Can You Reallocate Stats in Dark Souls 2? A Comprehensive Guide

Yes, you absolutely can reallocate your stats in Dark Souls 2! This is achieved through a mechanic called respecing, which allows you to redistribute your attribute points. It’s a crucial feature that enables you to adjust your character build to better suit your playstyle, overcome challenging bosses, or experiment with new weapons and armor. Let’s delve into how this works and address some common questions.

Understanding Respecing in Dark Souls 2

The Soul Vessel

The key to respecing in Dark Souls 2 lies in a special item called the Soul Vessel. This item, when used at a specific location, allows you to essentially rebuild your character from the ground up. It’s like hitting the reset button on your stat distribution, but with a few caveats.

Things Betwixt: The Respec Hub

To reallocate your points, you need to travel to the small hut located in Things Betwixt. This is the starting area of the game, so you’ll have access to it right from the beginning. Inside the hut, you’ll find the Fire Keepers. By speaking to them after obtaining a Soul Vessel, you’ll initiate the respec process.

How It Works

When you choose to respec, you’ll be taken to the character creation screen, similar to when you first started the game. However, instead of allocating points from a starting class, you’ll have all the Souls you’ve gained up to that point to spend on your attributes. This means you can completely change your build, shifting from a strength-based character to a magic-focused one, or vice versa.

Limitations and Considerations

While respecing is a fantastic feature, there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Soul Vessels are limited: While you can acquire multiple Soul Vessels throughout the game, they are not infinite. You’ll need to find them scattered throughout the world or farm them using specific methods (more on that later).
• Soul Level Remains: Respecing does not change your Soul Level. It only redistributes your existing attribute points.
• Starting Class Stats: You can never go below the base stats of your starting class. This means if your starting class had a high faith stat, you can’t reduce your faith below that initial value.
• Cost: Using a Soul Vessel to reallocate stats doesn’t cost additional Souls. The Soul Vessel is the only requirement.

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

1. Where Can I Find Soul Vessels?

There are a set number of Soul Vessels scattered throughout the game world. Here are some locations:

• Things Betwixt: One is found right at the start of the game.
• Majula Mansion: Located in a chest within the mansion.
• Grave of Saints: In a pot near the ladder.
• Iron Keep: Found on a corpse after the Smelter Demon boss fight.
• Black Gulch: Hidden in a cave accessible by dropping down from the upper level.
• Aldia’s Keep: Found in a chest in one of the side rooms.

2. Can I Farm Soul Vessels?

Yes, you can farm Soul Vessels. The most efficient method involves using a Bonfire Ascetic at the Exile Holding Cells bonfire in the Lost Bastille. This will reset the area, allowing you to collect the Soul Vessel located there again. Warp to Straid’s Cell, go downstairs, ride the cage elevator or drop down, and exit at the bottom. Turn right as you enter the large room with the Shadow enemy and grab the Soul Vessel. Rinse and repeat.

3. How Many Times Can I Respec in Dark Souls 2?

Theoretically, you can respec an infinite amount of times per playthrough. While there are a limited number of Soul Vessels initially, you can farm them using Bonfire Ascetics, effectively resetting the areas where they are found.

4. Does Respecing Change My Appearance?

No, respecing only affects your stats. It does not allow you to change your character’s appearance.

5. What Happens to My Equipment When I Respec?

Respecing does not affect your equipment in any way. You keep all your weapons, armor, and items. However, you may need to adjust your stats to meet the requirements for using certain equipment after reallocating your points.

6. What is Soul Memory, and How Does It Affect Multiplayer?

Soul Memory is the total number of Souls your character has collected throughout the game. It is a crucial factor in Dark Souls 2’s multiplayer matchmaking. Soul Memory, and not Soul Level, is used to match players for co-op and PvP.

7. Does Soul Level Matter in Dark Souls 2 Multiplayer?

No, Soul Level doesn’t matter at all when matching with other players. Regardless of your Soul Level, the online matchmaking depends on Soul Memory.

8. What Are Bonfire Ascetics, and How Do They Work?

Bonfire Ascetics are items that increase the difficulty of a specific area, as well as reset the area to its “original” state. This means that enemies will be stronger, but you’ll also be able to re-obtain items, including Soul Vessels, that were initially found there.

9. Where Can I Learn More About Game Design and Learning?

For those interested in the intersection of gaming and education, the Games Learning Society is an excellent resource. Visit their website at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/ to explore research, publications, and events related to game-based learning. You can also visit GamesLearningSociety.org.

10. What Are the Best Stats to Focus on For a Beginner?

This depends on your preferred playstyle, but generally, focusing on Vigor (for health), Endurance (for stamina), and Adaptability (for agility and item usage speed) is a good starting point.

11. Can I Respec in Other Dark Souls Games?

The ability to respec varies between the Dark Souls games:

• Dark Souls 1: No, there is no way to respec in Dark Souls 1.
• Dark Souls 2: Yes, using Soul Vessels as described above.
• Dark Souls 3: Yes, by joining the Rosaria’s Fingers covenant and using Pale Tongues to reallocate your attributes.

12. What is NG+, and How Does it Affect Soul Vessel Availability?

NG+ (New Game Plus) is a mode that allows you to replay the game with your existing character after completing it once. In NG+, enemies are stronger, but you also earn more Souls. The locations of Soul Vessels reset in NG+, allowing you to collect them again.

13. What are the benefits of respecing?

Respecing allows players to experiment with different builds, adapt to challenges, and correct mistakes. This is especially useful if players have difficulty with specific bosses or want to try new weapons and equipment.

14. What should I do if I run out of Soul Vessels?

As mentioned earlier, you can farm them! Using Bonfire Ascetics in specific areas like the Exile Holding Cells will allow you to re-obtain Soul Vessels.

15. Can I lose humanity in DS2?

Yes, when you die in human form, you revert to being hollow and lose a portion of your maximum health. You can restore your humanity by using a Human Effigy. Note that this is separate from the humanity items you find in your inventory, which are safe upon death.

Conclusion

Respecing in Dark Souls 2 is a valuable tool that provides players with the flexibility to adjust their character builds and adapt to the game’s challenges. By understanding how Soul Vessels work and where to find them, you can effectively reallocate your stats and create a character that suits your playstyle. Remember to plan your builds carefully and don’t be afraid to experiment!