Best class ds2. Walk through the gate to the right and enter the foggy part of the Shaded Woods. Best class ds2

 
 Walk through the gate to the right and enter the foggy part of the Shaded WoodsBest class ds2  Starting Gift: Really doesn't matter

Warrior in Dark Souls II is a Starting Class . Classes in Dark Souls determine the starting Stats and Equipment of the player. It starts at level 1 with 10 on all stats and just a club for weapons. 10. The vast majority of enemies can be poisoned, and about 4~ poison arrows will take out like 80% of the HP from just about every bigger enemy. Nearly everything is viable, but no one thing is going to be the best choice for everything. The most important thing about a pyromancer are Faith and Inteligence, that means, pyromancies will scale in both stats with C/C (because the pyro flames), but i discovered that pyros scale more with Faith than Inteligence, (Fth x1. It starts with a Broken Straight Sword and an Iron Parma as its starting weapons. Learn how to choose the best starting class in Dark Souls 2, a game with different gameplay and stat distribution from the rest of the series. Xcavvv 8 years ago #3. Step 2 is to decide how much agility you want (which is what you're asking). - any good great hammer (dragon tooth, demons, smelter, etc) for pancaking 90% of enemies and massive AR. 6 Warrior. So your traditional "quality" weapons are actually mostly str weapons. ) then attach the rest to DEX immediately after reaching 16 or more STR for whatever shield (Drangleic e. Curved swords tend to be lighter, weaker (quelaags furysword is powerful but finicky and the Balder Sword is a noteable exception) they all have varying weight values and you must be able to fastroll. . Dark Souls 2 feels more like individual video game levels lumped together for the sake of making a game, Dark Souls' world feels like it exists for its own reasons. Pyromancies are a type of Magic that deal primarily fire damage or provide resistance to damage, scaling with both Intelligence and Faith. Explorer Class Build for Dark Souls 2. In the oldest legends, rarely spoken of today, it is said that the sword was born of a great white being. Upgrade your weapon as soon as possible – Upgrading your weapon is crucial, so always explore, even if the area is difficult. Covenants may also have an effect on the player's online interactions. I wear a mask. Despite the Explorer being arguably the worst class in Dark Souls 2, that by no means makes this class a bad. Faith: Base or spell requirement. Some say richards rapier with min requirements and poison is better, or any other infusion. Then infuse it with Dark when you have the chance. The Starting Classes of Dark Souls II will only give you a head start on certain stats. -4. Step 3 is to level. well when it asks you what class you want to be just select cleric. If you choose sorcerer you have to make the run to Melentia relying heavily on a dagger. 933 seconds). I’ve beaten the first one twice once as the pyromancer and once as the deprived. The only exception being the ability to combo with farron flashsword, that's cool. Published Jan 29, 2020 Dark Souls 2 provides its player base with a wide variety of options in their class selection. RELATED: Dark Souls 2: The Best Boss Weapons (& Others That Aren't Worth It) Because of this, Deprived is a class that is best used by veteran Dark Souls players and an ill choice for newcomers. Weapons in Dark Souls 3 are listed on this page. 3 The guide is now finished. Weapon classes do not necessarily share the same skills so. Adaptability is an Attribute in Dark Souls 2. The Warrior, Bandit, and Cleric have low starting Agility, so their rolls initially only have 5 frames of invincibility. Dual-wielding is more viable in Dark Souls II than in the original, and the Swordsman makes the most of that. The Dark infusion works best by offering a high. The build that is listed below is a set of equipment and recommended stats that we see fit for the Deprived Class in Dark Souls 2. ago. Para aquellos que juegan Dark Souls II SotFS con teclado/ratón usando una disposición similar a la del mapeado de "Dark Souls. In Dark Souls 1, if you wanted to use a heavy strength weapon with a fast dex weapon as backup you needed a quality build. 08. Hammers. So you could go 30 int 30 fth or 10 int and 50 fth and the damage output will be the same. The Deprived Class is by far one of the most difficult classes to start with but can be the most rewarding and powerful one in the long run. Just don't go above 40 for most offensive stats, its. Not if you're trying to make a dedicated build with a stat cap, it won't. The Warrior is meant for players who prefer high damage and Slow paced classes. Flamberge is a Weapon in Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered. Total: 76 Equipment Load. Vitality: 14 (TDR is wasted on Hex builds, imo, and Flynn's is mandatory for infused weapons on light builds) Attunement: 20-50 (closer to 50 is more for PvE because it lets you pew pew more) Strength: 12-20 (meets minimum requirements for Skill Blade and other weapons) Adaptability: ~15-25 (depending on your Attunement, you want to add points. Sorcerer starting equipment. All of the starting gift items are obtainable in-game, meaning these gifts provide a temporary advantage. dual wielding great hammers for absolute destruction at the cost of A LOT of stamina. Attunement - 4. 