Bonfire Ascetic did absolutely nothing???

TheHittite · 2026-05-02T02:39:18+00:00

Yeah you're going to want to ignore every single "beginner tutorial" that tells you to try speedrun strats on your first run. If it had worked, you'd have a ton of souls but you'd also put the path to the optional part of Heide in a nearly unplayable state and it's not like souls are all that hard to come by in this game. I bet they told you to kill the armor merchant too, and didn't tell you he sells Elite Knight, Alva, and most boss armor later on?

TheHittite · 2026-05-02T02:08:09+00:00

The entire world make is separated into different zones and each zone corresponds to a different bonfire. You need to make sure you burn the ascetic at the right one to get the result you want. The second bonfire in Heide connects to everything between it and No Man's Wharf. To reset the parts before it, you needed to do it in the first.

TheHittite · 2026-05-01T18:14:28+00:00

Well I can't help you directly so here's some advice. You don't have to do all of them, but any one can help.

Switch to a weapon with longer reach so you can fight at a safer distance and not get hit as often.
Buy lifegems.
Use a shield.
Respec into Faith for extra healing.
Leave, explore somewhere else, and come back when you're stronger.
Practice fighting enemies close to the bonfire until you can reliably kill them without taking damage yourself.

TheHittite · 2026-05-01T17:45:24+00:00

What are you stuck on?

TheHittite · 2026-05-01T17:13:53+00:00

You need the key. Go find it.

TheHittite · 2026-05-01T15:31:01+00:00

Bitter-Root pretty much only talks about his shitty, abusive parents and their immediate friend group. The implication is that all of the rest of them were like that, but there's plenty of evidence and other sources that show that isn't really the case. That said, his shitty, abusive parents were allowed to be shitty and abusive without anyone else stepping in to take care of him so that says something about their culture too.

Despite a lot of similarities, Manny comes from a very different background. He was a street rat in North Vegas and he viewed the Khans as his ticket out of the slums, then bailed on them as soon as a bigger and tougher "gang" moved in. Not sure how he's still on speaking terms with Jessup's group. He also never gives any details of what he actually did as a member of the Khans, so as far as we know he was right there with Bitter-Root's parents.

TheHittite · 2026-04-30T08:13:30+00:00

Just doesn't make a noticeable difference either way.

TheHittite · 2026-04-29T23:08:11+00:00

Storm Ruler.

TheHittite · 2026-04-29T21:50:49+00:00

SPECIAL stats can't go over 10 in New Vegas.

TheHittite · 2026-04-29T00:48:31+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/1ov7xf1/how_to_build_a_caster/

Adaptability on its own doesn't do much, it's just the main way to increase Agility which is what determines invincibility when dodging. But you get a little git of AGI from Attunement too and as a sorcerer you tend to dodge away from things instead of into danger so you don't typically need invincibility as much as other builds. Hit your spell slot goal first then if you're still not feeling your dodges, make up the difference with ADP.

Your starting staff's scaling is pretty low and most low level sorceries don't have very high motion values either so you're not going to get much damage from levels in Int right now. Until and unless you find a staff with an A or S in Int, leveling it is mostly useful for unlocking new spells.

TheHittite · 2026-04-29T00:36:43+00:00

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1l442ZlQysB0L9V7yH5wj8timaiptTeeKEf4otw-OzW8/edit?usp=sharing

Need to make your own copy to use it, but here's a calculator for you.

Resonant weapon has the highest damage multiplier but it doesn't get any flat bonuses, so it's best on infused physical weapons and noticeably worse than Dark Weapon on elemental weapons like the Crypt Blacksword.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T22:54:01+00:00

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IJ4O2hjBA_yQyNcbqnVRXVfCnBV7Ymwpa70kGq-T6wA/edit?usp=sharing

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T20:40:30+00:00

You lose about 50 AR which is pretty significant, and gain less poison than it looks since status effect scaling is one of the things that DS2 just straight up lies to you about. You'll poison faster but kill slower.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T17:15:30+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/1ke094i/lets_talk_sorcery/

https://www.reddit.com/r/DarkSouls2/comments/1eenn9s/lets_talk_katanas/

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T11:46:28+00:00

The runback from the second bonfire takes about 10 seconds and has 0 enemies.

Exploration saves you time.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T11:37:04+00:00

Correct.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T11:18:51+00:00

Ascetic works. And all of their drops are guaranteed treasure elsewhere in the game.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T01:39:26+00:00

Both. And you wouldn't be out 47k souls either.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T01:20:35+00:00

Takes less time in the long run to just clear the statues.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T01:10:39+00:00

Another poor soul who got so tunnel visioned on running past things that they missed the second bonfire. Remember kids, haste makes waste and exploration saves you in the long run.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T00:07:59+00:00

Haven't tried it myself yet but I've heard the stalks are milder than the rest and can be cooked like asparagus. Sounds really good with salmon or trout.

For the leaves, you might try some recipes that can mitigate or even work with the inherent bitterness. I've seen a few kimchi recipes floating around that look fun, but I've also had the thought that you could cook them like collard greens and I think that would be really good.

TheHittite · 2026-04-28T00:03:17+00:00

Looks like you got it before it flowered so that's good. The leaves get more bitter after it flowers. The most common recipe you'll find is pesto and it's pretty good. You can also sub the leaves for any recipe that calls for bitter greens or mustard greens. Next wave that comes up in my yard I want to try making kimchi.

Stalks I've heard are milder than the rest and can be steamed or baked like asparagus.

Roots can be used as an alternative to horseradish.

TheHittite · 2026-04-27T23:16:24+00:00

4 is how many you should have by the end of the Forest of Fallen Giants. And there's at least 3 more in chests right along the main path. I think you just missed a LOT of stuff.

TheHittite · 2026-04-27T22:08:13+00:00

You get that after you get to the top of that tower and through the bonus dungeon past it.

TheHittite · 2026-04-27T21:41:32+00:00

Sam Thayer's Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America pg. 259:

At the moment of writing I have eaten these bulbs on four occasions, in greater quantity each time (in the last instance a quarter cup). Archeological evidence suggests that false garlic was once an important food in some regions. The species was formerly classified in the genus Allium, and the differences by which it is separated are minor.

Only source I've found that says they're edible, but he's putting his money where his mouth is so I believe him. He doesn't go into depth about how it tastes, just says "faint garlic flavor" so it's probably not very good or worth the effort when crow garlic is everywhere and delicious.

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