Dark Souls Remastered: Beginner's Guide

Getting Started in Dark Souls Remastered

The game opens in the Undead Asylum — a tutorial area that teaches the core systems before releasing you into Lordran. Your most important early decision: starting class and gift. Knight (high Vitality and Endurance, good armor) is commonly recommended for beginners. For gifts, the Master Key (opens many locked doors) is mainly for veterans who want to sequence-break; Black Firebomb is a more modest choice. After the Asylum, reach Firelink Shrine and decide: ring the first bell (Undead Parish path) or explore other areas first.

Core Mechanics to Master

Equip load determines your roll type. Under 25% = fast roll (most i-frames). 25-50% = medium roll (fewer i-frames, still viable). Over 50% = fat roll (almost no i-frames, avoid entirely). Check your equip load percentage in the Equipment screen and adjust armor accordingly. Stamina management: every action costs stamina. Don't exhaust it mid-combat; leave enough for a dodge after every committed swing. Hollowing: if you die while in Human form you return as a Hollow; this does not reduce your maximum HP. Spend 1 Humanity at a bonfire to regain Human form, which is required to summon phantoms or invade (it also leaves you open to Black Phantom invasions). Summon signs only appear in Human form.

Best Beginner Weapons

Longsword (well-rounded, scales both STR and DEX) or Claymore (slower but high damage, STR-focused) for melee. Both are found early and effective through the entire game. For magic users: the starting Pyromancy Flame (requires no stat investment, just level the flame) is the most accessible spell class. Avoid building INT until you understand the game — Intelligence scaling requires significant stat investment before it surpasses melee.

Essential Tips

1. Talk to every NPC multiple times — they have multi-stage dialogue and killing them prematurely locks out questlines.
2. Don't panic roll — rolling into a wall during a boss fight is often worse than standing still. One deliberate roll is better than three panicked ones.
3. Estus Flask: Fire Keeper Souls (given to Anastacia in Quelaag's Domain or to the Darkmoon Knightess in Anor Londo) raise the HP healed per charge, from 300 at +0 up to 800 at +7. The number of charges comes from the bonfire: 5 by default, 10 once kindled with Humanity (or at bonfires with a Fire Keeper), and 15 then 20 after the Rite of Kindling.
4. Covenants: Way of White is a co-op covenant that makes matchmaking easier and may reduce invasions; Forest Hunter is a PvP covenant (Alvina gives you the Cat Covenant Ring when you join).

First Major Boss: Taurus Demon

The Taurus Demon fights you on a narrow castle wall in the Undead Burg, on the road to the Undead Parish; he leaps down from the far tower once you are partway across. A common approach (per the Fextralife wiki) is to run back up the ladder, wait for him to stand below, and use plunging attacks, which significantly reduce his health — he is immune during the first plunge animation, so do not drop too early. Clearing the two Hollow Archers in the tower first helps, and he is weak to lightning. Watch for his jumping attack (roll backward or run towards him so he overshoots), his slow standing smash (circle behind him) and a large jump if you linger on the battlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Should I play Dark Souls 1 before Elden Ring?
A: Recommended for full lore context, but Elden Ring is designed to be accessible to new players. Dark Souls 1 rewards players who appreciate interconnected world design specifically.

Q: Is the Remaster worth it over the original (PTDE)?
A: For most players, yes — the Remaster adds 60fps (PC, PS4, Xbox One), higher resolution options and up to six online players. The Prepare to Die Edition has the larger PC modding history. Note that online features on Windows were disabled in January 2022 after an exploit and restored for Remastered in November 2022.

Q: Where should I go after the Undead Parish?
A: After ringing the first bell, Darkroot Garden (accessible from Blacksmith Andre's area) and Sen's Fortress (the door opens after both bells ring) are the main paths forward.