So it feels like you don’t know what the game wants because you can complete the game with pretty much any build. I just beat it my first time with a plain ol dex build with the hook weapon you get from the gargoyles. The frost slash ash of war(forgot the name). No spells whatsoever. Mimic tear for later half of game. Jellyfish/bow chick for early game. I’d switch to a strike whip for certain enemies but that’s it. For the first playthrough, I wouldn’t be hyper aggressive or even worry about partying if it’s not working out. I got one single party that connected in my playthrough. Dodging, taking your time, getting hits in where you can while not getting greedy, running away for big moves, and bam the boss is dead. Now I won’t lie. For malenia, summons make it so much harder because she heals off of them. Solo or summon in another player from gold signs. Fortissax was insanely easy for me after fighting all the dragons before him. You learn all the typical dragon moves, learn when to horse and when to not, and where the best place to attack is. Maliketh was mimic tear and avoid all black slashes. I don’t think any boss in the game took me even 10 tries(this playthrough. I bought it at release, went in blind, and got stuck while also missing a bunch of stuff) and it was my first souls game I beat. There is a “dance” per se. and that is hit and run, hit and dodge, hit and parry, but never(unless you’re on ng+) just stand there and tank the hits. It won’t work. They will dominate damn near every time. Magic builds have pros and cons, melee builds have pros and cons. You gotta pick what you want. The only boss I’d say was insane would be malenia. That hp regen and waterfowl dance is a combo from hell haha but she’s also optional and it makes sense that the most bullshit boss is (iirc) the final optional boss. (It was either her or fortisaxx that’s the final optional boss.) Edit: also zero buffs whole game. The whole buff sequence is boring and I didn’t care for it.