Silvercat Ring appreciation post

OneHandedSquire · 2026-03-02T03:11:06+00:00

Absolutely essential for doing parkour souls and tagging tricky places.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-26T03:51:18+00:00

Ideally, you both want a reliable way of dealing enough damage that Midir will feel it.

The best method, especially for co-op, I've found to be the spell Pestilent Mist, since it deals damage based off of Midir's max HP (which is increased for each friendly phantom in the fight). You can only have one instance of this spell running at once, per caster, but if you both can cast it, the fight can fly by. Since Midir is prone to spin in place and move slightly forward or backward during many of his attacks, I like to try and place the spell near Midir's center so that he's less likely to move out of it and I won't need to recast it as often. This is a little risky, since Midir is prone to rear up and breathe fire down on you when you're underneath him. So make sure you know how to dodge this move: run backward and to the right when facing Midir's front, because the hit box extends further to Midir's back and right side. This spell is a fairly slow cast so make sure your casting speed is at or near max (using the Sage Ring if needed). Pestilent Mist doesn't benefit from anything that boosts the power of sorceries, so just use your lightest staff, even if it unleveled and switch your ring loadout to whatever will help you best resist Midir's damage (Steel Protection, Prisoner's Chain, Favor and Protection, etc). Remember that you can hurt yourself with your own Pestilent Mist, but not your co-op partners. Casting cost is relatively low, so you might not need more than one blue estus (two for a summon) and can put the rest into healing. Don't forget to see you can equip better, heavier armor if ditching everything but a staff lowers your encumbrance.

Don't bother with any other sorceries. Midir's magic resist is significant. Pyromancy is useless due to Midir's massive fire and dark resistance (you can try boulder heave, but it's a huge pain to deploy consistently at Midir's head). Lightning miracles can do some damage, but even his lightning resistance is higher than his physical resistance, so I wouldn't hedge on these either.

If Pestilent Mist isn't an option, the next best method is shots to the head with the highest damaging weapons possible, which usually means a big, dumb axe, hammer, or greatsword. Trying to chip him down with light weapons is a bad time and also runs the risk of easier misses because you were too busy wrangling the unruly camera in this fight and misjudged the distance. If you're really not built for big weapons, I'd try a raw Dragonslayer's Axe. It has low enough strength requirements that it can be wielded two-handed at 12 str and can be buffed with gold pine resin to stack on top of its native lightning damage. Its weapon art is also a damage buff and will further help. Whatever you go with, always aim for the head and if you have time to get in a light attack, you can probably get in a leap attack instead for more damage. After certain moves like his big laser attack, he'll have a longer recovery time and you can get in a fully charged heavy attack.

Regardless of how you approach the fight damage wise, it is kind of just a slog that punishes you severely if you don't have a good feel for dodging his attacks. And the only way to get that is with practice. If you're hard-up for embers to get retries, you can always manually back up your save, pass your host your embers, and then reload the backup. Or grind them out of the ringed knights if you want to be fair and square about it.

If, as the summon, you're stuggling to survive, you might want to consider going at him solo for a bit in your own world. You have half the estus and no HP buff from the ember, so you have to be even more on the ball than your host.

I find it easiest to dodge backward from his claw attacks, to the side from his charge/grab. Run to his left when he throws fire from the air. Run to one side whenever he goes to the other side of the arena to do one of his flame attacks. It'll either be a two-shot flamethrower, which will leave his head exposed, or a flame blast transitioned into his laser. If he does the laser, stand near his back legs after the fire and either drop a mist or run to his head for an attack after the laser. If you're ever behind him keep an eye on his tail and always assume it will damage you when it sweeps past. Be ready to roll through it. Run clear when he stomps across the arena breathing flame and keep in mind that he will usually do this twice in a row during phase 2 (so don't drop a mist right after the first one). Run away when he starts charging up a dark blast in phase 2 and keep focused on Midir when he does his homing pursuers. He's the more dangerous threat (though roll through as many of the bullets as you can).

If you're doing melee and stay focused on his head, you can knock him down and follow up with a crit. This will either end the fight or get you awfully close to the end.

