Claymore upgrade path/build

[Smashov]

Hello!
I've been playing some Dark souls PTDE, and im noticing there's quite some differences in the build and upgrade path because usually i would just go 50/40/40/40 with vit end str dex and go for a +15 claymore farm me some resins and go all out in PVP. But after doing research it seems like the enchanted Claymore is way better but requires Faith and Int so really im very confused about what to do and how to go on with my build. To be honest i don't even know what i should upgrade i had a pure melee build before added some points to attunement but when i reached 120 i felt like i didn't even need that and it was just a waste. I've been putting my stats to vit vgr atn str dex and end. But really i don't know what to do now. I won't be looking to cap myself at 150 as that doesn't really seem like alot of fun but i want to have a good start and don't just randomly do things.. Can anyone recommend me a good build and some advice on the claymore would really be appreciated. Thanks! PS: I'm kind of thinking about the washing pole but im not sure though, things seem very different in DS2. T_T

[dunai.theukie]

+15? Oh, wait, tl;dr, so that was a stupid question.

[squat_instructor]

- 50/50 VIG/END
- Minimal stats for Claymore
- Infused Claymore (fire/lightning/dark)
- 100-105 AGI
- Rings of your choice

there you go

[Bear]

Yeah, Claymore does well with almost any infusion, you don't really lose anything in scaling since it doesn't have good scaling to begin with. My bro and I go for Lightning for all around damage, but Dark is equally as good until you hit the DLCs.

Make sure you level up adapt for the AGI clearly_not mentioned.

As for playstyle tips, just slash slash slash until everything is dead. Claymore is really good all around and really only falls off when compared to some very late game GSs and UGSs, but even then Claymore still tends to perform relativly well. Pretty much the hardest thing to learn with the Claymore is stamina management, but you'll get the knack for it with time.

You don't need Attunement unless you plan on using spells. Attunement gives you slots to equip spells.

[Smashov]

Originally posted by Litwick:

Yeah, Claymore does well with almost any infusion, you don't really lose anything in scaling since it doesn't have good scaling to begin with. My bro and I go for Lightning for all around damage, but Dark is equally as good until you hit the DLCs.

Make sure you level up adapt for the AGI clearly_not mentioned.

As for playstyle tips, just slash slash slash until everything is dead. Claymore is really good all around and really only falls off when compared to some very late game GSs and UGSs, but even then Claymore still tends to perform relativly well. Pretty much the hardest thing to learn with the Claymore is stamina management, but you'll get the knack for it with time.

You don't need Attunement unless you plan on using spells. Attunement gives you slots to equip spells.

Thanks for all the comments guys!, So i don't need to add anything to int/faith and go to +10 and then add lightning? Is that a smart choice for me with a pure melee build? And sorry for asking hehe but is there any armor you would recommend aswell

[Fashionbeast]

40/40 quality build for an uninfused claymore. The damage can be rather underwhelming to other DS2 Greatswords.
Get enough "Vigor", "Endurance" (20+) and at least 100 Agility.

What makes it so attractive for any build is the good moveset. That is, when the mentioned infusions come into play.

[CloudSeeker]

If you are going to pvp with a claymore you need to learn how to counter enemies that parry, because the claymore is very easy to parry in all of its attacks. If you can not jump attack then pick another weapon for parries.

[Bear]

Originally posted by CloudSeeker:

If you are going to pvp with a claymore you need to learn how to counter enemies that parry, because the claymore is very easy to parry in all of its attacks. If you can not jump attack then pick another weapon for parries.

Parry folks are easy to counter if you don't mindlessly spam your attacks. Being unpredictable and baiting their parries smartly leaves them wide open to punishment.

[Smashov]

Thanks for the comments guys! , I'll just go for a uninfused claymore with a quality build, thanks

[Emperor Palpoutine]

Pure melee is at a disadvantage compared to elemental builds... people made tests and it's simply better (for pure melee damage) to get minimum str and dex for the weapon of your choice and then stack as much of intelligence or faith (or both for dark) as you can and pick the element accordingly (infuse with said element and then magic buff with said element) for max damage. It's stupid but team B fcked up and mages/elementals are better at melee than pure melee ... for pvp at least.

For PVE it depends on the mob if he has resistance to your element but then you can just switch to another element :
- if you're intel you can switch between fire, magic and crystal weapon buffs/infusions;
- if you're faith, there's either fire or lightning
- if you got both, there's dark and fire

[CloudSeeker]

Originally posted by Litwick:

Originally posted by CloudSeeker:

If you are going to pvp with a claymore you need to learn how to counter enemies that parry, because the claymore is very easy to parry in all of its attacks. If you can not jump attack then pick another weapon for parries.

