Unbreakable: The Ultimate Guide to Poise in Dark Souls 3
What armor has the highest poise in Dark Souls 3? The answer, unequivocally, is the Bull-Goat Set. This armor set, when fully equipped, provides a staggering 100 Poise, making it the single most poise-heavy set in the game. While other combinations can achieve high poise, the Bull-Goat Set stands alone as the peak for a single armor set. Poise, in Dark Souls 3, is a crucial stat that determines your character’s ability to resist being staggered by enemy attacks. With sufficient poise, you can power through hits, continue your own offensive, and even trade blows with formidable foes. This is particularly important for players who favor slower, more powerful weapons like greatswords and ultra greatswords. While the Bull-Goat Set is undeniably the best for raw poise from a single set, other strategies exist to enhance poise even further through armor combinations, rings, and other gear. Let’s delve deeper into the world of poise and explore the various options available to you.
Understanding Poise in Dark Souls 3
What is Poise and Why Does it Matter?
Poise in Dark Souls 3 represents your character’s ability to resist being interrupted by incoming attacks. When you’re struck by an enemy, your poise is tested. If the incoming attack deals more poise damage than your current poise stat, you will be staggered, interrupting your actions. This can leave you vulnerable to further attacks or cost you an opportunity to strike back. Therefore, having higher poise allows you to continue your actions despite incoming damage, effectively allowing you to “tank” hits and trade effectively with enemies. It’s especially vital for builds focused on heavy weapons, as these often have longer windup animations that could leave you vulnerable.
How to Increase Your Poise
The primary method to increase your poise is by equipping heavier and more protective armor. The weight of the armor is directly related to the poise it provides. However, simply stacking the heaviest armor isn’t always the most efficient method. The Bull-Goat Set offers the highest poise from a single armor set, but other options include:
- Armor Combinations: Mixing and matching different armor pieces allows you to find a balance between poise and weight. The Exile Mask and Leggings, combined with Gundyr’s Armor and Gauntlets, is a popular choice that provides high poise while being lighter than a full heavy set.
- Rings: Certain rings in Dark Souls 3 increase your poise. Notably, the Wolf Ring is the most effective, particularly the +3 version obtained in the Ringed City DLC, which provides a significant poise boost.
- Other Gear: While less significant, certain shields and weapons can also influence your poise slightly. Yhorm’s Greatshield and certain weapons equipped can contribute to poise.
Maximizing Your Poise
While the Bull-Goat Set provides the highest base poise, you can maximize your poise through strategic gear combinations. By equipping the Bull-Goat Set and also making use of the Wolf Ring+3, Yhorm’s Greatshield and equipping a Lothric Spear, players can achieve the maximum possible poise value in Dark Souls 3.
However, there’s a trade-off involved in maximizing poise. Heavier armor, while providing more poise, also increases the weight of your character, potentially leading to slow, disadvantageous “fat rolls.” Finding a balance between poise and weight is crucial to optimize your build and maintain mobility in combat.
Hyper Armor and Poise
Another important mechanic to understand is hyper armor, which is often confused with poise. Hyper armor refers to the ability of certain attacks to ignore stagger from incoming attacks during specific animation frames. Weapons like Greatswords, Ultra Greatswords, Greataxes, Hammers, and Great Hammers often possess hyper armor during their attacks. Combining high poise with hyper armor is what allows players to effectively trade blows and punish aggression.
Poise Thresholds
Understanding poise thresholds is key to building an effective poise-based character. There is no fixed amount to trade with greatswords and ultras in Dark Souls 3. But, approximately, to effectively trade with greatswords, you should have at least 30-31 poise and 40-43 poise to trade with ultra greatswords. For consistent trades with ultra greatswords, staying above 43 poise is recommended. With 21+ poise, you can tank hits from small weapons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Poise
1. Is the Bull-Goat Set really the best for poise?
Yes, the Bull-Goat Set provides the highest base poise at 100 from a single armor set. No other set achieves this amount of poise.
2. Can you achieve higher poise than the Bull-Goat Set?
Yes, you can achieve higher poise values by combining the Bull-Goat Set with items like the Wolf Ring +3, Yhorm’s Greatshield, and by equipping certain weapons.
3. What is the best combination of armor for high poise with less weight?
The Exile Mask and Leggings, paired with Gundyr’s Armor and Gauntlets, is a popular option for high poise with significantly less weight than a full heavy set.
4. What is the best ring for poise?
The Wolf Ring is the best ring for increasing poise, particularly the Wolf Ring +3, which provides the most poise out of all versions of the ring.
5. Does weapon type affect poise?
Yes, weapon types influence the concept of hyper armor, which when combined with high poise, allow players to trade blows. Larger weapons typically possess hyper armor during attacks, making poise even more beneficial.
6. What is hyper armor in Dark Souls 3?
Hyper armor is a mechanic that allows certain attacks to ignore stagger during specific animation frames. It is different from poise but complements it by making poise even more useful when using certain weapon types.
7. Can you break poise on bosses?
Yes, some bosses can have their poise broken through a flurry of hits or heavy attacks. This can create openings for more damaging attacks.
8. What is the easiest way to break poise on an enemy?
The easiest way is by either a flurry of light attacks or by using a slower, heavier weapon, such as a greatsword.
9. How much poise do I need to trade hits?
To trade hits with greatswords, you should aim for at least 30-31 poise. For Ultra Greatswords, aim for 40-43 poise or above.
10. Is there a poise talisman in Dark Souls 3?
The Bull-Goat’s Talisman reduces poise damage taken but doesn’t increase your poise number itself.
11. What is the maximum poise value achievable in Dark Souls 3?
The theoretical maximum achievable poise value using all available tools is 67.45.
12. Is poise useful in PvP?
Absolutely. Poise is extremely beneficial in PvP, allowing you to trade blows effectively, punish aggressive opponents, and avoid being constantly staggered.
13. How does weight affect poise?
Heavier armor generally provides more poise but also increases your character’s weight, potentially leading to a “fat roll” with poor mobility. Balancing weight and poise is essential.
14. Does armour rating affect poise?
Armor rating is separate from poise. While heavier armor has more poise, it’s possible to have an effective defense setup while maintaining light to mid weight.
15. Is poise the same in every Dark Souls game?
No, poise works differently in each Dark Souls game. Dark Souls 3 has a more complex poise system than its predecessors.
Conclusion
Poise is a complex but vital mechanic in Dark Souls 3. While the Bull-Goat Set remains the king of raw poise from a single armor set, players can strategically mix and match armor, use rings, and master the hyper armor mechanic to maximize their tank potential. Understanding and utilizing poise effectively is essential for any player looking to master the challenging world of Dark Souls 3. With the right strategy, poise will transform your character from a fragile target to an unstoppable force.