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.
Resource management and crafting determine how quickly your power scales. This guide covers what to prioritize, where to farm, and how to avoid wasting resources on the wrong upgrades.
Crafting Priority List
The order you should invest resources:
| Priority | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary equipment | Biggest damage increase per resource spent |
| 2 | Core build gear | Enables your build's key combinations |
| 3 | Defensive upgrades | Survivability for boss fights |
| 4 | Secondary equipment | Situational options for specific content |
| 5 | Consumables | Temporary boosts for hard content |
Resource Farming by Area
Majula
Key resources: Emerald Herald level ups, the Estus Flask, Sweet Shalquoir's ring stock, the pit leading to the Gutter Farming efficiency: Low value per run, but safe and consistent
Focus on gathering materials for Estoc upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Forest of Fallen Giants
Key resources: Soul of the Last Giant, the Pursuer fight, the Soldier Key, several Estus Flask Shards Farming efficiency: Good early-game farming spot
Focus on gathering materials for Estoc upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Heide's Tower of Flame
Key resources: Dragonrider Soul, Soul of the Old Dragonslayer, the Blue Sentinels covenant, Heide Knight equipment Farming efficiency: Best mid-game farming, worth revisiting
Focus on gathering materials for Estoc upgrades here. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Iron Keep
Key resources: Smelter Demon Soul, Soul of the Old Iron King, access to Belfry Sol and the Bell Keepers Farming efficiency: High-value materials for late-game upgrades
This is where you farm materials for Zweihander max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Drangleic Castle
Key resources: Looking Glass Knight Soul, the King's Ring from Velstadt, the route to Vendrick and Nashandra Farming efficiency: Best resources in the game, requires strong build
This is where you farm materials for Zweihander max upgrades. See our maps guide for detailed area layouts.
Upgrade Path
Early Game (Majula to Forest of Fallen Giants)
- Upgrade your starting equipment to functional level
- Craft basic defensive gear
- Save specialty materials, since you'll need them later
- Focus on Estoc once accessible
Mid Game (Heide's Tower of Flame)
- Push Estoc to mid-level upgrades
- Start collecting materials for Zweihander
- Craft situational consumables for boss fights
- Upgrade build-specific gear pieces
Late Game (Iron Keep to Drangleic Castle)
- Max out Zweihander. This is your top priority
- Complete your build's core gear set
- Craft endgame consumables
- Optional: upgrade secondary equipment for variety
Crafting Mistakes to Avoid
- Spreading upgrades across multiple equipment: Focus one weapon to max before diversifying.
- Hoarding materials: Use them. The game provides enough if you farm efficiently.
- Upgrading the wrong gear: Check our builds guide before investing.
- Ignoring Heide's Tower of Flame farming: This area has the best resource-to-time ratio in mid-game.
- Crafting consumables too early: Save specialty materials for late-game recipes.
Resource Efficiency Tips
- 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.
- Farm Heide's Tower of Flame during mid-game for the best return on time
- Check the walkthrough to know when each resource becomes available
- Match your farming route to your build. Some classes farm faster in certain areas
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 Best Builds
- 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 Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy DARK SOULS II: Scholar of the First Sin, check out these related guides:
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