Looking for a Solid Backup weapon...

http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=2087741614079705

This is the build I'm going for, it's currently about 3 levels or so away from completion, the Claymore is finished and the Armor is also nearly finished, the only thing I'm really missing is a decent backup weapon to go with my claymore.

I was looking into Katana's, but two of my builds already feature Katana's as a main weapon, so I'm hoping to go in a different direction.

I'm currently looking into straight swords as an alternative, can anybody vouch for them in PVP, and if so, which is the best? The only three I'm not open to using are the barbed sword (cause I hate it and it's armor set soooo much), the silver straight sword (looking fomr something I can take down an elemental path) and the Sunlight Straight Sword (as my friend is curretnly building a Solaire build alongside mine)

Any suggestions?

You have a 40/40 build. Your options are endless. I can't, in good conscience, tell you what weapon to choose for your backup because there are so many different ways you can go with this thing.

Though if you're looking at straight swords the BSS is always a trusty stand-by.

falchion and bss are good, why elemental though, you will hit harder if you make them +15, specially straight swords since the have a C in str and dex. i love the barbed sword but if it was bigger itd so really good for pvp and the thorn set is one of the best looking armors imo.

Hmmmm, The Baller Swag Sword....now that there IS an interesting option, if I chaos it it would not only be fast but hit like a truck as well.

I was also kinda a bit looking at the Shotel, it just doesn't seem to fit with the builds look, suppose I could carry one around just in case though.

@Rant
I'm already carrying a +15 claymore, and I want an elemental backup for a fast swap close-range punch...then again, I'm no expert, would the sword hit harder if it was normal, if I have any resins I'd probably just use them on my Claymore.

The silver knight straight sword would do well if you can use it. A pike, demons spear, or composite bow would work well to backup the claymore as well.

+15 almost always hits harder than elemental at 40 in its damage stat. Unless its a zweihander, +15 over elemental for this build

Forum Pirate wrote:The silver knight straight sword would do well if you can use it. A pike, demons spear, or composite bow would work well to backup the claymore as well.

+15 almost always hits harder than elemental at 40 in its damage stat. Unless its a zweihander, +15 over elemental for this build

A compound bow isn't something I had consitered, I already have a +5 Dragon Greatbow, but that's more of a situation weapon than an actual PVP weapon (unless you use the glitch)

Not really, its unparryable, reasonably quick, and poison arrows apply pressure. Its not common because its difficult, but its perfectly viable.

Also silver knight straight sword>bss if you arnt buffing. Identical damage, pretty sure move set too, and its longer.

I'll promote one of my favorite change of pace weapons. Going from a Claymore to a straight sword is not going to throw many for a big loop so......


Priscilla's dagger. You can attack several times in succession and THEN block or defend as you will have lots of stamina left. I used it exclusively for awhile and found you could resume attacking after a block. So hit hit block keep hitting. As a change of pace weapon, apart from backstabs, there's little recognition of what you're up to. It's such a variation from most pvp I found many many opponents were flustered to death

skarekrow13 wrote:I'll promote one of my favorite change of pace weapons. Going from a Claymore to a straight sword is not going to throw many for a big loop so......


Priscilla's dagger. You can attack several times in succession and THEN block or defend as you will have lots of stamina left. I used it exclusively for awhile and found you could resume attacking after a block. So hit hit block keep hitting. As a change of pace weapon, apart from backstabs, there's little recognition of what you're up to. It's such a variation from most pvp I found many many opponents were flustered to death

The P Dagger eh? I haven't fought Pricilla yet so I could still get it, I'm gonna need my buddies help though.

I heard that if the phantom attacks her tail it won't start the fight or cause her damage, but when I finally attack the tail it'll pop right off, is this true?

Noob-of-Artorias wrote:http://mugenmonkey.com/darksouls/?c=2087741614079705

This is the build I'm going for, it's currently about 3 levels or so away from completion, the Claymore is finished and the Armor is also nearly finished, the only thing I'm really missing is a decent backup weapon to go with my claymore.

I was looking into Katana's, but two of my builds already feature Katana's as a main weapon, so I'm hoping to go in a different direction.

I'm currently looking into straight swords as an alternative, can anybody vouch for them in PVP, and if so, which is the best? The only three I'm not open to using are the barbed sword (cause I hate it and it's armor set soooo much), the silver straight sword (looking fomr something I can take down an elemental path) and the Sunlight Straight Sword (as my friend is curretnly building a Solaire build alongside mine)

Any suggestions?

I just looked at your avatar. I'd suggest you do the same.

Not sure. Got both of mine myself. Try a +15 weapon, two handed. Add a buff (I use lemon). Equip red tearstone. Activate power within. Wait until the ring activates and cut the tip. I don't know how muchdamage it did because the dagger message blocked it but I believe only one or two hits later and I was the victor

Forum Pirate wrote:Not really, its unparryable, reasonably quick, and poison arrows apply pressure. Its not common because its difficult, but its perfectly viable.

Also silver knight straight sword>bss if you arnt buffing. Identical damage, pretty sure move set too, and its longer.

The SK Straight Sword is all regular attacks aka slashes whereas the BSS has slash and thrust options. I love them both honestly.

