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    SL1 run - looking for advice

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    Post by Dogwelder Mon Aug 05, 2013 4:41 am

    "I got a bad feeling about this." - Han Solo.

    So I'm about to attempt a SL1 playthrough of Dark Souls and I'm looking for advice in terms of weaponry, armour, magic, starting gift, combat tactics, best route to take - basically, anything that people would recommend for a SL1 run.

    I've dabbled with various magics and weapons in the past but am usually most comfortable with the classic sword-and-shield set-up, but I'm open to any and all suggestions regarding this playthrough.

    May God have mercy on my soul(s)...
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    Post by Green__Eagle Mon Aug 05, 2013 7:26 am

    Because you do not have the stats to use it, pick up a short bow and some cheap arrows. You are able to hit some guys to argo them and separate them from the pack.

    I've done multiple soul level one runs and there are lots of videos on youtube about it. You will get better at the game after accomplishing your run(s).
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    Post by Sentiel Mon Aug 05, 2013 7:32 am

    I'll just leave this in here and be on my way...
    https://soulswiki.forumotion.com/t16390-sl-1-run-guide-tips
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    Post by Dogwelder Mon Aug 05, 2013 12:20 pm

    Thanks for the replies, and especially for that link, Sentiel. Looks like an interesting and helpful read.
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Mon Aug 05, 2013 2:55 pm

    A couple of items will become your best friend.  The Heater shield has amazing stability for its size and stats.  Take it to at least +14.  The light crossbow is another.  When I did this, it was one of my go-to weapons.

    After that, Pyro will be a huge help.  You get two attunement slots, which is great.  Keep in mind that you can also find 2 rings which add another slot each.  I used to use the rings to equip an extra pyro spell or two, and as they were used up through the level, I'd remove them and put on something more useful (since the spell was exhausted anyway).

    Dodging is the key in most areas, since you don't have the health to take a lot of hits.  I made no restrictions against doing coop when I did it, but it naturally gets harder to find people after the Parish.  That being said, you still find some people doing low level runs (I actually found two at once to help me with Artorias in the DLC).
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    Post by chantienyee Mon Aug 05, 2013 4:06 pm

    I found this really tough straight off the bat. After doing NG+7 and coming back to SL1, it was really, really easy, and playing up to NG+7 let's you slowly adapt to the difficulty so that you're eventually used to being one-shotted by anything and everything. I'd recommend doing that first unless you're prepared for super frustration or unless you plan to co-op or anything.

    In my first half of the playthrough I summoned people from here, but the later half I didn't do until after NG+7 months later and I breezed through all bosses solo mostly on my first try  happy
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    Post by StiffNipples Mon Aug 05, 2013 7:49 pm

    Plan your run through, what order you'll do bosses and when and how you'll upgrade your weapons.

    My first SL1 I wasted so much time because I didn't plan, had to leave Anor Londo to go upgrade my flame and get the Rite of Kindling, got stuck in TotG because I wanted to rescue Rhea (which makes no sense, but I'm a tard and I did it anyway).


    Pretty much do this:

    Upgrade that pyro flame to max.
    Great Combust is your friend, it wrecks sh*t.
    Reinforced club is best club. Fire/Chaos/Lightning: do it.
    Divine Light Crossbow is the best (except for DLC, then +15 is better), bonus is also kills skellies. Use Heavy Bolts with it (currently doing an SL1 Crossbow only run).
    RTS is a nice ring, Bellowing is nice too. Combine them with Ducks Crown and you can **** bosses with ease.
    Not getting hit is key, Fog and DWGR come in handy, as does Slumbering (especially for TotG).

    Good luck.
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    Post by Dogwelder Fri Aug 09, 2013 11:56 am

    Thanks for the advice, guys. Much appreciated.

    I haven't done much yet apart from beat the Taurus Demon and pick up a few things which should come in handy. Many miles to go yet. I've been placing my summon sign down in the Undead Burg for practice and souls, but don't intend to summon any phantoms to help out in my own world - not unless I absolutely hit a wall later on, anyway.

