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To make any progress at all in Dark Souls 2 you need to know how to fight (regardless of what character class you pick). Every swing and every running step uses up valuable stamina and once this is gone you can’t attack again until it’s replenished itself. Leaving you completely open to attack (clearly not a good thing).

There’s numerous ways to fight your way to glory and these can be broken down into two main areas:

  • Melee Combat (Swords/Shields etc)
  • Ranged Combat (Magic Spells/Arrows etc)

Melee versus Ranged combat. Both have distinct pros and cons.

Whilst certain classes are heavily tailored towards one or the other; you can still choose to build someone who’s fairly competent in both. But unless you understand the core combat mechanics it doesn’t matter what class you ultimately choose.

So over the coming pages we’re going to go from the very basics (essential for people new to the Souls series), intermediate tactics such as ‘kiting/baiting’ and more advanced stuff like parries, guard breaks, ripostes and backstabs. So let’s take a look at the differences between melee and ranged combat in Dark Souls 2.

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Guide Information
  • Publisher
    Bandai Namco Entertainment
  • Platforms,
    PC, PS3, PS4, XB 360, XB One
  • Genre
    Action RPG
  • Guide Release
    5 May 2014
  • Last Updated
    7 December 2020
  • Guide Author
    Andrew Mills

Share this free guide:

You are an Undead, the bearer of a curse, who has gone “hollow” and half mad searching for a cure to restore your humanity. You have arrived in Drangleic, a place rumoured to harbour powerful souls that can help you regain your humanity and avoid this terrible fate. You must seek out these souls and save yourself and others from a fate worse than death itself. But it will not be easy…

  • A full game walkthrough.
  • The main differences between Dark Souls 1 and 2.
  • Keeping the Grim Reaper at bay with our top 10 essential survival tips.
  • An in-depth guide to the most important thing in Dark Souls 2 - the combat.
  • The character builds that saw us sail through the single-player story mode.
  • Learn what the new covenants do (and what you need to do to be able to join them all).
  • All the bosses made easy with helpful HD videos!
  • NPC info and much, much more!

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