become even more tankish, but i also consider the cloranthy ring. I'm just not sure, should I just keep my RFP? It's so useful with it's stat bonuses but it feels like such a trap sometimes.

My build is (in case you're wondering):
Knight - Sunbro covenant
Giant Helm and Chestpiece +5
Havel leggings and Gauntlets
Sunlight Shield +15
Abyss Greatsword or Lightning Zweihander (depending on my mood), both +5
Canvas Talisman
And a composite bow +14 for aggro-ing and kiting annoying mobs

[Ambugaton]

Looks like your main weapons won't benefit from the leo ring (coposite bow does tho), and are I'm guessing you're probably using them 2 handed, so the hornet ring won't do much unless you're doing a lot of backstabbing (I find fewer opportunities to parry with most GSs and UGSs in PvP any case). Also looks like you have plenty of poise, so to give some other options: maybe the ring of the firstborn to boost your miracles, or bellowing dragoncrest if you're using pyromancy. I may not be very observant, but I don't notice a huge boost from the cloranthy ring, even when stacked with grass... even when I go super heavy and swing around something like the Demon Great Machete or DGA, grass is enough of a boost in stamina recovery.

[bozohontas]

maybe don't replace rfp? replace havel's in certain situations with something like wolf ring, ring of the firstborn, ninja flip ring,...
to compensate for the now lower defense, pick a light armor set which allows you to fast roll with your gear and level it up. that way you can keep the rfp, be fast rolling and use the 2nd ring slot now and then. fast rolling should also give you a new experience, as the game plays differently then...
there are a lot of ring's in dks, but unfortunately only some of them are really useful

[The Badger]

Originally posted by bozohontas:

maybe don't replace rfp? replace havel's in certain situations with something like wolf ring, ring of the firstborn, ninja flip ring,...
to compensate for the now lower defense, pick a light armor set which allows you to fast roll with your gear and level it up. that way you can keep the rfp, be fast rolling and use the 2nd ring slot now and then. fast rolling should also give you a new experience, as the game plays differently then...
there are a lot of ring's in dks, but unfortunately only some of them are really useful

Unless he took off some armour the DGWR wouldn't be useful as it only changes the fast roll, and with his current armour set up he's in mid roll.

[Captain_Calvin]

Originally posted by bozohontas:

maybe don't replace rfp? replace havel's in certain situations with something like wolf ring, ring of the firstborn, ninja flip ring,...
to compensate for the now lower defense, pick a light armor set which allows you to fast roll with your gear and level it up. that way you can keep the rfp, be fast rolling and use the 2nd ring slot now and then. fast rolling should also give you a new experience, as the game plays differently then...
there are a lot of ring's in dks, but unfortunately only some of them are really useful

I've played and beaten the game with a fast-rolling pyro/ninja/archer build already and It's not really the style i want for this character. The wolf ring would definitely be overkill as only the toughest enemies and bosses really stagger me, unless I wanted to be a fat-rolling unstoppable behemoth (haha, maybe some other playthrough with smough's armor).

Originally posted by Ambugaton:

Looks like your main weapons won't benefit from the leo ring (coposite bow does tho), and are I'm guessing you're probably using them 2 handed, so the hornet ring won't do much unless you're doing a lot of backstabbing (I find fewer opportunities to parry with most GSs and UGSs in PvP any case). Also looks like you have plenty of poise, so to give some other options: maybe the ring of the firstborn to boost your miracles, or bellowing dragoncrest if you're using pyromancy. I may not be very observant, but I don't notice a huge boost from the cloranthy ring, even when stacked with grass... even when I go super heavy and swing around something like the Demon Great Machete or DGA, grass is enough of a boost in stamina recovery.

I tend to agree with you on the cloranthy ring, while even the slightest boost is advantageous in pvp, i don't really do it much with this char. I may do it for a bit before fighting gwyn while I'm at the right level, but I much prefer PVE and building unique characters with high SLs. I had totally forgotten about the ring of firstborn, thanks for suggesting! I think I'll definitely give that one a shot, I often get disappointed with the lack of damage from my great lightning spear. I'm a total sunbro fan anyway =P

So Is the speckled stoneplate ring any use? I'm really bummed that I messed up that quest and missed out on a slab, I kinda wish that getting the speckled stoneplate wasn't a waste of time. Maybe I'll try it out and see if it helps me any.

[rat kid alert]

Can someone please explain to me how any ring is even remotely useful other than Havels and RoFAP? I really see no use for any of them except perhaps for Hornet ring or Darkwood Grain Ring in PVP, possibly Wolf ring.

