My fellow Tarnished,
I am Vargram the Indomitable, a battle-hardened champion who has conquered the menacing threats of the Lands Between time and again using the formidable strength of Hero builds. Let me regale you with wisdom I‘ve accumulated from felling all manner of fierce enemies using four legendary hero archetypes I‘ve honed over my intrepid journeys.
From my early days as a grassgreen wanderer with naught but my weathered greatsword, to gaining the skills and armaments to embody the mythical Guts in his Black Swordsman glory, I‘ve mastered every playstyle the sacred Hero class has to offer. I yearn to share hard-won insights with budding heroes who similarly wish to build colossal strength and unflinching power.
These four archetypes represent the diverse fighting styles one can adopt under the Hero banner:
The Nimble Sellsword – An agile dual-wielder who carves foes to shreds before they can blink
The Black Champion – A stoic wielder of an ultra greatsword who unleashes havoc like the legendary Guts
The Warhammer Berserker – An indomitable juggernaut whose giant hammer and roar crushes all before it with relentless savagery
The Ruins Raider – A balanced greatsword swinger who adapts their style with consummate skill to conquer varied challenges
I will elucidate details on attribute distribution, weapons, equipment, spells and strategy for truly mastering these heroic fighting styles. Heed my hard-earned knowledge well, brave Tarnished!
May my wisdom guide your path to glory!
Many aspiring Tarnished make the mistake of believing that hero builds solely center around lumbering, rock-hewn weapons to inflict harm. However, some of us embody the essence of a hero not through sheer brute force and thick armor, but swiftness and skillful finesse!
Attributes & Progression
- Early Game
- 15-20 Vigor
- 12-18 Endurance
- 16-20 Strength
- 14-16 Dexterity
- Remainder in Mind/Arcane
- Mid Game
- 30 Vigor
- 20-25 Endurance
- 40-50 Strength
- 18-20 Dexterity
- Some Mind investment
- Optionally 10-15 Arcane for bleed buildup
- End Game
- 50 Vigor
- 30-35 Endurance
- 60 Strength
- 18 Dexterity
- 25 Mind
- Arcane to preference
As a Nimble Sellsword, you must balance sufficient vigor and endurance to dart around the battlefield unhindered, with heavy strength investment to inflict devastating blows during brief openings. I favor curved swords like the Beastman‘s wielding double slash Weapon Skills to stack hemorrhaging Bleed buildup.
Mind is crucial to fuel martial abilities, with optional Arcane helping proc bloody spray in a sanguine style. Your dexterity need only meet wielding requirements as most damage comes from raw strength!
Mastering Dual Wield Combat
The key to a Nimble Sellsword‘s effectiveness is judiciously attacking during brief vulnerabilities before evading incoming blows. I favor hit-and-run tactics utilizing jump attacks and Weapon Skill combos rather than risky extended exchanges.
Against faster, aggressive enemies like wolf packs, retaliate immediately after narrowly dodging part of their combo instead of panic rolling. Carefully observe larger foes mid attack chain and quickly slide behind for a devastating twin slash!
With stronger armor and larger weapons, foes tend to recover slowly from elaborate combos. Let them trigger an attack sequence then sprint behind and unleash your own as they lumber vulnerably. I‘ve felled colossal dragons in this very manner!
Finally, master parrying with a buckler when engaging fellow sword wielding enemies. I prefer keeping a Dragonclaw Shield equipped for elemental protection while having a parry buckler ready to swiftly punish aggressive humanoid foes with a riposte when needed!
Through these tried-and-tested battle tactics, you too can embody a whirlwind of lacerating steel with my Nimble Sellsword build! Your enemies will grow to fear your blinding bloodletting onslaught until none remain standing.
Onward my adept warrior!
In my extensive journeys I inevitably stumbled upon murmurings of an ashen-skinned demon who wanders battle-ravaged lands wielding a fabled slayer of giants. Thus I painstakingly sought a means to emulate this legendary figure to gain such colossal power.
Stats & Progression
- Early Game
- 15-20 Vigor
- 15-18 Endurance
- 16 Strength (two-hand wield greatswords)
- 12 Dexterity
- Mid Game
- 30 Vigor
- 20-22 Endurance
- 34 Strength (can one-hand greatswords)
- 14 Dexterity
- End Game
- 50 Vigor
- 25+ Endurance
- 60 Strength
- 18 Dexterity
- Optional: 25+ Faith for support spells
As a towering Black Champion fixated purely on delivering crushing blows, your foremost priority is sufficient Strength to wield ultra greatswords with one hand for versatility. Secondary Dexterity enables supplemental armaments.
Vigor and Endurance help balance necessities like heavier armor for trading mighty blows. Some Faith helps weapon enchantments but otherwise invest singularly in Strength after minimum wielding stats.
My weapon of choice emulating this ashen warrior is the hallowed Greatsword, as broad as it is brutal. The storied heritage of my black steel ally has cleaved through the most colossal foes!
Mastering The Legendary Greatsword
While many aspiring warriors see lengthy weapons as cumbersome, a seasoned master like myself utilizes an ultra greatsword‘s vast range as a tactical boon! Against encroaching hordes, a single broad swipe can obstruct multiple enemies‘ advance, buying you ample respite.
