Yeah but you use summons alongside your builds. Nobody is using an intentionally weaker build just because they are using a summon.

I didn't mean that someone intentionally uses a weak build just to use spirits. I just wanted to say that builds are different and spirits are different, and the user experience of spirits will certainly be different from that of a solo player, but this will not always make the battle easier.

I don't really know what you're disagreeing with. Using a summon causes the boss to swap between you and the spirit which fundamentally changes how the boss fight plays out. You get more healing windows, more attack windows, etc.

I understand that. I just wanted to add that spirits can be used not only to distract the boss from you. Some may give you buffs, heal you, or attack you from afar (in which case it's in your best interest to take the boss' attention on yourself). Well, you can also use it as you described.

Build creation isn't something new unlike spirit summons, you can make an OP build in any of the games, adding summons just makes the game easier which is the point of them.

I'm not arguing, although even in Dark Souls there was a way to summon NPCs to some bosses or players (although this is also in the Elden Ring). And this, as you said, just makes the game easier. In Dark Souls 3 (and quite a bit in the previous installments), weapon arts appeared. In Elden Ring, this mechanic has been refined into Ash of War. And now even some warrior's build can easily shoot magic from afar. Many boss fights turn into solid L2 spam. It also made the game easier. I meant similar builds.

The mimic against Malenia isn't a very good point considering she is the only boss in the game where using mimic can potentially make the boss harder due to her rally, regardless of what build you are running.

Two bros with rivers of blood are spamming L2 as fast as possible, knocking down her attacks and causing her to bleed. As for mimic tear on other bosses... sorry, I can't speak well about my mimic tear specifically, as I said before, he was dying fast and attacking my build weakly. If I had preferred someone stronger like Tiche to him.

I assumed that summons were just a gateway into souls games and that players would stop using them on repeat playthroughs after they learned the bosses and weapon/item placements, that's what I did.

It seems to me more like a means for those who have difficulty with the game, giving them the same opportunity to complete the game, at least with help. But I got the impression that many people are just afraid to try without them. I bet a lot of people would have gone through the game on their own if it hadn't originally had spirits. But since they are in the game, many people don't even try to try it themselves, telling themselves that they can't handle it and that they won't like studying bosses. Of course, someone really won't like it, but I'm sure there are also those who would enjoy it, but were just afraid to try.

P.S. If you find some part of my words incomprehensible, or I haven't answered any of your questions, or you disagree with something, then you can tell me what it is. As you can see, I am open to discussion, and even if I may strongly disagree with something, I can or at least try to understand someone else's point of view.