1. Standard straight sword. Rapier is a weapon in Dark Souls 2. A standard thrusting sword. Hug the left wall until you meet Vengarl. I'm personally not recommending you to start new game trying to play as pyromancer. Decreases casting time of most offensive spells at dexterity levels 35-45. I hate that there's not actual pyromancer class in dark souls 2. The build that is listed below is a set of equipment and recommended stats that we see fit for the Explorer Class in Dark Souls 2. The Sacred Chime Hammer’s stat requirements necessitate players to focus on building strength, with some additional Intelligence, Faith, and Dexterity to supplement it. Avoid Bandit. And most importantly to me, you need to be a fast caster. You would want it to be higher than 6 on any Mundane build, so all characters will work since it should be 20 or more. 2017: Hollow Knight Wolf-of-the-Gang. Turning human is only good for resetting your HP bar to full, or if you want to summon NPC before boss fights. Because only Gutter Trash can comprehend what it means to be a true gentleman. Dual-wielding is more viable in Dark Souls II than in the original, and the Swordsman makes the most of that. I’m starting dark souls 2 on an Xbox 360 and was wondering what the best class is. The Knight is the best choice for a beginner, because attacks that nearly kill you and panic you as lighter classes can almost be ignored. There should be at least 1 weapon for most weapon-classes. You're clearly familiar with DS3 so don't waste time with the nooby classes. Pyromancies typically deal Fire damage and are cast with a Pyromancy Flame or Dark Pyromancy Flame. Also, the biggest reason I love DS2 is for its min/max'ing possibilities that go far beyond what's possible in the other games, so my list is going to feature the stuff I enjoy the most: heavily min/max'ed gameplay. I recommend going: 50 VIG. For other uses, see Pyromancy (disambiguation). . The unique old-schoo. 2. The vast majority of enemies can be poisoned, and about 4~ poison arrows will take out like 80% of the HP from just about every bigger enemy. That weapon, but it is more visually pleasing in ds2 and has decent damage. Dark Souls’ primary campaign is singleplayer, but it’s also – technically – always a multiplayer, online experience. 12 Best: Bewitched Alonne Sword. The best starting class for magic entirely depends on the type of magic you want to cast. Don't level Resistance. Player's who pick Knights will have a powerful character even at the start of the game. You're killing two birds with one stone because. Best Hexes in Dark Souls 2. Heal. Title says it all. You get an inordinate amount of levels in Ds2, so any build shortcoming will be fixed within 1-2 bosses. Weapon effects are applied only in active slots: lh-1 and rh-1. Example: For my dex character, I will not want to choose the warrior, who starts with 15 strength, when I only need 12 str to use my favorite weapons (katanas, straight. The magic is the opposite; the effects are poorly done in 3 for the most part. Class Description: Assassins utilize agility, cunning, and unique stealth techniques to catch opponents off-guard. The Club. webp. It starts with a Mace and Cleric's Sacred Chime as its starting weapons. Some. Magic Weapon might just be one of the most simple sorceries but also one of the most useful for pure builds, or for those wishing to still use melee but with a magic tendency. Users share their opinions and experiences on the best starting class in Dark Souls 2, based on different criteria such as stat distribution, weapon choice, and build flexibility. You would not want to start with a caster even though you could and it would be fine. That makes things like the zwei, longsword, claymore, and bastard sword much more appealing for a str build. Your preference for starting class. Assassin, Blade & Soul Class, Male Jin & Female Jin. The Cleric Knight build, AKA "Dark Souls on easy mode", is one of the most effective and, more importantly, most efficient PvE builds in the game. Magic still OP in DS2. Lowest magical stats. Weapon Stats. Heide Lance is versatile, requiring 18 Strength and 12 Dexterity. Updated: 16 Nov 2022 01:46. Sacred Chime Hammer. His starting equipment is decent and he can twohand the mace found in Majula right out of the gate. It's actually a complete game, unlike ds1 and ds2, and it really feels like it. The below classes, stats, and starting equipment are from the beta version of the game only. In honor of the upcoming Elden Ring drop,. Spear, Talisman. 6- Grand Lance. On new game + now. Could someone please comment a class which is best for me and why. Take your time, and be patient with the enemies. A straight sword with a very long blade. Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin is a special edition of Dark Souls II, released on PC April 1st, April 3rd in Europe and released in North America on April 7th, 2015 for the Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4. And lore isn't contradicting anything except DS2. For the gift, I usually take the petrified something for a chance to spin the wheel and maybe get one of the best great hammers in the game right off the bat. The magic is the opposite; the effects are poorly done in 3 for the most part. Starting Class: Bandit. Moonlight Battlemage - SL150. Bandit is a starting Class in Elden Ring. Boards. Swordsman is great for high physical damage with the right build and oddly enough good for hybrid. The Seed of a Tree of Giants has a single and very narrow use, and that is to catch invaders