Best build for a no bonfire/no death run?

[danny-san]

Even if the build is only good for one of the two instead of both.

Also, just to be sure, if I am doing a no bonfire run, I shouldn't even light bonfires right?

[Dashiell]

Santier spear will be the best as you don't have to worry about durability.
You have to light bonfires because you need to homeward bone from certain places but you have to not lit bonfire in after kings gate to undead crypt or you will have to walk back on foot.
Don't forget that there's no way out of belfry luna after boss.

[Jill]

you're allowed to light bonfires as long as you don't rest at them. just light the Majula bonfire and homeward bone after each of the four main bosses, then figure your own way out after that.
if you're doing a no bonfire run then go melee, spells will require a lot of maintenance (a lot of spell recovery and a lot of repair powder), and will be completely unavailable if you're starting from a new character because you won't be able to rest at a bonfire to attune. go for a solid quality build and switch weapons often, if not go for a raw Santier's Spear and use that for the entire game.

[Dashiell]

He can "sit" at primal bonfires, they don't count.

[Jill]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dashiell:

He can "sit" at primal bonfires, they don't count.

[Carface Is My Spirit Animal]

Really just do it on NG+ buy max repair powders lifegems/etc. much less of a headache then doing it on NG1

[Dashiell]

Yeah ng+ is easier because you're ready, you can pack anything you want to inventory. Just remember to go offline or it can end on forest lol.

[Tuxedo Clank]

Generally, I suggest rapiers and maces for a nd/nb run. Grabbing the Drangleic Shield is a pretty high priority (first 100% shield and it will last the entire run without needing repair...probably). Santiers is good but I not only dislike the weapon, I also don't want to risk getting it. Assuming you run offline, you have to fight a red phantom to get it. If you have your checkpoint (last lit bonfire) at Majula, you can always repair your weapons when you get there (break them if you need to).

I reccommend skipping the optional bosses (including smelter and the DLCs) unless you really want something from them (Ornstein should be killed if you do a rapier). The only optional boss I do is the Dragonrider for the easy souls (I don't go to No-mans Wharf).

If you do the runs seperately, then you will want different tactics and routes (and builds). For a no bonfire run, santiers is the way to go. No repair needed and you don't care about the risk of dying so much. For a no death run, magic is a good option due to the safety, damage potential and ability to attune.

As for lighting bonfires - They are your checkpoints. The last lit bonfire you get will be where you respawn, bone/feather to. You probably only want to light Majula, Shaded Woods (bonfire 1) and Kings Gate (for homeward bone out between Throne Guards and Nashandra). As long as you don't sit at it, it won't cancel out the no bonfire run. A good test is to half break a weapon and then leave it in your inventory. If it ever has full durability, you know that your no bonfire is void.

[Dashiell]

Skippable bosses:
Old Dragonslayer
Dragon Rider 1
Flexile Sentry
Ruin Sentinels if you start from bonfire after pursuer
Chariot
Smelter
Rat Vanguard
Rat Authority
Gargoyles
Vendrick
Ancient Dragon
Darklurker
DLCs
You can skip 3/4 memories

[danny-san]

Well my plan is to b-line as much through the game as possible, though I am going to do some early stuff just to get some basic items.

I want to do this NG, I think that will be simpler once I get past the obvious hurdle of acquiring correct items. Also, doing the early areas without dying will be good practice for later areas.

[Tuxedo Clank]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von Dashiell:

Skippable bosses:
Old Dragonslayer
Dragon Rider 1
Flexile Sentry
Ruin Sentinels if you start from bonfire after pursuer
Chariot
Smelter
Rat Vanguard
Rat Authority
Gargoyles
Vendrick
Ancient Dragon
Darklurker
DLCs
You can skip 3/4 memories

I didn't think you could skip Ruin Sentinels at all. I thought you needed access to the bonfire right after them to reach the Sinner. I thought they were where the NMW vs PurseUser routes converged.

Additionally, you can avoid the Pursuer and instead kill the Dragon Rider and Flexile Sentry. I don't suggest this route though, more areas and risk involved.

EDIT: Don't forget to send the hag back to Majula. She will sell infinite lifegems once there.

[Dashiell]

This dude shows it right without making 20min video... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnbmIyhM2NY
You just need pharros stone to make it work.

[jrubz]

tip, if you don't light the bonfire in things betwix, you'll always homeward bone to the game start, even after you death warp to a lit bonfire. No one says it, but I noticed this on my NG run.

[Panic Fire]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von JRubz:

tip, if you don't light the bonfire in things betwix, you'll always homeward bone to the game start, even after you death warp to a lit bonfire. No one says it, but I noticed this on my NG run.

Its true, best tip you can have. Feel free to light every bonfire on your way if you want.

You can beat the ruin sentinals with the drangleic shield and the npc summon. (just two hand the shield) and fight the first sentinal on the platform. Put yourself in the corner and tank all of his attacks. The NPC summon will eat him up from behind. Afterwards wait there in the corner for the other two to jump up, then drop off and heal up. You should now have agro on them and just lead them around the zone. If the npc pulls agro off of you run over and smack him a couple of times till you get it back.

This stratagy only requires you to have 8 str (enough needed to two hand the drangleic shield)

You can add the red eye ring to it as well which will mean the npc will never pull the enemy off of you.

[PuttyGod]

Wow, I remember hearing all of the strategies and plans for these No Bonfire and/or No Death playthroughs, and I can't help but be impressed with the total effing dedication you guys have to this stuff. Good for you, seriously. Is it *REALLY* worth it, though? It seems like such an ordeal, and I can just imagine myself accidentally pressing A twice near a bonfire, on the way to Nashandra, or getting a frame skip or sneezing, just as a boss (let's say the Giant Lord) starts a OHK attack, or opening a mimic chest and getting ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ eaten out of nowhere. I think I would probably have to cry until blood came from my eyes, or throwing up liquid malice, lol - in other words, something very bad. Are there any ways to quick refresh or exit out if you die or sit at a fire by accident? Not that I plan on trying ANY of this ♥♥♥♥ hahahh, but it does seem like the no bonfire run would be much less stressful than no dying.
Alas, as I asked before, do you guys look back (if you managed to do it) and believe that it was truly worth the trouble and anxiety. All you actually get, in-game, is a ring to hide your right or left weapon, right? That and an *invisible* E-Peenie extension - which I guess means that it can't actually count as E-Peen, since you can't actually show it off (at least without showing your friends or anonymous scrubs that they can't see your weapons... Which is honestly, SUPER lame - to me at least).
Either way - this is interesting to me, so well done!

[Legas]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von PuttyGod:

and I can just imagine myself accidentally pressing A twice near a bonfire, on the way to Nashandra, or getting a frame skip or sneezing, just as a boss (let's say the Giant Lord) starts a OHK attack, or opening a mimic chest and getting ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ eaten out of nowhere.

You can backup saves to avoid screw ups. However people will tell you're a scrub for doing it and tell you to git gud instead.