Items & Equipment

The treacherous lands of Drangleic demand careful preparation. Your choice of weapons, armor, rings, and consumables can be the deciding factor between triumph and despair. This comprehensive guide delves into the essential gear you'll encounter, offering strategies for acquisition, recommended loadouts for various stages of your journey, and crucial insights to help you survive and conquer.

Understanding Item Categories

Dark Souls II features a vast array of items, each serving a distinct purpose. Familiarizing yourself with these categories is the first step towards mastering the game.

• Weapons: Your primary means of offense. Categorized by type (swords, axes, spears, bows, catalysts, chimes) and damage type (physical, magic, fire, lightning, dark). Consider scaling, moveset, and durability.
• Armor: Provides defense against various damage types and resistances to status effects. Divided into head, chest, hands, and legs. Heavier armor offers more protection but reduces stamina regeneration and increases equip load.
• Shields: Used for blocking incoming attacks. Categorized by stability (how much stamina is consumed per block) and damage reduction percentages. Some shields can also parry.
• Rings: Equipable accessories that grant passive bonuses, such as increased stats, defense, or unique abilities. You can equip up to four rings.
• Consumables: Single-use items that provide temporary buffs, heal, or inflict status effects. Examples include Estus Flasks, Lifegems, resins, and throwing knives.
• Ammunition: Arrows and bolts for bows and crossbows. Different types inflict varying damage or status effects.
• Key Items: Crucial items required to progress through the story, unlock new areas, or complete quests.

Early Game Essentials (Forest of Fallen Giants & Heide's Tower of Flame)

Your initial hours in Drangleic are critical. Focusing on foundational equipment will set you up for success.

Weapons

• Broadsword / Longsword: Excellent starting weapons for most melee builds. Good movesets, decent damage, and readily available.
  • Location: Broadsword can be purchased from Merchant Hag Melentia in the Forest of Fallen Giants. Longsword is a starting weapon for the Knight class.
• Fire Longsword: An incredibly powerful early-game weapon due to its innate fire damage, effective against many early enemies.
  • Location: Found in a chest behind a Pharros' Contraption in the Forest of Fallen Giants (requires a Pharros' Lockstone).
  • Strategy: From the Cardinal Tower bonfire, head down the ladder, through the archway, and past the ballista trap. Go left through the door, then right across the narrow bridge. The contraption is on the wall.
• Mace: Ideal for Strength builds, particularly against heavily armored foes.
  • Location: Purchased from Merchant Hag Melentia.
• Bow: Essential for pulling enemies, dealing with ranged threats, and activating distant mechanisms.
  • Location: Short Bow can be purchased from Merchant Hag Melentia.
  • Ammunition: Wooden Arrows also from Melentia.

Armor

• Knight Set / Elite Knight Set: Good balance of defense and equip load.
  • Location: Knight Set is a starting armor for the Knight class. Elite Knight Set can be found in a chest in the Forest of Fallen Giants, near the Cardinal Tower bonfire (requires a key from the Giant Lord memory later, or accessible via a tricky jump).
• Faraam Set: Aesthetically pleasing and offers decent protection.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Forest of Fallen Giants, near the Pursuer boss arena.

Rings

• Ring of Binding: Absolutely crucial for new players. Reduces the HP reduction effect of hollowing.
  • Location: Found in a chest in Heide's Tower of Flame, near the Dragonrider boss arena.
• Life Ring: Increases maximum HP.
  • Location: Life Ring +1 can be found in the Forest of Fallen Giants, near the Soldier's Rest bonfire.

Consumables

• Lifegems: Your primary healing source early on. Stock up whenever possible.
  • Location: Dropped by many early enemies, purchased from Melentia.
• Estus Flask Shards: Increase the number of Estus Flask uses.
  • Location:
    1. Forest of Fallen Giants: In a chest near the Cardinal Tower bonfire, behind a locked door (requires the Soldier Key).
    2. Forest of Fallen Giants: On a corpse in the area with the ballista traps, near Pate.
  • Action: Bring to Majula and speak with the Emerald Herald to reinforce your Estus Flask.
• Titanite Shards: Used to upgrade standard weapons and armor.
  • Location: Dropped by early enemies (Hollow Soldiers), purchased from Melentia.

Mid-Game Powerhouses (Lost Bastille, Iron Keep, Shaded Woods)

As you progress, you'll encounter tougher foes and gain access to more specialized and powerful gear. Consider your build and playstyle when making these choices.

Weapons

• Craftsman's Hammer: An excellent blunt weapon for Strength builds, especially effective against armored enemies.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Lost Bastille, near the Exile Holding Cells bonfire.
• Dranglic Sword / Shield: Decent quality weapons with good scaling.
  • Location: Dropped by the Pursuer boss in the Forest of Fallen Giants (guaranteed drop if you defeat him in the arena, or a chance if he invades).
• Greatsword: A colossal weapon for pure Strength builds, offering massive damage and stagger potential.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the No-Man's Wharf.
• Claymore: A versatile greatsword with a balanced moveset, suitable for Quality builds (STR/DEX).
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Forest of Fallen Giants, near the Pursuer boss platform.
• Lightning Spear: A powerful early-to-mid game spear, especially if you have faith scaling.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Forest of Fallen Giants, accessible after defeating the Last Giant and obtaining the Soldier Key.
• Magic Mace / Magic Battle Axe: Infused weapons are strong for Intelligence builds.
  • Location: Can be purchased from Straid of Olaphis in the Lost Bastille after unpetrifying him (requires a Fragrant Branch of Yore).

