Notes from author
Drop Kumo and Scimi, replace Havel's with Leo:
Estoc/Longsword/BSS + Target Shield
War Pick + Buckler
Drop Havel's Gauntlets to free up Havel's Ring slot:
47 poise menu-swap option with Wolf, 53 if (elite) Knight Gauntlets, 56 thorns, 61 Steel.
Can also switch GMW for Strong Magic Shield if empty rh slot, especially nice with Leo Estoc.
Soul Mass, Dark Bead & Dark Orb:
1, Poise break combos
2. Chip-dmg (through shields)
3. Throwing off parries
4. Baiting rolls to punish with a running attack or the like (GMW Estoc is comfy for this too)
5. Pressuring stamina while yours regens
DB is usually used at a safe range, treat it more like a disruptive fire bomb or throwing knife.
If both of you are out of stamina and they can't strafe to your back but may get close to attempt it, that's a great case for a point-blank DB.
Hitting shields can be great too.
If up against a heavy hitter, make sure to never trade even to an R1.
Halberds etc. can also use their reach to trade with your DB very effectively. Be wary of katana running attacks and stuff too, they can close that gap and trade well even if they spaced it poorly.
Keep in mind just how much DB splits it's dmg, it's the spell equivalent of a lightning Avelyn, you can't overcome the split at 18 int. Naked Hollow with a dagger? Trade all you want. Otherwise? Try to avoid trades.
I find DB isn't fluid enough to capitalize on the stun to make bad trades pay off right after, but will experiment with that. (My memory is very hazy on the timing of spells besides pyro)
Dark Orb vs. 81+ poise, make them dodge/block soulmass, land the DO (try again if miss), stun-lock/stamina breach. They may block SM and roll DO, still stamina drain + chip.
It helps you be 1st to stun(-lock) despite low poise and sometimes poise dmg, just 1 more poise dmg breaks min/maxed poise.
Even if they merely roll out of your spells at a distance you can't catch, that's stamina drained and regen impeded.