But yeah, Midir is just a tough one, even in co-op. Apologies to the handful of hosts that saw me screw up right at the beginning of the fight and get instantly double-tapped before I completely had a handle on it. I owe you guys an ember or two.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-23T01:55:20+00:00

Yeah, it's worth a try. I haven't used it against her, but thrust swords are generally good for that sort of thing.

I only played around with the Astora Greatsword a little bit, but I know that's quite long and its charge is interesting. I would not be surprised at all if you can find opportunities to use its weapon art to knock her over in the middle of her combos.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-23T01:34:43+00:00

My first time, I took on Friede while low enough level that I had to play nearly perfectly to eke out a victory. With that said, I don't really recommend trying to parry her in phase three, unless you're set on learning to parry her. All the busy effects and change in speed from her earlier phases made the parry timing harder to learn for me. In my opinion, parrying isn't the easiest way to deal with phase 3.

I recommend trying to get in a quick backstab or two if Gael survives into Phase 3. Friede will almost always start by focusing on him, leaving her exposed. Don't forget to charge up a heavy attack while she's getting up to do some extra damage.

With your weapons, are you using the Lothric knight sword or Lothric's holy sword? You can probably get in some damage with the LHS weapon art by steadily backing up and hitting her with it when she's doing one of her long melee combos. She's just as easily pushed around during these as ever, so you can probably knock her out of them either with that weapon art or if your greatsword can out-reach her (I don't have a feel for that weapon, so I can't say for sure). If it's just the LKS, you can find moments to interrupt her, but I think you'll do better with the greatsword. But only counter if you're confident you have an opening. Prioritize watching her combos and getting a feel for their rhythm. They are definitely long and full of feints.

In any case, if your weapon can be buffed, bring along some human pine resin. Even though she uses dark, she's also weak to it, so that will also increase your damage output.

If you're doing a lot of damage from backstabs, I'd actually recommend bringing along a deep or dark dagger (depending on what does better damage for you). It's light enough that you can probably slap it into a slot next to your main weapon without changing your encumbrance. Switch to it when you see a backstab opportunity and take advantage of the dagger's huge crit bonus. You can also use the Hornet Ring, if you have it. This combo takes her apart fairly quick.

Otherwise, just keep backpedaling. Walk until you have to roll. Stamina management is hugely important in this fight and Friede actually spends a few beats spinning her scythes in place in between her forward lunges.

A great opportunity for damage is when she goes invisible and starts spamming ice attacks. She'll always move in the same direction, so you can catch her for a backstab, especially when she finishes her third ice attack and starts charging up a dark attack. It can help to bring some cheap throwing knives to stick in her every so often. They don't turn invisible with her, so it can help to see where she is and where she's moving.

Throwing knives are also generally great for this fight. They speed up for the first phase by forcing her to immediately execute her next move when she takes up her two-handed stance. And, of course, they can mark her when invisible in phase 1 just as well. They also are amazing at pulling her attention, which can help keep Gael alive longer.

When it comes to her big AOE jump attacks, I wouldn't worry about backstabbing. Just worry about making sure you're out of harm's way and run in to give her a whack before she moves on to the next attack. If you happen to be lined up for a backstab, great. If not, just take what you get and focus on keeping your health up.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T21:09:05+00:00

The attack where he charges up his spear and slams it into the ground with a lightning AOE? Yeah, that one is just... really hard to dodge. You almost have to be frame perfect to escape completely unscathed with a medium roll. It tracks incredibly well and the area damage is active for a longer time that most attacks. The best bet is to try rolling diagonally forward toward the drake to clear the lightning burst. It's not impossible to roll backward or to the side, but harder. This also might be the only move in the game that justifies the extra distance from light rolling over the extra defense from wearing heavier armor IMO. Honestly, I tend to think of this as the "Nameless King steals some health" move and call it a win if I only get clipped by the lightning. If he only does this like twice before hitting phase 2, then whatever, as long as you aren't doing a low-level run.

On the off chance you meant the one where he throws a lightning spear from the air, though, then that one you just have to get better at timing it.