[Ambugaton]

Originally posted by Trader:

Can someone please explain to me how any ring is even remotely useful other than Havels and RoFAP? I really see no use for any of them except perhaps for Hornet ring or Darkwood Grain Ring in PVP, possibly Wolf ring.

Bellowing dragoncrest: boosts power of offensive sorceries and pyromancies by ~20%, which effect stacks with things like the crown of dusk. Not sure much explanation is needed to explain how that's useful for casters.

Ring of the Sun's first Born: increases damage from Miracles by ~25%, also stacks with dusk crown and the like. Again, not sure much explanation is needed.

Leo Ring: On the right weapon, can turn a good weapon into something devastating.

Red Tearstone: 50% bonus to all attacks... again, not sure much explanation is needed. I don't use it much, but I've seen some use it in combination with other buffs to painful effect.

Calamity ring: probably the most OP thing in the game. Surprised they didn't nerf it in a patch.

[Ambugaton]

Originally posted by Captain_Calvin:

So Is the speckled stoneplate ring any use? I'm really bummed that I messed up that quest and missed out on a slab, I kinda wish that getting the speckled stoneplate wasn't a waste of time. Maybe I'll try it out and see if it helps me any.

Just my $.02.... when I first got it I tried it out and noticed, well, no difference really. Certainly not enough of one to take up a ring slot.

[Captain_Calvin]

Originally posted by Trader:

Can someone please explain to me how any ring is even remotely useful other than Havels and RoFAP? I really see no use for any of them except perhaps for Hornet ring or Darkwood Grain Ring in PVP, possibly Wolf ring.

I do like the cloranthy ring for fast-roll builds as it can make stamina regen almost instantaneous, especially when used with the grass crest shield. Both serpent rings are a MUST HAVE but are of course for farming purposes only. Believe It or not, I consider the ring of the evil eye to be useful as well, but again only for farming as i use it alongside the symbol of avarice while farming skelly babies (basically gives you non-stop soul farming ability! Your only limitation of course is your sanity and your weapon condition, but I always go with backup weapons anyway). Wolf ring is also great for fast-roll builds and I use it quite a lot. hawk ring is very useful IMO as well when you're sniping far targets. (headshot chains can be a great way to kill enemies like silver knights with greatbows). The dragoncrest rings can also boost your magic attacks to insane damage if you're a spellcaster. Most rings do have some good purpose, but it is true that Havels and the FAP (lol) are probably the most consistently useful. And of course there's the calamity ring if you're a youtube showoff =P

[Captain_Calvin]

Originally posted by Ambugaton:

Red Tearstone: 50% bonus to all attacks... again, not sure much explanation is needed. I don't use it much, but I've seen some use it in combination with other buffs to painful effect.

Calamity ring: probably the most OP thing in the game. Surprised they didn't nerf it in a patch.

Ah! yes the wonderful red tearstone! Power Within's best friend!

Guess I'll stay away from the damn speckle ring...stupid onionboy

Also lol

[Ambugaton]

Originally posted by Captain_Calvin:

Originally posted by Trader:

Can someone please explain to me how any ring is even remotely useful other than Havels and RoFAP? I really see no use for any of them except perhaps for Hornet ring or Darkwood Grain Ring in PVP, possibly Wolf ring.

I do like the cloranthy ring for fast-roll builds as it can make stamina regen almost instantaneous, especially when used with the grass crest shield. Both serpent rings are a MUST HAVE but are of course for farming purposes only. Believe It or not, I consider the ring of the evil eye to be useful as well, but again only for farming as i use it alongside the symbol of avarice while farming skelly babies (basically gives you non-stop soul farming ability! Your only limitation of course is your sanity and your weapon condition, but I always go with backup weapons anyway). Wolf ring is also great for fast-roll builds and I use it quite a lot. hawk ring is very useful IMO as well when you're sniping far targets. (headshot chains can be a great way to kill enemies like silver knights with greatbows). The dragoncrest rings can also boost your magic attacks to insane damage if you're a spellcaster. Most rings do have some good purpose, but it is true that Havels and the FAP (lol) are probably the most consistently useful. And of course there's the calamity ring if you're a youtube showoff =P

Yeah, if you're talking about PvE, almost every ring has a significant penefit at some point in the game, and then you can't ignore the ring of fog. Great for cheesing some areas when you just want to get through them, especially :P

The only rings I don't find much use for are the defense-boosting rings, with the exception of the bloodbite ring when dealing with priscilla.

[rat kid alert]

Yeah I got into NG+ and am now using 2 calamity rings, pretty OP