Notes from author
The gauntlets of thorns actually increase your punching damage by 10%. Go for high poise fashion souls, kind of like what I did. Feel free to exchange the dark hand for something else, like caestus or another DBF. Alternatively, you can use dragon form (preferably with wolf ring), and use the high damage dragon claws. This also allows you to do a roll-headbutt, which is epic. Also alternatively, use light armor or dragon form and dark wood grain ring. Also consider hornet ring, because the riposte animation looks sweet. Try stacking int on a thorny pyro flame R2.
