My build is sort of ridiculous in the sense that it includes very disparate pieces that each require separate high stats, but I have never minded grinding so that I can use all the things. You just really need to be high-level/in endgame to use all of them at once.
Also, it should probably be obvious, but I'm just not interested in PvP at all, none of this is geared at that, especially since I'm so high-level that I'm way out of the standard summoning range.
Sword of Night and Flame (24 INT, 24 FAI): The weapon skills melt stuff and really aren't that expensive for what they do. The magic beam thing, which is basically a slightly toned-down Comet Azure (sorcery that requires 60 INT), is particularly crazy for its combination of range and power. Summon some spirit ashes to draw aggro and then hang back and destroy bosses from relative safety.
Bolt of Gransax (40 DEX, 20 STR): Late-game lightning spear. The skill is great for sniping stuff since, when charged, it will travel a huge distance at a very high speed that makes it almost impossible to dodge (even first-form Malenia usually can't dodge it), and also has great knockdown (it will even knock down Crystalians, which seems pretty crazy). Also, I just like spears, both for their range and the fact that you can do the attack-while-blocking thing if needed. FWIW this is the second-highest DEX requirement that I know of.
Golden Order Seal (17 INT, 17 FAI): Sacred seal that scales off of both INT and FAI. If you're only doing one of those stats, you're better off with a single-stat seal/staff, but if you're investing heavily in both then this thing gets just ridiculous scaling. As a bonus, it has zero weight.
Incantations:
- Lightning Spear (17 FAI): The most basic attack incantation is also probably the best one for general PvE use. I don't use it a ton in late-game and it can be replaced by the skill on Bolt of Gransax (though that's a higher FP cost and a longer animation), but I still use it to snipe annoying out-of-reach ranged enemies, like archers standing on balconies etc.
- Erdtree Heal (42 FAI): Your basic large heal. Ends up being way more efficient than using healing flasks for those occasions when you have the time to cast it, i.e. between fights.
- Blessing of the Erdtree (38 FAI): Health regen. Nice to cast when heading into a boss fight or other tough encounter, especially if you can get your summons with it, too.
A high guard boost greatshield: Since they added the new mechanic where you can counter with a strong attack immediately after blocking, there's never been a better time in a From Software game to hide behind a gigantic greatshield, which is what I was always inclined to do anyway. For "fashion souls" and slightly less burdensome weight and requirements, I like the Golden Greatshield (34 STR, 17.0 weight) or the Haligtree Crest Greatshield (36 STR, 18.5 weight), which both max out at 76 guard boost and have high damage negation stats. Or, if you want the truly insane Havel's Shield equivalent, there's the Fingerprint Stone Shield (48 STR, 29.0 weight), which when upgraded to max gives a ridiculous 90 guard boost, effectively more than twice as good as the other two I mentioned; it also has elemental damage negation between 75 and 81 for everything. FWIW this is the highest STR requirement that I know of.
Finally, talismans (these sometimes get changed situationally):
- Carian Filigreed Crest: Reduces FP cost for weapon skills by 25%. Since I use weapon skills a lot, this is a good one.
- Green Turtle Talisman: Faster stamina regen, always nice.
- Greatshield Talisman: Boosts guarding ability even more. And if you're using the maxed Fingerprint Stone Shield in conjunction with this talisman, blocking actually uses no stamina at all. Which seems like overkill, I suppose, but fun for now (likely to be patched, I should think).
- Dragoncrest Greatshield Talisman: Boosts physical damage negation, which is clearly the best general use kind of damage negation. Of course I switch this out if I'm going into a boss or area that focuses heavily on some particular flavor of elemental damage, like magic or fire.
Lastly, my usual flask split is 9 healing, 5 magic.
EDIT: I suppose I should also mention that I typically use the Greatshield Soldier Ashes because they're so good at drawing aggro; each of the five periodically does a little yell to draw attention. They do little damage, but they're a wonderful distraction while I destroy bosses from range.
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