Armor

• Drangleic Set: Good all-around defense.
  • Location: Dropped by the Pursuer boss.
• Alonne Knight Set: High physical defense, but heavy.
  • Location: Dropped by Alonne Knights in the Iron Keep.
• Havel's Set: The heaviest and most protective armor in the game, but requires very high Vitality to wear without fat rolling.
  • Location: Found in a hidden area in the Gutter, behind a destructible wall (requires a Pharros' Lockstone).

Rings

• Chloranthy Ring: Increases stamina recovery speed, invaluable for all builds.
  • Location: Chloranthy Ring +1 is found in the Shaded Woods, near the Shaded Ruins bonfire. Chloranthy Ring +2 is a reward for defeating the Executioner's Chariot in the Undead Purgatory on NG+.
• Ring of Steel Protection: Increases physical defense.
  • Location: Ring of Steel Protection +1 is found in the Iron Keep, near the Smelter Demon boss arena.
• Third Dragon Ring: Increases HP, Stamina, and Equip Load. One of the best rings in the game.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Dragon Shrine, after defeating the Ancient Dragon.
• Stone Ring: Increases poise damage, making it easier to stagger enemies.
  • Location: Purchased from Merchant Hag Melentia after defeating the Last Giant.

Consumables & Upgrade Materials

• Large Titanite Shards: Used for upgrading weapons and armor to +3 to +6.
  • Location: Dropped by many mid-game enemies (e.g., Old Knights in Heide's Tower, Ironclad Soldiers in Iron Keep), purchased from Steady Hand McDuff in the Lost Bastille.
• Titanite Slabs: Used for upgrading standard weapons to +10. Very rare.
  • Location: Various late-game areas, often as rare drops from powerful enemies or hidden in chests. One can be found in the Dragon Shrine.
• Soul of a Great Hero / Giant Soul: Consumable souls that grant a large number of souls. Save Giant Souls for the final boss.
  • Location: Found throughout the game, often in challenging areas or as rewards for defeating powerful enemies.
• Fragrant Branch of Yore: Used to unpetrify NPCs or blockages.
  • Location: Several throughout the game, including one in the Shaded Woods and one from the Lost Bastille.

Late Game & End-Game Gear (Shrine of Amana, Dragon Aerie, Memory of the Giants)

By this point, you should have a clear understanding of your build. Focus on maximizing your damage, defense, and utility with the best gear available.

Weapons

• King's Ultra Greatsword / King's Shield: Powerful weapons for Strength builds, obtained from the King's Soul.
  • Location: Trade the Soul of the King to Ornifex in Brightstone Cove Tseldora.
• Defender Greatsword / Watcher Greatsword: Excellent for Faith/Strength or Intelligence/Dexterity builds respectively, as they have innate elemental damage and scaling.
  • Location: Trade the Soul of the Defender or Soul of the Watcher to Ornifex.
• Sunlight Straight Sword: A strong straight sword with Faith scaling, ideal for Faith builds.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Shrine of Amana.
• Chaos Blade: A high-damage katana for Dexterity builds, but inflicts self-damage with each hit.
  • Location: Trade the Soul of the Old Witch to Ornifex.
• Sacred Chime of Want: The best chime for Dark miracles.
  • Location: Trade the Soul of Nashandra to Ornifex.

Armor

• Velstadt's Set: Heavy armor with good dark defense.
  • Location: Purchased from Maughlin the Armorer in Majula after defeating Velstadt, the Royal Aegis.
• Dragon Acolyte Set: Light armor with good elemental resistances.
  • Location: Dropped by Dragon Acolytes in the Dragon Shrine.
• Hexer's Set: Excellent for Hex builds, boosting Dark damage.
  • Location: Purchased from Felkin the Outcast in Huntsman's Copse if you have 20 INT and 20 FTH.

Rings

• Ring of Blades +2: Greatly increases physical attack rating.
  • Location: Defeat the Pursuer in the Drangleic Castle throne room on NG+.
• Old Leo Ring: Boosts thrust attack counter damage. Essential for spear/rapier builds.
  • Location: Found in a chest in the Forest of Fallen Giants, near the Cardinal Tower bonfire (requires the Soldier Key).
• Cloranthy Ring +2: Further increases stamina recovery.
  • Location: Defeat the Executioner's Chariot in the Undead Purgatory on NG+.
• Ring of the Evil Eye +2: Recovers HP upon defeating enemies. Useful for clearing areas.
  • Location: Dropped by the Flexile Sentry in No-Man's Wharf on NG+.

Important Considerations & Pitfalls

• Durability: Weapons and armor degrade with use. Keep an eye on their durability and repair them at a blacksmith or with Repair Powder. Infused weapons often have lower durability.
• Equip Load: Staying below 70% equip load allows for a "fast roll," crucial for dodging. Below 30% gives an even faster "ninja roll." Higher equip load leads to "fat rolling" and slower stamina regeneration.
• Infusions: Blacksmith McDuff can infuse weapons with elemental damage (Fire, Magic, Lightning, Dark) or status effects (Poison, Bleed) using various stones. This can significantly alter damage scaling and durability. Choose infusions that match your character's stats.
• Missables: Some items are tied to specific events or NPCs that can be missed. Always explore thoroughly and speak to NPCs until they repeat dialogue.
• New Game Plus (NG+): Many items have +1 or +2 versions that only appear in NG+ cycles, offering enhanced stats. Some boss souls also yield different weapons in NG+.

Mastering the vast arsenal of Dark Souls II is a journey in itself. Experiment with different loadouts, adapt to new challenges, and never underestimate the power of a well-chosen item. Good luck, and may your equipment serve you well in Drangleic!