A good PvP build will usually boast:

• High survivability
  
• Moderate to high damage output
  
• Versatile / Adaptable
  
• Works with matchmaking

Having high vigor and using Perseverance allows me to run into this gank and split them up without dying immediately

Vigor
Vigor increases your HP. You need a lot of HP to be able to make mistakes.

Endurance
Endurance increases stamina. Having more stamina can allow:

• Block more hits.
  
• Roll more times.
  
• Not run out of stamina before needing to roll.

Vitality
Vitality increases equipment load. This will allow you to wear high defense armor. More defense = more survivability.

Weapon Art: Perserverence
Some weapons have a weapon art Perserverence. This allows you to not be staggered and take reduced damage.

Weapon Art: Quick Step
Weapons like daggers have a weapon art Quick Step. This give immunity frames and can allow a player to escape a dangerous situation.

A PVP build needs to be able to apply pressure. The best way to do this is by dealing damage. You do not need to do massive damage but enough to get a player to back off and not run you over.

A PvP build needs to be able to adapt to many situations. Our build is going to use a straight sword mainly. It is one of the most versatile weapons in the game. It has long sweeps to hit many baddies and has poke for doing combos and big damage!

Here are some examples of certain weapons for situations:

• Halberd / Spear for working with another invader to not hit each other.
  
• Spear for chase down a running opponent.
  
• Sword and Board for dueling a player 1v1.
  
• Crossbow for shooting a running player.
  
• Scimitar for striking faster than other weapon classes,
  
• Mace for perseverance to break up a bunch of enemies.
  
• Greatsword for rollcatching.
  
• Rapier for backstabbing.
  
• Dagger for riposting.

As you play you might see players switch their weapon constantly during a fight to try and find the best combinations for their opponent.

To do PvP you need to have players to battle against! A pvp build will usually fit a soul level and weapon level that matches up with lots of players!

I find the best way to find many players is to match your weapon level up with the first digit of your soul level.

• Soul Level 20 Weapon +2 (+1 Twinkling)
  
• Soul Level 40 Weapon +4 (+2 Twinkling)
  
• Soul Level 60 Weapon +6 (+3 Twinkling)
  
• Soul Level 80 Weapon +8 (+4 Twinkling)
  
• Soul Level 90 Weapon +10 (+5 Twinkling)

Why even numbers?
Keeping the weapon level in the even numbers allows using Twinkling Titanite weapons. A Twinkling weapon can only be upgraded to +5. Because of this a Twinkling weapon is multiplied by 2 for matchmaking.

Irithyll Straight Sword[darksouls3.wikidot.com] +1 = Long Sword[darksouls3.wikidot.com]+2

⚠️ If you upgrade to a weapon level you can not go back down! Even if you upgrade a weapon to +6 and then discard it and only have +4 weapons in your inventory. Your character remains at the highest weapon level they reached.

For detailed matchmaking information see: Matchmaking Information and summon range calculator[mpql.net]

See complete build: 20+2 New PvP Player Build[soulsplanner.com]



I tested this build over a couple weeks doing low level PvP. It was pretty strong for dueling, ganking, and invading. It is a capable R1 hurricane. See in action[www.twitch.tv]

The build we are creating is a simple melee build.

• It has great survivability and moderate damage.
  
• High stamina high regeneration.
  
• Easy to use and will allow focusing on PvP basics.
  
• Access to oodles of weapons.
  
• Access to lots of armor sets (fashion souls or min/max souls).

Feel free to adjust the build to fit your playstyle. I like using straight sword, mace, and halberd for low level pvp.

• Try 16 str / 13 dex for greatswords like Claymore[darksouls3.wikidot.com].
  
• Try 16 dex for Sellsword Twinblades[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
  
• Put everything into Vigor and use only Long Sword + Dagger.
  
• Add some to Vitality to get more defenses.

When you are ready to try other soul levels this build can be leveled. We will talk more about higher level builds in future guides:

• For SL40 I keep to the same pattern of only enough str/dex for the weapons you like. And the rest in Vigor.
  
• For SL60 you can decide if you want to start adding into str/dex to go for a Sharp / Heavy build. Or stay Raw infusion and insane defense.
  
• Beyond is a bit out of scope of this guide.

If you prefer video watch on Youtube!

Important Items
+ 1 Titanite Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Covetous Silver Serpent Ring[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Get the Titanite Shard before Gundyr.
- Use tree jump to get the Estus Shard and Silver Serpent Ring. watch
- Infuse weapon with Firegem.
- Put rest of souls into Vigor until 20 Vigor.