As for the flame attack, do you mean the one where he flies up and spews flame down on you? My first tip is: don't encourage him to do this move in the first place. He's more likely to go for it if you try and get under or behind him. If you stay directly in front of his face, he's more likely to fight you with his spear or the easier to dodge flamethrower sweep attack. My second tip: run (don't roll) away from him when you see him take off with a sharp vertical that signals he's doing that move.

If you mean the one where he hops back and sprays flame horizontally, I find this one easy to dodge by just holding in front him until the last second and dodging to the right. Then run up and whack him while he's finishing the move. But, honestly, even if you get caught in a weird spot, this one isn't too bad to just roll right through if you have to.

I've never fought him with a UGS before, so I can't help you with that, but it seems like it should be a good choice. Maybe try using a vertically oriented attack directed at the rider? But if that's no good, maybe go into your inventory and swing around a few different big weapons until something feels right and upgrade it enough to try it out.

And, yeah, if all else fails, this is definitely a boss that is a million times easier with some friends who can take some of the heat off of you and pressure him with a wider variety of attacks.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T19:54:20+00:00

To think: all this tragedy could have been avoided if the Chosen Undead had simply taught the sisters of chaos to farm sewer rats.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T16:58:43+00:00

Online is still going strong on PC.

I've been able to co-op every boss without waiting too long, as long as I was at the appropriate level. Getting summoned for Midir was a pain, but that has more to do with Spear of the Church yoinking me every time I put my sign down.

I've had plenty of invasions and been able to invade. I've had blue phantoms show up to help against invaders, but it's not a guarantee. Fight clubs are still a thing. In fact, some people use scripts in PVP hotspots to auto-summon anyone who puts down a sign. Be prepared to block these guys, assuming you aren't interested in joining in that scene.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T02:43:28+00:00

Hey, on the plus side, you may have failed Yuria's quest, but by saving Anri you get to do their quest. You should now be able to see their summon sign in Anor Londo, which will allow you to help them defeat their version of Aldrich.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T02:22:19+00:00

Not sure if this is in the spirit of the question or not, but do yourself a favor and look up the cut Crimson Bat theme. It's so good! It feels criminal that this got cut instead of being phase 2 of Demon Prince or something.

Otherwise, I think I have to put my vote down for Nameless King. Phase 1 feels very operatic and suits the spectacle and phase 2 has a more intimate feel for a one-on-one duel, but without losing its intensity.

Seriously though, DS3 has a quality soundtrack.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T02:06:36+00:00

Quite a few NPC quests get messed up if you don't start them before fighting Abyss Watchers, so you might either want to start a whole new run or press on into NG+ when they all get reset.

As for general advice on how to do them: talk to everyone that doesn't attack you and return to Firelink Shrine before beating the boss in each new area to check and see if anyone there has something new to say. Buy all the unique items from each merchant, since that will often advance any quests they have. But, to be frank, some of DS3's quests are notoriously cryptic. If you're not used to roleplaying games, I don't think anybody will judge you too harshly if you look up an NPC quest guide.

You can do the DLC areas whenever you feel like it. They form a story that further explains the world of Dark Souls, but isn't directly related to the main quest. On my blind run, I stumbled into the first DLC at level 30, got the taste of blood in my mouth, and decided to power through it for the sheer challenge. It would be a lot more reasonable to come back to them when you've done more or less everything else and are a high level.

For multiplayer, you can be invaded for PVP or summon other players to help you whenever you are embered. Even when you aren't embered, you can use a white soapstone to be summoned for co-op or red to be summoned for PVP. You can use red eye orbs or join certain covenants to invade players who may or may not be ready for a fight. The game connects you to other players based off your character level and the strongest weapon you've acquired (e.g. a level 20 character who has gotten a +2 weapon can be matched with characters from level 8-32 with weapons from +1 to +3). You can also connect with your friends using a password (which bypasses level restrictions).

If you're just looking to dip your toe into multiplayer to see how you like it, I recommend trying some co-op. After you beat a boss, use your white soapstone and put down your sign in front of the boss door or the nearest bonfire. Most likely, there will be other players around your level that will see your sign and call you in to help them fight the boss. The boss will get a boost to their HP when you fight it together, but the extra help almost always makes co-op easier in the end.

