So you’ve decided to enter the punishing yet rewarding world of Souls-like RPGs. Whether you’re taking your first steps into Elden Ring’s Lands Between, facing the horrors of Bloodborne’s Yharnam, or challenging the fierce enemies of Dark Souls, you’re in for a thrilling—albeit frequently lethal—adventure.
Souls-like games are known for their difficulty, but with the right approach, even newcomers can triumph over seemingly impossible odds. This comprehensive guide will arm you with essential knowledge and strategies to not just survive, but thrive in these notoriously challenging games.
Understanding the Souls-like Genre
Before diving into specific strategies, it’s important to understand what makes a game “Souls-like” and why these games feel so different from other RPGs.
What Makes a Game “Souls-like”?
Souls-like games typically share several key characteristics:
- Punishing difficulty: Enemies hit hard, and death comes quickly
- Death penalty: Losing accumulated resources upon death (with a chance to recover them)
- Stamina management: Limited actions before needing to recover
- Deliberate combat: Precise timing of attacks, blocks, and dodges is crucial
- Non-linear exploration: Interconnected worlds with shortcuts and secrets
- Minimal handholding: Limited tutorials and obscure storytelling
- Pattern recognition: Learning enemy behaviors and attack patterns
Understanding these elements will help adjust your expectations and approach as you begin your journey.
Essential Mindset Tips for New Players
Embrace Death as a Learning Tool
In most games, death represents failure. In Souls-likes, death is your primary teacher. Each defeat provides valuable information about enemy attacks, environmental hazards, and your own tactical mistakes. Instead of getting frustrated, ask yourself: “What did this death teach me?”
Patience Is Your Greatest Ally
Rushing through a Souls-like is a recipe for disaster. Take your time to observe enemy movements, scout ahead, and plan your approach. A single well-timed attack is worth more than several hasty swings that leave you vulnerable.
Accept That You Will Lose Resources
You will lose souls, echoes, runes, or whatever currency the game uses—repeatedly. This is part of the experience. Don’t become attached to these resources, and when possible, spend them before venturing into unknown territory.
Combat Fundamentals
Master the Dodge Roll
The dodge roll is perhaps your most important defensive tool. It provides invincibility frames (i-frames)—brief moments where you’re immune to damage while rolling. Learning the precise timing of these i-frames will allow you to avoid even the most devastating attacks.
Key dodging tips:
- Roll through attacks, not away from them
- Avoid panic rolling (multiple consecutive rolls)
- Pay attention to dodge timing rather than button mashing
- Consider your equipment load, as it affects roll speed and i-frames
Learn to Manage Your Stamina
Every attack, block, roll, and sprint consumes stamina. Running out leaves you defenseless. Good stamina management means:
- Never depleting your stamina bar completely
- Always reserving enough stamina for at least one emergency dodge
- Lowering your guard when not actively blocking to speed up stamina regeneration
- Taking momentary breaks in combat to allow your stamina to recover
Study Enemy Attack Patterns
Every enemy in Souls-like games has specific attack patterns with tells (visual cues that signal an incoming attack). Spend time observing these patterns before engaging:
- Watch for wind-up animations before attacks
- Count the hits in enemy combos
- Notice which attacks can be interrupted and which cannot
- Identify when enemies are most vulnerable after attacking
Positioning Is Everything
Where you stand relative to enemies can be as important as how you attack:
- Circle strafing (moving around enemies) can help avoid attacks
- Some enemies have blind spots where they struggle to hit you
- Positioning yourself near walls or obstacles can limit enemy movement
- Back attacks often deal extra damage or open enemies to critical hits
Character Building Essentials
Focus on Survivability for Your First Build
As a beginner, prioritize stats that increase your health pool and stamina before focusing on dealing more damage:
- Vigor/Vitality increases your health
- Endurance improves stamina and sometimes equip load
- Adapt your build based on how you’re struggling (dying too quickly vs. running out of stamina)
Choose Weapons Based on Comfort, Not Just Stats
The “best” weapon is the one whose moveset you’re comfortable with:
- Try various weapon types to find what suits your playstyle
- Consider range, speed, and stamina consumption
- Remember that almost any weapon is viable if upgraded properly
- Don’t overlook “quality builds” that allow you to experiment with many weapons
Don’t Neglect Your Equipment Load
Most Souls-likes have equipment load thresholds that affect your movement:
- Light load: Fastest rolls with most i-frames
- Medium load: Balanced rolls (most players aim for this)
- Heavy load: Slow, ineffective “fat rolls”
- Over-encumbered: Cannot roll or run (avoid at all costs)
Stay below the threshold that gives you effective dodging capabilities, even if it means wearing lighter armor.
