Elden Ring (2022)

2nd playthrough with Death's Poker build

Level 89

Time played: 13:24

Wow. This was really good against Morgott. Even when not up close for the charge up to deal damage. I got my INT raised to 35 for that ghostflame damage instead of prioritizing on STR and DEX for melee damage(which is still pretty good. Enemies die in 2 or 3 hits). I got that Bolt of Gransax so I won't miss out on getting that last achievement. I have 3 more weapons to go. Can't wsit to keep this build going.

I got the whole house to myself yesterday, and I played a couple of hours of Elden Ring. I died a lot, and ended up getting pretty frustrated. I might just have to pick a different game to use with my very limited free time. I love the Souls games, but I'm not in the headspace to just bang my head against the wall these days.

I'm still wandering through Stormveil right now, and I don't quite know why or what I'm doing. Normally that's fine, but there's not a super clear path through the castle, and I don't know what the end game is there. I know I should just go somewhere else, but I don't really know where. I need a build that will break the game for me :) @BMO mentioned the vampire build to me, but it sounds like that takes a while to get. I'm currently rocking the Samurai build with the default weapon leveled up to +5.

The game is fantastic and it's been a long time since a game has had me so absorbed.

However, there are some moments where it feels like the game was going for "quantity over quality", particularly with the optional dungeons, and there are some balance issues in the late game. However there is crazy amount of content here that is still well done and high quality, and it's enough to bring it from 4 stars to a 5 for me.

Despite my struggle, despite my hundreds of hours, despite the fact that I completed the game and still can't put it down for some reason my partner has made a character and started...

It'll be like enjoying the journey all over again, but this time I'm coach and support lol She's never really played a Souls game before, wish her luck!

2nd playthrough with Death's Poker build

Level 63

Playtime: 7:44

Let me correct myself: Death's Poker is a standard/pierce weapon. I thought it did strike damage because it was heavy (even when two handing) and something like a huge stick that you would run around and swing with.

I have reached the capital via the Ruin Strewn Precipice. Still doing good with the build. I destroyed the double tree sentinel fight and that was a fight that was a wall on my first playthrough. The Draconian Tree Sentinel, another wall, was a total pushover this time aroumd. Especially since they can just stand on top of the fire. Taking 4 L2+R1's. And despite being underleveled, I took down the Putrid Avatar at Dragonbarrow. I'm feeling some clunkiness with how you perform Ghostflame Ignition. I feel like I should be getting the right animation to detonate by pressing R1 or R2, but I'm missing at times and I'm doing a different animation and I don't know why. Now that I'm at the capital, I really need to make sure that I get the Bolt of Gransax for that last achievement.

Anyone have tips for defeating Alecto. My vampire build is useless against her, and she is super fast. I want to grab Tiche but I feel like Alecto is a wall I'm struggling to get past. Anyone have success, and what did you do?

Update: killed her! I used Adula's Moonblade and that chipped big chunks out of her when direct attacks were not working. I had to stay really mobile but I got her. Thank goodness I killed Glintstone Dragon Adula a while back when doing Ranni's quest ;-)