Are Miracles Bad in Dark Souls 2? A Divine Deep Dive

The short answer? No, miracles are not inherently bad in Dark Souls 2, but their effectiveness is nuanced and heavily dependent on your build, playstyle, and understanding of the game’s mechanics. A pure Faith build in Dark Souls 2 is generally considered underpowered compared to Strength, Dexterity, or even Sorcery builds when it comes to raw damage output. However, miracles shine when used strategically as a supportive element in a hybrid build, particularly alongside Strength or Dexterity. They offer invaluable healing, buffs, and some potent offensive options that can significantly enhance your survivability and overall effectiveness. Let’s delve deeper into the specifics.

The Perils of Pure Faith: Why Going All-In Isn’t Always a Blessing

Many new players are drawn to the idea of a pure Faith build, envisioning themselves as unstoppable holy warriors. The reality is that Dark Souls 2’s early game can be particularly brutal for pure Faith builds. You’ll be relying heavily on your melee weapon for damage, as early-game miracles are primarily focused on healing and support.

Damage Limitations

The offensive miracles available early on often have limited uses and require significant stat investment in Attunement to carry enough casts to be viable throughout an area. Furthermore, their damage output, even with high Faith, may not be as impressive as a well-optimized melee build or a Sorcery build with comparable investment.

Dependence on Specific Items

To make a pure Faith build work, you’ll need to hunt down specific items like the Lightning Clutch Ring (for increased Lightning damage), the Sun Seal (for further miracle damage), and a suitable chime, preferably the Lightning Dragon Chime for its high Lightning scaling at higher Faith levels. Finding these items requires knowledge of the game world and potentially farming specific enemies, adding extra difficulty.

Hybrid Builds: Where Miracles Truly Shine

Where miracles truly excel is as a supplement to a core melee build. Think of them as a toolkit that provides sustain, utility, and situational offensive power.

Strength/Faith Builds: The Holy Paladin

Combining Strength with Faith allows you to wield powerful weapons while having access to healing miracles for sustain, buffs like Sacred Oath (for increased attack power and defense), and offensive miracles like Lightning Spear to deal ranged damage or exploit enemy weaknesses. This creates a highly versatile character capable of both dishing out and absorbing significant damage.

Dexterity/Faith Builds: The Agile Cleric

A Dexterity/Faith build focuses on faster weapons, quick dodges, and opportunistic miracle use. You can use miracles like Sunlight Blade to imbue your weapon with Lightning damage, significantly increasing your DPS, while using healing miracles to stay in the fight longer. The focus is on agility and adaptability, using miracles to complement your fast-paced combat style.

The Power of Buffs

Buff miracles are arguably the strongest aspect of Faith builds in Dark Souls 2. Sunlight Blade, Sacred Oath, and other similar spells can dramatically increase your damage output, turning even ordinary weapons into formidable tools of destruction. These buffs, combined with the self-sustain provided by healing miracles, make hybrid Faith builds incredibly powerful in both PvE and PvP.

Key Miracles to Consider

While the best miracles will depend on your specific build, here are some standouts:

• Sunlight Blade: A must-have for Dexterity/Faith builds. Imbues your weapon with Lightning damage.
• Sacred Oath: Boosts attack power and defense for both you and nearby allies.
• Great Heal Excerpt: A relatively fast and efficient healing miracle, perfect for topping off your health in combat.
• Lightning Spear/Great Lightning Spear: Reliable ranged damage options, especially effective against enemies weak to Lightning.
• Wrath of the Gods: A powerful area-of-effect miracle that can knock enemies down and deal significant damage, though it has a slow casting time.
• Heal: Essential for conserving Estus Flasks and providing consistent healing.
• Bountiful Sunlight: A gradual healing miracle that heals you and nearby allies over time, excellent for prolonged engagements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Miracles in Dark Souls 2

1. What stats do I need for a good miracle build?

Faith is the primary stat, but you’ll also need Attunement for spell slots and Adaptability to increase your Agility (which affects your dodge roll). Vigor and Endurance are always important for survivability and stamina management. For a hybrid build, invest in Strength or Dexterity depending on your chosen weapon.

2. What’s the best chime for miracles?

The Lightning Dragon Chime is generally considered the best for offensive Lightning miracles at higher Faith levels. The Chime of Want is excellent for Dark miracles. The Priest’s Chime is a good early-game option.

3. Where can I find good miracles early in the game?

You can purchase Heal and Lightning Spear from Licia of Lindelt in Heide’s Tower of Flame. You can find Great Heal Excerpt in the Huntsman’s Copse. Exploring thoroughly and talking to NPCs is key.

4. How important is Agility (AGL) for a miracle build?

Agility is crucial for all builds, but especially important for Faith builds that rely on dodging enemy attacks. Aim for at least 99 AGL to have a decent number of invincibility frames during your roll.

5. Are Dark miracles viable?

Yes, but they require investment in both Faith and Intelligence. They can be quite powerful, especially with the Chime of Want. The Games Learning Society studies topics like this in game design.

6. What rings are essential for a miracle build?

The Lightning Clutch Ring increases Lightning damage. The Ring of Binding is essential to limit HP reduction when hollowed. The Southern Ritual Band adds attunement slots. The Clear Bluestone Ring increases casting speed.

7. How do I increase my casting speed?

Increase your Attunement stat, use the Clear Bluestone Ring, and equip the Lion Mage set.

8. Can I respec my stats in Dark Souls 2?

Yes, you can respec your stats by using a Soul Vessel at the Fire Keepers’ hut in Things Betwixt after defeating the Dragon Rider.

9. What are the best weapons to use with a Faith build?

Any weapon that scales well with Strength or Dexterity and can be infused with Lightning is a good choice. Popular options include the Heide Knight Sword, the Defender Greatsword, and the Drakekeeper’s Sword.

10. How does weapon infusion affect miracle damage?

Infusing a weapon with Lightning will add Lightning damage, which scales with your Faith stat. This can significantly increase your overall damage output.

11. Is PvP viable with a miracle build?

Yes, but it requires practice and a good understanding of your opponents. Buffs, healing, and well-timed offensive miracles can be very effective in PvP.

12. Are there any covenants that benefit miracle builds?

The Blue Sentinels covenant is themed around aiding other players, which aligns well with the supportive nature of miracles. The Heirs of the Sun covenant grants access to the Sunlight Spear miracle.

13. How do I get more spell uses?

Increase your Attunement stat or wear items like the Hexer’s Hood.

14. How do miracles scale with Faith?

Miracle damage scales with your Faith stat and the scaling of your chosen chime. The higher your Faith and the better the chime’s scaling, the more damage your miracles will deal. You’ll find that miracles scale with faith up to a soft cap.

15. Is a miracle build harder to play than other builds?

A pure miracle build can be challenging, especially early on. Hybrid builds offer more flexibility and are generally easier to play, but they still require careful planning and resource management.

Conclusion: Embrace the Divine, Strategically

While pure Faith builds in Dark Souls 2 may not be the most powerful option, they are certainly not bad. By understanding their limitations and strengths, and by incorporating miracles strategically into a hybrid build, you can create a powerful and versatile character capable of tackling any challenge the game throws your way. Embrace the divine, but do so with a plan and a well-rounded approach. Remember to also consult the resources available through organizations like the GamesLearningSociety.org for deeper insights into game mechanics and community strategies. Good luck, and may the flames guide thee!