The Dark Souls franchise, from developer FromSoftware, doesn't follow a trend but instead became the gold standard for action RPGs (role-playing games). When it comes to challenging action RPGs, Dark Souls is one of the first games that comes to mind. The gameplay does few favors for the player, leaving them to struggle even throughout the easiest sections.
Whether you're an experienced Souls-like player or a newbie, Dark Souls has left enough obstacles in the way to make 100% completion a pipe dream. Common mistakes nearly everyone makes on their first playthrough of Dark Souls can be avoided.
10 Killing Important NPCs
As a role-playing game, first and foremost is the ability to slay NPCs (non-player characters). Dark Souls gives you the freedom to interact with characters in the game and provoke them before engaging in a battle. The option to kill NPCs can have drastic consequences, which vary from character to character. So it should go without saying that killing non-hostile NPCs in Dark Souls is generally not advised for first-timers — killing a vendor can preclude easy access to valuable items, and killing other NPCs can ruin quest lines, or otherwise deprive the player of interesting interactions and lore.
9 Carrying A Heavy Equipment Load
Carrying an equipment load above 50% often means you're carrying too much weight. Maneuverability is of the utmost importance when defeating enemies with unpredictable move sets. Using Siegmeyer of Catarina's armor, purchased from the Crestfallen Merchant, is equipment load demanding despite its high armor bonuses. As a general rule of thumb, if you're above 50% equipment load, you should either have outstandingly high attack power to offset it or find a way to reduce the burden.
8 Underestimating Enemies
In Dark Souls, players routinely underestimate the least formidable enemies — until you realize that even the most trivial enemies could kill you and find yourself forever trapped in a loop of reviving and dying.
Rats are the quintessential example of misleading enemies. Who would've guessed a rat would be hard to beat after slaying a dragon? Although they don't have magic powers or strong attacks, rats fight in packs and can inflict deadly poison. Newbies routinely underestimate enemies, separating them from adept Dark Souls players.
7 Forgetting About Illusory Walls
Illusory Walls are not easy to spot, so it is beneficial to look at guides beforehand. Messages written on the ground can also help to find Illusory Walls. Behind these illusive walls can be shortcuts, powerful enemies, valuable items, or a combination of these. Dark Souls is made less linear with Illusory Walls. That won't stop many from taking the most difficult routes when misfortune could've been avoided.
6 Accidentally Striking Walls
All those weapon swings that scrape against walls signify more than the player missing the target. It's no secret that paying for weapon and armor repairs is costly to the player. Dark Souls adds a layer of realism by punishing players for misdirected attacks. With many long narrow corridors, Dark Souls does the player only a few favors. As long as you stay away from the walls, when possible, and cleanly strike enemies, repair costs shouldn't add up to much.
5 Ignoring Messages Written On The Ground
The text is direct and clear, written on the ground. Should you decide to read text on floors, you'll find that often it's more than a bunch of jumbled words. At the same time, messages can be misdirected, which is why FromSoftware uses a rating system for this feature. Take each note with a grain of salt, as there are plenty of people that are just trying to trick you into jumping off a ledge or banging your weapon against a definitely-not-illusory wall, but to ignore them completely is not the best idea.
4 Restoring Humanity
One aspect of Dark Souls you'll have to manage closely is Humanity. There is a consumable item in Dark Souls called Humanity. Its purpose is to give players a human appearance, restore full health, and it allows you to summon phantoms and online players. These items are not abundantly found throughout Dark Souls, which is why you should use them sparingly. Save Humanity for tough boss fights or challenging enemy sequences, but keep in mind that this is a double-edged sword — restoring your Humanity also makes you vulnerable to PVP invasions.
3 Forgetting To Specialize Your Stats
At the beginning of Dark Souls, you get a headstart on your build after choosing between several pre-built classes. While sticking to the baseline set by these classes can be valid, it certainly isn't necessary — selecting the incorrect class at the beginning isn't the end of the world, and you'll generally tune your build to suit your own playstyle as you level up. However, rather than spread your stats out, opt to specialize your stats. One can choose a quality build or become a Pyromancy specialist, but it's advisable to do a wee bit of research into what will work for you.
2 Killing Every Enemy In Sight
Killing every enemy in sight won't get you far into Dark Souls. Soon after the game begins, you come face to face with a Hellkite Wyvern. This dragon has seemingly immeasurable power, but you can go back to this bridge and slay this terrible foe later in the game.
Attempt to defeat enemies multiple times, but if it seems like you're dying a lot and wasting time, it's best to follow your gut instinct and choose a different path. Dark Souls is non-linear, meaning you might have to backtrack multiple times before finding a way forward. Otherwise, it may be as simple as needing to level up a bit before proceeding.
1 Consuming Boss Souls
Many players' first instincts would be to consume boss souls. This is one of the worst things you can do in Dark Souls. It can ruin entire playthroughs since boss souls can be traded to specific NPCs for valuable weapons. Trading boss souls has become more important with each Souls release, starting with Demon's Souls. Dark Souls encourages players to trade in by offering immensely powerful weapons and gear. It can't be stressed enough that boss souls shouldn't be consumed unless you're absolutely certain the resulting item won't be of any use to you. Even then, souls are a renewable resource — unique weapons, generally, are not.