How to Make Your Character Faster in Dark Souls

To make your character faster in Dark Souls, it is essential to manage your Equip Load effectively, as it directly affects your movement speed, with the goal of keeping it under 25% for the fastest movement and rolling capabilities. By increasing your endurance, you can raise your maximum equip weight, allowing you to wear heavier armor without sacrificing movement speed, thus enhancing your overall mobility.

Understanding Movement Mechanics

Equip Load and Movement Speed

Your character’s movement speed in Dark Souls is primarily influenced by their Equip Load, which is the total weight of all the equipment they are wearing. The game uses a percentage system to determine how this weight affects movement, with three main tiers: under 25%, under 50%, and over 50%. At under 25%, your character can move at their fastest speed and has full rolling capabilities. Between 25% and 50%, your character’s movement speed begins to decrease, but they can still roll, albeit with reduced effectiveness. Once you exceed 50% of your equip load, your character’s movement becomes significantly slower, and rolling is severely impaired, making it much harder to dodge attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can You Run Faster in Dark Souls? You can’t run any faster than you do without much equipment, but certain stages will begin to slow you down with heavier equipment, emphasizing the need to manage your Equip Load.
2. Why Am I So Slow in Dark Souls 1? The closer your current weight gets to your total possible weight, the more you slow down, highlighting the importance of monitoring your Equip Load.
3. What Affects Movement Speed in Dark Souls? The % of Equip Load is the only thing that affects movement and roll speed, aside from specific items like rings that alter roll animations.
4. Does Endurance Make You Faster in Dark Souls? Increasing your endurance increases your maximum equip weight and stamina, allowing you to wear more equipment without moving slower, thus enhancing mobility.
5. Can You Beat Dark Souls 2 Without Creating a Character? While it’s highly challenging, it’s theoretically possible to beat the game with all stats at 1 and no stat-boosting gear, though it requires extensive knowledge of the game mechanics.
6. Does Dexterity Make You Swing Faster in Dark Souls? Neither Strength nor Dexterity increases swinging speed; weapon timing is based on the animation frames of each weapon.
7. Should I Level Vigor or Endurance? It’s recommended to get the stats to wield your desired weapon, then focus on Vigor for health and Endurance for stamina and equip load.
8. Does Weight Affect Speed in Dark Souls? Yes, weight affects speed, with the <25% to <50% range being critical for maintaining good mobility, and the option to use items like the Dark Wood Grain Ring to mitigate this effect.
9. What Does Upgrading Dexterity Do in Dark Souls? Dexterity helps raise your physical damage with weapons, particularly those that scale with Dexterity, such as curved swords and daggers.
10. How Do You Run Faster with Heavy Armor in Dark Souls? You need to have your equip burden at or under 50% for medium speed and at or under 25% for full speed, or use specific items that allow for full speed at higher equip burdens.
11. Is Dark Souls One of the Hardest Games? Yes, Dark Souls is known for its challenging gameplay, which, while difficult, is considered rewarding rather than frustrating.
12. What is the Hardest Fight in Dark Souls 1? The hardest fight can vary, but Black Dragon Kalameet is often considered one of the most challenging bosses due to its high damage output and complex attack patterns.
13. Is DS1 Remastered Easier? While the game itself remains unchanged in difficulty, the remastered version can offer an easier experience for first-time players due to improvements and tweaks.
14. What is the Best Start in Dark Souls? Starting as a Pyromancer is recommended for new players, as it provides a versatile early-game experience with a mix of melee and magic capabilities.
15. Should I Go Up or Down First in Dark Souls? When reaching your first bonfire, going up one of the sets of stairs is advised, as it leads to a more straightforward early-game progression path.