With smaller or single attackers, bait them into committing towards you before unleashing the Greatsword‘s Stamp upward slash. By delaying the initial seconds of my attack animation, I‘ve felled countless challengers foolish enough to lunge into striking distance against such a sizeable threat!
For mounted or aerial foes, utilize jumping heavy attacks and their additional poise to knock threats clean out of the sky with the Greatsword‘s fearsome weight. Times may arise when you must trade damaging blows against relentless guessing enemies or bosses.
Should a truly indomitable threat emerge unfazed by measured tactics, I invoke my ultimate technique – embodying the blackened warrior fully by unleashing consecrated Golden Vow followed by the searing flameburst of Grant Me Strength! Thus engulfed by ravenous fire with my ally sword wreathed in chaos flame, none have survived my wrathful onslaught!
Through diligent study and experience, you too can adopt my iconic arms and wield the mythic greatsword with such alacrity. All will grow to respect and retreat from the Black Champion!
Now go forth, my pupil!
Though brute force may seem the simplest route to domination, mastering larger-than-life weapons requires nuance beyond gripping it tightly and flailing recklessly! Allow me to share hard lessons learned while harmonizing with catastrophic weapons of yore.
Proper Attributes
- Early Game
- Vigor 18
- Endurance 12
- Strength 8-15 (10 min to two-hand colossal weapons)
- Mid Game
- Vigor 35
- Endurance 25
- Strength 50+
- End Game
- Vigor 50
- Endurance 35
- Strength 75
As swiftly as one adapts to smaller tools for surgical precision, adjust yourself to mammoth warhammers for demolishing all before you with roaring tenacity!
While 18 vigor survives early skirmishes, urgent investment into tenacious Endurance lets you heft weightier instruments sooner. With 35 points, even formidable early game hammers like the Brick Hammer inflict righteous havoc!
By end game when lugging mythic relics like Giant-Crusher however, gargantuan 50 vigor creates needed bulk with generous 35 endurance enabling combos with my crushing craft. Nothing shall remain standing!
Handling Your Warhammer
Despite wielding guitars of the old warring gods themselves, success remains possible for adept heroes who understand their armament. Be warned – wild, reckless abandon will only earn you swift defeat!
Warhammers and colossal weapons grant unrivaled damage, yet leave one vulnerable after elaborate swinging combos. Exercise patience in combat much like I waited for openings to attack Stormveil‘s soldiers from range before closing to clobber with my Brick Hammer!
Against relentless agile enemies, rely more on single power attacks than combos which may miss, while unleashing full barbaric mayhem against slow behemoths at every opportunity. Staggering strikes to their legs cripples them for a crushing fatal finale!
When engaging alongside spirit summons, support their harassment with charged blunt weapon arts from safety. Foes surrounded by allies attacking from all sides swiftly crumble against such relentless offense! Soon none shall stand against your blood-curdling warcries.
Through properly balancing staggering strikes with cautious positioning rather than just wild flailing, you too can embody the domineering presence I achieve with my Giant-Crusher in the heat of war! Enemies will flee at first sight, while great hammer wielders respect you as kin. Now go crush your opposition!
A common folly beginners make is believing heroes excel only with lumbering slab-like greatswords or unwieldy warhammers requiring two hands. Yet a balanced one-handed colossal weapon offers flexibility making one adaptable to any encounter.
Mastering The Ruins Greatsword
This storied excavated heirloom weapon from ancient dynasties past has seen me through tests which would make average warriors flee! Boasting versatile chops, thrusts and even potent sorceries, the enchanted Ruins Greatsword serves me well.
I discovered this silvery wonder lodged within a fallen ancient hero not unlike myself, its unique properties begging to be unlocked in combat once more. Intrinsic magic within now feeds my talents during long battles of attrition.
Against common rabble, standard greatsword tactics apply – rule range with your extended reach, controlling the flow of battle. When certain enemies close distances nevertheless, transition to aggressive chained sword strikes before they can retaliate, culminating in a magically-charged heavy chop reducing them to wisps!
Facing equally versatile opponents, adapt your moveset between horizontal cleaves, well-timed vertical smashdowns, and swifter pierce attacks with pointed tips catching them off-guard while maintaining pressure. Never be predictable!
However, my ultimate technique belongs to the Ruins Greatsword itself – focus inner power before tracing a celestial glyph, manifesting the magical Wave of Destruction! This explosive violet crescent beam tears through any interlopers in its path while buying you much needed space if overwhelmed.
Soon, enemies will dread glimpsing your elegant yet calamitous ruin-marked blade poised to unleash arcane techniques with its secrets lost to time. Relish discovering them anew behind this weapon‘s peerless versatility, just as I have!
Fare thee well aspiring champion!
Through painful trial and error, I mastered these four iconic hero archetypes for unmatched versatility when exploring the furthest reaches of the Lands Between – whether embodying mythical legends like the Black Swordsman Guts with the Greatsword or claiming godly arms like Giant-Crusher to decimate all in my sacred quest.
I hope you too don the powerful mantle of your own champion, venturing forth to author a heroic legacy of your own! Hone mind, body and steel until all know your name and deed. Glory awaits, brave Tarnished!
If my wisdom aids fellow seekers in preparing to face this realm‘s myriad threats, I will rest easy. May we call upon each other around a distant campfire, with new epic tales to share!
