Dark Souls 3 ► 15 Hidden Gameplay Mechanics

Hidden Gameplay Mechanics in Dark Souls 3 00:02

"Dark Souls 3 has added a bunch of new refinements that are really good for the game, but of course, they're also really hidden."

• Dark Souls 3 introduces many new mechanics that improve gameplay but are not immediately obvious to players.

• Players should not have to figure out these mechanics through trial and error, as the game often makes them difficult to discover.

Quick Select Bar Optimization 00:12

"You can hold down on the D pad and you'll be brought to the first item in your quick select bar."

• By holding down the D pad, players can quickly access the first item in their quick select bar, which is typically their Healing Estus flask.

• This prevents frantic searching for the Estus flask during critical moments and enhances the overall gameplay experience.

Importance of Fashion Souls 00:37

"Fashion souls is far more important than the worthless stats on your armor."

• Players often prioritize the appearance of their character over the actual stats provided by armor pieces.

• Dark Souls 3 allows players to curate their character's fashion with a simple press of the right analog stick in the equipment screen, enhancing personal expression in character aesthetics.

Exploring the Hollowing Mechanic 01:09

"When you rescue a character called Yoel, you can bring him back to your shrine and when you talk to him there, you have the option to draw out your true strength."

• Players can level up for free by interacting with Yoel after saving him, but this comes with the hidden mechanic of gaining a Dark Sigil.

• With each death while possessing the Dark Sigil, players accumulate points of hollowing, which alters their character's appearance and covenant symbol.

• Tracking this mechanic leads to more leveling opportunities as every few points of hollowing allow players to level up again with Yoel until he dies of excitement, resulting in the continuation of the hollowing quest line.

Simplified Multiplayer Experience 02:56

"It's now way easier to play with your mates."

• Dark Souls 3 allows players to set a shared password, enabling seamless summoning regardless of soul levels.

• This system adjusts the strength of the summoned player to match that of the host, making it accessible for friends to adventure together without worrying about level discrepancies.

Invasion Rewards According to Covenant 03:33

"The rewards you get for killing a host now depend on which covenant you're in."

• When players invade others using the red eye orb, the rewards differ based on their equipped covenant, such as receiving Sunlight medals or vertebra shackles.

• This dynamic adds a strategic layer to invading as players can tailor their approach based on the rewards they wish to earn by switching covenants.

New Parry Mechanics 04:55

"You can now parry people even if they attack you from behind."

• The game introduces a mechanic that allows players to parry attacks from behind, expanding the usability of shields significantly by affecting phantoms within a 360-degree radius.

• This change raises questions about whether this is a deliberate feature or an unintended bug.

Additional Combat Mechanics 05:10

"You can perform visceral attacks on a ton of enemies, some of whom don't even look staggerable."

• Players can now score visceral attacks on various enemies, indicated by a change in sound when dealing damage during their vulnerable state.

• This enhances the game's combat experience by rewarding players for timing and accuracy during attacks.

Jumping Attack Mechanics 05:41

"When you run and press R2 now, you do a jumping attack."

• Players can execute jumping attacks and immediately follow them up with a rolling attack, a tactic that is particularly effective against agile creatures like Crystal lizards.

• A new jumping mechanic allows players to avoid the mandatory roll at the end of a jump, granting more control, especially in complicated jumping puzzles.

Weapon Arts Usability 06:44

"Using weapon arts with no focus still works for a lot of weapons."

• Many weapon arts can still be utilized effectively with little to no focus, allowing for diverse combat strategies without compromising character stamina.

• Weapons like daggers provide particularly beneficial arts that help players traverse hazardous environments more efficiently, such as swamps.

Quickfire Secrets Overview 07:19

"You can do a charge attack by holding R2 like in Bloodborne."

• Dark Souls 3 includes many quick secrets such as the ability to perform charged attacks, throw knives or spells while running, and the presence of a heavy roll when exceeding 70% equip burden.

• Notably, power stance dual-wielding has been removed, leading to new strategies surrounding two-handed dual-wielding instead.