How to Swing Faster in Dark Souls: Debunking Myths and Maximizing Efficiency

You want to swing faster in Dark Souls? The short, slightly frustrating, but ultimately true answer is: you can’t directly increase your weapon swing speed. Unlike some RPGs, Dark Souls doesn’t offer a stat or item that visibly speeds up your weapon animations. Weapon swing speed is determined by the weapon itself and its associated moveset. However, understanding the underlying mechanics can make you feel faster and more effective in combat. Let’s dive into the nuances and clear up some common misconceptions.

Understanding the Core Mechanics

Dark Souls, especially the original, is notorious for its rigid game mechanics. Unlike its sequels, there’s no stat like Agility that directly impacts your character’s actions. This means the speed at which your chosen weapon swings is fixed, dictated by the weapon’s inherent animation frames. So, where do these “faster” experiences come from? It’s all about optimizing your character build and understanding the constraints.

• Weapon Choice Matters: The most significant factor determining swing speed is the weapon itself. A dagger will always swing faster than a Greatsword. Experimenting with different weapon types to find one that suits your playstyle and desired attack speed is crucial.
• Moveset Variations: Each weapon type has a different set of attacks, often called the weapon’s “moveset.” Some attacks within that moveset might be faster than others. Learning the nuances of a weapon’s moveset is key to optimizing your damage output.
• Equip Load: This is where you actually have some control over the feel of your combat. Your Equip Load determines your movement speed and roll speed. To move faster and roll more effectively, keep your Equip Load under 25% of your maximum. Between 25% and 50% results in a medium roll, and above 50% leads to the dreaded fat roll. A faster roll allows you to reposition and attack more quickly, giving the illusion of faster swings because you’re more agile.
• Meeting Weapon Requirements: Attempting to use a weapon without meeting the Strength and Dexterity requirements results in a slow, clumsy swing. Always ensure you meet the stat requirements for your chosen weapon to avoid this penalty.
• Stamina Management: While not directly increasing swing speed, proper stamina management is crucial for consecutive attacks. Running out of stamina mid-combo leaves you vulnerable. Learn to manage your stamina bar to maintain offensive pressure.

Debunking Common Myths

Several persistent myths surround swing speed in Dark Souls. Let’s address them head-on:

• Strength and Dexterity Increase Swing Speed: This is false. Strength and Dexterity primarily influence weapon damage. While scaling your stats to meet weapon requirements is essential, increasing them beyond that point will not affect your swing speed.
• Leveling Up Makes You Swing Faster: Leveling up itself does not directly increase swing speed. However, leveling up allows you to increase your Endurance stat, which increases your maximum Equip Load, allowing you to wear heavier armor while maintaining a fast roll.
• Certain Rings Increase Swing Speed: There are no rings in the original Dark Souls that directly increase weapon swing speed. Rings can improve stamina regeneration or equip load, which indirectly impacts your combat agility.
• Frame Rate Affects Swing Speed: A lower frame rate can make the game appear to run in slow motion. Ensure your PC meets the game’s requirements and consider turning off Vsync if necessary. While the actual swing speed is not changing, the perceived speed is, so this needs to be included.

Mastering the Illusion of Speed

While you can’t directly increase swing speed, you can create the illusion of speed through optimized character builds and combat strategies.

• Fast Weapons and Quick Attacks: As previously noted, choose weapons with inherently faster attack animations, like daggers, katanas, or curved swords. Utilize their quick attacks and combos to overwhelm opponents.
• Poise Breaking: Weapons with high poise break potential can stagger enemies, creating openings for follow-up attacks. This doesn’t speed up your swing, but it allows you to land more hits.
• Backstabs and Parries: Mastering backstabs and parries allows you to deal significant damage quickly, bypassing the need for prolonged combat.
• Roll Canceling (Advanced Technique): Experienced players use roll canceling to shorten the recovery animation after an attack. This allows you to chain attacks more quickly, creating the feeling of faster combat. This is hard to master, but once mastered, you can have almost instantaneous follow up attacks.