Important Items
+ 3 Titanite Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Blue Tearstone Ring[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Silver Eagle Kite Shield[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Way of Blue[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- If you want to PVP early summon someone! Else you will not be invaded until swamp.
- Run through High Wall to the Tower on the Wall bonfire. Do NOT kill mimic.
- Grab Titanite Shard by Tower on the Wall Bonfire. watch
- Pickup Firebombs / Raw Gem on the way to Estus Shard and Greirat key.
- Get Titanite Shard before Lothric Knight.
- Get Silver Eagle Kite Shield from chest. watch
- Get Titanite Shard under stair well. watch
- Get Estus Shard and Cell Key[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. watch
- Go back to Greirat and get Blue Tearstone Ring. watch
- Visit Priestess Emma[darksouls3.wikidot.com] and get Way of Blue. (equip that) watch
- Kill Vordt[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch

Impotant Items
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Undead Bone Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 2 Titanite Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Loretta's Bone[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Mortician's Ashes[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Irithyll Straight Sword[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Caestus[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Get Loretta's bone. watch
- Get Estus Shard in between Evangelist and Fire. watch
- Titanite Shard after Fire on porch. watch
- Goto Cliff Underside bonfire[darksouls3.wikidot.com].
- Grab Titanite Shard around Cliff Underside bonfire. watch
- From Cliff Underside jump around and go to sewer area. watch
- Pick up Caestus. watch
- Go to Dilapidated Bridge Bonfire[darksouls3.wikidot.com].
- Get Undead Bone Dust. watch
- Get Mortician's Ashes. watch
- Unlock the door to Curse-rotted Greatwood[darksouls3.wikidot.com] if you'd like.
- Homeward Bone back to Firelink Shrine.

- Give Morticians ashes and buy Grave Key[darksouls3.wikidot.com] for 1,500 souls.
- Give Loretta's Bone to Greirat. Also but some bombs if you like them.
- Upgrade Long Sword to +2.
- Spend the rest of souls on Vigor upto 20. (then 14 Strength / 14 Dexterity)

Important Items
+ Red Hilted Halberd[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Fire Gem[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Chloranthy Ring[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Go across bridge and through the Undead Sewer area. watch
- Get Red Hilted Halberd. watch
- Go through doors to Road to Sacrifices[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. watch
- Get Bonfire then go back to kill Irithyll Meanie[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. (will use sword later) watch
- Go up lift and get White Branch from Giant. watch
- Go down the lift to start Siegward of Catarina[darksouls3.wikidot.com] quest. watch
- Get Fire Gem from killing demon. (we will apply this to a dagger)
- From the Fire Demon go through the building to the roof. Make sure you lure the wizard guys away from that wall because they can smack you down. watch
- Get Chloranthy Ring and equip it! watch
- Homeward Bone back to Road to Sacrifices[darksouls3.wikidot.com].

Important Items
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Grass Crest Shield[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Run through this area to Halfway Fortress Bonfire[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. watch
- Do NOT talk to Anri and Horace. (kill them later for shield / armor)
- Run to the Crucifixion Woods Bonfire[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch
- Get Estus Shard behind buildings. watch
- Get Grass Crest Shield by running past Great Crab[darksouls3.wikidot.com] from Bonfire. watch
- Go towards Farron Keep [darksouls3.wikidot.com] bonfire and kill the two Unkindled Watchdogs[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. (this unlocks their armor in Shrine Handmaid) watch
- Goto Farron Keep.

Important Items
+ 1 Undead Bone Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Dreamchaser's Ashes[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Twinkling Titanite[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Watchdogs of Farron[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Follow the fires! watch
- Get Estus Shard before the first Ritual Fire. watch
- Goto the Keep Ruins Bonfire.[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch
- Avoid the Super Ghru[darksouls3.wikidot.com] before second RItual Fire. watch
- Ghru drop Rotten Ghru Spear[darksouls3.wikidot.com], Rotten Ghru Dagger[darksouls3.wikidot.com], and Rotten Ghru Curved Sword[darksouls3.wikidot.com]. God tier weapons for PVP.
- Get Undead Bone Dust after Keep Ruins Bonfire.[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch
- Go up ladder to top of Farron Keep. watch
- Kill Crystal Lizard for Twinkling Titanite. (upgrades Irithyll Straight Sword) watch
- Get Dreamchaser's Ashes. (Unlocked Titanite Shard and Life Ring) watch

---

- Make sure you send greirat to pillage. If he is crying homeward bone and talk again. watch
- Buy a dagger and torch for after Sage.
- Buy Life Ring and equip.
- Spend rest of souls towards 20 vigor 14 str 14 dex.
- Upgrade Irithyll Straight Sword to +1. (Remember a Twinkling Titanite weapon upgrade = 2 normal Titanite weapon upgrades. +1 Twinkling = +2 Titanite)
- Kill Sage. watch

Important Items
+ 1 Undead Bone Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ 1 Estus Shard[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Paladin's Ashes[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Patches' Ashes[darksouls3.wikidot.com]
+ Red Sign Soapstone[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

