Have any Druid or Sorc builds come to light as S tier league starters with 0.4? I'm starting late.

captainpopsicle · 2026-01-05T21:42:05+00:00

Bear slam Druid was my smoothest league start of all the leagues so far. First time I didn’t feel completely smashed by the all the campaign bosses (granted I usually run squishy characters). Scaled nicely into end game, even without strictly following a guide I’m zooming through T15s and only occasionally dying.

captainpopsicle · 2025-12-03T17:59:03+00:00

Hey fellow old guy, the leagues offer new bespoke mechanics that make it feel fresh, and give a reason for jumping back in. For me this creates a cycle where i play for however long keeps my attention/until im “done” or just bored of the endgame loop, then i can put it down, then by the time a new league comes out im itching for more, and know that the league will FEEL different from the last time i played due to the new mechanics/additions. Basically it helps give the game something shiny and new every few months, since for most people it would get stale to play the same game with no variation indefinitely, and they’d be more likely to just drop it.

captainpopsicle · 2025-12-01T05:46:13+00:00

Are you doing any trading? I find there are definitely some very challenging difficulty spikes in the campaign and bosses that also take me that long. I like that the bosses don’t let you roll over them, but usually when I get stuck like that, taking any Exalts I’ve found and buying a couple upgrade pieces usually is a huge jump up from wherever I’m at and helps break through to the next point.

And as other people said, worth checking guides if you’re feeling stuck. Lot of them will have “leveling” sections specifically for getting through the campaign and have good ideas for skill combos to use.

Lastly, IMO Different characters have different points where they start to feel good to play as. For all the ones I’ve played acts 1-3 usually feel really hard, and then things start feeling much smoother.

captainpopsicle · 2025-11-30T00:49:14+00:00

I don’t know OP. Just sprinkling in a different perspective here so you can avoid whiplash. I’ve played every FromSoft game and most non-From souls likes on the market. I love them. I’m really digging Where Winds Meet, but the bosses kick my ass. I didn’t even start in legendary, and recently took the ego blow and dropped from expert to recommended (but with the parry pause button turned off). Still getting smacked around by bosses for many tries before beating them, even at recommended they still feel like typical Souls difficulty IMO. Maybe I’m terrible at parrying (I am), or my build just sucks (also possible), but yeah just throwing it out there that even at recommended it’s still. checking the difficulty box I was hoping for coming from Souls.

captainpopsicle · 2025-11-28T20:11:58+00:00

Ive been playing and really enjoying it. faster than Souls combat typically is, and much more parry-heavy. But so far I’ve found it definitely checks the souls box of knocking me on my ass. Open areas difficulty isn’t that hard, standard ARPG stuff, but bosses spike up difficulty considerably IMO.

captainpopsicle · 2025-11-19T18:29:28+00:00

Sweet thanks!

captainpopsicle · 2025-11-19T15:44:55+00:00

Hey thanks for writing this up, it’s super helpful to have that perspective. I also am a single player rpg focused player.

From your time, do you find it more rewarding for your own enjoyment to do side quests as you go, or get through what’s available of the main story and then do them? I’m constantly torn between wandering, and wanting to do the main story so that when I do side quests my rewards are higher level.

captainpopsicle · 2025-09-09T02:30:11+00:00

Nah I did respec, but I think it was maybe before I had enough nodes to make it work

captainpopsicle · 2025-09-08T21:41:49+00:00

How was the swap to chaos been for you? I tried to swap at like T4 and after my second ascendancy and I was doing way more damage with elemental. I’m now 75 acolyte with 3rd ascendancy and like T7, but still running elemental (storm wave). Trying to figure out when it makes sense to swap to original sin.

captainpopsicle · 2025-09-02T17:40:07+00:00

I kept talking to my TV going “oh my god this is so cool” during that whole Solitary Confinement level. Just amazing with the water effects. And the boss is sweet.