Parry folks are easy to counter if you don't mindlessly spam your attacks. Being unpredictable and baiting their parries smartly leaves them wide open to punishment.

Even when you are not mindless its easy to parry a claymore, it give you enough time in the attack to start the parry as soon as you see it coming. You need to fool them even more then with other weapons.

[squat_instructor]

Originally posted by Fabulous Platypus:

Pure melee is at a disadvantage compared to elemental builds... people made tests and it's simply better (for pure melee damage) to get minimum str and dex for the weapon of your choice and then stack as much of intelligence or faith (or both for dark) as you can and pick the element accordingly (infuse with said element and then magic buff with said element) for max damage. It's stupid but team B fcked up and mages/elementals are better at melee than pure melee ...

Maybe you`ll get more damage with that, but your build will be far from optimal in terms of health/stamina/endurance even with 40 INT or FTH.

GS playstyle, like it or not, relies partly on favourable trades. And to be able to trade favourably you need decend health pool. And if you`ll go for 40/40 STR/DEX or stack INT/FTH, you`ll die from 2 katana counter hits. Simple as that.

[Emperor Palpoutine]

Originally posted by clearly_not:

Originally posted by Fabulous Platypus:

Pure melee is at a disadvantage compared to elemental builds... people made tests and it's simply better (for pure melee damage) to get minimum str and dex for the weapon of your choice and then stack as much of intelligence or faith (or both for dark) as you can and pick the element accordingly (infuse with said element and then magic buff with said element) for max damage. It's stupid but team B fcked up and mages/elementals are better at melee than pure melee ...

Maybe you`ll get more damage with that, but your build will be far from optimal in terms of health/stamina/endurance even with 40 INT or FTH.

GS playstyle, like it or not, relies partly on favourable trades. And to be able to trade favourably you need decend health pool. And if you`ll go for 40/40 STR/DEX or stack INT/FTH, you`ll die from 2 katana counter hits. Simple as that.

hmm... I never talked about other stats than damage.

Also, at SL 148 :
Bandit

Vigor: 30
Endurance: 30
Vitality: 20
Attunement: 2
Strength: 40
Dexterity: 40
Adaptability: 30
Intelligence: 1
Faith: 8

What you said is false unless you make a build for too low SL (imo).

[squat_instructor]

Originally posted by Fabulous Platypus:

and then stack as much of intelligence or faith as you can

I was refering to this. I guess I missunderstood, but I thought you said that the best will be to get min STR/DEX and stack INT or FTH to get elemental scaling. But the build you did now doesn`t have any of those, so I`m a bit confused.

also 30 VIG is really low, you will literally get 2-3 shot by high counter weapon on trade.

[Emperor Palpoutine]

Originally posted by clearly_not:

Originally posted by Fabulous Platypus:

and then stack as much of intelligence or faith as you can

I was refering to this. I guess I missunderstood, but I thought you said that the best will be to get min STR/DEX and stack INT or FTH to get elemental scaling. But the build you did now doesn`t have any of those, so I`m a bit confused.

also 30 VIG is really low, you will literally get 2-3 shot by high counter weapon on trade.

Well, you said "if you`ll go for 40/40 STR/DEX [...] you`ll die from 2 katana counter hits". I proved you wrong :P But, for real, if you only have 200-300 armor, even at 50 vigor, you will die really quickly. I have 40 vigor with 600-700 armor (heides knight fashionsoul) and it feels awesome (I even slapped on a ring of steel protection +1 on top of it).

To get back on using GS or UGS with elements, I don't do that because I despise slow weapons that leave you open to easy counter attacks/backstabs so by using smaller lighter weapons, I can keep my vitality really low. If you don't infuse your weapon (it can have innate elemental damage without infusion and still get max physical damage bonus), grab flynn ring with 14 vitality for max damage bonus and put points elsewhere like vigor and end. At 14 vit, flynn ring with RoB+2 = +100 bonus damage per swing so using quick weapons = better returns from those.

Though it is true, if you invest deep in intel/faith, you'll need to wait until SL 170+ to have decent amount of vigor, end and/or vit but with SM being the only thing affecting matchmaking, SL is useless to care about. Always lvl up until you feel you're ready to use agape ring and stop getting souls.

[TrueArchery]

The most damaging and efficient setup would be enough str and dex to wield a Claymore (16/10 iirc) and enough int and/or fth for the max buff duration (like 24/14 for Dark Weapon). For the duration of the buff, this is the strongest setup. But as soon as the buff runs out, a 40/40 quality claymore is usually stronger.