Never getting summoned

[Raptor85]

Created this character two days ago as a "theme" character to help people out in all the areas prior to anor londo so i kept it at SL12, for a hour or two got tons of summons then all of the sudden...poof, havent gotten summoned for two days now. What gives? Is there something up with the matchmaking, because im set up exactly like i would have been in the orig game and this worked fine there.

[Rapax/希狐]

With two days there must be something wrong. I got summoned several times as SL11 in Anor Londo today.

[Alariel]

May it be you upgraded your weapon too high? Didn't get the weapon upgrade matchmaking ?

[Raptor85]

Do they match based on items now? god if so that's terrible, that'll make it just like dark souls 2 where you basically never see anyone online if you don't just rush through each area, and I've always enjoyed going and gettting specific theme items to make "helper" summons in each boss area :/

Is it just weapon or could it be covenant too, because i did do a silver archer run between being summoned to go grab the darkmoon covenant and open the doors, and does it have to be equipped or only picked up?

[Rapax/希狐]

Originally posted by Raptor85:

Do they match based on items now? god if so that's terrible, that'll make it just like dark souls 2 where you basically never see anyone online if you don't just rush through each area, and I've always enjoyed going and gettting specific theme items to make "helper" summons in each boss area :/

Is it just weapon or could it be covenant too, because i did do a silver archer run between being summoned to go grab the darkmoon covenant and open the doors, and does it have to be equipped or only picked up?

Well yeha the strongest weapon you have ever had in your inventory determines your weapon rank.

Weapon rank is either total number of upgrades for normal weapons, 5+number of upgrades*2 for unique wepaons, 0+number of upgrades*3 for unique shields.

Armour, spells and unascended catalysts ar enot affected.

Ascended pyromancy flame counts as Wepaon rank 15 on all levels.

You can usually be matched with people about 4-6 above or below your weapon rank.

If you have weapon rank greater than 5, you are ver yunlikely to get summoned in Undead Burg.

[Raptor85]

crap, out of habit i did pick up some unique's while doing the run even though i don't use them, is this character screwed? Seems like a really dumb system that won't really prevent twink invades but will prevent people from matchmaking.

[Alariel]

You can google the matchmaking in DS wiki.
Also this is helpful :https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1406077116

[Alariel]

Originally posted by Raptor85:

crap, out of habit i did pick up some unique's while doing the run even though i don't use them, is this character screwed? Seems like a really dumb system that won't really prevent twink invades but will prevent people from matchmaking.

Your char is screwed, I am sorry. You only can level up and play in another area.
For twinking in early areas you need to start over.

[MongBoy]

You can come help me if you want xD

[Raptor85]

So according to fextralife the mistakes I made are..

1. Killing the black knights for souls and early chunks, i did get the BKH drop which already screwed me there
2. I cleared the bridge drake and tailcut him in the process when he pissed me off
3. I picked up havels items in the secret room out of habit, just incase i felt like doing an early cheese of 4k

So assuming the article is correct the most efficient way to make a low level character but retain the ability to be summoned is...

1. Avoid all pickups like the lightning spear, etc that come with upgrades
2. Avoid all tail cuts
3. Avoid all black knights
4. Don't pick up any of the unique weapons

And to be able to keep maxiumum damage at a low level

1. Use a normal weapon upgraded to +4
2. stock up on ligntning resin
3. it looks like micracle/spell boosting items don't count so low level spellcasting should be pretty OP now
4. FAP and hornet ring dont seem to count so rushing those is probably a must
5. Armor doesn't count so doing early new londo for chunks and an early max level armor set is safe

I still think the system is dumb but at least it sounds pretty easy to game and still build powerful chars at low level without taking yourself out of the summon pool

[Jouni]

Originally posted by Raptor85:

3. it looks like micracle/spell boosting items don't count so low level spellcasting should be pretty OP now

Dark Bead invaders in Burg are very common. Sometimes it's like 50% of them.

Originally posted by Raptor85:

5. Armor doesn't count so doing early new londo for chunks and an early max level armor set is safe

It's not safe. Darkwraiths can drop Dark Hand which is apparently a +5 weapon.

[Banr]

Originally posted by Raptor85:

1. Killing the black knights for souls and early chunks, i did get the BKH drop which already screwed me there
2. I cleared the bridge drake and tailcut him in the process when he pissed me off

You should be fine even if you pick up any of these. Unique weapons count as a +5 normal weapon, which can be matched with +0 to +10 for both invasions and summons.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/153CKO7jW7ve_ZOQ75mBHIax___uXlzfgrnn7AvpVtGA/edit#gid=0

Originally posted by Raptor85:

3. I picked up havels items in the secret room out of habit, just incase i felt like doing an early cheese of 4k

If you pick up the Occult Club in the Havel's room or the lightning spear in Sen's Fortress that puts you in the +10 normal range.

[Alariel]

Originally posted by Banr:

Originally posted by Raptor85:

1. Killing the black knights for souls and early chunks, i did get the BKH drop which already screwed me there
2. I cleared the bridge drake and tailcut him in the process when he pissed me off

You should be fine even if you pick up any of these. Unique weapons count as a +5 normal weapon, which can be matched with +0 to +10 for both invasions and summons.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/153CKO7jW7ve_ZOQ75mBHIax___uXlzfgrnn7AvpVtGA/edit#gid=0

If you pick up the Occult Club in the Havel's room or the lightning spear in Sen's Fortress that puts you in the +10 normal range.

I can confirm this, getting summoned with +5 weapon works well ( I have a sl 10 myself ).

[Jouni]

Originally posted by Banr:

You should be fine even if you pick up any of these. Unique weapons count as a +5 normal weapon, which can be matched with +0 to +10 for both invasions and summons.

Some tests say that the gap is 4 levels and some say it's 5.

[Raptor85]

so the chart of fextralife is wrong? one chart says the range is +4 the other +5, if +5 that's a LOT easier since the uniques don't screw you then, plus the dark hand is safe then.I did pick up the lightning spear and occult club just out of boredom waiting for being summoned and to clear the area

[Banr]

Originally posted by Jouni:

Originally posted by Banr:

You should be fine even if you pick up any of these. Unique weapons count as a +5 normal weapon, which can be matched with +0 to +10 for both invasions and summons.

Some tests say that the gap is 4 levels and some say it's 5.

Originally posted by Raptor85:

so the chart of fextralife is wrong? one chart says the range is +4 the other +5, if +5 that's a LOT easier since the uniques don't screw you then, plus the dark hand is safe then.I did pick up the lightning spear and occult club just out of boredom waiting for being summoned and to clear the area

Can you link the fextralife one? I could be wrong but I think the one I linked is the latest and has been tested thoroughly, with video proof.

https://www.reddit.com/r/darksouls/comments/8nav6j/weapon_matchmaking_testing_with_video_proof_and_a/