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DARK SOULS™: Prepare To Die Edition > Guides > MERG!'s Guides
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SL1 - The Onebro
By MERG!
Base level pyromancer tips and advice
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Created by
MERG!
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Category: Classes, Gameplay Basics, Weapons
Languages: English
Posted
Updated
14 Jul, 2016 @ 7:30pm
1 Jun, 2018 @ 4:13pm
2,951 Unique Visitors
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Guide Index
Overview
Onebro introduction 
Where to start 
Gearing your Onebro 
Weaponry 
Shields 
Pyromancies 
Rings (Bling) 
Tips 
End 
Comments
Onebro introduction
Before I start, a simple warning: This guide aimed at people who have already beaten the game and want more of a challenge - If you are new to the game I would not suggest attempting a Onebro playthrough.

What is a Onebro?
-Onebros are quite simply level 1 characters (Pyromancer starter class)

Why would you want to make a Onebro, you ask?
  • Help out newbies in the undead burg
  • Help out other Onebros
  • For the challenge
  • As a level 1 character, you can invade ANYONE your level or higher - if you choose the darkwraith route

Below, you can see my Onebro's stats (nothing spectacular)

Where to start
  • Start a new character (Pyromancer)
  • Finish tutorial
  • NEVER LEVEL UP
  • NEVER GIVE UP

*All of your souls will be used on gear and upgrading gear - More on that later

Gearing your Onebro
  • When gearing a Onebro, you want to aim for a light-medium roll (Preferrably a light roll)
  • Armor isn't as much of a concern for a Onebro, you won't have much of a health pool anyhow and in NG+ and higher you'll easily get 1 shot even through heavy armor.
  • If you plan on staying on the first playthrough, robes and light/medium armor are your go-to choice (On my Onebro I use the armor of thorns/darkwraith armor while in co-op)
  • You can gear up in some heavy armor with havels ring + mask of the father and still get a medium roll as a level 1

Weaponry
Here is where a Onebro gets fun (Who here likes clubs...?)

There isn't much of a weapon choice when you have stats this low.
You are pretty much limited to the following weapons

**These can only be wielded 2 handed

Due to the amazing amount of choice above, You'll likely have a few of the same weapon later (Multiple enchant types for different weaknesses).

I personally chose the reinforced club - The moveset is nice and has bleed/stagger.
I also recommend the jagged ghost blade for certain bosses as the quick attack and bleed work wonders.

First place you want to go is either Andre the blacksmith (Battle axe) or the male undead merchant in the undead burg (Reinforced Club).

Get multiple of whichever you choose.

You'll want multiple weapons with different enchantments to play against enemy weaknesses
-Fire[darksouls.wikidot.com]/Chaos[darksouls.wikidot.com]










-Lightning[darksouls.wikidot.com]




















-Magic[darksouls.wikidot.com]










-Divine**[darksouls.wikidot.com]











**(The occult club in anor londo can be reverted to divine +5, this will make the catacombs a walk in the park)
Shields
There are 2 main shields you can and should worry about
***If you are a darkwraith, the dark hand[darksouls.wikidot.com] has some decent non-elemental resistances that can help in certain situations










Here is an extensive list of all the remaining shields that a level 1 can use

**These can only be wielded 2 handed
Pyromancies
Pyromancy will be your first line of attack (or if you so choose, your finishers) in most boss fights, and also your most heavy hitting abilities.

Spells I would recommend are prefixed with **
These recommendations are based on
  • Cast time
  • Damage
  • Number of spell uses
  • Viability in ALL situations

Please do not base what spells you use on my recommendations alone, use what works best for you.

Pyromancies
Rings (Bling)
A lot of people like the ring of FaP[darksouls.wikidot.com], I even use it on my Onebro just because I'm too lazy to juggle the extra ring slot.

Personally though, I wouldn't recommend it.
For a Onebro, it only adds the following
  • +114 HP
  • +19 Stamina
  • +10.2 Equip load

Source: https://www.reddit.com/r/darksouls/comments/1kvr42/is_the_fap_ring_good_for_a_onebro/

Rings you Definitely want to consider
Tips
  • Dodging/Parrying > Blocking
  • Always try to play against an enemy's weakness
    • Ex: Fire weapon vs Smough & Ornstein, Bleed vs Stray demon
  • If you are less than 60% health in a boss fight, You may want to consider topping off your HP else you are at risk of being 1 shot
  • Always watch your surroundings - use choke points on larger groups of enemies
  • Crossbow will be your friend in certain situations
  • Crossbow will be your enemy in certain situations
  • If you need help, try placing a 'Need Master' message. This was started on the Onebro reddit and is code for other Onebros to drop their signs for JOLLY COOPERATION!

Different people like different spells. As I stated above in the pyromancy section, choose which pyromancies suit your play style best.
I would suggest avoiding 'Chaos' spells as they will use your 2 attunement slots up for ~33% increased damage IF the lingering effect hits. If you do choose to go this route, I would suggest using the white seance ring[darksouls.wikidot.com] or the darkmoon seance ring[darksouls.wikidot.com]. Keep in mind that you will lose dps if you don't hit with the lingering effect.
End
If you are considering making a Onebro, There is a nice little reddit devoted to them

This is in no way an 'In Depth' guide, but it's enough to get your feet wet.

Thank you for reading
20 Comments
< >
P_Y_P 11 Aug, 2019 @ 9:34am 
Thank you for this guide.
MERG!  [author] 19 Jan, 2018 @ 3:50pm 
@CG.Fat_Mamba - My bad, I'm getting games mixed up. It's the 'Need Master' comment. I've edited that in the guide as well.
Hamstah_Fwend 18 Jan, 2018 @ 6:36pm 
My orange soapstone can't seem to write "master required ahead". It's either "master ahead" or "need master", how do I do this?
MERG!  [author] 10 Apr, 2017 @ 8:18pm 
Added links... Way too many of them. If anyone sees any errors or bad links just give me a heads up.
MERG!  [author] 10 Apr, 2017 @ 7:40pm 
@RealEnglishRage - Good suggestions, I'll take a look at adding em
RealEnglishRage 9 Apr, 2017 @ 11:28pm 
Just tested all the weapon and sheild hyper-links, all work as intended.
Now to list things to fix.

-Balder Shield and Grass Crest Shield don't have hyper-links attached.

-Crystal Shield requires ** for it requires 14 strength to wield one handed.

-Dark Hand could be listed under weapons and shields because of its dual capabilities.
-Dark Hand will require hyper-links also.

Thats all I've spotted on this sweep of the guide. I want to say that it's great that the hyper-links lead to Wikidot rather then the Fextralife Wiki for Dark Souls.

What I'd think would be cool to expand on is Pyromancy.
Adding a list of Pyromancies that are hyper-linked.
MERG!  [author] 9 Apr, 2017 @ 5:22pm 
Added links to all shields to allow easier item comparison
MERG!  [author] 9 Apr, 2017 @ 10:40am 
I have to run to town but will be enhancing the guide when I get back. I've updated the weapon sections with hyperlinks to take you straight to the items for comparison.
MERG!  [author] 9 Apr, 2017 @ 10:29am 
@RealEnglishRage tbh I've never even heard of the ghost blade - Just looked it up. Will add that and correct the bleed. Thanks again.
RealEnglishRage 9 Apr, 2017 @ 3:02am 
After reading through the guide, yet again. I've noticed the weapon 'Ghost Blade' has not been included. 'Jagged Ghost Blade' and 'Ghost Blade' are TWO entirely different weapons.
Adding the weapon to the list of viable weapons will make this guide more complete.