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5 PvP Tips to Use During the Dark Souls: Remastered Network Test

Dark Souls: Remastered launches May 25 but Xbox Live Gold members can check out the updated classic hit next weekend with the Dark Souls: Remastered Network Test.

Anyone interested in the network test can secure their place in line by pre-downloading the Dark Souls: Remastered Network Test client on the Microsoft Store starting today, May 1 through May 8. At 11:59 p.m. PT on May 8, the client will be taken off the store and no new participants will be accepted.

Dark Souls Remastered Screenshot

The network test itself will run on May 11 and May 12 with play sessions scheduled for the U.S. from 6:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. PT each day. As for the actual content of the network test itself, players will be able to explore the Undead Parish with a variety of preset character classes either alone or engaged in the series’ unique co-op and invasion multiplayer, which now supports six players from the original game’s four.

Players will also be able to experience the game’s updated resolution and framerate, making those decrepit towns, tombs, and castles even more dramatic, moody, and eerily beautiful. Xbox One owners can play the game with 1080p resolution and 60fps framerate, while Xbox One X owners can bump the resolution up to a striking 4K.

Dark Souls Remastered Screenshot

Since some players may be coming into the Dark Souls franchise for the first time, we have asked popular Dark Souls community streamer Oroboro for a few of his tips on getting started with the game’s PVP multiplayer. These tips are good general information for new players to have in the back of their mind when playing the network test or the full game.

Soul Level
Your soul level is important for PvP as it determines how you can connect with other players. Too high or too low, and you might not get as much PvP. The soul level meta for PvP is level 120-125, so be sure to plan your build in advance.

Stats
Your character stats should always be optimized before you PvP. Most of the builds should have 50 vitality and 40 endurance. For damage stats, don’t go above 40 if you’re leveling strength/dexterity or above 50 if you’re leveling intelligence/faith. Never level up resistance, as it is a useless stat for PvP. If you’re confused on what build to create for PvP, a great starting build is warrior with 50 vitality, 40 endurance, 40 strength and 40 dexterity.

Poise
Poise is an extremely important stat in PvP as the amount you have on your armor determines which attacks you can avoid getting stunned by. The main breakpoints you should try to reach are 21, 31, and 56 respectively. You can use the Wolf Ring to gain 40 poise to reach higher caps on lower poise armors. The higher your poise, the better.

Equip Load
Before you set up your character, you need to make sure you have your equip weight below 25% so you can fast roll. Leveling endurance helps, but past 40 it doesn’t give any more stamina, so you should equip rings to help instead. The Ring of Favor and Protection and Havel’s Ring are the best items to use if you’re having equip weight issues. The Ring of Favor and Protection increases health, stamina, and equip load by 20% and Havel’s Ring increases equip load by 50%. The Ring of Favor and Protection can be obtained by killing Knight Lautrec of Carim or by trading the Xanthous Crown with Snuggly the Crow. You must defeat Havel at the bottom of his watchtower in the Undead Burg to obtain Havel’s Ring.

Stamina
Be careful to manage your stamina while you fight! If you run out, you’ll be unable to do anything until it regenerates. To speed up stamina regeneration, you can use several items. The most commonly used items to boost stamina regeneration are the Grass Crest Shield and Green Blossoms. The Grass Crest Shield can be found in the Darkroot Garden and Green Blossoms can be bought at the Crestfallen Merchant in Sen’s Fortress. All stamina regeneration stacks, so don’t be afraid to use both!

I hope you find these tips useful and are looking forward to the release of Dark Souls: Remastered on May 25. Be sure to have fun and always remember to Praise the Sun!