The iconic and defining challenges in the Dark Souls series have made a cultural impact over the years and have inspired a new genre of "Souls-like" games like Code Vein, The Surge, and Remnant: From The Ashes. Renowned for its difficulty, the series is now often used as a base comparison for more modern challenging games.
Since its first release over eight years ago, its PvP community has continued to be active and long-lasting after all these years. Players have had years perfecting overpowered Dark Souls builds in PvP, some scarier than most bosses. So, let's take a look back at some classic PvP builds, as well as some newer ones.
Updated August 18, 2021 by Erik Petrovich: While maximizing one's damage output as a PvP player in Dark Souls Remastered is the key to winning, sometimes PvP isn't just about victory – it's about the journey you take to get there. There are several alternative builds out there that don't look to make a player as efficient as possible in online play, but rather to make the experience as fun as possible instead. Roleplaying as a Dark Souls character, for example, can lead to some hilarious interactions rather than combat with other players, as can using two Bonewheel Shields and no other equipment. Dark Souls PvP is a grind, and it's always fun to try out something off the beaten path rather than solely stick to min-max guides.
13 Pretending To Be An NPC
One of the most entertaining methods of engaging in PvP combat is to roleplay as a character from the story. Using the Warriors of Sunlight set lets one roleplay as Solaire, for example, while equipping the Ornstein set (including the Dragonslayer Greatbow) lets you fight other players as the Dragonslayer themself.
Another surprisingly viable strategy is to pretend to be an unengagable NPC, like by equipping low-tier armor dropped from regular enemies. Making a character of the right physique is important to complete the disguise, which when fully put together can make invaders walk right past the player as they stand still waiting for the chance to reveal themselves.
12 Havelmom
The Havelmom build is very similar to the infamous Giant Dad build for Dark Souls Remastered, though it comes packaged with better survivability and better poise. The build of course uses the Mask of the Mother in place of the Mask of the Father, as well as the Havel chestpiece, Havel's Ring, and Ring of Favor and Protection.
It differs from Giant Dad for its lack of reliance on two-handed weapons like the Chaos Zweihander, making the Havelmom a more versatile, less memey version of the same idea. While the items in the set do have significant stat requirements, it's well worth giving a shot in the PvP environment.
11 Naked Bonewheel Dude
When it comes to Dark Souls builds, nothing is more simultaneously intimidating and hilarious as the Naked Bonewheel Dude. It utilizes two Bonewheel Shields in each weapon slot, but that's about as deep as the build goes. Being the Naked Bonewheel Dude is not going to net many PvP wins, but it might make the opponent laugh for just long enough to get some good hits in.
The Bonewheel Shield drops from Wheel Skeletons throughout the game at a very low 2 percent drop rate – Bonewheels can be found primarily in The Catacombs and the Painted World of Ariamis. They have a requirement of 30 Strength to wield, but it's best to infuse a Bonewheel Shield with lightning for maximum DPS.
10 Obsidian Faith Build
The Obsidian Greatsword is a powerful weapon in the hands of lower-leveled characters, as it only needs 20 Strength and 16 Dexterity to wield. It does not require a single-stat dump early on in the game. However, what makes this sword so powerful is its heavy attack, which creates a full 360-degree Area of Effect of flame around the user.
This flame attack can be buffed by spells to change its damage type and increase its overall damage. In particular, Faith builds a good pair up for under level 70 characters. Synergize with the Crown of Dusk and lots of repair powder to fix your weapon after heavy AOE usage.
9 Lightning Falchion Poise Build
This build is best for lower-level characters or newer players to Dark Souls invasions. This build is very straightforward; with lower stats, the Falchion will cut through weaker characters like paper. The only requirements needed are 9 STR and 13 DEX, letting you use the rest of your levels freely, but leveling Endurance and Vitality will make you shrug off blows.
It is a good build for newer players to begin their first invasions or an overall low-level soul build to farm lower PvP fights. Either way, this build is good, albeit very predictable and repetitive in terms of combat.
8 Chaos Blade Dexterity Build
For the more experienced Dark Souls player, chaos weapons are always a risk-reward playstyle, often better used by fully maxed out characters and very high soul levels. Chaos weapons scale based on how much humanity the player currently has active; the more humanity, the more damage. The Chaos Blade is a swift DEX weapon that trades a little of the player's health with every attack.