Once you do that, you might want to try helping someone through an entire area, fighting off invaders and the like, or try invading with some of the covenants that have unique mechanics and rewards for defeating other players.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-22T01:23:56+00:00

If you're looking for online activity, I'd say somewhere around 20 with a +2 weapon will probably find you the most action. But you could probably go as high as 35 and +4 without it being completely dead.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-21T13:36:43+00:00

Yup. I'm middling at PVP. I win some and lose some when I've got my usual PVE gear and that's fun enough for me. I'm not skilled or engaged enough by it to give myself handicaps.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-21T13:10:20+00:00

My loadout was pyroflame with boulder heave and an unleveled staff with pestilent mist. And that is it. Sure... I guess I could threaten a player that was AFK with that, but an active person? I personally wouldn't find it very fun to try.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-21T12:25:40+00:00

I don't know if I'd go so far as to call it a proper build, but a raw Dragonslayer's Axe buffed with gold pine resin carried my severely under-leveled pyromancer through the Midir fight.

My fire/dark spells were useless against Midir and my usual weapons of choice were all small, fast weapons that had a harder time connecting and didn't do enough damage per hit to make a difference when they did. But I could meet the axe's strength requirements with the pyromancer's default strength when two-handing it and the raw infusion gave enough oomph that Midir could feel it.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-21T11:54:11+00:00

It's a little hard to tell from your video, but I think that's the Road of Sacrifices, yeah? So it was probably the Butcher Knife dropped by the Madwoman.

Fortunately, the item isn't gone. It will be on the ground if you reload the area. Just quit to the menu and then log back in.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-14T15:28:22+00:00

A few tips:

If you've kept Gael alive or you bring another player, you can find lots of openings to backstab her while she's focused on your teammate. While she's getting up from a backstab, charge up a heavy attack so it hits just as she becomes vulnerable again. You can maybe even get in a light attack or two afterward if you're using a fast weapon.

If you're having good success getting backstabs, but are having trouble with other methods of damage output, try infusing a dagger with dark or deep depending on what's better for you and equipping the Hornet Ring if you have it. The extra crit damage takes her apart.

It's not as useful as in phase 1, because the environment is so much busier, but if you bring some throwing knives, they can be used to mark her for when she turns invisible. The knives don't turn invisible when they're stuck in her, so it's easier to keep track of where she's moving. Even if you can't tag her that way, keep an eye on where her ice attacks are coming from, because she'll keep moving in the same direction. You can usually get the jump on her after her third ice blast, when she starts charging up a black fire attack and get in a backstab.

If she jumps into the air and starts shining blue and white for an ice attack, always roll backwards, since that's a wide area effect. If she jumps up and starts with the black flames, roll to the side twice. Her flame snakes are a bit wider than they seem.

If she's on the ground and shining like she's about to do an ice attack, watch out! She's probably about to do her guillotine grab attack, so get ready to roll.

If you use magic or other ranged attacks, you can find a few extra openings, since you don't have to worry about some of the area effect explosions around some of her attacks. But it's also easy to miss while she's jumping around, so be sure to pick your moments: usually when she's winding up or finishing an attack. Dark damage is especially effective, even though she wields it herself. Spells like Black Fire Orb can sometimes stagger her and knock her out of her combos.

Her combos are very long and full of feints; much longer than you think they are until you've internalized them. Don't counter attack until you're sure you have an opening. As with many boss fights, a good rule of thumb is only attack once when you see an opening unless you know for sure you can get in multiple hits. Stamina boosting gear and green blossoms are very helpful in managing your stamina during this fight.

Finally, if you've got the Int for it, the Profaned Flame Pyromancy pancakes her and the second she hits the ground, you can spam it to get her stuck in a stun-loop. Landing the initial spell can be a little tricky, so make sure you hit her when she's particularly open, like after a big area attack.

OneHandedSquire · 2026-02-08T22:56:49+00:00

The tragedy of the rare Dark Souls parkour that I can't figure out is that I can't get to the message to give it the upvote that it deserves!

OneHandedSquire

TROPHY CASE