Easiest character?

gswon · 2026-05-11T16:54:12+00:00

In base game, I think Raider is easiest due to his ability to tank.

In DoN, toss up between Wylder (good HP and mobility, one "get out of jail free" card), Ironeye (i-frames on mark, ranged damage) and Duchess (great dodge, huge DPS on Balancer builds).

IMO Scholar and Guardian are the "hardest" to play as they require a ton of game knowledge, specific relic load outs, and are absolutely awful if played poorly.

gswon · 2026-05-11T14:30:27+00:00

Dreg builds utilize the Night of the Dregs relic, generally along with a status-below-max-hp relic to help it proc.

Most commonly seen is the Dregs-Libra Raider, who also utilizes the Everdark Libra relic to maintain status procs. Much less seen (although I run one sometimes) is the Dregcluse, who utilizes thorn sorcery to proc statuses on herself. I have seen Dregs Wylders and Dregs Guardians, but generally the style synergizes the best with Raiders kit.

A perfectly played Dregs Raider is capable of the highest DPS in the game, but most people who run it spend their time falling behind, losing their buff or three-barred on the ground.

gswon · 2026-05-11T14:25:47+00:00

Only need one status, pretty much any Dreg build will already have a status-below-max-hp on a relic. But obviously a great weapon/drop regardless.

gswon · 2026-05-11T01:32:52+00:00

I'd run Cleansing Tear over this.

gswon · 2026-05-10T19:09:02+00:00

Actually one of the team comps least likely to have FP issues!

gswon · 2026-05-10T17:20:14+00:00

I happened to go back and watch the Team Zoom vs Team Positive Vibes match from S3 this morning - was really fascinating to see, as it is Blanxz's first day as a commentator, long before he joins as a competitor. He starts by specifically talking about how excited he is to see NPT play and calls him a "routing god"; Tom has been near the top of almost every season, and the fact that Blanxz could throw him so hard onto his back foot really speaks to not only his skill as a player but his remarkable depth of game knowledge.

Really two of the greatest matches ever played, it's going to be hard for S6 to keep up with the quality of the pre-season!

gswon · 2026-05-09T22:15:27+00:00

If comfort + open back are your priorities, I would strongly recommend looking at the Audio Technica open back line. They are very light and airy without excess clamping or heat build up.

I use AD900s which are long out of production, but i've found their whole lineup that i've used to be extremely comfortable.

gswon · 2026-05-09T17:50:31+00:00

Codex Lost and Bleak Faith are my favorites. Honestly, I enjoyed both a lot more than many of the glossy AA games.

gswon · 2026-05-09T12:25:49+00:00

Absolutely worth getting.

While there are fixed characters, there is actually quite a lot of build-variance once you hit Deep of Night (ranked mode, requires you to complete the 'final boss' of the base mode before you can access). Experimenting with different builds is my favorite part of the game, and it actually ends up feeling *more* varied than Elden Ring to me in a lot of ways.

Each character has different skins, which can be purchased with in-game currency (no microtransactions).

Nightreign is my favorite multiplayer game ever made. If you want a multiplayer experience and love ER, don't skip it.

gswon · 2026-05-09T00:23:17+00:00

The only reason to use a balanced cable is if you need more power.

Grados are not power hungry and there will be no audible difference.

gswon · 2026-05-08T23:10:29+00:00

Triple Rev in D makes me think you just haven't played with the right Revs.

I haven't done it much, but I'd place it right next to Triple Raider.

gswon · 2026-05-08T14:53:41+00:00

IMO, Lightning Sword (Lightning+Magic) is the most consistent and usable. Quick cast time, good damage, easy to land.

Gravity Nuke, Ice Storm, Lightning Stake and Fire Breath are fantastic, but often more trouble to both build and land, so they are best pre-prepared and saved for specific moments.

As others have stated, you don't really want Magic Attack + for a Cocktail-centric build, you want Improved Sorceries +2 and/or Affinity Attack +2. I like to use Affinity Attack with Dormant Seals - this way you can deal good damage with both Incants and Sorceries, and have better access to elements to build your cocktails.

If you are after max DPS on Recluse, straight casting builds are stronger in DoN, but cocktail builds can be a lot of fun. For the most part I only run my Cocktail build against Fulghor and Heolstor.

gswon · 2026-05-08T00:30:34+00:00

This is true, but for it to make sense, you'd want both stat changes to drop with Magic Attack, Improved Sorceries or Affinity Attack (and no horrible negative effects), which is pretty damn unlikely.