Exploration and Progression
Map Recognition and Mental Mapping
Souls-like games rarely provide detailed maps, requiring you to create mental maps as you explore:
- Look for distinctive landmarks to orient yourself
- Remember how areas connect to each other
- Note the location of bonfires/checkpoints, NPC locations, and locked doors
- Pay attention to elevator shortcuts that connect different areas
The Value of Strategic Retreating
There’s no shame in retreating from an area that’s too difficult:
- If an area or boss feels impossibly hard, it might be meant for later
- Mark tough spots mentally and return when you’re stronger
- Sometimes the “right path” is the one where enemies die in a reasonable number of hits
When to Farm and When to Push Forward
Resource farming (repeatedly killing enemies for experience/currency) can help overcome difficulty spikes:
- If you’re consistently dying to a boss, consider farming to level up
- Use farming to stock up on consumables like healing items
- Don’t over-farm as it can lead to boredom and diminishing returns
- Remember that skill often matters more than character level
Boss Battle Strategies
First Encounters: Observation Over Aggression
When facing a boss for the first time:
- Focus on surviving and observing attack patterns
- Count the hits in each combo
- Notice which direction attacks come from
- Identify safe zones and windows for healing
- Don’t get greedy trying to deal damage immediately
The “Three Attempts” Rule
Give yourself permission to use different approaches:
- First attempt: Pure observation, focus on survival
- Second attempt: Test cautious offense and find attack windows
- Third attempt: Apply what you’ve learned for a serious attempt
- If still unsuccessful, consider changing tactics or upgrading your character
Consumables and Buffs Are Your Friends
Don’t hoard consumable items—use them for tough fights:
- Apply appropriate weapon buffs (fire, lightning, etc.)
- Use items that boost defense against the boss’s damage type
- Consider items that temporarily increase your stats
- Healing items beyond your main flask/estus can make the difference
Technical Skills to Develop
Learning to Fight Unlocked
The lock-on system has advantages and disadvantages:
- Locked on: Easier tracking of enemies, automatic facing
- Unlocked: Better control of movement, especially for positioning
- Some large bosses are easier to fight unlocked
- Practice both methods to develop versatility
Camera Management
The camera can be as deadly as any boss:
- Keep adjusting the camera position manually during combat
- For large enemies, sometimes locking off improves visibility
- When near walls, be extra vigilant about camera angles
- Consider adjusting camera sensitivity in settings
Recognizing Audio Cues
Souls-like games use sound extensively to signal danger:
- Listen for audio cues that telegraph attacks
- Some hidden enemies reveal themselves through sound first
- Ambient sounds often change near important discoveries or dangers
- Audio can alert you to attacks happening outside your field of vision
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Attacking Too Many Times in a Combo
Greed kills more players than any boss:
- Limit yourself to 1-2 attacks before reassessing
- As you gain experience, you’ll learn when you can safely extend combos
- Always prioritize having enough stamina to dodge
Panic Healing
Healing at the wrong time often leads to death:
- Look for safe windows to heal (usually after dodging an enemy combo)
- Create distance before attempting to heal
- Never heal immediately after getting hit without first ensuring safety
- Some bosses are programmed to punish healing attempts
Ignoring NPC Questlines
NPCs often provide:
- Valuable items and equipment
- Story context that enhances the experience
- Alternative strategies for difficult areas
- Access to otherwise locked content
Talk to every NPC multiple times and revisit them after major game events.
Overlooking Environmental Storytelling
The environments themselves tell stories:
- Read item descriptions for lore and gameplay hints
- Examine the placement of enemies and items for narrative clues
- Notice architectural details that suggest an area’s history
- Environmental hazards often hint at nearby secrets
Advanced Tips for Growing Skills
Experiment with Different Playstyles
Once you’re comfortable with basics:
- Try different weapon classes to expand your skill set
- Experiment with magic if you’ve been focusing on melee
- Challenge yourself with different builds (strength, dexterity, arcane, etc.)
- Consider how shields, parrying, or two-handing change your approach
Learn Basic Speedrun Tactics
Even if you don’t want to speedrun, learning some techniques can help:
- Efficient path selection between objectives
- Enemy skip strategies
- Resource management under pressure
- Recognition of which fights are necessary and which aren’t
The Value of Community Resources
The Souls community is known for its helpfulness:
- Consult wikis when truly stuck
- Watch strategy videos for particularly difficult bosses
- Consider co-op play for challenging areas
- Remember that asking for help isn’t “cheating”—it’s part of the experience
Conclusion: Persistence Is Key
Above all else, Souls-like games reward persistence. Every death brings new knowledge, every defeat teaches valuable lessons, and every triumph feels genuinely earned. The journey from bewildered beginner to confident veteran is what makes these games special.
Remember: The true “git gud” isn’t about never dying—it’s about never giving up.
The challenges you face might seem insurmountable at first, but with patience, observation, and the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll develop the skills needed to overcome even the most formidable obstacles. The satisfaction of finally defeating that boss who’s blocked your progress for hours is an experience unlike any other in gaming.
Now go forth, brave adventurer—death awaits, but so does glory.
Zareb Saleh is a journalist at Gulf Today and a ghostwriter for Gameoholic, specializing in gaming, technology, and digital culture. With a keen eye for industry trends, he delivers insightful stories that engage and inform readers.