Edit: Oh yeah like Joe said look at your avatar; the Shotel would be a solid back up weapon. It would give you a perfect solution for turtles which I am admittedly guilty of in some situations, mainly those where I could be easily stunlocked. In my defense I only turtle until I have an opening for an attack. But regardless the shotel would be a solid choice.

I'll make the Shotel my secondary for now, what upgrade path should I take? Regular, Fire or Chaos?

I would go normal and apply resins if you have them. Even without resins normal should be better I think.

I've never heard the weapon mentioned on the forums, but I'm really starting to like the Silver Knight Spear. Most people tend to go for the DSS but split damage tends to cripple it and you really only get the most out of it with high faith as well as STR and DEX. At 40/40 it does 374 pure physical damage, and it usually hits from between 190-260 damage a hit against most people. (Depending on their HP that's 5-10 hits. It sounds like a lot but they add up. A lot of people try to poise through spear hits and end up taking 400 damage before I roll away.) Plus it weighs less and has a better moveset. You can even dead Angle with the 1h r2, which has an amazing range and no one expects it. I like to keep a spear as a backup to a GS because you really leave yourself open to fishers (and parry masters) without one, and if the fight is decently fair you can pressure your opponent and chip them down from relative safety. It's also a highly underestimated weapon that people see as weak, and I've actually noticed that people act more aggressively against it than the DSS, which leads to free backstabs (not that they do much damage with a spear).

Edit: About your actual build, i don't think it has enough poise. I can't remember the exact values but a 2h katana is probably the biggest weapon you can tank a hit from, which is not great. I think stunlocks will lose you a lot of fights.

Its generally ignored mostly because its shorter than the dss, ds, and pike.

With a 40/40 try normal+15 Composite Bow. It should work wonder. Other weapons include Demon's Spear, Gargoyle Halberd, a Washing Pole and weapon you can think of that complements your main weapon.

Really? i don't think it's shorter by much if it is at all, (at least for the ds and dss, I know the pike is longer but it's a stamina hog) and I haven't had any problems with range. If anything, the slightly lesser range could be what makes my opponents more aggressive. It's 2h r2 also has a much greater range than its other attacks, and I've caught a good few people off guard with it. In general it just seems to catch my foes off guard more often, and it might not even be a statistical thing, maybe just the spear being thinner and harder to see on a phantom is what does it. Either way, it feels more comfortable in my hands, and for harassment purposes the purportedly shorter range tempts opponents and tends to mess them up.

WyrmHero wrote:With a 40/40 try normal+15 Composite Bow. It should work wonder. Other weapons include Demon's Spear, Gargoyle Halberd, a Washing Pole and weapon you can think of that complements your main weapon.

Gargoyle halberd doesn't scale as well as the normal halberd.

The normal Halberd's r1 is different thing from the Gargberg's one. I personally prefer the the mix-up game you can play with the Gargberg's r1, and I think it is well worth the 10-15 points of AR with the bonus resistances making it even better in my opinion. However, the Halberd has a very deadly poke, and some people like the style of it more.

I strongly suggest the Composite Bow as a back-up weapon. It is a great tool for laying pressure, but be careful when using it as you can and will be poised-stabbed if you let people get too close.

Also if you make this build again, remember that when you two-hand anything you are treated as having 1.5 times your Strength (including bows). This means with 27 Strength, you reap the benefits of 40 Strength for damage when you decide to 2-hand. Since diminishing returns kicks in after this point, this is where 2-handed AR capstones. Just to show the example with 40/40, when you two-hand your +15 Claymore you'll have an AR of 532. Comparatively, with 27/40, you'll have an AR of 524 which makes for a difference of 8 AR for 13 levels. This gives you a lot of room to get, perhaps, maximum casting speed with 45 Dex. or get more Vit. and Att. so you can slug it out more.

This comes at the cost of one-handed AR, which could be a downside with the Claymore's impressive 1hr2, but this is just another thing consider if you do make another. You could do 35 Strength, so that you could have 5 extra points to spend at the cost of some one-handed AR without effecting the two-handed lethality of the Claymore and those extra points could go into getting 45 Dex to get the most out of your Pyromancy. Just something to consider.

roanispe wrote:remember that when you two-hand anything you are treated as having 1.5 times your Strength (including bows)

False The Dragonslayer bow takes a lot of str, and I tried it with enough str that if I 2h it, it should have worked. It didn't.

JoeBroski09 wrote:False The Dragonslayer bow takes a lot of str, and I tried it with enough str that if I 2h it, it should have worked. It didn't.

Dragonslayer Greatbow is a specific anomaly, it is mentioned in its Wiki entry.

roanispe wrote:

JoeBroski09 wrote:

roanispe wrote:remember that when you two-hand anything you are treated as having 1.5 times your Strength (including bows)

False The Dragonslayer bow takes a lot of str, and I tried it with enough str that if I 2h it, it should have worked. It didn't.

Dragonslayer Greatbow is a spefic anomaly, it is mentioned in the Wiki.

Oh. Well then. *starts dancing*

The str requirement for the DSbow is fixed. But you still get more scaling damage if you have 20 str and 2h it. ninjad.

I'd go for a rapier. The estoc is a solid choice for poking turtlers