FromSoftware released Scholar of the First Sin in April 2015, rebuilding Dark Souls II on a DirectX 11 renderer, folding in all three Crown DLCs and shuffling enemy placement so returning players could not run their old routes. Drangleic still runs on Adaptability, the stat the game never explains: it feeds Agility, which starts at 85 and caps at 120, and Agility decides how many invincibility frames a roll carries. Aldia now appears as a burning apparition at bonfires and returns as an optional final boss after Nashandra.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knight | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Warrior | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Swordsman | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Bandit | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Sorcerer | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin tier list.
A-Tier: Knight
Knight is a top-performing option in DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Zweihander | An ultra greatsword with long reach and a running attack that staggers most humanoid enemies before they can answer. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Adaptability and Agility | Adaptability is the stat that feeds Agility, which begins at 85 and caps at 120. |
How to Play Knight
Knight focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Zweihander does the damage and Adaptability and Agility keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Warrior
Warrior is a strong option in DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Estoc | A thrusting sword that attacks fast, works from behind a raised shield, and pairs with the Old Leo Ring for large counter damage. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Soul Memory matchmaking | Co-op and invasion ranges run off Soul Memory, the running total of every soul the character has ever picked up, spent or dropped on death, sorted into 45 tiers. |
How to Play Warrior
Warrior focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Estoc with Soul Memory matchmaking and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Swordsman
Swordsman is a strong option in DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mastodon Halberd | A heavy halberd with a sweeping horizontal that clears three enemies at once. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Power stancing | Holding the two hand button with a matching weapon type in each hand opens a separate dual wield moveset with its own attacks. |
How to Play Swordsman
Swordsman focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Power stancing covers the gap Mastodon Halberd leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Bandit
Bandit is a specialized option in DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Blacksteel Katana | A fast katana that scales purely with Dexterity unless infused, with a quickdraw strong attack that lands more often than most katana movesets. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Hollowing and Human Effigies | Each death trims maximum HP until it settles near half, and burning a Human Effigy is the only way to reverse it. |
How to Play Bandit
Bandit focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Hollowing and Human Effigies rather than raw numbers, and Blacksteel Katana is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Sorcerer
Sorcerer is a specialized option in DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Fume Ultra Greatsword | Traded from Weaponsmith Ornifex for the Soul of the Fume Knight, this is the heaviest hitting ultra greatsword in the Crown of the Old Iron King content. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Bonfire Ascetics | Burning a Bonfire Ascetic at a bonfire pushes that one area to the next New Game cycle, respawning its boss and upgrading the loot in its chests. |
How to Play Sorcerer
Sorcerer focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Fume Ultra Greatsword and Bonfire Ascetics pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Warrior: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Knight once you understand core mechanics and have access to Zweihander
- Keep a Swordsman setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Sorcerer for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Adaptability is the fix for every complaint about the roll. Take it to 20 as fast as you can, check Agility on the status screen rather than the stat itself, and stop at 96 or 105 depending on how much you want to spend.
- Lifegems are the reason Melentia exists. She sells them from Majula in stacks, they heal over time instead of instantly, and carrying 30 of them removes almost all pressure to reach the next bonfire on low Estus.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Guides
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Overview
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Tier List
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Walkthrough
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Beginner's Guide
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Tips & Tricks
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Weapons Guide
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Combat Guide
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Boss Guide
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Maps & Locations
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Crafting Guide
- DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin Classes & Characters
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