Dark Souls Low% Glitchless Attempt 3¶
Day 1¶
Attempt 3 hopefully faster than 2. Starting as Warrior, better stats for the Zweihander. Similar enough to Knight really. I should probably do a deeper analysis down the line but it'll likely be Warrior or Knight for the Zweihander. Master key as it is necessary. Undead Asylum goes as expected.
First 2 levels in Strength. Looting the graveyard to grab the Cracked Red Eye Orbs and the Zweihander. Then down to New Londo Ruins for the Fire Keeper Soul. Then Valley of Drakes for the Red Tearstone Ring and progress. I doubt the beginning of these runs will change much.
Then up through the Darkroot Basin to grab the Grass Crest Shield, and rest at the Undead Parish bonfire. Grab the Fire Keeper Soul running through the church and take the shortcut down to Firelink Shrine, jumping off at the end to go back to the Undead Asylum.
I take out the 4 Torch Hollows, then trade Snuggly a Cracked Red Eye Orb for my insurance Purging Stones. Then I run through the Asylum, mainly to grab the Rusted Iron Ring. I leave just as quickly as I got here. This stop probably isn't necessary long term. I only worry about being cursed but that's pretty avoidable if I know where to go and don't make the same mistakes from the first run. The ring is nice in Blighttown, but again, not necessary. Something to consider for next time.
I use all my hard soul items to get 4 levels of Strength. I can now 2-hand the Zweihander and I want to make some pancakes of enemies.
Gargoyles
Takes about 15 attempts. I'm not as leveled as I usually am at this point but was hoping to rush it. Probably spent more time than if I had just farmed. Back to the Undead Parish bonfire, I buy the Weaponsmith box and Repairbox from Andre and then put the rest of my souls into levels, 5 Endurance. With the left over souls, I buy 1 Titanite Shard for the future. I can now fast roll.
I stop at Firelink Shrine on the way down to Blighttown. This will likely be the last time I can rest here during the run. On the way down I grab the Soul of a Proud Knight and the Fire Keeper Soul. I die and end up back at Firelink, but it's already too late. I'll have to reinforce my Estus at the Chaos Servant Covenant. I grab the Dingy Armor Set on the way back down.
I make it to the bottom on the next run, grab a few items that I see and head towards the Great Hollow. Upgrade my Zweihander to +1, grab the Cloranthy Ring, then Dark Sign out. I don't have many souls to use anyway.
I decide to go for Power Within now, even though it doesn't matter really matter order-wise. I can go for it after Quelaag and I can't even use it yet. But I'm not sure what stats I am going to pump after Quelaag so I decide to try. I kindle the bonfire as I know it will help for this and Quelaag and start making attempts. For once it only takes about 5 attempts to grab it. On to Quelaag.
Quelaag
I make 2 attempts and they don't go well. I have a bunch of soul items so I decide to pop them and get a few levels, I get 1 level of Vitality and 5 levels of Strength. I can now one-hand the Zweihander. Next attempt goes a little better but I get stuck in the legs. I'm out of practice in general, but usually Quelaag is my first wall. Takes about 6 attempts, but it gets done. Not too bad. Just needed more patience as always.
Join the Chaos Servant Covenant, reinforce my Estus, and get to leveling. 2 levels for Vitality and Attunement, 1 for Endurance. I attune Power Within. I realize I need 11 Intelligence after doing this to get the Pyromancy Flame, so now I need to do Ceaseless Discharge before I get eggs for a Pyromancy Flame.
Ceaseless Discharge
As per usual I mess up the cheese and have to redo it. Takes like 4 attempts but it gets done. 2 levels of Intelligence and 3 Vitality after also remembering to pop Quelaag's Soul.
Now to get a Pyromancy Flame. I try to get an egg which takes a few tries but we get there, then just get the Pyromancy Flame from Eingyi. Not too bad. No issues leaving Blighttown, I climb out to Firelink, meeting Frampt. I feed Frampt a bunch of weapons I've picked up for souls and to clean out my inventory, as well as a Large Titanite Shard I picked up in Blighttown. With that, I head to the Undead Parish bonfire, upgrade my Zweihander to +4, and wrap up for the night.
End of Day 1 Time: 2:24:27
End of Day 1 Level: 31
Day 2¶
Starting off with heading to Sen's Fortress with the only items to grab being the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring and the Flame Stoneplate Ring. Covetous Gold Serpent Ring goes fine. On the way down to it I grab the Soul of a Proud Knight.
I put on the Covetous Gold Serpent Ring and end up getting 2 Titanite Shards and a Balder Side Sword while heading to the Flame Stoneplate Ring. Get 2 levels in Vitality with the hard souls I picked up and now it's time for Iron Golem attempts.
