Dark Souls 1: 10 Common Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Dark Souls explains the controls in the beginning, and that's it. It barely tells you what to go, where to do, and don't expect a helping hand along the way after the tutorial. That's why I've made this list, with some of the 10 most common beginner mistakes along with how to avoid them so that no one has to suffer as I did. Some of this stuff overlaps with my other guides, too, such as Dark Souls 1: 10 Essential Tips for your First Playthrough, so be sure to look at those as well.

#1: Panic rolling

Panic rolling is very common, and I don't know a single person who didn't start off encounters by rolling constantly at first. However, rolling constantly depletes your stamina, making it harder to block attacks, and makes you less able to actually avoid getting hit. Instead, wait for the attack to start, then roll through it. Practice this on weaker enemies first to get the hang of it.

#2: Attacking an NPC

Attacking an NPC, whether accidentally or on purpose, sucks. You lose access to that NPC, and depending on where you are in the game, you could be repeatedly killed by them (a common fate for those who attack the Crestfallen Warrior, the first NPC you meet in Firelink Shrine). You can avoid attacking NPCs by quickly locking on and locking off (or staying on) an enemy, as NPCs cannot be locked on to. If you kill an NPC, unfortunately, they're gone forever. However, if you've simply angered one, you can find Oswald of Carim at the bottom of the steeple you climbed during the Bell Gargoyles fight, and he will absolve you of your sins (though for a hefty price).

#3: Leveling useless stats

This one's a bit tough, because in Dark Souls, leveling all your stats equally is a bad idea. Instead, focus on Vitality (health), Endurance (stamina), and one damage stat. Pick stats that aligns with the playstyle you want; don't continuously level intelligence if you're a melee build.

#4: Not managing stamina

If you're panic-rolling, constantly holding up your shield, and sprinting around all the time, what will you do when you actually need to attack? Stamina is a crucial resource and it's important you learn how to manage it. Like panic-rolling, practice with weaker enemies to get the hang of it.

#5: Not upgrading weapons

Save up the Souls and Titanite to upgrade the weapons you use the most and it'll pay you back tenfold. The game expects you to level up your weapons as you go along, so if enemies become a bit too difficult for you, try upgrading your weapons, not just your character.

#6: Not repairing weapons/armor

Similar to the previous point. Weapons and armor have durability, and they will eventually wear down and even break if you don't fix them. When they're damaged, weapons deal slightly less damage, and when they're broken, they deal essentially no damage. To fix your weapons, use either Repair Powder (for damaged weapons, not broken ones), take it to a blacksmith, or buy the Weapon Repairbox for the Undead Merchant. Same applies to armor, except you have to repair it at a Bonfire.

#7: Killing all the enemies, every time

Killing every enemy you see can feel productive, but all it really does is cost you more time, energy, and Estus Flasks. Instead, try running through an area a few times, seeing what enemies you need to kill, and sticking to those unless you're farming for Souls. Speaking of which...

#8: Farming for Souls in bad locations

Some enemies just drop more Souls than others. Killing the blobs in the Depths gives you a minimal amount of Souls for the work it takes to kill them. One of the best Souls farming spots is in the Darkroot Garden graves, locked behind the sealed gate opened with the Crest of Artorias. If you're not there yet, the dragon bridge in Undead Burg is another great method: simply climb up the ladder, run to the bridge, climb down, and repeat.

#9: Ignoring shortcuts/not exploring

Much like killing every enemy you see, ignoring shortcuts is a huge mistake - you'll lose time, energy, and healing items. Not exploring loses you out on Souls, items, and quests. Make sure to not go into dangerous areas with too many Souls, though!

#10: Going at Dark Souls alone

Dark Souls is hard, and without a good guide you might get lost, lose motivation, and quit. But the game is beautiful, and will reshape your view of all the games that come after. That's what this guide is for: I'm here to make sure you make it through the game with your sanity (and Humanity) intact. Congratulations on making it through this guide! Now you're much more prepared to play Dark Souls 1, and you're much less likely to make any mistakes you regret. Good luck, skeleton!