Examples of Weapons and Builds for “Faster” Combat

• The Bandit Knife Build: This typically involves a character focused on dexterity and equip load management. The Bandit’s Knife has a very fast attack speed, allowing for quick hits and bleed buildup. Players often combine this weapon with the Hornet Ring for devastating critical attacks.
• The Iaito Katana Build: With a balance of Dexterity and Endurance, this is a medium-weight fast attacking build. Katana’s are inherently fast weapons and also have the potential for bleed damage.
• The Gold Tracer Build: This curved sword has fast and high damage output as well as bleed buildup making it very fast and furious. Equip load management is key for the build to move and roll quickly.

Conclusion

In the unforgiving world of Dark Souls, directly increasing swing speed is impossible. However, understanding the game’s mechanics, choosing appropriate weapons, managing equip load, and mastering advanced techniques like roll canceling can create the illusion of faster combat. Focus on optimizing your character build and honing your skills to overcome the game’s challenges. Consider that the study of games and learning can uncover hidden benefits beyond just entertainment; for more information, visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Does dexterity make you swing faster in Dark Souls?

No, dexterity does not directly increase your weapon swing speed. It primarily affects the damage output of certain weapons and is a requirement for using many weapons effectively.

2. What makes you swing faster in Dark Souls?

The swing speed is determined by the weapon’s animation frames. The weapon’s weight will impact the speed of your stamina regeneration, so a weapon with less weight is more likely to make your stamina regenerate faster. The weapon’s attack animation is key, so test each weapon to see which attacks the player prefers. There are no items or stats to influence the animation’s speed.

3. How do I move faster in Dark Souls?

Keep your Equip Load under 25% of your maximum to move faster and roll more effectively. Leveling up endurance to increase your maximum Equip Load, allowing you to wear heavier armor while maintaining the “fast roll” is key to staying Agile.

4. Why am I moving so slow in Dark Souls?

Your movement and rolling speeds are determined by your Equip Load. If you’re moving slowly, check your equipment screen and ensure you’re not exceeding 50% of your maximum Equip Load. If you are under 50%, ensure that your frame rate is not low, as this can make the game feel like it is in slow motion.

5. Why do I roll so slow in Dark Souls?

Your roll speed is directly tied to your Equip Load. Being over 50% equip load results in a slow, less effective “fat roll.” Leveling up your Endurance stat increases your maximum Equip Load, allowing you to wear heavier armor without hindering your movement.

6. Does leveling up make Dark Souls harder?

No, leveling up does not increase the difficulty of the game. It simply makes your character stronger. The difficulty in Dark Souls remains consistent regardless of your level.

7. Is mid roll okay in DS1?

Mid-roll is viable for PvE, but less effective in PvP due to its slower recovery and vulnerability to backstabs.

8. Why are we so small in Dark Souls?

Humanity is descended from the Furtive Pygmy, who is described as being small.

9. How do you stop slow rolling in Dark Souls?

Increase Vitality (which increases Equip Load) or equip rings that increase Equip Load. Take a look at the status screen. The percentage tells you what percentage of your max Equip Load you’re carrying.

10. How high should I level dexterity Dark Souls?

Aim for 40 in most main attributes. After 40, the stat investment has diminishing returns.

11. What is the difference between strength and dexterity in Dark Souls?

Strength increases the damage of slower, heavier weapons, while Dexterity increases the damage of faster, more agile weapons.

12. What does upgrading dexterity do in Dark Souls?

Dexterity is one of the stats that helps raise your physical damage with weapons. It also slightly speeds up spell casting (pyromancies).

13. Why is my swing speed so slow?

If you feel that your swing speed is too slow, try to wield a lighter weapon or a weapon known for its quick attack animation. Certain weapon types have inherently faster attack speeds.

14. I see people swinging weapons very fast in videos, how are they doing that?

Most likely, the people you are watching know how to Roll Cancel. This allows you to shorten the recovery animation after an attack. This allows you to chain attacks more quickly, creating the feeling of faster combat.

15. What is Equip Load and why is it important?

Equip Load is the total weight of all the equipment you are carrying. Equip Load determines your movement speed, roll speed, and stamina regeneration rate. Keeping your Equip Load low allows you to move faster and roll more effectively.