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Is Poison Viable in Dark Souls 2? A Deep Dive

Yes, poison is absolutely viable in Dark Souls 2, though its effectiveness requires a nuanced understanding of enemy resistances, proper weapon infusions, and strategic application. Unlike some other entries in the Souls series where poison feels like an afterthought, Dark Souls 2 gives poison a legitimate niche, especially for certain builds and playstyles. While it might not be a primary damage dealer against every single enemy, it provides valuable utility, crowd control, and can significantly chip away at the health of even formidable bosses. Learning to leverage poison effectively can substantially enhance your success in Drangleic.

Understanding Poison in Dark Souls 2

Poison in Dark Souls 2 works by applying a status effect buildup with each successful hit. Once the buildup meter fills, the target is poisoned, taking continuous damage over a fixed duration. The amount of poison buildup required, the damage dealt, and the duration of the effect vary based on the enemy’s resistance to poison, the weapon used, and any additional items or spells that enhance poison.

Key Factors Affecting Poison Viability

Enemy Resistance: This is the most crucial factor. Some enemies are completely immune to poison, while others are highly resistant. Knowing your enemy is paramount.
Weapon Selection: Weapons with innate poison buildup are preferable, but any weapon can be infused with poison.
Poison Infusion: Infusing a weapon with poison significantly increases the poison buildup per hit, making it easier to apply the status effect.
Dexterity Scaling: Dexterity affects the speed at which you apply status effects. Higher dexterity means faster poison application.
Items and Spells: Items like Poison Moss can cure poison, but spells like Poison Mist and Toxic Mist can apply poison directly.
Ring of the Living: This ring can turn you human again after being hollow, enabling you to summon allies that can significantly support your poison build with buffs and different strategies.

The Strengths of a Poison Build

Damage Over Time (DoT): Poison provides consistent damage, allowing you to focus on dodging and repositioning rather than constantly attacking.
Enemy Distraction: The constant tick of poison damage can distract enemies, making them more predictable.
Crowd Control: Poisoning multiple enemies can significantly weaken them and make them easier to manage.
Boss Fights: While some bosses are resistant, poison can provide valuable supplementary damage in prolonged encounters.
Variety: Poison builds require a strategic approach, offering a different and engaging playstyle compared to pure melee or magic builds.

The Weaknesses of a Poison Build

Immunity and Resistance: Many enemies are immune or highly resistant to poison, rendering poison attacks ineffective.
Slow Buildup: Applying poison can be slow, especially against enemies with high resistance.
Limited Damage Potential: Poison is a damage over time effect and is not ideal for burst damage.
Dependency on Dexterity: Optimal poison builds typically require high dexterity, limiting stat investment in other areas.

Optimizing Your Poison Build

To make poison viable in Dark Souls 2, you need to optimize your build. Here’s how:

Choose the Right Weapon: Daggers like the Manikin Knife and the Mytha’s Bent Blade have inherent poison buildup. Alternatively, use a fast weapon like a straight sword or katana and infuse it with poison.
Infuse with Poison: Visit McDuff the Blacksmith in the Lost Bastille and infuse your chosen weapon with poison. This will significantly increase the poison buildup.
Maximize Dexterity: Increase your dexterity to improve the speed at which you apply status effects.
Use Items Strategically: Utilize Poison Throwing Knives for ranged poison application. Consider using Rotten Pine Resin to add poison buildup to weapons that don’t have it naturally.
Wear the Right Gear: The Sanctum Knight Set increases poison resistance. While it’s not essential for applying poison, it can help you survive in areas filled with poisonous enemies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which weapons are best for a poison build?

The Manikin Knife and Mytha’s Bent Blade are excellent due to their inherent poison buildup. Other viable options include katanas, straight swords, and rapiers infused with poison. Mytha’s Bent Blade is particularly strong due to its scaling with both Dexterity and Faith when infused with poison.

2. How does poison infusion work?

You can infuse weapons with poison at McDuff the Blacksmith in the Lost Bastille, provided you have a Poison Stone. Infusion significantly increases poison buildup per hit, making it easier to apply the status effect. It also alters the weapon’s scaling, often favoring Dexterity.

3. Does dexterity affect poison buildup speed?

Yes, higher dexterity generally leads to faster application of status effects, including poison. This is especially noticeable when using faster weapons like daggers or katanas.

4. Are there enemies immune to poison in Dark Souls 2?

Yes, numerous enemies are completely immune to poison. Examples include most golems, certain bosses, and enemies covered in stone. Experimentation or looking up enemy weaknesses is key.

5. How much damage does poison typically do?

The damage varies depending on the enemy’s health, resistance to poison, and the potency of your poison application. Generally, it’s a percentage-based damage over time, usually a small fraction of the enemy’s total health.

6. Is poison viable against bosses?

Some bosses are vulnerable to poison, while others are highly resistant or immune. Poison can be a valuable supplementary damage source against bosses like the Covetous Demon and Mytha, the Baneful Queen.

7. Can I stack poison buildup by reapplying poison before the previous effect wears off?

No, you cannot stack poison. Reapplying poison simply refreshes the duration of the effect. Focus on reapplying poison strategically rather than trying to stack multiple instances.

8. What are the best rings for a poison build?

Useful rings include the Ring of Blades for increased physical attack power, the Ring of Steel Protection for increased defense, and the Chloranthy Ring for faster stamina recovery, allowing for more frequent attacks.

9. How does Adaptability (ADP) affect poison?

Adaptability governs your agility (AGL), which in turn affects your invincibility frames during rolls. While it doesn’t directly affect poison application, it can help you avoid damage while you wait for poison to take effect.

10. Can I use spells to apply poison?

Yes, spells like Poison Mist and Toxic Mist can apply poison directly to enemies. These can be useful for area control or for poisoning enemies from a distance.

11. Is it worth leveling Faith for Mytha’s Bent Blade?

Yes, leveling faith can significantly increase the damage output of Mytha’s Bent Blade. Its inherent poison buildup and scaling with Faith when infused make it a potent weapon for hybrid builds.

12. How do I cure poison?

You can cure poison by using Poison Moss or by waiting for the effect to wear off naturally.

13. Can I buff my poison weapon with resins?

You can use Rotten Pine Resin to add poison buildup to weapons that don’t have it naturally, further enhancing your poison potential.

14. Are there any armors that enhance poison builds?

The Sanctum Knight Set provides increased poison resistance. While it doesn’t directly enhance poison application, it can help you survive in areas filled with poisonous enemies.

15. What strategies work best with a poison build in PvP?

In PvP, focus on applying poison quickly and then playing defensively, forcing your opponent to expend resources curing the effect. Use ranged poison attacks like Poison Throwing Knives to harass your opponent and control the battlefield. Remember that opponents can easily cure poison, so pressure and adaptability are key.

Is poison viable in ds2?