    I'm using the reinforced club and will probably upgrade it to +5 before I try to make any significant progress. Same for the light crossbow. I'd prefer a bladed weapon to the club in the long run, but the club is working out okay for now.

    I've been tempted to head straight for Blightown to improve my pyromancy, but I see relying on pyromancy as the easy option at the moment, so I'm reluctant to do it just yet. (Note: I may change my tune on this after being murdered by the Capra Demon for the sixteenth time).

    Any thoughts on what armour I should go for (apart from Crown of Dusk, already mentioned above)? Or does it not make a big difference in most cases at SL1?


    Last edited by Dogwelder on Fri Aug 09, 2013 11:58 am; edited 1 time in total (Reason for editing : Spelling)
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    Post by chantienyee Fri Aug 09, 2013 12:02 pm

    If I remember the Battle Axe is your other best option? But I felt like it's range wasn't quite as great. For armour, the crimson set's gonna be super useful with it's high physical defense. You're also gonna want to grab the Bellowing Dragoncrest ring for your pyromancies  happy  It shouldn't be hard to get the souls for it since you can't level up.
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    Post by beepbeep Fri Aug 09, 2013 10:33 pm

    Dogwelder wrote:(Note: I may change my tune on this after being murdered by the Capra Demon for the sixteenth time).
    Target Capra and fire an aural decoy as soon as you exit the fog. Aural decoy is a VERY useful tool at SL1. :stone-orange:
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    Post by Hue Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:29 pm

    In short, you need 3 reinforced clubs and hand axes (+15, fire/chaos, and lightning), pyro glove and as many pyromancies as you can, occult club, and grass cress shield.

    The rest is exactly like playing a fastroll character on a normal playthrough.
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    Post by Sentiel Sat Aug 10, 2013 3:30 pm

    Why +15 on SL1 if I may ask?
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    Post by Hue Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:22 pm

    Sentiel wrote:Why +15 on SL1 if I may ask?
    Can be resin'd
    I'm not sure if it doesn't do more phys damage as well
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    Post by Sentiel Sat Aug 10, 2013 6:39 pm

    Hue wrote:
    Sentiel wrote:Why +15 on SL1 if I may ask?
    Can be resin'd
    I'm not sure if it doesn't do more phys damage as well
    Unless you plan to Poison something, which would still be better done via items, I see no reason why bother with this. Buffing just place unecessary stress on you and will make you impatient. Not to mention wasting time with buffing, which can be risky.
    Frankly, I don't know the damage difference. With Gold Resin, the +15 has a good chance of doing more damage than Lightning +5, but with Charcoal Resin, I'm sure that Fire +5 / Chaos +5 will do more, because Charcoal Resin is weaker. You can get only a handfull of Gold Resins per game too.

    I'm not saying it's a bad idea, just that it's not practical and those Titanites would serve better in a shield imho.
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Tue Aug 13, 2013 2:05 pm

    I'm doing one of these right now, and I just got through Anor Londo.  I made a Lightning Club, and a Fire Hand Axe, as well as a fire dagger for the crits.  The hand axe is a fantastic weapon, IMO.  Very fast, and low stamina requirement.  It's only at +6 fire right now (haven't found any more red chunks, but will be heading into Great hollow for any that are there), and does great damage.

    Thanks for the tip on making a Divine crossbow.  I didn't realize it was better than a +15
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    Post by Dogwelder Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:07 pm

    Thanks again for the feedback, everyone.

    I managed to beat the Capra Demon on my second attempt, and also defeated Havel for his ring. I killed Lautrec at Firelink Shrine for the Ring of Favor and Protection, although I haven't equipped it yet. I might save it until I really need it.

    The Belfry Gargoyles and the Moonlight Butterfly are down, and I'm now heading into the Depths and then Blighttown.