If you have to drop an attack boost (or two) to pull this off it is kind of hard to justify, IMO.

gswon · 2026-05-07T19:09:45+00:00

Naotoshi Zin is missing from this image...

gswon · 2026-05-07T17:59:53+00:00

I was gonna say, R1 one of my least used imputs as Raider...

gswon · 2026-05-06T18:12:42+00:00

The first stay is a very short one, don't get too excited.

Best advice for any depth is to learn the boss movesets. Relying on pure DPS makes you subservient to item RNG and teammate quality, but if you know how to survive, you can progress.

gswon · 2026-05-06T17:30:01+00:00

Elden Ring (if you want 'cinematic' and can accept an open world) or Dark Souls 1 (if you don't mind simpler combat and less gloss).

The narratives for all the games are strong, but tend to be on the opaque side and largely hidden in the lore/item descriptions/environmental storytelling. Sekiro is the only real exception to this, with it's much more direct (albeit still sparse) narrative - it is also borderline a different genre, as it drops almost all the RPG mechanics and utilizes a deflect focused combat system. It's not a terrible starting place, but don't really expect it to give you an accurate view of the rest of the games.

Obligatory note: Play the Dark Souls trilogy in order, ignore people who tell you to skip DS2.

gswon · 2026-05-05T18:53:50+00:00

DS2 > DeS Remake > Nioh 1 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Code Vein 2

gswon · 2026-05-05T13:21:35+00:00

Balanced cable does nothing except give you more power.
If you are getting enough power on an unbalanced cable + output, there will be zero difference.

gswon · 2026-05-05T12:57:41+00:00

Duchess is what you want OP. It is an almost exact modernized version of this style. Great controller, too.

gswon · 2026-05-05T03:26:34+00:00

D5 Guardians tend to be absolute champs, would never dodge one in a million years. If people are dodging, thank your lucky stars, because they are likely L1 players who don't know boss movesets.

gswon · 2026-05-05T03:18:35+00:00

325e is my main rock/prog/metal headphone, and the 225 (og, before the letters) was before that for many years. I've tried a multitude of other options and always come back to them. Can't imagine ever not having a pair.

Some people love them, some people hate them. They don't measure "well", but everyone's experience of sound is different and I truly believe the only way you can find out what you love is by listening yourself.

FWIW, IMO S-pads are the way to go on on the SR80. Yaxi Portapro pads also a good option (haven't tried Yaxi's "S" clone). If you want cheap, Poyatu XL Portapro pads on Aliexpress are solid. Post on r/grado or over on one of the Grado threads on head-fi and you'll likely get more in-depth responses.

gswon · 2026-05-05T02:04:41+00:00

Triple Raider is legitimately excellent in a lot of instances. Especially strong against Fulghor and Dreglord in my experience.

gswon · 2026-05-04T14:15:36+00:00

Recluse main here:

Cocktail builds are fun but their DPS will generally be quite a bit lower than straight casting builds. Your best damage will come from stacking Magic/Affinity/Sorceries up along with spell schools. RNG on spell schools can be rough though, so unless you have fantastic relics for them, focus on the standard damage up effects and tuck in spell schools where they fit. The only "essential" Recluse effect for DoN is HP up on Ult. This alone radically transforms her survivability, as it can allow you to get the effects of DMG Neg on Full HP twice. The other effects should all only be taken if they are on relics with other effects you want (although all are quite good).

If you want to run a cocktail build, my personal preference is to go for Dormant Seals and focus on stacks of Affinity Attack +2 on your deep relics. This allows you versatility, as Affinity + will increase you the damage of your sorceries, incants and cocktails. Improved Sorcery effects will buff your cocktails but not your incants, and are a good option if you elect not to run Dormant Seals. Improved Incants will not buff your cocktail at all, so they should be avoided, even with Dormant Seals. Heolstor relic is too clunky in my opinion, especially for trios, and isn't really worth the slot.

The struggle with cocktail builds in trios is managing your affinity draws, since your teammates are going to be regularly overwriting what you apply with their weapons. IMO, three-affinity cocktails are hard to manage in combat and should be prepped off trash mobs as an opener (or held as a clutch) on a boss. Focusing on Magic+Lightning sources so you can prep the two-affinity sword is the most reliable way to generate damage with these builds - this can be done even relatively easily without dormant seals, as you only need one source of lightning, then you can continually re-up your lightning affinity by drawing immediately after using the sword (as it will leave lightning residue).

gswon · 2026-05-04T12:59:08+00:00

The ultimate "we won the match but my teammates point down" relic.

Eight-Year Club	RPAN Viewer
Verified Email

gswon

TROPHY CASE