Surviving Soulslike: Essential DOs and DON’Ts for New Players
Even heroes need a little help!
You don’t have to search very long to find content creators who have put together helpful guides for just about any Soulslike computer game, typically titled “Things I Wish I Knew Before Playing...” Here’s a great example from Elden Ring by Azzahvar, who has some great guides out there to help players navigate through these games.
His guide is specifically for Elden Ring, but since I'm writing for people who are not very experienced with the Soulslike genre in the first place, I wanted to put together a few general tips on what you definitely should do and some things you need to avoid at all costs. So, without further ado:
Top 10 DOs when playing a Soulslike:
Do expect to die a lot: Every death is a lesson, and persistence is key to success.
Do learn basic combat mechanics: Focus on mastering dodging, blocking, and stamina management. These fundamental skills will be used throughout the game.
Do focus on stamina and health: Early stat upgrades should prioritize survivability (health) and stamina, as they're crucial for both offense and defense.
Do stick with one weapon early on: Pick a weapon that feels comfortable and focus on upgrading it. This will provide consistent damage output early in the game.
Do manage your weight: Stay under your equipment load limit for faster rolls and better stamina recovery. Medium or light rolling often works best for most players.
Do use buffs and debuffs: Don’t overlook tools like resins, magic buffs, or poison effects. These can dramatically improve your damage or disrupt tough enemies.
Do learn to manage souls/currency: Spend your accumulated souls/XP frequently to avoid losing them. Bank them into upgrades or purchases whenever possible.
Do talk to NPCs (Non-Playable Characters): Exhaust their dialogue and learn their questlines. They can provide both help and unique equipment later.
Do take your time: Move slowly and cautiously. Rushing often leads to ambushes, traps, or missed opportunities.
Do learn from others: Watch beginner guides or streams to pick up tips and tricks.
Top 10 DONTs when playing a Soulslike:
Don't skip tutorials: Soulslike games have tutorials that explain key mechanics. Pay attention and practice what you learn.
Don't ignore level design: Pay attention to your surroundings. Soulslike games often hide traps, enemies, and treasures in plain sight.
Don't button mash: Every attack uses stamina, and button mashing will leave you vulnerable. Time your attacks and manage your stamina carefully.
Don't get greedy: It's easy to get greedy, especially when you think the boss is on the ropes, but when low on health or stamina, this often leads to unnecessary deaths.
Don't skip bonfires/checkpoints: Always activate them when you find them. They act as save points and healing spots.
Don't waste limited resources: Healing items and buffs are limited. Use them wisely, especially before or during boss fights.
Don't fight every enemy: Sometimes it’s better to run past enemies, especially when you’re low on resources or heading back to reclaim lost souls.
Don't ignore status effects: Keep items on hand to cure poison, bleed, or other status effects. They can end your run if left unchecked.
Don't kill NPCs: Either by accident or frustration (did I hear anybody mention Patches?), but you could miss out on great gear, a really good summon for a challenging boss fight, or just a cool, if sometimes quirky, questline.
Don't give up!: Soulslike games are designed to be challenging but fair. Keep trying, and you’ll find immense satisfaction in overcoming obstacles.
I hope you find some of these tips useful, and remember, there's a lot of help out there if you're struggling. In my next post, I want to go through a few of the best Soulslikes, discuss their difficulty and complexity, and make some recommendations on which ones you should play first.