Iron Golem
First attempt, it knocks me off… 2nd I get knocked down and die to Power Within. 3rd attempt I almost had it, then I ran out of Estus, and as always, I forget to put Humanities on my quick item until I need it… 5th attempt gets it done. No stagger in any of the attempts which is sad, but it's fine. On to Anor Londo.
First order of business is spending these souls. I rest at the bonfire, get 1 level of Vitality, 4 levels of Endurance. I want to start being able to wear some armor just in case… Next up I level my Zweihander to +5. I also get my Grass Chest Shield to +2. Likely won't matter but i figured I have souls and shards to use. Now to get into the building. 3rd attempt. 1 death on rafters, 1 death to archers. I've been worse.
I grab Havel's Armor Set. I'll likely use the armor at some point. Open the shortcut, grab the Silver Knight Armor Set. Then kindle the bonfire, use the Core of an Iron Golem, and put 3 levels into Vitality. Here comes the next wall.
Ornstein and Smough
It takes about 25 attempts with various armor arrangements. End up winning with most of Havel's Armor Set of all things. Just tank the first half, then stun-locked Smough. Grab the Lordvessel, and now I have 50k souls. Long term, I think I'm going to end up upgrading to a Fire +5 Zweihander, so I consider just buying the Green Titanite Shards I'll need from the Giant Blacksmith for the future so I don't have to farm or come back here. I buy the 9 shards I'd need, then back to Firelink to place the Lordvessel.
First order of business, The Catacombs. For once, I make it to the bottom in the first try, saving a lot of run back. I get down to Vamos, upgrade to Fire +5, the die to a wheel. At least the bonfire is right here…
Pinwheel
Not much to say. Dies in just over 3 hits, drops Mask of the Father which is appreciated. On to the Tomb of the Giants.
I instantly lose my footing, fall, then on the run back die to a wheel. Rip 17k souls… Easy come, easy go. I make it down to the bonfire. Get kicked down by Patches for the items and the forgiveness Twin Humanities. Run through the caves to the first Lord.
Gravelord Nito
First attempt goes great until I get greedy, had Nito down to around 25%. Second attempt goes way worse. Instantly hit with toxic. Barely can stay alive. 3rd attempt starts ok, then get combo'ed to death. Nito ends up taking around 10 attempts. Finally get a good run where I can just be close to Nito the whole fight and not be toxic'ed. I put souls into 2 levels of Vitality and 3 levels of Endurance. I then head to Undead Parish to farm Humanities.
I head through Undead Parish, in reverse, kicking the ladder down to the Undead Burg, before going to the Sunlight Altar. I guess in the grand scheme of things, I didn't really save much time skipping the Claymore this run as I had to come here anyway for Humanities farming. Probably did though as I can now warp from the Sunlight Altar.
I put on my Covetous Gold Serpent Ring, use what Humanities I have to increase Item Discovery, and get to farming. I need 17. It takes around 25 minutes. Felt like bad RNG. I warp to the Daughter of Chaos bonfire, get another level of Endurance. I hand over the 30 Humanities to open the shortcut.
Run-throughs down to Lost Izalith are uneventful. Nothing exciting besides some soul items picked up. On to the next lord.
Bed of Chaos
Takes 5 tries, but eventually the Bed Chaos goes down. More time spent on the run back from the top of the Demon Ruins than anything. Whatever.
I warp to Undead Parish. I buy the Crest of Artorias. I also pop a few soul items and get 4 more Vitality. At this point, I have enough Endurance to wear full Havel's and not be over-encumbered, so for now will focus on Vitality. 4 bosses to go, and I think my next target is Sif.
I cut through Darkroot Garden, rest at the bonfire next to the crest door, then go through. Dash through the woods, stopping at Alvina to join the Forest Hunter Covenant. I figured if I needed to run through the forest again, this would make it easier and I am done with Chaos Servant Covenant. I continue onward to Sif.
Sif
Sif is a non-issue with a Fire +5 Zweihander and Power Within. Grab the Wolf Ring, and Homeward Bone back to save time, especially now that we are in the final stretch. Use a few hard soul items, get 4 more levels of Vitality, then onto my next target.
I decide Seath is likely going to be easier than Four Kings, so I warp to Anor Londo. I make a dash through, past the Armored Boars, through the beginning of the Archives, onto the elevator to the scripted death. I put on my best curse resistant armor (the Dingy Armor Set), take a bit of damage from the Crystal Knight as I'm worried I'm too healthy and I'll get cursed before death. Enter the Fog Gate, get taken out, then on to the prison.
I take out the required guard, speed run down the grab the exit key, intentionally die to go back to the bonfire, and call it there for the night.
Overall, feeling pretty good about this run. Only have Seath, Four Kings, and Gwyn left. I have the gear I want, just dumping souls into Vitality. It feels like the final stretch. I see room for improvement, but there haven't been major mistakes. Some issues with Gargoyles and planning to skip the Asylum, but this route doesn't feel like it needs major tweaking. I guess we'll see how Day 3 goes if I realize I've make major mistakes. One concern I currently have is the lack of Humanities to kindle bonfires. I'll have to see if that comes back to bite me or I need to fit in more Rat farming… hoping not to.
