Are sorceries good for PvE in this?

[LLoyd Christmas]

The last time I played DSR was with a pyromancer build but I wanted to try out sorceries. I’ve heard mixed things..is it any good?

If so, what are some early game things I could get (if possible) to help maximize sorceries? I wasn’t sure which catalyst to upgrade etc

Any info helps thank you

[yttik]

They're busted. Don't need to upgrade them, just use the best one relative to your Int. https://darksouls.wiki.fextralife.com/Int-Faith+Catalyst+Magic+Adjustment+Values

Just buy the key to save Griggs from the Berg merchant, and then save Logan with the key found below the Sen's merchant.

[JellyPuff]

Sorceries and spells in general are widely considered the game's "easy mode" alongside high poise (which you can also have on top of being a sorcerer). They're so strong, they gave most DLC enemies big elemental resistances. Except for fire for some reason, so Pyromancies still shred there. Great Combustion can even stunlock Artorias, but i digress.

Speaking of the DLC, the DLC spells are even more busted. The Dark Bead-sorcery at point blank hits like 3 Crystal Souls spears.

[Crypto Gamer]

Spells are the easy mode in DS1 and especially in Demon's Souls.

In Both games spells also do not cost ANY stamina you even regen back stamina while casting spells so you can afford more dodge rolls.

You also have gear that increases spell damage, melee has no ring in DS1 that directly increases damage.

Most foes are weak to fire or magic, and very few enemies resist both magic and fire damage at once usually DLC bosses.

Wiki can be used to determine which catalyst is the best at your given int lvl.
They also need no upgrade materials......

DS1 mage headgear is a crappy defense crown of dusk for +20% spell dmg afaik affects all 3 spell schools.

Downside you will lose magic defense more damage from "magic damage" which is uncommon but still likely the most common elemental damage type in DS1 PVE.

The fixed 180 magic adjust catalyst can be bought from Dusk and it is the best for early-mid int lvls. So these two items are close together.

Moonlight set headgear gives 10% dmg to spells with no downside.

Basic Mage Trainer saved from lower Undead Burg also sells a ring for +20% ish dmg boost for sorceries and pyromancies.

High int+good catalyst+dark bead+spell dmg increase gear will likely delete most bosses in a few "shotgun" shots on NG+6.

Pyromancy is still useful as some enemies are much weaker to fire dmg and resist magic dmg.

Most offensive pyro and sorcery spells cast faster with 35 to 45 dex.

Magic weapon buff spells do NOT gain any dmg from magic dmg+gear and only care about the catalyst magic adjust.
They do benefit from the 50% duration ring also bought from mage trainers.
"Spell swordmen" builds can use different headgear, and rings.

All 3 magic weapon buffs give a FLAT magic AR boost to a weapon regardless of its attack speed.

So fast(usually dex)weapons like katanas, curved swords, and daggers gain the most benefit from an int+dex melee weapon buff build.

The power within is very useful for any build.

Now Redstone ring fully applies to spells in DS1 once you are under 20% hp.
They nerfed it in later games.(got balanced).

Redstone ring+power within+50 int+Halved spell cast catalyst+magic dmg increase gear,ring+dark bead will 1 shot many bosses on NG+6.(highest difficulty.)

Enemies who have a notable high magic defense: Seath who invented many sorceries
, All 4 DLC bosses, all types of Crystal Golems and Crystal Hollows(likely all made by Seath).

Still, with a very high level of int, you can still overcome most of their magic defense.

[Mytrnz]

Sorcery is great! Take out the hydra, get the goodies from Dusk. Then go get SIF.

[Sega Genius]

Originally posted by LLoyd Christmas:

The last time I played DSR was with a pyromancer build but I wanted to try out sorceries. I’ve heard mixed things..is it any good?

If so, what are some early game things I could get (if possible) to help maximize sorceries? I wasn’t sure which catalyst to upgrade etc

Any info helps thank you

Yes they are very good in PVE. Your starting staff will be your best bet for awhile until you free Big Hat Logan and get his staff. I am sure someone has posted or mentioned where to get certain things but, in my opinion, explore everywhere and pick up everything and talk to everyone, you will find a sorcery trainer fairly early on.

[Elthrael]

Everything Cypto Gamer said, +1.

I cosplayed Big Hat Logan to make my INT run a bit more interesting and sorceries really are ridiculously OP. Pump INT for damage, Vigor a bit to have some margin for error and Endurance to have some breathing space when dodging, and enjoy the pew-pew show. Pump DEX to cast spells faster but I didn't find the spellcasting speed at 45 Dex that breathtakingly different from base speed.

The only kind of challenging part of sorceries is "aiming", the game has a lock-on system but for some bosses it's better to free-aim and for some bosses (like the hydra) it's pretty much mandatory.

Just to have a melee backup, infuse a weapon of your choice with Magic (or just use the pre-enchanted +5 Falchion you get from Duke's Archives) so it scales off INT and bam, you have an offhand that deals decent damage.