Board Thread:Dark Souls/@comment-17834624-20140814132507/@comment-25173123-20140816160910

I would guees it depends on how you play maybe? I too use the BKS and my strength is much lower then yours. But I am possibly at a higher level then you and may have upgraded my stats to be able to use some basic spells that I thought would be useful?

Vitality I have found really only helps for those guys that can do massive damage to me in a short time. Because bascially your vitality all depends on how much estus or healing you can use. I don't spend points towards vitality all that much anymore. I have found seeing that I can't survive really past what healing I have with me anyways. A high vitality really only saves me from the big blows.

Stamina can really be the key... I didn't realize this early nough and should have dedicated more stats to it, as it determines your defense and your offensive movements. If you are being staggered and/or can't get hits off then you aren't being effective. Grass Shield can help in augmenting this area if needed.

I am not a big shield user myself. It definetly has it's uses and can be a needed device for some. But don't count out being simply the person that does the most damage to kill the other quickly before they can kill you. (I am not talking PvP of course)

I am about to go see Seath and deal him some pain. And I have wandered all around DaS a bit now. Some enemy were not easy for me to deal with early on but now with my BKS at +5 I have little concern with anything except bosses. Not sure why you don't have the BKS at +5 yet? Doesn't take much to do so... would recommend you knock that out first thing.

Use your 2 handed running attack. It is the single best BKS horizontal attack you can use to deal with enemy and stay reletively out of harms way. And don't be afraid to use BKS as a quick shield if needed. It is not as good as a shield but I trade the minimal damage taken with it versus they way I use it as a completely offensive force to overwelm enemy before they can return favor. Kill them before they can kill you.

My style is far from ideal but just another way to do things in Dark Souls. Attack, attack, attack... try not to get hit.

Good luck.