Pyromacy tips. Help me understand Demon Scar?

[Lord of Cinder]

I tried this weapon in PvP after watching some youtubers use it. I can see it's potential. With its strong attack it can cast pyromancies and the enemy can only guess what you are about to cast. The damage is not great, but it combos pretty well, at least in paper. Truth be told, I like big weapons and this is the first time I use Curved sword just because it is so unique.

I am not great in PvP, far from it, I admit. The problem I have is that if I start casting pyromancies first, the enemies don't care much what I am about to cast. They just roll through it, even if it is something like Black Serpent, come close and start trading. I sometimes cannot roll fast enough and get hit for a lot. The damage of the weapon is also not that good. I can hit someone 3-4 times and still do mediocre damage. Weapon art is nice but also short range.

Is the key to be agressive and only use the strong attack when enemies roll away? But if they roll and I have already started casting, it is hard to predict if they will roll into me or away from me. If they roll into me I get staggered and as I said, it goes badly.

Any big weapons with hyper armor two shot me. Using pyromancies like Flame Fan can get me killed more often than not due to it's short tange compared to real weapons. Easy to get staggered. If I have to use pyromancies, it seems better to do it at range and if i have to use a melee weapon, might be better to go for one that does not leave me outranged, outdamaged and outpoised in most cases?

What are the best spells to use with this weapon? Chaos Bed Vestiges I guess, Black Serpent and something else? Black Flame? Iron Flesh to prevent the staggering?

Also, I saw this on the wiki: Witch's Ring and the Great Swamp Ring does not increase the damage but the Fire Clutch Ring will.

http://darksouls3.wiki.fextralife.com/Demon%27s+Scar

Tested this, and the damage WITH both pyro rings was significantly higher on PvE enemies. Someone should fix it.

Does the Demon Scar benefit from the Sages Ring? Tested it, but doesn't seem so. Yet, I am still unsure. Is it worth using this ring with the weapon without real pyro glove?

Also, another unrelated question. Why waste slot for Black Flame if you can use the pyro glove weapon art? Guess it is more damage, but is it worth the slot?

[Yallus]

It is definitely worth it. Not only is it more damage, but it's dark. Harder to block. I would suggest running into someone and doing Black Flame, or doing it after 2 R1s, just to mess up parries.

[[Jintoro]]

Every pyro out there will use the same spells, Vestiges, Serpent and Black Flame at least. It's so boring it hurts. "yeah, go ahead and roll to dodge my serpent, then roll to dodge vestiges, why am I never hitting anyone with these spells?" Why don't you try something else, try to mix it up.

I am using mainhand Demon Scar with offhand Dragonhead shield for that sweet sweet weapon art that substitutes Fire Whip pretty nicely. My spells are Profaned Flame, Great Combustion (I know Black Flame is better but I like the fire theme), Sacred Flame for these pesky turtles, Flame Fan and Fire Surge.

Just by casting a few spells with and without Sage Ring, I can clearly see that it does reduce casting times. Also some PVE enemies have weakness to fire, thats why pyromancies hit them harder. Not the same case in PVP where most people have loads of endurance which affects fire resist.

As for your last question, pyro glove WA has ♥♥♥♥ damage and a really small hitbox. Black Flame is better in every way, thats why its a staple in every pyro build ever.

[Lord of Cinder]

No, not every build is the same. Check out this, for example. Seems fun. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EW6Hgt7s624&t=180s

And not everyone uses the same spells either. Floating Chaos, Fire Surge/Whip I have seen in the arena plenty of times. Compared to faith, for example, pyros have many spells that are actually useful. Seething Chaos also seems nice, though hard to use.

[[Jintoro]]

I was going to link the same video lol. Yea, but this guy is one in a thousand, almost every pyro you see these days uses Black Serpent/Flame and Vestiges 100%, with the fourth and maybe fifth spell being one of those you mentioned.

Seething Chaos would work well on a Warmth build, Moose Torrent made such a build, you should check it out.

[Lord of Cinder]

Oh, I know I watched that video:)

[[Jintoro]]

If you want to be able to trade with bugger weapons try the onyx blade. Won't work against great weapons though, against those you have to be a little more reactive, try to chip them down between their swings.