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PaperclipPerfector  4mo ago (text post)   3529 thread views

Friday Fun Thread for July 25, 2025

Be advised: this thread is not for serious in-depth discussion of weighty topics (we have a link for that), this thread is not for anything Culture War related. This thread is for Fun. You got jokes? Share 'em. You got silly questions? Ask 'em.

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You need a catalyst to use spells. For sorceries that would be glintstone staffs or that one sword. But afaik sorceries always scale only with INT, so it's a difficult choice for mixed builds.

Oh. Balls. Guess I wasted those runes then.

So Faith is the way to go for combining physical with magic?

There's probably some way to play a high INT+secondary stat with an appropriate weapon that scales with both.

Edit: Just looked it up since I didn't quite remember it, there are INT+FTH and INT+ARC staffs, so these are technically hybrid, but not really relevant for you. No +STR or +DEX or others sadly.

Edit edit: The demihuman queens staff has high base scaling and low INT scaling, so that would be the correct staff for a hybrid physical build I think.

But generally FTH is easier for hybrid builds in two different ways: First, there are more explicit hybrid seals that make your incantations scale with another stat, and second there are much more utility incantations that have no or very little scaling. Golden Vow for example is a great generalist dmg/def % buff that has no scaling whatsoever, anyway.

I found the Golden Vow ash of war. Considering putting it on my sword or my flail.

It changes the str and dex scaling from d to e and introduces faith scaling: d. My Vagabond has 9 faith. And it reduces regular damage but introduces holy damage...? And has a hefty FP cost for its skill (40). Hmm. If I use that skill I wouldn't have FP left over for powerful spirits. Not sure what to make of this.

You can find the Sacred Blade ash of war in Limgrave. It’ll give you faith scaling and a medium range slash/wave attack for 19fp.

All riiiight! :)

That sounds like what I want. Thanks!

Should I put it on my Lordsworn's sword? I've already smithed it to +2, but I don't know whether I'll find a better sword soon and should thus save the ash of war for the next one...?

You can apply/remove/shift the ashes of war whenever you want to, but you can only have the ash applied to one weapon at a time. Ashes of war can be duplicated if you find the right item though.

What did you mean by medium range slash/wave attack?

I've put it on my longsword and it seems to just get activated by a L2 slow-ass slash? Seems like it can only be used for opening combat, would be too slow to enable in mid combat. I don't see a wave?

Every time you use the art, it should send a wave of energy for maybe 5 metres. I think with a shorter buildup time if you chain them.

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Aha! Didn't imagine they could be swapped in and out.

Ah yes forgot about that! That's a great skill as well. It also gives a lingering buff which can be quite substantial. Best on weapons with fast attack speed, since the buff is a static 90 holy dmg.

Golden Vow is great! Early on 40 FP might be a lot so spirits are a better use if you don't have enough, but later it's not much and it will stay strong since it's a % dmg/def buff.

The scaling changes are also what you want if you play an hybrid build anyway.

Later on... You mean if I put around 10 points into Mind to increase FP?

I still don't know in what direction to take this character. He's now level 25 or so, and I've been putting all the points into Vigor for a while, because I was advised to prioritize that stat until it's at 40. Str is at 15, Dex 18. Still lacking a ranged damage alternative except some darts I throw on occasion.

Prioritizing vigor is a good idea for a beginner, but that doesn't mean you need to put everything into it. With 18 dex, I don't see why you can't use a bow? Otherwise crossbows are a good beginner ranged choice. The early game is always the most limited phase, and even full mages can't really cast all that much then.

Btw, don't put too much points into mind until your flask is substantially upgraded. You usually want just enough FP to take full advantage of the flask regen, not more.

Unless I'm forgetting something, I haven't found a single bow as loot or for sale. I've found three merchants.

There is a reason people call Limgrave the longest tutorial in any game. Your options open up a lot once you leave.

But the heavy crossbow can drop from the crossbow wielding mobs in Limgrave, there is a short bow for sale in southwest Limgrave, and there is the light crossbow for sale on the weeping peninsula, which is also reachable quite early.

I can also give you directions on how to get the clawmark seal, which can also be done early. But that might be considered a spoiler.

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There aren’t any catalysts which directly boost spells based on STR/DEX, but there are plenty of weapons with the relevant scaling. Moonveil and Dark Moon Greatsword come to mind. If those don’t do it for you, pop on an INT Ash of War. Or do weapon buff.

Yeah, that's what I meant with the first paragraph. But he indicated wanting to actually use sorceries, so I didn't expand further on that.

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