End of Day 2 Time: 5:59:01
End of Day 2 Level: 55
Day 3¶
With what I have left, I'm hoping I don't hit any major roadblocks. I continue to the Duke's Archives to head towards Seath. The walk there goes ok. No major issues.
Seath
First attempt, I end up cursed after struggling against a clam in the arena. Luckily I have my safety Purging Stones. It was going well otherwise. Second attempt goes better, but I get greedy watched Seath's health bar and not mine. By the time I notice, it's too late. This shouldn't be too bad though. Takes about 10 attempts in the end, with a lot of dumb deaths, including dying to Seath right at the end and getting cursed again. So I run back through the Crystal Cave to get the 60k souls, Homeward Bone out because clams chased me in, and rest at the bonfire.
I get 3 more Vitality, and warp to the Undead Parish. I'm going to leave myself cursed for New Londo Ruins. Trying to make the best of a dumb situation. I make it into the ghost house on the second attempt, but die to too many Ghosts. Maybe being cursed isn't the best idea. 3rd attempt goes ok until I get swarmed. Almost had it. 5th attempt gets through, I get the Key to the Seal and I'm able to progress. I use my second Purging Stone to cure my curse. I take the elevator down, cut through the Valley of Drakes, and rest at the Darkroot Basin bonfire.
Four Kings
I put on full Havel's. I don't have any Humanities, so going in with just 5 Estus Flasks. For once I actually take out the Four Kings on the first try, though it's close at the end. Just played close and personal and 2-handed the Zweihander.
I warp back to Firelink. Use the souls from the Four Kings to buy Humanities from Patches to kindle the Lordvessel, not realizing, I just got 4 Humanities from the Four Kings as well as, you don't need to kindle the Lordvessel. It would've only been enough souls for 2 more levels of Vitality, so not a huge loss, but still good to know for future. I have Frampt bring me down to the Lordvessel, I put 1 final level into Vitality, and put in the Lord Souls. Final run up time.
Gwyn
First attempt is a complete disaster. Item mismanagement. I get destroyed dealing no damage. Second goes similarly. Just need to get good. 3rd attempt starts strong, 3 parries in a row. Then I flub it. 4-6 aren't great. 7th run is golden. I get my 7ish parries, only getting hit twice on 2 parry whiffs. Gwyn down, I link the fire, and the credits roll.
End of Day 3 Time: 7:25:59
End of Day 2 Level: 59
Closing Thoughts¶
Much better run, though Seath made that sloppy at the end. Not sure on cutting the Asylum from future runs. On one hand, it is a time sink and I shouldn't need Purging Stones. On the other hand, I literally needed the 2 of them. But probably a case of, I need to get good. Maybe do Four Kings before Seath and grab the Cursebite Ring? Definitely an option seeing as I barely try to get/stay in Red Tearstone Ring range.
Stat-wise, I have it pretty boiled down and did a review of the starting classes after Day 2. I honestly think Deprived would be best just because it checks the Intelligence, Dexterity, and Attunement requirements. Souls can just go towards Strength to 24, Endurance to 26, and Vitality to as high as it can. Something for the future.
This run is a lot of pluses and minuses. Gargoyles and Seath could've been way better, but Four Kings was perfect. Most of the longer trips went well on first try which helped. Ornstein and Smough could always be better, but eh, we take what we can get. I liked the upgrade route I took, especially not backtracking too much for Green Titanite Shards. I still could've been faster there. I opened the shortcuts at the castle just in case/force of habit, but then never had a reason to come back. I can just head straight to the Giant Blacksmith. Doing Bed of Chaos early is a mix bag. It worked well, but then I had no extra Humanities as I had used them all. I could see this being a pain point if I do the same route again. Power Within was pretty quick this time too. I don't know if I can make as big of improvements if there's a 4th attempt than I did from 2 to 3. Next goal is I guess sub 6:30?
Having some Humanities would've definitely helped in the second half. Not sure what the best route would be. I almost wonder if Bed of Chaos first as it doesn't really have any other requirements, then I can save the Patches' Humanities for later needs? Definitely an option. Probably would do Bed of Chaos, Nito, Four Kings, Seath next time to try that route. Bed of Chaos doesn't really have requirements, Nito is generally fine, though I'm eye the Poisonbite Ring as an option… maybe grab it after Gargoyles and before Blighttown. Four Kings before Seath mainly for the Cursebite Ring. The status rings are enticing because I rarely make use of the Red Tearstone Ring, usually just by chance of being low health, so maybe it would be better to have a ring that has an effect. Probably even skip the Red Tearstone Ring as it's like a 2 minute time sink.