From Software’s Dark Souls 2 is here – but you’d know that if you were one (or 10,000) of the more than 6 million deaths reported thus far. If that’s not a clear indication, Dark Souls 2 is hard. Almost as hard as the previous game – or maybe even harder if you’re tenacious – but certainly harder than your typical dungeon crawling experience.

So check out the guide compiled below to help you survive the whims and fancies of death as you take on larger than life enemies, larger than life foot soldiers and pretty much anything else that will kill you with a few lucky hits (which is everything).

Weapons and Spells Stats Listed:

Below you will find the complete list of stats for the weapons and items. This information comes courtesy GameRanx.

Dark Orb

1 s, 12 INT, 10FTH (20-30 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Felkin the Outcast, Darkdiver Grandahl

Dark Hail

2 s, 19 INT, 12 FTH (8-15 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Magerold of Lanafir, Darkdiver Grandahl

Dark Fog

2 s, 25 INT, 14 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, The Gutter

Affinitiy

3 s, 40 INT, 24 FTH (8-15 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Kobolds

Dead Again

2 s, 22 INT, 20 FTH (10-20 uses)

Acquired from Stone Trader Chloanne, Razorback Nightcrawlers

Dark Weapon

1 s, 16 INT, 14 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Felkin the Outcast

Whisper of Despair

1 s, 24 INT, 18 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Grave of Saints

Repel

3 s, 35 INT, 27 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis

Twisted Barricade

2 s, 38 INT, 25 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Doors of Pharros

Numbness

2 s, 42 INT, 30 FTH (3-6 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis

Scraps of Life

1 s, 8 INT, 12 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Gutter, Cromwell the Pardoner

Darkstorm

2 s, 12 INT, 21 FTH (3-6 uses)

Acquired from Magerold of Lanafir, Darkdiver Grandahl

Resonant Soul

2 s, 10 INT, 18 FTH (20-30 uses)

Acquired from Pilgrims of Dark (Lv. 1)

Great Resonant Soul

2 s, 13 INT, 26 FTH (8-15 uses)

Acquired from Pilgrims of Dark (Lv. 2)

Climax

4 s, 30 INT, 47 FTH (3-6 uses)

Acquired from Pilgrims of Dark (Lv. 3)

Resonant Flesh

1 s, 11 INT, 19 FTH (2-4 uses)

Acquired from Felkin the Outcast

Resonant Weapon

2 s, 15 INT, 24 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Felkin the Outcast

Lifedrain Patch

1 s, 20 INT, 35 FTH (3-6 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis

Profound Still

2 s, 27 INT, 44 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Darkdiver Grandahl

Twinblade

Acquired from The Lost Bastille, Weaponsmith Ornifex

14 STR (C), 26 DEX (C)

Curved Twinblade

Acquired from Chancellor Wallager, Brotherhood of Blood, Chancellor Wallager (NG++)

16 STR (E), 20 DEX (B)

Stone Twinblade

Acquired from Stone Knight, Darkspirit: Twinblade (NG+)

18 STR (B), 22 DEX (D)

Dragonrider Twinblade

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis (Soul Trade)

20 STR (D), 22 DEX (C), 0 INT (C)

Heide Lance

Acquired from Heide Knight (Sword)

18 STR (C), 12 DEX (E), lightning (C)

Heide Greatlance

Acquired from Heide Knight (NG++)

20 STR (C), 16 DEX (E), lightning (C)

Grand Lance

Acquired from Memory of Orro

22 STR (C), 18 DEX (C)

Chariot Lance

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis (soul trade)

30 STR (B), 18 DEX (E)

Crescent Greataxe

Acquired from Brightstone Cove Tseldora

25 STR (C ), 14 DEX (C ), 0 INT (E)

Greataxe

Acquired from Dark Spirit: Melinda the Butcher, Steady Hand McDuff

32 STR (C ), 10 DEX (E)

Bandit Greataxe

Acquired from The Gutter

28 STR (D), 8 DEX (E)

Lion Greataxe

Acquired from Lion Clan Warrior

30 STR (C ), 8 DEX (C )

Grym Greataxe

Acquired from Grym Warrior (Dual Greataxe), Lonesome Galvan

50 STR (D), 8 DEX (E)

Black Knight Greataxe

Acquired from Iron Keep

40 STR (C ), 18 DEX (D), 10 INT, 10 FTH (C )

– phys/fire dmg

Giant Stone Axe

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis (soul trade)

45 STR (D), 8 DEX

Black Dragon Greataxe

Acquired from Dragon Knight (Greataxe)

35 STR, 15 DEX

Cleric’s Sacred Chime

Acquired from Majula. Licia of Lindelt

10 FTH, lightning (B), dark ©

Witchtree Bellvine

Acquired from The Pit

15 FTH, lightning (A), dark (C )

Priest’s Chime

Acquired from The Lost Bastille, Titchy Gren

18 FTH, lightning (A), dark (D)

Dragon Chime

Acquired from Darkdriver Grandahl

50 FTH, lightning (S), dark (B)

Archdrake Chime

Acquired from Felkin the Outcast

22 FTH, lightning (B), dark (B)

Idol’s Chime

Acquired from Licia Lindelt

25 FTH, lightning (D), dark (A)

Caitha’s Chime

Acquired from Drangleic Castle

18 INT, 22 FTH, dark (A)

Protective Chime

Acquired from Iron Keep

25 FTH, lightning (C ), dark (C )

Disc Chime

Acquired from Grave of Saints

18 FTH, lightning (B), dark (E)

Chime of Want

Acquired from Weaponsmith Ornifex

15 INT, 40 FTH, lightning (A), dark (S)

Spear

Acquired from Goblin (bare fists), Blacksmith Leningrast

9 STR (D), 12 DEX (C )

Winged Spear

Acquired from Iron Keep, Dark Spirit: Vorgel the Sinner, Hollow Soldier (Spear and shield), Steady Hand McDuff

