The optional dungeons reminded me heavily of the chalice dungeons in bloodborne. Very similar, slightly different room layouts, etc.
I do think they were spread out enough that they worked as a break from the mounted exploration. I really enjoy the latter, but sometimes it’s nice to have a more souls like experience.
what was your build?
If I were you, I would respec into a mage/bleed damage warrior. You will melt through enemies like that.
Stuff like this is so cool. Seeing things you weren’t meant to see and looking at how some cutscenes function out of the intended camera shots.
There’s a part later on in the video where he shows an elevator and a Grace in a section players are unable to get to, it could be used for DLC later.
Near the beginning though he takes a closer look at some of the enemies, showing some of the details you might not notice or see when playing the game normally. A tree being the top piece of Tree Sentinels helmet instead of the feathered ornament you normally see on Roman Legionary helmets is a nice touch.
How does one go about this in terms of stat allocation, magic, weapons, etc? I haven’t played in a few days, not sure how much impact the patch has on my pure magic build.
If it’s purely a magic build you have. The only thing they changed that would affect you negatively is the mimic tear ash of war, and the hoarfrost stomp, both got nerfed a little bit. But otherwise, magic builds got some strong buffs for other spells.
I was primarily a strength/dex build with some faith mixed in for incantations. I started to hit a wall when I started hitting bosses that used more ranged attacks, but was still making slow/steady progress because the mimic tear would give me enough breathing room to beat most things on a handful of tries.
After I heard all the hype about the sword of night and flame I respec’d and split what I had dumped into faith and a bit of my dex/strength into INT so I could use it. Was having a great time. It did seem a tad OP on regular enemies, but on bosses there you still had to be relatively strategic with it because of its long windup.
After the nerf it generally takes one extra hit than it did on regular enemies but bosses it took a nose dive. I just reverted back to my melee build after and it doesnt work very well on Malketh who is annihilating me.
Im considering it. Just so I can get to the end of the game before that patch it out too.
Overall I’ve really enjoyed the game. But Im getting old (turn 40 this year) and don’t have the dexterity and reflexes, or patience for that matter, that I used to. Patching stuff in the game because it woks chaps my ass a little.
Understood, but it would be nice to know how to go about what you suggested for a Bleed build
I’ll put it in steps
The bleed build that most people are using, including myself, is to duel wield two katanas (doesn’t really matter which one, but most people are using the uchigatana) that have bleed already in the weapon.
Then, apply the ashes of war Seppuku, which increases attack power with blood loss.
Wear the white mask helmet, which also will increase damage with blood loss.
Wear the lord of bloods exultation talismans, which you guessed it, increase damage with blood loss
Max out the mimic tear summon, use him in battle, with all of the items equipped and eureka you will have no problem killing any boss.
Now depending on which katana (or really any weapon that you pick), make sure you look at the scaling attributes for the weapons you want to choose. For example if you wanted to use katanas, as a magic build you would want ones that have arcane for scaling. The moonveil, and river of blood katanas would be perfect for you
Sounds like I’d be completely changing my play style. I’ve not used ashes of war yet. At all. I don’t understand the function with a mage.
Well I think they are only used on melee weapons. I think, don’t quote me on that.
rivers of blood is the new moonveil, just stupidly broken after the new patch. Just have decent arcane investment, stand near an enemy and use the spin2win ash of war to annihilate em.
It’s also the #8 best seller too. 
But more importantly, how great is it for It Takes Two being up there at the 3rd spot?
It Takes Two has had incredible legs for sure, unsurprising cuz it really is that good.
Closing in on the 1000 for achievements. For anyone that’s done it, is using one save for the three endings a difficult process? Need to spend some time away from it but it might be one of my all time favorite games
So is the meta for invaders right now supposed to be dual-wielding bleed weapons? Because I ran into tons of them In Stormveil while doing co-op runs this weekend.
Meh, anyway. Grinded out about 10 levels on Saturday and Sunday so I was RL60 by the time I went back to the Academy. Once I figured out the shortcut to Rennala it made the rest of the Academy seem pointless to explore. I did, of course, use summons and took Rennala down on my 5th or 6th try. My other attempts involved running around with my head cut off because I didn’t know how to get her down from the ceiling. I really do think my game was bugged because it wasn’t until my last run that I saw what I needed to in order to trigger her coming down. Before that there had been nothing.
I haven’t chosen to respec yet because I like where my build is at and it has potential to do better as I keep leveling up. The only thing I’m considering is just respeccing more points into INT than I currently have. Right now my top 3 attributes are Vigor (25), Mind (30), and Int (30) with the other few points scattered across End and Dex.
I really want to use Rennala’s remembrance but the spell she has requires 70 INT. Even with a respec, I’d have to basically be a glass cannon which doesn’t work for me in this sort of game.
I’m level 70, around 40 hours in. I’m thinking I want to start pushing towards the end. I have 4 (?) great runes so I guess I have to get into the Capital? Do I have any chance at getting through without a grind? I have no issue with the idea of summoning help.
I’ll be 55 in about a month. I just beat the game yesterday. 
But I hear you. It definitely isn’t as easy to play these games as it used to be. And I think nerfs in (largely) single player games are really lame. I was only using Hoarfrost stomp to farm for runes, but it got a huge nerf.
The mana reductions on many sorceries were good though - and very needed. One my biggest struggles in the game was managing FP in between sites of Grace in the dungeons.
There are areas of the game you need to go through after the capital that I wouldn’t even suggest trying unless you are 100+. Unless you are guru level skilled at the game.