    I didn't realise until I checked the wiki that I'd have to farm to get more than one light crossbow, so I guess I'll have to get that done soon.

    What's my best bet if I take on the Catacombs for the Rite of Kindling after I'm done in Blighttown? A divine reinforced club?
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Tue Aug 13, 2013 3:14 pm

    I used a Divine battle axe +5, but either one would do I imagine.  They both shatter skellies, so it buys you time.  Keep in mind too that you can use the crossbow for you first salvo, and that tears down some health before they reach you, and the divine wep delivers the killing blow, so they stay down.  I recommend getting to the first bonfire, opening some shortcuts, and going after Pinwheel in human form so you can summon Leeroy.
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    Post by Green__Eagle Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:52 am

    It should be possible to rush the first bonfire and take the shortcut to LeRoy. Kill Pinwheel and homebone. You may not need to use a divine weapon to get the Rite of Kindling.
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    Post by Hue Wed Aug 14, 2013 8:58 am

    Those wheel skeletons are super annoying at SL1, i advise you learn how to skip catacombs (in case of deaths), and bring some fireballs, and shoot them from Leeroy's ledge.
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    Post by chantienyee Wed Aug 14, 2013 3:33 pm

    Yeah, the double drop straight down to Pinwheel is pretty cake, but I recommend doing it in human form so you can just have Leeroy take care of the bonewheels. If not, my experience is that running for the fog gate is relatively painless if you're aware of noise behind you and just zigzag it. I can't remember the last time I was hit doing this.

    The hardest part might be getting used to the drop positions if you've never done it before. I've found that different people have different strategies. What I've found easiest for me is dropping from a stand-still in the corner at the beginning of the first bridge straight down to where the exploding heads are (you can get rid of the first 3 skellies by block-pushing them off the cliff). Then forward a little to the notch in the cliff edge, right of the bridge chunk you landed on, down to Leeroy's sign (healing in between the drops too).
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Wed Aug 14, 2013 4:41 pm

    If you want to take the frustration out of making the drop, just make a divine dagger and use your crossbow to lure the skellies to you one at a time.  A few backstabs should do it.  Then bum rush the Necro and get rid of him.  That way if you have to re-do it, you can use your regular weapon on those few.

    I know people say they run it all the time, but I've never found this easy to do.  They always end up mobbing me, so I'd rather take out those three on the ledge.

    I took a crack at the Kings on SL1 the other day.  It went...poorly.  Need to do it again when I'm not so tired.
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:22 pm

    Holy crap, I have tried numerous times to beat the Kings at level 1 and it ain't happening.  I'm just not that cooridinated.  No room for error.  I have a maxed pyro glove and loads of combustion spells, but I keep getting tuned.  If it's not the sword, it's the grab; if it's not the grab, it's the magic attack.  And so on.  I don't know how people do it on NG++++++++ with SL1 naked.

    I feel such deep shame at my inferior skills.... Okay, maybe not, but damn, I thought I could pull this off.  Maybe if I got lucky on some inspired run at it.
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    Post by chantienyee Thu Aug 15, 2013 4:45 pm

    Power Within, Crown of Dusk, and Bellowing Dragoncrest Ring?
    These will make all the difference. Watching others' playthroughs on YouTube can help a lot too because it familiarizes you with the bosses' movesets.

    I find Four Kings pretty challenging on a normal playthrough, but I beat them first try with my SL1.
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    Post by Hue Thu Aug 15, 2013 6:39 pm

    I beat the four kings with BDCR+crown of dusk and great combustion+black flame and power within attuned to the white seance ring.
    Cast PW, remove ring, equip abyss ring, 3 hits should be enough to kill one king.
    you have room for 4 misses before you need to kill them with a melee weapon.
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    Post by Back Lot Basher Fri Aug 16, 2013 2:26 pm

    That actually sounds like a decent strategy.  Not sure I can beat Artorias to access the BF.  What's a good strategy for him a SL1?

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