The Ultimate Dark Souls 3 Guts Build Guide
As a long-time Souls player and Berserk fan, I‘ve perfected recreating Guts‘ infamous builds in Dark Souls 3. In this guide, I‘ll share complete details on matching his gear, stats, and playstyle from across the story arcs.
Overview of Guts and His Fighting Style
For those unfamiliar with Berserk, Guts is a towering warrior wielding a massive sword called Dragonslayer. After enduring tremendous hardship, he becomes a grim, vengeance-driven swordsman.
In combat, Guts displays peak human strength and unwavering willpower. He adapts his sword strikes based on enemies, transitioning between one and two-handed grips. While armor slows him down somewhat, Guts still has impressive stamina and agility compared to his size.
The goal of a Guts build is matching this style – wielding an ultra greatsword with colossal, yet precise, strikes while wearing semi-heavy armor. Getting the aesthetic right is also crucial – I‘ll cover armor combinations replicating his iconic looks below.
Golden Age – Young Swordsman Build
In volumes 3-14, a fresh-faced Guts joins Griffith‘s Band of the Falcon. He dresses lightly compared to later arcs, allowing greater speed and mobility.
Stats
Vigor: 35-40
Endurance: 30+
Strength: 40
Dexterity: 20
Weapons
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Astora Greatsword: Found on a corpse in Cathedral of the Deep. With 122 physical AR and D/D str/dex scaling, it perfectly matches Guts‘ early oversized sword.
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Light Crossbow: Available from Greirat after rescuing him. Call back to younger Guts using one alongside his sword.
Armor
<Headed Table with 4 columns – Name, Location Found, Stats, Appearance>
| Name | Location Found | Stats | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nameless Knight Helm | Farron Keep swamp by Old Wolf bonfire | Poise: 2.3 Weight: 3.8 | Closest match to early band of Falcon helm |
| Alva Armor | Irithyll Dungeon stairs by Tsorig invade | Poise: 16.0 Weight: 17.6 | Resembles Gambeson armor |
| Knight Gauntlets | Buy from Handmaid | Poise: 5.0 Weight: 3.5 | Simple gauntlets fit the aesthetic |
| Alva Leggings | Irithyll Dungeon stairs by Tsorig invade | Poise: 6.0 Weight: 6.0 | Lightweight to enable fast rolls |
Compared to heavier builds, this setup prioritizes dodging and stamina regeneration to match Guts‘ agile swordsmanship protecting Griffith. Mix one and two handed attacks for best results!
Conviction Arc – The Black Swordsman
In volumes 14-21 after the Eclipse, Guts begins his vengeance quest against Griffith, gaining terrible injuries and a mechanical arm along the way. His equipment shifts to heavier armor and a chunkier sword to match his grittier style.
Stats
50 Strength
15 Dexterity
20-25 Endurance
Weapons
- Greatsword: Found on a collapsed bridge in Farron Keep. With 159 physical AR and D/D scaling, it‘s the closest to Dragonslayer‘s monstrous size and power.
Armor
| Name | Location Found | Stats | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undead Legion Helm | Buy from Handmaid after Abyss Watchers | Poise: 8.0 Weight: 5.8 | Closest helm matching Guts‘ conical design |
| Black Knight Armor | Dropped from sword-wielding Black Knights | Poise: 17.0 Weight: 23.5 | Thick, black chest piece fits Conviction arc |
| Gundyr‘s Gauntlets | Loot near Champion Gundyr boss arena | Poise: 8.0 Weight: 7.0 | Gritty, iron gauntlets reflecting mechanical arm |
| Exile Leggings | Corpse in Catacombs of Carthus before High Lord Wolnir | Poise: 7.9 Weight: 9.5 | Ragged boots completes Black Swordsman look |
This heavier setup gives trades mobility for hyper armor, cushioning trades against monsters several times Guts‘ size. Leverage the Greatsword‘s Stomp weapon art to replicate his heavy swinging strikes, shattering foes‘ guard. Stay mid roll for best results.
Fantasia Arc – Berserker Armor Build
In volumes 34 onward, Guts wears the cursed Berserker armor, granting immense strength at the cost of inner torment. For this end game build, I maximize poise and equip load to wield the armor and giant slab of iron.
Stats
60 Strength
14 Dexterity
25+ Endurance
Weapons
- Greatsword Infused Heavy: Infusing heavy scales S strength, matching the Berserker armor‘s monstrous power at the cost of defense.
Armor
| Name | Location Found | Stats | Appearance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dragonslayer Helm | Lothric Castle by the Consumed King | Poise: 16 Weight: 5.0 | Matches unique horned helmet |
| Dragonslayer Armor | Grand Archives on a corpse | Poise: 30 Weight: 35.3 | Thick, rounded chest piece |
| Gundyr‘s Gauntlets | Near Champion Gundyr boss fight | Poise: 8.0 Weight: 7.0 | Smooth, black gauntlets |
| Black Iron Leggings | Across the unstable bridge at Undead Settlement | Poise: 22.0 Weight: 15.0 | Matching black leg armor |
This tank build wields the heaviest armor I can wear while still medium rolling with 50 vitality, Havel‘s Ring, and Ring of Favor. It enhances poise to the maximum to never stagger.
The heavy Greatsword infusion raises AR while lowering defense, replicating sacrificing flesh to activate the Berserker armor. Leverage the armor‘s hyper armor against even colossal enemies.
Additional Tips
I prefer using the Grass Crest Shield on my back for stamina recovery to match Guts‘ endurance. The Chloranthy Ring is also great.
When sniping or pulling enemies, switch to a crossbow in your left hand matching iconic panels of Guts firing bolts.
Prioritize survival, patience, and looking for openings instead of relentless aggression. Trade blows only when you can withstand enemies‘ counters.
Conclusion
I‘ve spent countless hours recreating Guts‘ journey across editions of Berserk in Dark Souls 3. These builds and strategies can help you do the same! Let me know if you have any other ideas for matching his armor, sword, and gritty fighting style.
