DS2 Vanilla Elemental Route

Dark Souls 2 Vanilla All Bosses DLC Melee Dark Rapier/Lightning Red Iron Twinblade route (somewhat “elemental route”)
Some notes:
- The point of the Lightning thing is that Lightning RITB is very powerful by itself (476 AR), and Resonant Weapon adds 0,35*AR, so 166 AR. It’s globally a 15-20% improvement compared to normal RITB, and it saves at least 2+ hits per boss and 1 hit per Dungeon NPC. Going to McDuff and coming back is about 1m10s, but it saves it back by mostly skipping Bright Bugs and Vengarl. Considering you have early +5 for 6 bosses and saves many 2+ hits on 20 bosses I think it’s more than worth it.
- Dark +7 Rapier + Resonant Weapon deals more damage than +10 Rapier so you can skip some more Bright Bugs with that (except on Velstadt where the fight is about the same than with +7 because he is dark resistant)
- You have less endurance in the mid-game (22+ instead of 30), but 8 less stamina points is like 5% less stamina so it’s a minor timeloss if any time at all. At least 26 END is needed with the RITB though to get 4 hits.
- Soul Appease saves a bunch (Mini Rats, early Rat Authority, Congregation)
- Homeward is faster than boning out, and you can use it even while invaded
- I tested with an early peach 18 VIG / 22 END, but it could be better to level 16/24 to get 6 Rapier stabs
- Early Vendrick is obligatory there considering how many more levels you need. RTSR a bit trickier to get though with 19 VIG (needs a hit from fantom guy + 1 from Vendrick, or direct RTSR from fantom if lucky), not tested with 15 VIG
- For RITB it doesn’t use the Ring of Thorns but uses the Lightning Clutch Ring (adds 15 AR).
- 30+ faith is to make Resonant Weapon last longer (about 1m10s at 35), and to have a bit more AR
- The really bad part of the run is the f***ing barrel to explode the wall near McDuff, afaik it’s very inconsistent for it to explode and sometimes it bounces and rolls out of range. I take the Homeward Bone before Pursuer to be able to bone back if the doggos block you from resting at the bonfire, you could skip it to save 4s but it would become even less consistent.
- Could maybe consider doing a peach strat to get Yearn but need to get 3 less levels in END to get enough INT initially
- Rapier cultists could still get it to +10 but need to kill the lizard before Drangleic
- Can do Force strats in Dungeon 1, saves a bit, not safe at all
- Notes use ProFlo’s notes as a base ^^

- Start Explorer/Healing Wares
- Kill Maughlin with witching urns
- Talk to Emerald Herald and then run away
- Light the bonfire in Majula, then head towards Cardinal Tower
- Pickup Homeward Bone + 200 souls
- Light the Cardinal Tower Bonfire
- Use soul while talking, Buy Axe & 2x Firebomb
- Send Melentia to Majula
- Blow up the poorly made wall and run towards Last Giant

# Last Giant (Axe, Ooze, Urns)
- Dark Sign quickly
(- Grab Homeward Bone before Pursuer door, can replace sitting at the bonfire before McDuff if bad RNG)

# Pursuer (Ballista)
- Pop the Last Giant soul
- Get Large Titanite on ledge
- Destroy the wall with the barrel, use firebomb if needed
- Sit at bonfire to remove agro (or bone back if impossible)
- Get 2x Large Titanite in chest
- Get 3 BB + Key from Melentia, talk for ring
- Open blacksmith door, level up to 12 END, 12 DEX
- Rest at bonfire then to pick up the bow by the blacksmith
- Buy Rapier, Mace, 9 shards & 21 Arrows, Rapier+5, Mace+2

# Ornstein (Rapier, Ooze)

# Dragonrider (Gravity)

- Shoot the bell and use the strat you want for No Man’s Wharf

# Flexile Sentry (Rapier, Ooze)
- Homeward Bone back to the bonfire
- Level up to 16 VGR, 24 END, 8 INT, 8 FTH
- Pop Flexile soul while talking to the cat
- Buy Cat Ring, 10 skulls and 10 bones from Shalqoir
- Drop and take the bonfire
- Kill the Lizard with the mace
- Pickup the branch in black gulch
- Light the second bonfire in black gulch

# Rotten (Rapier, Ooze)
- Bone back and warp to Majula
 - Run through the 1st DLC, light the second bonfire.
- Grab the 20k soul with the Dragon Charms
- Grab Flynns Ring, get Dragon Stone, grab secret bonfire, warp to Majula
- Buy 3 Amber Herbs, 3 Brightbugs, ~40 gems
- Buy Cleric’s Chime, Caressing Tears, (Force,) Homeward, unlock the path
- Buy 3x Dark Resin and Resonant Weapon from Felkin
- Light the Bridge Approach bonfire for later use (Chariot)

# Skeleton Lords (Mace)
- Buy Soul Appease, talk to Chloanne enough to send her back to Majula
- Grab Chunk in poison mist
- Pick up the torch
- Do the fancy OOB skip

