Leechmonger Archstone area

Okay, Dark Souls is my favourite game ever, by a long way.  I'm new to Demon's Souls (bought a PS3 with the main purpose of playing it), and thoroughly enjoying it. 

I'm about two-thirds of the way through, but my god, the Leechnomger Archstone swamp has to be the most miserable, difficult, frustrating, annoying, nervous-breakdown-inducing area in gaming history!  This makes Blighttown and Tomb of Giants combined look like a fun day out!  It's just horrible.  You can't move, you can't see, you can't tell what direction you're going in.  It's actually making me want to quit the game.  At least Blighttown had a sense of direction, a logical route.  And at least, although it was dark, you could actually see a little bit.

I'm too stubborn to give up having played Dark Souls many times, but this level is pushing me harder than I've ever been pushed.  Without spoiling things for me, is there any sort of ring/spell that gives light, or a way of moving through the swamp like the Rusted Iron Ring - something I can get from another area? Or is it just a case of loading up with ninety-nine Royal Lotus and trudging through the level?

Just a 'yes' will do, just something to give me hope, otherwise I might start a game with things like this    in them, instead .

Nope, nothing like Rusted Iron Ring in DeS. Also, wait till you run into some enemies there. You'll find out that the player is the only one limited by the swamp. Extremely unfair when you fight one of the Black Phantoms in there.

Here, just for you, a map of the location.

Le Map:

Open in new tab for full size.

Thanks, Sentiel.  I've already killed one black Phantom, which was extremely unfair as I couldn't move, run or evade, so it took many attempts to get the timing right.  I'm through the first fog gate and got close to the second before falling off into the swamp, being chased by three depraved ones and not having a clue where I was going.  Of course, I didn't have time to heal or take some Royal Lotus, so I died.  And those giant depraved ones - very difficult one-on-one, let alone in a mob.  I'm not looking forward to returning .

If possible, try to use ranged options, like spells and bows to do some damage to the enemies, if not outright kill them before they can get close to you. If you use Thief's Ring, it will allow you to get a few free shots before they correctly aggro on your location. A good shield also helps. Upgraded Kite, or Knight Shield does a lot. If you can, use Regenerator's Ring, or Adjudicator's Shield (not for blocking). That way, the HP regen will counter the Poison, so you don't have to worry about it killing you.

try to use a blessed weapon and regen ring negates most of the poison also stick to land as much as possible and try to lure out the big guys with the bow

Ah, good tip about the Regenerator's Ring/Adjudicator's Shield - thanks.  I'm using magic a bit, especially on the big guys, but visibility is so bad it's difficult to lure them out in the actual swamp itself.  I think it's more the restriction on movement that has caused more deaths so far.  Back I go.  Thanks guys .

You can use Brass Telescope, or a Bow to manually aim and then cast a spell. Soul Ray, for example, has exceptional range and can be used like this to deal a decent preemptive strike to the enemy.
If you really must melee, try to turtle behind your shield as much as possible and draw the enemies towards land. Use the map I posted to find the closest piece of land for your current fight.

Thanks Sentiel - the map was very useful, but I'll try and use it as a last resort so as not to spoil anything.  I think more ranged battle is in order.

You can use a soul form/ thief's ring combo to pretty much sneak past everyone in there.  Of course there is the way I've always taken where I only go in the swamp for the first part and then end up on all of the boardwalks and such.

Or you can just find a small patch of land to stand on and bow snipe/ agro enemies to come after you so you still have some mobility.

In the worst case scenario, just stack on Soul Remains an throw them around. Enemies will prioritize them over you, enabling you to safely kill them with spells.

Another great tip about the Soul Remains - completely slipped my mind about using them.  I think a long bow, sniping and spells is going to have to be my way of getting through it.  I've found the game challenging up to now, in a good way, but this area is just really giving me problems.  That's what I love about these games; they thump you over the head repeatedly and we go back for more each time.

black phantom giant alligator zombie things are fun no? especially in groups of 3, and guarding a useful item.

Forum Pirate wrote:black phantom giant alligator zombie things are fun no? especially in groups of 3, and guarding a useful item.

