In this build, make sure that you use the souls from killing Havel and other NPC's and level up your strength and dexterity. Do this to make it so that you can get used to the claymore immediately when you get it use it and be used to the moveset. The Elite Knight leggings and gauntlets are perfect for the build since you can upgrade them as you get the materials and the defense is great. You can swap the Cloranthy ring out for the dark wood grain ring if you never want to be hit, I use it for the extra stamina regen since I don't usually use blossoms.