# Covetous (Rapier)

# Mytha (BB, Rapier, Dark Pine Resin, Old Radiant Lifegem)
- Do the fancy jump before Smelter
- Pick up Dull Ember

# Smelter (BB, Rapier, Dark Pine Resin)

# Old Iron King (BB, Rapier, Dark Pine Resin)
- Leap of Faith
- Light the second DLC bonfire
- Double Pseudo Cancer Jumps
- Light the third DLC bonfire and warp to Majula
- Buy 3 BB
- Level up to 16 ATT, 15 INT, 24 FTH, (leave at least 15000 for McDuff)
- Attune Resonant Weapon and Soul Appease, warp to Lost Bastille
- Attune glitch Caressing Tears on Resonant Weapon
- Give Dull Ember to McDuff, Buy 2 Large shards, Upgrade Rapier +7, Infuse Dark

# Sentinels (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Light the Servants Quarters Bonfire
- Get 2x Herb on Belfry Luna roof

# Gargoyles (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward Bone back
- Use Soul Appease at grill
- Before Grill + on elevator, use 2x Herb + Repair Powder

# Sinner (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Warp to Majula
- Buy 3 Brightbugs
- Use Herb waiting for door to open
- grab Fork Ruins bonfire
- Grab the Chloranthy ring +1
- Light the Shaded Ruins bonfire

# Najka (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)

#Rat Authority (Rapier, Resonant Weapon, Soul Appease)

# Congregation (Rapier, Resonant Weapon, Soul Appease)
- Use Rouge Water after Boss

# Freja (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Talk to Aldia, Bone back
- Warp to Tomb of Saints

# Mini Rats (Soul Appease, Rapier)
- Attune Homeward, warp to Fork Road bonfire

- Pop your souls while waiting for the big door to open
- Grab the King's Gate Bonfire
- Talk to Gandalf, Homeward back to bonfire

# Dragonriders (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Light the Central Castle bonfire
- Grab Fire Butterflies
- Use a Herb on elevator
- Get the Key and Homeward back
- Grab the alluring skulls before Mirror Knight if you need more of them

# Mirror Knight (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Use Herb on elevator
- Pickup Red Iron Twinblade in Shrine of Armana

# Froggy Frog (Rapier, Resonant Weapon)
- Buy all the shrooms from Agadayne
- Light the Undead Ditch in Undead Crypt
- Pull the lever to open up the shortcut for Vendrick later

# Velstadt (Rapier, Resonant Weapon, Bright Bug)
- Grab the King's Ring and then Homeward back
- Warp to Majula
- Buy 4 shards, 6 large shards, 6 chunks, Boltstone from Chloanne
- Level up 18 VIG, 28 END, 13 STR, 20 END, FTH till 25k souls left (~33)
- Warp to McDuff
- Upgrade Red Iron Twinblade to 10+, infuse to Lightning
- warp to Fork Road bonfire

- Grab RTSR
- Grab Crimson Water in front of Basilik
- Use Resonant Weapon in front of trap door for RTSR setup

# Guardian Dragon (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, RTSR)
- Use Rouge Water on elevator, equip bow
- Talk to Aldia

# Ancient Dragon (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug, RTSR)

# Giant Lord (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)
- Don't forget to pickup the Soul of a Giant, then Homeward back
- Warp to Gulch

#Giants (Mushroom, RITB, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward back
- Talk to Gandalf and bone back
- Warp to Undead Crypt

# Vendrick (Rapier, 2x Resonant Weapon, Brightbug, RTSR) (With 3 giant souls)
- Warp to the first DLC
- Pickup Gank Squad Key and Homeward back
- Use Giant Lord Soul and 3x Giant soul on elevator
- RTSR setup on fall

# Elana (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, RTSR, Brightbug)
- Use Elana soul and Resonant Weapon waiting for door

# Sinh (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward Bone back to bonfire then warp to Majula
- Buy 3 brightbugs from Melentia, all radiant life gems and effigies
- Level up to 40 VGR, 20 ADP and rest in FTH
- Now you are done with the covetous ring and clothes, engage nudist mode
- Warp to first DLC
- Grab Lightning Clutch Ring
- Pickup the 2 Brightbugs before Gank Squad

# Gank Squad (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug)
- Warp to Huntsman’s Copse

# Chariot (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward back to bonfire
- Warp to 3rd DLC

# F***ing Aava (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug)

# Old Chaos (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)
- Use Crimson Water on transition
# Ivory Dude (Red Iron Twinblade, Brightbug, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward back

# Double Kitties (Rapier, Brightbug, Resonant Weapon)
- Bone back and Warp to 2nd DLC
- Get the Scorching Iron Scepter and Homeward back
- Go get the Key and go for Fume Knight

# Fume Knight (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug)
(possible fight with RTSR)
- Bone back to elevator bonfire

# Blue Smelter (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug)
- Bone back and warp to the 2nd DLC2 bonfire

# Sir Alonne (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon, Brightbug)
- Homeward and warp to Shaded Ruins
(- Attune Force instead of Homeward if Force strats)
- Survive the 1st Dungeon (Use Mushroom, Force if you want, Resonant Weapon for last guy)
- Warp to Black Gulch (attune Homeward)
- Survive the 2nd Dungeon (Use Brightbug, Resonant Weapon)
- Homeward and Warp to King's Gate
- Survive the 3rd Dungeon (Use Resonant Weapon)

# Darklurker (Red Iron Twinblade, Brightbug)
(Resonant Weapon is certainly useless on this guy)
- Homeward back to bonfire
- Equip King’s ring, activate door, run back and rest at bonfire

# Watcher & Defender (Red Iron Twinblade, Brightbug, Resonant Weapon)

# Nashandra (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)
# Aldia  (Red Iron Twinblade, Resonant Weapon)