Improving your skills at Dark Souls: the No-Shield Playthrough

[MarcFoxx]

If you're like I was when I started Dark Souls, you spend a lot of time blocking. You also run out of stamina a lot as enemies drain your reserves because you rely so heavily on your shield. Sure, you could upgrade your shield or use one with more stability, like the Baldur Shield or the Eagle Shield, but how about this: don't use one at all.

Nothing improved my skill at this game more than my No-Shield Playthrough. I played as a Thief and used the Uchigatana, and from the very beginning all the way until the end credits, I never once used a shield. If I ever picked a shield up, I dropped it immediately. No shields allowed in my inventory! It will FORCE you to learn proper foot work.

You'll learn how to dodge, roll, parry, and backstab better. I learned how to use parries and backstabs strategically to avoid damage when surrounded by multiple enemies. I learned boss' "blind spots" where they couldn't hit me, and where I needed to stand. I learned to spot good openings where I could freely connect a few hits before the risk of getting hit returned.

Most of all, I learned how much I depended on a shield. I used that shield like a crutch.

So try it out. Make your next build a No-Shield Playthrough.

[SenteGraphs]

I like this idea, and while it sounds difficult though annoying at times, I see the benefit. However, did you really post this at the about the same you suggested to beat the Capra Demon by poking behind a shield?

[MarcFoxx]

Yes I did... ..
..
...

what?

[MarkyBee]

What about using the Grass Crest Sheild on your back purely for the stamina benefits?

[MarcFoxx]

Originally posted by MarkyBee:

What about using the Grass Crest Sheild on your back purely for the stamina benefits?

Sure, if you aren't using it to block than it's the same as not having it for the purposes of the "No-Shield Playthrough."

The whole idea is not to block with a shield.

[ForcesOfOdin]

These seems rough as hell, I'll be trying this soon, been meaning to do it.

[Dragon Crafter]

Yes, this is a great topic/suggestion. I was a shield addict, until I had a character where I decided to two hand a zweihander. I recommend this for no-shield noobs, because the zweihander has the added joy of knocking enemies on their a**es! Felt real good against those snake-jerks in Sen's fortress!

I was also able to beat Artorias with the zweihander (with the Grass Crest shield on my back - ...and help from another player) But I was pretty comfortable dodging. I don't think I used a potion (other than healing my helper).

Sadly, I went back to my sheild addiction when I gained the strength to one hand the zwei.

Next I have to break my addiction to bows! (I can't deal with the game without drawing out enemies one at a time or using 100 arrows to take out a big "obstacle".) I just beat Seath with a bow after my helper died at the start of the battle. Cowardly? Sure. Am I glad I beat him? Yep!

[MarcFoxx]

Originally posted by =MAG=ForcesOfOdin:

These seems rough as hell, I'll be trying this soon, been meaning to do it.

The only significant challenges I experienced with this build were situations where you didn't have room to roll/dodge, or on narrow ledges where a misplaced roll or dodge sent you to an instant death -- otherwise known as Tomb of the Giants.

[Amadi (Igbo)]

This build doesn't actually make you a better player, your experience does. If you build your skills with a sheild or a parrying item or with no secondary item, you will get better with that set. For me I use great shields and with alot of practice with them i learned how much different weapons effect my stamina, how to properly time my counter attacks and effective strategies against multiple enemies. In conclusion you can become a better player with any set that you choose, you just need to know your equipment well. Also if you want to become a parry maniac try the smaller shields

[MarcFoxx]

Originally posted by Amadi (Igbo):

This build doesn't actually make you a better player, your experience does. If you build your skills with a sheild or a parrying item or with no secondary item, you will get better with that set. For me I use great shields and with alot of practice with them i learned how much different weapons effect my stamina, how to properly time my counter attacks and effective strategies against multiple enemies. In conclusion you can become a better player with any set that you choose, you just need to know your equipment well. Also if you want to become a parry maniac try the smaller shields

This is true, but the no-shield build DOES improve your skill by the nature of forcing you to use other means of avoiding damage (other than a shield). Since shields are an easy go-to defense mechanism in the game, it's useful to remove it and then see how to handle the game without it.

[Vulture]

Or you could pick up a parry shield like the buckler or target shield and then work with that.

However, I never found use for no-shield runs if my character wore -any- heavy armor whatsoever or even mid-rolled. Plus, in my experience no-shield only really works with PvE due to the really bad lag issues in PvP. In PvE it's easy to parry and riposte anything that's humanoid, I wouldn't really say the same for PvP. And if you can't really parry/riposte enemies (or get lots of chain backstabs) in PvP the offhand is pretty much moot as there's not a lot you can do with an off-hand weapon in the first place.
I tried to do a runthrough with dual claws and that didn't turn out anything like I expected as the left hand regular attack was literally as slow as the right hand strong attack.

[MarcFoxx]

Many players PVP without a shield. It depends on your style.

[Amadi (Igbo)]

Yea i actually started dualing with katanas. I realized that a weapon in the off-hand seems to have a chance to slip by shields when they are up, also the off-hand attacks throws off your enemies parry time. So if your thinking of dualing those are some minor details that can give you a bit of an advantage.

[Amadi (Igbo)]

Between if anyone wants to know my in-game name is 030RELL and im SL103. I will cap at 120 and prob make a build dedicated to SL60 pvp for all you "low class warriors".