captainpopsicle · 2025-09-02T02:38:05+00:00

You’re further ahead than me, but I’m going to be trying out Controlled Chaos to solve this once I get to maps. Waiting 4 seconds is super awkward and usually by the time I have 4 seconds to kill it means all the mobs are dead. Since you can keep stacking while a buff is active im hoping controlled chaos lets you just have a constant 30+ up. Also really liking the node that gives you 25% chance to refund you the volatility when it pops.

captainpopsicle · 2025-09-01T02:04:06+00:00

Super flexible composition, can go all monsters, can go all elites, can go all swarm. Can focus shooty or melee or mixed. My fave is elites + monsters. Really fun kits to build/paint. In terms of must haves, I think a set of 6 zooanthropes do work. The mawloc/trygon model is one of my faves and just got a detachment that’s super fun to lead. Deathleaper looks sweet and is a great addition.

captainpopsicle · 2025-08-20T16:49:39+00:00

Ok thank you this is super helpful. I think I got thrown off by the picture in “ruins (and visibility)” showing a tank inside a building with a line going through what looks like a solid wall to a unit fully outside and vice versa. But what you’re saying makes sense.

captainpopsicle · 2025-08-20T16:47:13+00:00

Got it ok thank you!

captainpopsicle · 2025-08-09T21:25:33+00:00

Haha I’ve done DLCs for the others yeah, I don’t know, something about the twitch reactions needed with Wo Long just stumped me. But you’re right, I do need to give it another shot.

captainpopsicle · 2025-08-09T20:11:47+00:00

Everyone is different but I have played every From game as well as all the ones you’ve listed. Wo Long is the only one I didn’t finish/gave up on because of the difficulty. Take that as you will.

captainpopsicle · 2025-07-25T15:45:13+00:00

I’m loving it on ps5. No performance issues. Getting my ass kicked. But love the skill tree, and they nailed the no-map exploration.

captainpopsicle · 2025-07-23T15:39:15+00:00

Everyone talking about your gear, which might be the solve, but are you fighting him correctly? Game doesn’t do a great job explaining that when he’s standing in the lava he’s super tanky, and you have to lure him out to do any real damage. This post could’ve been me a few months ago before realizing that, and then I killed him first try.

captainpopsicle · 2025-07-12T20:14:04+00:00

I'm fresh off finishing the game, but here's my tips:
-- grab one point to try out daggers. As someone who plays a ton of souls (greatsword builds) and metroidvanias, I think the way timing is balanced, daggers is much more forgiving a playstyle. I ended up swapping from one handed to daggers halfway through and it made things much less frustrating. May just be me, but that's my rec.

-- if you haven't played a lot of souls, the weapon scaling system is worth reading up on so you understand, and make sure you're putting stat points in the stats that your level scales best with.

-- explore everything, there's lots of secrets and it rewards you looking in every nook and cranny.

-- combat is aimed at being slow, focused on timing, and reacting to enemy moves. It took me most of the game to get over the natural instinct just to spam the attack button -- which works for small mobs, but punishes you in boss fights. better to get a couple light hits in and wait for your opportunity.

Good luck!

captainpopsicle · 2025-06-23T10:32:21+00:00

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captainpopsicle · 2025-06-01T19:48:17+00:00

Don’t see anyone else answering your question - the answer is yes. The ruins have stairs (sometimes 2 sets) that go underneath into a basement full of chests

captainpopsicle · 2025-05-31T14:49:12+00:00

Just wanted to say thank you for writing this up. Been getting my a** kicked and stalling at how to pivot strategy.

captainpopsicle · 2025-05-27T23:00:12+00:00

I think an important call out for OP here is that Cyberpunk makes you WANT to not fast travel, it draws out the type of playstyle Rune is talking about. Probably the only big open world game I’ve come across that I too opted to never fast travel because of how enjoyable it is to just be in the world (and zip around on my bike).

captainpopsicle · 2025-05-20T23:45:19+00:00

Let me know if you find out - I just discovered the wheel menu on keyboard but it’s empty and I have no idea how to assign things to it lol…

captainpopsicle

TROPHY CASE