Using the Mask of the Mother and some light DEX gear will complement this very risky yet straightforward build. Be very careful when using chaos-based Dark Souls builds, as when you die you lose all of your humanity and have but one chance to retrieve it. Fighting near bonfires or having a Ring of Sacrifice ready is recommended.
7 Moonlight Great Sword Sorcerer Build
Sorcery builds are very strong in Dark Souls Remastered, and one that remains particularly strong is a hybrid build using the Moonlight Greatsword. This sword scales for Intelligence and comes with its own heavy ranged magic attack to top it all off.
Along with this sword using The Big Hat set with Logan's Catalyst, the player now has a choice between their mix of spells and a reliable melee weapon. Some sorceries that pair well in this build are the standard Homing Crystal Soulmass or Great Heavy Soul Arrow—maybe even Crystal Soul Spear and Great Magic Weapon, the choice is up to them.
6 Abyssal Sorcerer Build
While other magic Dark Souls builds play it safe and well-balanced, the dark sorcerer build is a powerful glass cannon. Using the Abyss's darkened spells, they are few but powerful, especially when using a Manus Catalyst. When using this catalyst, it also converts STR scaling into their spells along with the regular INT scaling.
Massive STR weapons are a fantastic hard-hitting secondary choice. While the user cannot take much damage, it is possible to two or one-shot bosses or even players if done right. A soul level of about 125 will work best for this build and some lighter armor so the player can roll quickly.
5 Classic DEX Build
Sometimes all you need is to return to the classics. Arguably one of the best classic DEX weapons is the simple Great Scythe. The scythe is unique with its own weird and confusing, long-range move set that potentially catches players off guard or worse, dead.
This weapon is best paired with a short weapon to make up for its lack of close-range control. If someone is looking for something with more damage over time, this weapon doubles as an excellent primary weapon for bleed builds. Try to be quick on your feet as well as with your scythe swings, or you can become overpowered quickly.
4 Tank Build
If a player is looking to overpower their opponents and walk through their attacks, Dark Souls Remastered has lots of different gear sets to let them achieve that dream. Havel's armor is the textbook tank build sporting a full armor and shield made from stone.
Even one piece of this set is enough to increase lightweight build's poise by a reasonable amount. This armor lowers the user's stamina recovery, and high endurance is a must when using the full armor set. Not being able to close the gap is one of the tank build's most significant weaknesses, so be sure to use Havel's shield to match the set, or, if possible, use the Heater Shield.
3 Pyromancer DEX Build
Pyromancers have always had a reliable place in the first Dark Souls. Being the only spell school that does not require Faith or INT to increase its damage. DEX, however, increases the cast speed of the player's spells. Along with having your own choice of a fast DEX weapon or a complementing weapon like Quelaag's Furysword and Crown of the Dark Sun.
Picking up spells like Power Within and Great Chaos Fireball let the player get some quick bursting between light weapon attacks. However, if DEX isn't someone's thing, again, pyromancy doesn't require a stat dump to use. So, it's viable with STR Dark Souls builds as well.
2 Pure Faith Build
However, when looking for utility and mixed damage that cannot get shrugged off effectively, then the player can find some Faith in this build. Similar to the Pyromancer, this build's spells are cast faster with DEX. Weapons like the Divine Claymore or the Balder Side Sword combo go very well with this build.
Wrath of the Gods and other utility spells allow the player to counter and outlast other builds. Great Magic Barrier or Replenishment are great counterspells. Faith builds are versatile, with a mixture of spells for any situation and viable options for DEX and STR Faith weapons.
1 Giant Dad
If you have been the in Dark Souls community, then Giant Dad needs no introduction. Using everything besides the helmet of the Giant's armor set, the Mask of the Father, and a Chaos Zweihander, you will invoke one of the oldest and most instantly recognizable Dark Souls builds
Lots of STR, END, and VIT will be the Giant Dad's best friend. Have a high soul level of around 100 and Havel's Ring to make it all work. Similar to the tank build above, this one's weakness is being distanced. However, you are slow and giant, remember that.