You're standing in Things Betwixt, looking at a bunch of ogres that weren't there in the original PS3 version, wondering why on earth the "easy" starting area feels like a death trap. Welcome to Drangleic. Specifically, the PlayStation 4 version. This isn't just a port; it’s a total remix. Most people looking for a dark souls 2 ps4 guide make the mistake of using old wikis from 2014, and then they wonder why the Heide Knights are suddenly chasing them across the map like heat-seeking missiles.
It’s personal.
The PS4 version, officially titled Scholar of the First Sin, changed item placements, enemy AI, and even the lore triggers. If you’re playing this on a modern console, you aren't playing the game the critics reviewed a decade ago. You're playing a version that wants you dead in very specific, updated ways.
The Stat Nobody Tells You About (Level Adaptability First)
Listen. Stop leveling Strength. Stop leveling Dexterity. At least for the first hour.
The single biggest reason people hate this game is "clunky" rolling. In Dark Souls 1 or Elden Ring, your invincibility frames (i-frames) are fixed or tied to weight. In this game? They're tied to a stat called Agility (AGL). AGL is raised primarily by leveling Adaptability (ADP). If you don't level ADP, your character effectively has "fat roll" i-frames even if you're naked.
You want your Agility at 92 as a bare minimum, but honestly, aim for 96 or 99. This makes the game feel like a modern action title instead of a underwater wrestling match. Don't listen to the purists who say you don't need it. You do. Chugging Estus is also tied to this; higher AGL means you drink faster. In a boss fight like Fume Knight, those milliseconds are the difference between a win and a salty "You Died" screen.
Navigating the Early Game Without Losing Your Mind
Most players head to the Forest of Fallen Giants first. That’s the right move. But the PS4 version adds a Pursuer encounter on a platform near the second bonfire that catches everyone off guard. He drops in from a giant crow. If you run, he despawns, but you lose the chance for early chunks.
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Here is a weird tip: Buy the Lenigrast's Key from the hag merchant Melentia immediately. Getting that blacksmith open is more important than leveling up twice.
Then there’s Heide’s Tower of Flame. On PS4, this area is a nightmare compared to the original. Once you kill the Dragonrider, the Heide Knights—those white-armored guys sitting around—wake up. Permanently. They are aggressive, they have infinite stamina, and they will follow you to the boss fog. If you aren't ready for a 3-on-1 gank, do NOT kill the Dragonrider until you’ve cleared the path to Old Ornstein (The Old Slayer).
The Fragrant Branch of Yore Problem
In the PS4 version, statues are everywhere. They block paths, they block bonfires, and they block loot. These are "petrified" NPCs. You need a Fragrant Branch of Yore to wake them up.
Don't waste your first branch on the guy blocking the path to the Shaded Woods unless you're a sorcerer. Use it on the statue in the Lost Bastille to get to Straid, or use it to access the Ruin Sentinels. The game gives you more branches than the PS3 version did, but it also creates more "gatekeeper" moments.
Weapons That Actually Work in Scholar of the First Sin
The "meta" for a dark souls 2 ps4 guide usually points toward the Rapier. It's boring. It's a toothpick. But honestly? It's the best weapon in the game for PvE. Buy it from Lenigrast for cheap, pair it with the Old Leo Ring (from killing Old Ornstein), and you can poke your way through 90% of the bosses.
If you want something with more "oomph," the Mace is the secret MVP. Most enemies in Drangleic wear heavy armor. Slashing at a knight with a longsword is like hitting a brick wall with a pool noodle. But a Mace? Strike damage ignores a massive portion of physical defense. It staggers. It breaks poise. It makes the Ruin Sentinels look like a joke.
A Note on Soul Memory
This is the most controversial mechanic in the series. Unlike other games where matchmaking is based on your Soul Level, Dark Souls 2 uses Soul Memory—the total number of souls you have ever collected, even the ones you lost when you died.
This means if you spend five hours farming for a specific armor set, your "rank" for multiplayer goes up, even if your stats don't. If you want to play with friends, you need the Name-Engraved Ring from the cat in Majula. It lets you pick a god to filter matchmaking. Without it, finding your buddy's summon sign is basically a lottery.
The Run-Backs are the Real Bosses
The PS4 version loves "enemy density." Areas like Iron Keep were changed to have Alonne Knights positioned specifically to prevent you from sprinting to the boss. If you try to run past them to Smelter Demon, they will catch you at the fog gate.
Here is the trick: Dark Souls 2 has a despawn mechanic. If you kill an enemy 12 times, they stop respawning. If a section is genuinely making you want to throw your controller, just kill the enemies until they vanish. It’s tedious, sure. But it turns a stressful gauntlet into a peaceful walk to the boss.
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Also, the DLC areas—Crown of the Sunken King, Old Iron King, and Ivory King—are included for free on PS4. They are significantly harder than the base game. Don't even think about touching them until you're at least level 100. The "Frigid Outskirts" in the Ivory King DLC is widely considered the worst area in the entire franchise. You have been warned. Bring summons. Bring a torch. Bring patience.
Dealing With Hollowing and the Human Effigy Scarcity
Every time you die, your max health drops. It caps at 50%. In a game where bosses can one-shot you, playing with half health is a death sentence.
- Find the Ring of Binding: It’s in a chest at Heide’s Tower of Flame, guarded by a Heide Knight and a sentinel. It limits the health reduction to 75% instead of 50%. It is the most important item for a new player.
- Don't burn Effigies at bonfires: That just blocks multiplayer. You have to "Use" them from your inventory to turn human.
- Help others: Using a Small White Sign Soapstone to help someone clear a small section of a level will restore your humanity for free if you succeed. It’s a great way to save your items.
Torch Mechanics: More Important Than You Think
In the original game, torches were almost useless. On PS4, the lighting engine was tweaked to make certain areas pitch black. In the Gutter or No-Man's Wharf, a torch isn't just a luxury; it’s a survival tool.
In No-Man's Wharf, the long-armed monsters (Darkstalkers) are terrified of light. Hold a torch, and they cower in corners. Light the sconces as you go. It creates a "breadcrumb" trail so you don't get lost, and it permanently changes the behavior of enemies in that run.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Playthrough
If you’re sitting at the Majula bonfire right now, do these three things in order:
- First, go to the Hag Merchant Melentia in the Forest of Fallen Giants and buy the Lenigrast Key and the Pharros' Lockstone.
- Second, dump your first 15-20 levels into Adaptability until your Agility hits 96. Your rolls will finally feel "right."
- Third, find the Ring of Binding in Heide's Tower of Flame. It’s in the chest right before the Cathedral of Blue.
The PS4 version of Dark Souls 2 is a game of attrition. It’s about crowd control rather than 1-on-1 duels. Use your bows to pull enemies one by one, keep your Agility high, and remember that strike damage is king. Drangleic is a beautiful, crumbling mess of a kingdom—take it slow, and you might actually enjoy the stay.