I don't think I've come across these beauties yet.  They sound wonderful.  If I'm struggling against the Giant Depraved Ones, I'm going to really have problems with these  .

If you're really stuck, Thief's Ring + Hyper-mode + Bow will let you kill stuff without them seeing you.

Fun fact, you can avoid all but 1 enemy (the Shaman in front of the second fog gate) by using the Thief's Ring and just running ahead next to the right-most edge of the swamp. Just pack some grass to stay alive through the poison and don't worry about curing the poison until you're past the Shaman.

Mmm, the Thief's Ring seems to be more useful than I thought.  I did manage to get to the boss fight this morning (got his health down to about a quarter left but I just couldn't heal in time before he killed me), but I'm sure I've missed a couple of items from the swamp, so will have to go back and get what I missed.  Thanks again for the advice.  I'm just concerned that the next part of this level might be even tougher, so not looking forward to it.

dreamforger wrote:I'm just concerned that the next part of this level might be even tougher, so not looking forward to it.

Don't be.

Spoiler:

Cronotis wrote:If you're really stuck, Thief's Ring + Hyper-mode + Bow will let you kill stuff without them seeing you.

Hyper mode in the swamp? That would be annoying having to heal, hyper, get poisoned, heal, hyper, etc.

As someone said, get aud. shield, regen ring. Also, I always carry a blessed weapon, even on a mage. Equip weapon, use soul ray on whatever I can, have blessed at least +4, and only use it when walking in swamp collecting items. You'll get poisoned, but lose 0 hp.


Should add to my hyper comment, I do realize you snipe from islands, I'm talking bout when you move island to island.

Oh yeah, also wear thief armour, best armour for the swamp.

Hyper Mode + Regen = goodbye 5-2.

Hyper + regen makes no sense. Hyper keeps your hp at 1/3 and regen grants you hp. How do you stay hyper with regen on?

-__-'
Regen counters 5-2 Poison = safe Hyper Mode.

Morion Blade on back, some Bow in hand, Regenerators and Thiefs Rings and snipe away. Alternatively, you can swap Thiefs for Clever Rats and deal even moar damage. Another option is to substitue one Ring with a spell with the Rings effects, such as Cloak and Replenishment (or what's it's name in DeS, the regen Miracle).

I used this to clear NG+ PBWT 5-2. Especially BP Selen. I have no idea how to fight her without this. Most unfair fight in all of Souls imho.

Dry land + Hyper > HP regen + Hyper

Sentiel wrote:-__-'
Regen counters 5-2 Poison = safe Hyper Mode.

Morion Blade on back, some Bow in hand, Regenerators and Thiefs Rings and snipe away. Alternatively, you can swap Thiefs for Clever Rats and deal even moar damage. Another option is to substitue one Ring with a spell with the Rings effects, such as Cloak and Replenishment (or what's it's name in DeS, the regen Miracle).

I used this to clear NG+ PBWT 5-2. Especially BP Selen. I have no idea how to fight her without this. Most unfair fight in all of Souls imho.

Slap her around the map with MC, Crescent Axe, DBS or anything that slaps people with one hit around. You got enough time to go to her through the swamp before she is on her feet again and with the right timing she isn't standing for a second on her feets. Same strategy is working for Old King Doran.

Walter_White wrote:Slap her around the map with MC, Crescent Axe, DBS or anything ...

Walter,

what is this MC and Crescent Axe? DBS is clear though: Dragon Bone Smasher

 
To the Swamp world:
In my first playthrough I also thought: omg, what a difficult, frustrating world!
But now I must say, it is a very easy world! With sl 15 all bosses are so easy to kill. The only problem I sometimes have is with the black phantom in 5-2, when I'm not fast enough luring him to an island.

Timing is everything! Blocking and waiting for the depraved to finish their attacks and then hit them. Sometimes using the bow to reduce their collective power when confronted by groups. The mosquitos can be dealt with best with a bow. Very easily and qickly.

MC is probably Meat Cleaver and Crescent Axe is just that, Crescent Axe.