1. Listen to NPCs. They often tell you lore or a hint about the area (The Crestfallen Soldier tells you to go to the Burg for example). 2. Do not got to the Cemetary or New Londo until you are around level 70ish with heavily upgraded equipment. 3. Do not kill NPC's. You will lose all access to their services if you do. If you hit one on accident you can always reset their aggro at the pardoner. 4. If you are a lightweight character try to keep under 25% equipment rate (By no means required but very helpful don't sweat if you are above this), it gives you the "fast roll" which makes dodge quite easy. For you heavies out there just stay under 100%. The 3 rolls are Fast <25%, mid 25%< X < 75%, and fat < 75%. 5. The Master Key is the unquestionable best gift. Though the Witch's Ring allows you to talk to a certain NPC. 6. If you don't like your initial class don't panic, any stat investment is useful (Except resistance). Class has little effect on you late game. 7. Upgrading equipment is much more important than leveling up. 8. Being human allows you to summon help, but it also allows you to be invaded by other players. It's a simple risk reward system. 9. "Kindling" a bonfire doubles your uses of Estus Flasks after resting at that bonfire. (Later you can change that to quadruple). You must be human and have at least 1 "soft" humanity to do this (have a 01 in the top left corner). 10. Lock on by clicking in the right stick. 11. You can summon people within 10% of your level plus 10. (A level 50 can summon those in the 36-64 level range). 12. Never raise DEX, STR, INT, or FTH past 40 unless for a specific weapon or spell. This it where further investment becomes useless. Try to focus on one at a time however, hit 40 then move on. This holds true to endurance as well as vitality (Feel free to get VIT to 50 though). 13. Never invest in resistance, it is useless and is the only stat that isn't [b]EVER[/b] useful. 14. Never invest in a raw class weapon upgrade. 15. Never let your stamina drain completely as it prevents you from rolling. Always leave at least a sliver for emergency rolls. 16. Mimics chests (The ones that kill you) are different from regular chest in that their chain hanging off the chest is different. [url=http://darksouls.wdfiles.com/local--files/enemies/mimic-fake-chest-large.jpg]Mimic chains point towards the opening side while real ones are pointing away.[/url] I normally wouldn't include this, but I've seen many players complain that they had no way to see it coming and that it was a cheap way to die. 17. BE observant! Bloodstains infront of a chest are an obvious sign of a trap! Charred corpses on a narrow path act as a warning to not stay in an area for to long. Blood on a elevator heeds danger for staying on for extended periods. 18. Don't always be blocking! Holding your shield up severely slows stamina regeneration. If you are low on stamina put your shield down and back up. 19. The Ghosts in New Londo can only be damaged if you are cursed or when having the item "Transient Curse"'s active effect on you. (A few weapons bypass this but they aren't very useful). 20. The curse status effect can be cured by an NPC in New Londo and also by purchasing Purging Stones from Cromwell the Pardoner. 21. Don't "use" Firekeeper Souls! They can be used to make your Estus Flask heal more if given to certain NPC's with the "Upgrade flask" option. Scaling (Parameter Bonuses) Not basic, but essential. When examining a weapon always check the letters in it's stat scaling (E, D, C ,B ,A ,S). E is practically useless with B or above being good. A simple way of looking at it is that if a weapon has at least a B scaling in one stat it is viable in the late game (With some exceptions like Priscilla's Dagger). The way scaling works is if you have a high level in that weapons corresponding stat you gain an attack bonus. For example the Iaito katana at +15 as an attack rating of 220 which seems bad, but it also has an A scaling in DEX. That means if you have 40 DEX it boosts it's damage to 410, almost doubling it's damage! If a weapon doesn't have B scaling all hope isn't lost! Later in the game once you reach Anor Londo you gain access to Lightning infusion which when used [b]removes all scaling from a weapon[/b]. This may seem bad but it all adds elemental damage effectively multiplying it's damage dealt by 1.5. So if you wish to use elemental weapons only invest into the minimum requirements for a weapon. That's all I can think of right now. Feel free to add! If you need any help with an area or need some mechanics explained I will answer any questions. If you want to know how you are doing in-comparison to how I did. My first playthrough was completed at level 117 (Yay Halo) in 41 hours. EDIT: I feel I'm pushing it using the word "basic" please keep suggestions pretty simple and try not to spoon feed the easiest ways to an clear area.