If you are a first-timer in Souls games, this guide is really handy for you. If you're a seasoned veteran of Souls games, but first-timer in DS2, you'll find some useful info here as well. First of all, this game is really easy, prolly easiest Souls game. It's really a cake-walk compared to 1st game..

Differences between Dark Souls 1 and 2

Fast traveling-In DS2 you can fast travel at the very start of game, unlike DS1 where you had to kill O&S to unlock this feature

Better port , graphics and fps
First game was terrible. It had frame-drops, port was really bad and was almost unplayable on PC, also it had annoying 30 fps lock. DSII is way better port than the Original DS, you have stable 60 fps, controls are great (completed twice on keyboard) and graphics are good (kinda)..

Leveling
In DS2 you can level up only via NPC (Emerald Herald) located in Majula. In DS1 you could level up at any bonfire.

Estus flask
At 1st game you will get 5 estus flask at very beginning , here you will get only 1 , you need to find shards to multiply your estus flask , there is an upgrading like in 1st game , for upgrading your flask you need to burn sublime bone dust at bonfire.You can also use lifegems , you will get like 10 at start of game and if you exhaust dialogue with merchant at forest of fallen giants and defeat the last giant she will move to Majula and sell unlimited supply-one for 300 souls , you can move when you heal with them , not so fast but it may save your life.

Effigies , Soul Memory and Enemy spawning
In first game you used humanity to reverse hollowing-You need to offer it to bonfire , if you are human you could summon phantoms to help you with bosses , but that was kinda risky because you need to be alive till you arive to the boss fog wall where is a summon sign. In DS2 you can just clear your way to boss , when you are in front of fog wall you can just consume your human effigy (humanity equivalent) and summon NPC or player phantom. In first game there was a level range for invading a summoning , so you can summon only player with +- same level like you (I think you could summon player with like 3 level higher or lower than you). In DS2 is soul memory stuff , that is number of souls totally acquired , so you can use your souls for equipment or lose them by dying but they will count towards your soul memory , there are 44 soul memory tiers you can check them out Here[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]. In first game when you died enemies spawned again and again , in DS2 if you die or rest at bonfire too much (like 20-30 times) enemies in part of area will stop spawning (like if you die at the 1st bonfire in Heides tower of flame , enemies will stop spawning close 1st to bonfire , but there will be some close to 2nd bonfire) , its good for new players but its bad if you want to farm souls , but if you join Company of Champions[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] enemies will still spawning and they will have more health and deal more damage. Also if you die too much your health will be reduced to 50% . if you obtain ring of binding health loss will be reduced only to 25%

There are more stuff which changed , but there are not so important like these.

Dark Souls II vs Dark Souls II: SotFS

SotFS is something like remaster, original DS2 was running at DX9 , SotFS supports also DX11 which make game look better , also there are a new enemies placement. Also SotFS includes all DLCs.

Good classes to start with.
In souls game class isnt that important like in other games because you can change your playstyle anytime. But I highly recommend to start with melee class (bandit , swordsman , knight , warrior). I started with knight , he have a decent armor and weapon , I think that most people will choose knight but other melee class are also good (swordsman starts with 2 powerful swords.) so its up to you.Knight starts without shield , it means that his sword is meant to be 2 handed , if you not use shield you will learn to dodge attacks and not die so much, so I highly recommend knight.

Definetly not a classes to start with.

Deprived- You are a nude guy and need to search for loot to have atleast a chance a to fight bosses, you start with soul level 1 and with all stats at 6 , pick that class if you want to ultimately customize your character.

Explorer- You start with some extra stuff but you have a teribble stats to wield only a dagger , if you are a new player its a nightmare to start with.

Cleric and Sorcerer
Sorcerer-Magic will make a game ,,easier´´ because you are casting from range and enemies will be dead if you have good stats and good spells. But you will die alot as a new player so its recommended to play that class when you are more experienced. (Btw , casting its not fun)

Cleric-Kinda useful class , you are starting with 1 estus flask so heal which have same effects can be handy , but that miracle can be bought at early game , but he also starts with a mace which is good weapon but can be only 2 handed+Archdrake armor provides a great defenses , at missing armor slots you can place Imported stuff which you will get even before character creation till you find some decent armor.

Don't
1.Don't Kill any of NPCs , you might screw your game up pretty easy , all stuff which drops from NPCs can be obtained without killing them , but if you are going to start NG+ kill all NPCs and get their stuff , they will be all alive at NG+

2.Don't join Company of Champions[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] , which will made challenging game even harder, make you more likely to be invaded and you cant see white and gold summon signs. But if you need to farm souls and have proper stats , armor and weapon join them , but if you accidentaly join them, by abandoning them at Sweet Shalquoir[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] or joining a new covenant will gets difficulty back to normal.

3.Don't wear heavy armor if you havent enough vitality points allowing you to fast roll with it , seriously, if you cant dodge boss attacks you doesnt stand a chance againts him.

4.Don't Alt+f4 when Invaded , should be okay 1st time but when you do that like 3-5 times you will be something like ,,banned´´ and you wont be allowed to play online , you will need to use a Bone of Order , which will resets after 7-14 hours playing offline.

5. Easy one. Don't join covenant which sucks.
Sucks :
Brotherhood of Blood[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]-You need to kill 500 guys to get rank 3 , rewards are not so good and if you are soul level 50 you can be matched with soul level 400. Join them and you can buy red sign soapstone for 5000 souls-you can use it after abandoning..But not sucks too much. A PvP Covenant.
Blue Sentinels[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com]-Sucks in really bad way, need to kill 500 guys to rank 3, if you get killed you will get -1 point (Let me repeat , you need 500 points to rank 3- 1 point=1 kill).



Go HERE[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] for proper info abour covenants , rewards , where to join.
6.Don't heal with estus or lifegems during invade , you will be reffered like a noob and you will be hated , do so when Invader heals (Like in Dragon Remnants when both Invader and World Master can heal..) Or if another phantom is summoned. (Like in Bellbros..)


Do
1. Make yourself a favor and get Ring of Binding[darksouls2.wiki.fextralife.com] , If you die too much you will lose only 25% of health instead of 50%
2. Two-Hand your weapon , dodge and learn basics of game.
3.If you are struggling at boss , summon someone. You will make a favor both you and phantom player. (If theres no player , summon phantom , one or two signs are usually infront of fog wall)
4.Create your own playstyle..Always invest some points to Vitality , Vigor and Endurance.. Strenght or Dex depends on your style..
5.Think before you consume any boss soul , please check out weapon you might get from that and always check out forums.. If its good , trade your boss souls , if it sucks consume it and level up , or keep it like trophy.
6. Use Shield when you want to parry/spell parry (Parry Heide Knights in Heide Tower of Flame or Spell Parry Invaders or Mages in Shrine of Amana)
7.Enjoy the game , use all of its features , like coop , invading , or even cosplaying

I hope you will Git Gud when you read this guide if you are sucks at game or if you want to buy game but you want to know what awaits you and what you need to know.
Please , write to comments if I wrote something wrong or if I missed some important stuff that you need to know. Just Feel free to ask. Bye.