11 STR (E), 19 DEX ©

Pike

Acquired from Earthen Peak

12 STR (D), 16 DEX (C )

Partizan

Acquired from Weaponsmith Ornifex

12 STR (E), 20 DEX (B)

Stone Soldier Spear

Acquired from Stone Soldier

16 STR (C ), 20 DEX (C )

Silverblack Spear

Acquired from Grave Warden

9 STR (C ), 16 DEX (C ), 8 INT, 8 FTH, dark (C )

Heide Spear

Acquired from Heide Knight (spear)

12 STR (D), 25 DEX (C ), lightning (C )

Pate’s Spear

Acquired from Mild-Mannered Pate

11 STR (E), 27 DEX (B)

Channeler’s Trident

Acquired from Sparkling Sisters Dyna and Tillo

11 STR (E), 15 DEX (C )

– strong attack channels spell, increasing attack for you and nearby allies

Spitfire Spear

Acquired from Weaponsmith Ornifex (soul trade)

10 STR (E), 18 DEX (E), 0 FTH (C )

– strong attack launches fireball

Dragonslayer Spear

Acquired from Weaponsmith Ornifex (soul trade)

16 STR (E), 25 DEX (B), 14 FTH, lightning (C )

– strong attack launches lightning spear

Gargoyle Bident

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis (soul trade)

15 STR (C ), 25 DEX

Great Scythe

Acquired from Titchy Gren

12 STR (E), 14 DEX (B)

Silverblack Sickle

Acquired from Grave Warden

15 STR (C ), 10 DEX (C ), 8 INT, 8 FTH, dark (C )

– strong attack pierces through shields

Great Machete

Acquired from Undead Jailer

18 STR (C ), 16 DEX (D)

Full Moon Sickle

Acquired from Artificial Undead, Dark Spirit: Crescent Sickle Phantom

20 STR (E), 18 DEX (B)

Crescent Scythe

Acquired from Chancellor Wellager, Brotherhood of Blood, Chancellor Wellager (NG++)

12 STR (E), 19 DEX (C ), 12 INT (C )

Scythe of Nahr Alma

Acquired from Merchant Hag Melentia, Titchy Gren

14 STR (D), 12 DEX (B), 12 INT, 12 FTH, dark (C )

Bone Scythe

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis (soul trade)

28 STR (B), 20 DEX

Scythe of Want

Acquired from Weaponsmith Ornifex (soul trade)

14 STR (C ), 20 DEX (B), 18 INT, 18 FTH, dark (C )

Dark Orb

1 s, 12 INT, 10FTH (20-30 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Felkin the Outcast, Darkdiver Grandahl

– Similar to Soul Arrow, casts an orb that flies towards enemy. Doesn’t go as fast or as far as Soul Arrow, but has larger impact point.

Dark Hail

2 s, 19 INT, 12 FTH (8-15 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Magerold of Lanafir, Darkdiver Grandahl

– Fires spread of smaller orbs in a cone towards enemy. Shorter range, can hit multiple targets.

Dark Fog

2 s, 25 INT, 14 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, The Gutter

– Similar to Poison Mist Pyromancy. Does about same damage as Poison Mist, but it ticks much faster.

Affinitiy

3 s, 40 INT, 24 FTH (8-15 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis, Kobolds

– Similar to Homing Soulmass, but the small orbs target the nearest enemy. Can target multiple enemies if many are nearby. At 40 INT you have 3 orbs, 50 INT you have 4, and 60 INT you have 5 (max).

Dead Again

2 s, 22 INT, 20 FTH (10-20 uses)

Acquired from Stone Trader Chloanne, Razorback Nightcrawlers

– Causes nearby corpses to explode, dealing damage.

Dark Weapon

1 s, 16 INT, 14 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Felkin the Outcast

– Gives weapon +50 dark attack, and give you an overall 30% increase to dark damage for 90 seconds.

Whisper of Despair

1 s, 24 INT, 18 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Grave of Saints

– Casts a slow moving skull that lowers defense by 100 for 30 seconds on impact. Can use at long range.

Repel

3 s, 35 INT, 27 FTH (4-8 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis

– Gives you complete invulnerability for 1.5 seconds after the initial cast.

Twisted Barricade

2 s, 38 INT, 25 FTH (2-5 uses)

Acquired from Doors of Pharros

– Deflects spells for 1.5 seconds after cast. Can sometimes deflect spell back to enemy.

Numbness

2 s, 42 INT, 30 FTH (3-6 uses)

Acquired from Straind of Olaphis

– Reduces all incoming damage by 35% for 20 seconds. For the duration of the spell, the sides of your screen are darkened, giving you tunnel vision.