Guide
- Get Twinkling Titanite from Crystal Lizards on way. watch
- Get Paladin's Ashes. (Unlocks Undead Hunter Charms, Morning Star, Llyod's Shield Ring) watch
- Run to the Cleansing Chapel Bonfire.[darksouls3.wikidot.com]watch
- Get Estus Shard. watch
- Get Undead Bone Dust. watch
- Run through to unlock second door. watch
- Kill Longfinger Kirk[darksouls3.wikidot.com] for armor. watch
- Start Unbreakable Patches[darksouls3.wikidot.com] quest. watch
- Run back to second door and take lift to top. Get Rosaria's Bed Chamber Bonfire.[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch
- Kill at least the end Slug and get Red Sign Soapstone. watch
- Kill Unbreakable Patches to get Onion Armor Set[darksouls3.wikidot.com] and take ashes to Shrine Handmaid for better bombs. watch

- Go back to Firelink Shrine.
- Upgrade Estus to 10 +3.
- Purchase Tower Key[darksouls3.wikidot.com] and go to tower to get Estus Ring[darksouls3.wikidot.com] watch

Line up with the tile then jump and press r1 to plunge attack! Sometimes it misses and have to try agian.
- Go back to Halfway Fortress and kill Anri and Horace to get Llewellyn Shield[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

- Upgrade and try other weapons. You can grind Souls, Titanite Shards and Raw Gems in High Wall.
- Get Havel's Ring[darksouls3.wikidot.com] to wear heavier armor and equip heavier weapons. (kill Curse Rotten Greatwood and Stray Demon)
- Get other armor Dark Armor[darksouls3.wikidot.com], Lothric Set[darksouls3.wikidot.com], Nameless Set[darksouls3.wikidot.com]

This build is very strong for High Wall, Undead Settlement, Road of Sacrifices, and Cathedral of the Deep. Look for activity icons from the Travel menu!



There are lots of ways to PvP I recommend trying them all out and finding what you like!

If a player summons a phantom it increases their chance of being invaded. Be summoned into another persons world and they will likely get invaded!

To get invaded in High Wall you need to start the Dancer bossfight. Go to where you got Way of Blue. Kill the old lady. Then place Basin behind her to start Dancer Boss. Use Homeward Bone and now you can summon phantoms and be invaded!

Summon a white sign at High Wall, Undead Settlement, or Swamp. These areas have lots on invaders that will like to fight groups of players!

Use the item Dried Finger[darksouls3.wikidot.com] to increase your chance of being invaded.

I usually start with summoning one friend and running through the level. If there is a lot of strong invaders then step up to two friends or put on Way of Blue covenant.


Even if this player was a bully and super over geared. When you have too many team mates pvp loses its challenge. You will not learn or improve fighting at a massive advantage.

Other players will be able to summon you as a Dark Spirit. Usually this means that you will be dueling 1v1 but sometimes Ganks summon red signs.


I find people summon me as a dark spirit often in the first High Wall bonfire.


If you both bow at the beginning of a 1v1 it often means that you both agree to not heal until one person dies.



If you see Red or Purple signs on the ground. Summon them! These are players that want to PvP with you. When you summon a Red or Purple sign remember they will be the same Ember status as you.

I found Blue Sentinels to be very active in the SL20 range! Get the Blue Sentinels Covenant[darksouls3.wikidot.com] from Horace the Hushed[darksouls3.wikidot.com] at Halfway Fortress bonfire.


Invaders enjoy fighting Blue Phantoms. In an invasion it is okay to be honorable but not required.


Watchdogs can be a great introduction to pvp since you often get an invader friend!

The Watchdogs of Farron Covenant[darksouls3.wikidot.com] has high activity at SL20! Equip the convenant and you will get summoned to the Swamp to fight hosts!

Keep in mind the Purplish invaders are watchdogs and you can not hit them. While red Invaders are your teammates too but you can hit them. Try using a spear or halberd to not hit your team mates. Or try switching in when your teammate is getting killed to try and cover them to Estus.

Spacing is super important in PvP. It will let you cause an opponent to whiff and attack and still stay in attack range.


Start with slow enemies and work your way up to faster ones. See how long you can stay in the fight without rolling.


I find the big axe guys and halberd knights to be great to try and learn backstabs. Try backstabbing locked on and unlocked!

If you can get the basic walk around and stab. Try these more advanced backstab techniques!

• Dark Souls 3: Expert's Guide to Roll Backstabs
  
• Dark Souls 3: Expert's Guide to Pivot Backstabs

This axe guy before Cathedral of the Deep is easy to learn to parry from. He won't respawn if you kill him so make sure to not kill him! Find other NPCs and see if you can parry them!


There are great Youtube guides on learning to parry!

• DARK SOULS 3: PARRY GUIDE
  
• How To Get That Easy Parry | Dark Souls 3

Since we are going to try and backstab we should use the best tool for the job


Medium shields are tough for parries. Try switching to your parry tool and use that to parry. You can also try switching to your dagger after you land a parry!