off-guard and send them back to the shadow-realm. Dude Justice Jul 25, 2014 @ 11:48am. Best Weapons for Hex Build. Best starting gifts: Healing Wares are good for a new player because it gives you, well, extra healing items for the start of the game where you're still learning the mechanics. Go for 99 or 105 agility. All Sorceries have a required amount of Intelligence that must be met in order to use, with. *When infused: 80 physical dmg/80 elemental dmg and B scaling with chosen element. Endurance increases your Stamina and Equip Load. The game has been published for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC by Namco Bandai Games. The scaling is shown as a letter under the the required stat to use that weapon. The Mace can be buffed and infused, unlike a lot of other. A simple guide to explain each starting class's strengths, weaknesses and which one is most likely to be best for which build you want to make. My personal favorite is the Craftsman's Hammer and it has easily the best moveset in the class. This allows players to hide their augmentation and make the opponent stay on their feet. Spear - Gargoyle Bident generally comes out on top. Bonfire Ascetics for those with the knowledge to put it to good use (or just simply want to watch the world burn); Human Effigy/Homeward Bone to make you feel bad when you misclicked another gift. Flamberge +15. For other uses, see Weapons (disambiguation). " -Dark Souls 2 Wiki, Agility page. RELATED: Dark Souls 2: Every Starting Class, Ranked Hidden enemy placements, progression requirements, and unique rings are just a few examples of what Dark Souls 2 brought to the table. Increases damage on weapons with dexterity modifiers. Enjoy smoother, more precise character movement and camera control when using a gamepad. However, one false swing leaves one wide open. * Yes. At practically any point in the game, another player can invade your campaign and trigger a PVP (Player Vs Player) battle. When dual wielding two weapons of similar classes, attempting to two-hand the left-hand weapon (hold Y/Triangle by default), the player instead activates Power Stance, which makes left-hand attacks swing with both weapons instead. A. The Estoc doesn't have quite the DPS, but it have a useful moveset. Only a few famed warriors have ever wielded this great blade, for it challenges the very limits of human ability. Those who aspire to master the sword are. It only requires 1 Attunement slot and has excellent damage for a starting spell, it can also be used 20-30 times, perfect for putting pressure on the opponent, or if you just want to take out multiple enemies from afar without them going anywhere near you. This is the stepping stone to explaining my process; we know from the data we have that character level = current stat total - 53. The Dark infusion works best by offering a high. It has fewer, and it does have some bad ones (Bed of Chaos, 15 Asylum Demon variants, etc. The minimum Intelligence and Faith needed to use all pre-DLC spells is. Useful Links. Best starting gift is definitely healing wares if. 6. Rest of the classes go in this order: Solar (with Starfire)> Void> Solar (without Starfire)>>>Arc. Grimm's Pure Faith Cleric build. I would recommend starting the game as a Sorcerer and using magic until you find the pyromancy flame and pyromancy spells. And Im familiar enough with the game to not HAVE to run a knight to stay alive. You can't get it super early in DS2, however. Weapons in Dark Souls II are pieces of offensive equipment that are used by a player's character to deal damage agains Enemies and Bosses. Cons. 4 / Int x1. The best starting classes for a new player would probably be Knight or Cleric. The following are weapons that. All of the starting gift items are obtainable in-game, meaning these Gifts provide a temporary advantage. Existing spells that used to be 'bad' were improved. If you plan on PvP'ing and don't want to delete your character when that time comes, you should decide now what you want to make and choose the best class for that min/max. Replayability? Yes, ds2 has better replayability than any souls game IMO, especially including elden ring. Of course it does start with a moderate amount of DEX that would be wasted if this is a STR / Hex build. Warrior starts with a shield but Knight is beefiest. Sometimes, you can get away with simply backing away instead. However, the shortage of arrows found in the early game renders it not viable as a main weapon choice. Their high Dexterity allows them to access a variety of unique weaponry (as well as the dual. Also if you're going with a weapon that scales off a certain stat (like Dex) its always a good idea to throw a couple of levels into the stat it scales with. Edit: My formatting sucks. Buy Heavy/Great Heavy Soul Arrows. 17. Knight is generally the best starting class for melee build because low attunement, int and fth, but Bandit is better if you don't plan to use flynn ring. Magic is pretty good, DS2 is probably the best game for making anything you want work Dex. Please post ur own top ten weapons so we can share idea's and tactics. Spells. Eligible Races: Jin, Lyn. Str scaling changes to E Dex scaling changes to C. Dark Souls II is a fantasy action-RPG game developed by From Software and is a follow up to Dark Souls. Best class for starting any build is Pyromancer. Add a Comment. Powerstanced Helix Halberds are a blast on DEX builds. To cast sorcery, you need to equip the spell catalyst and use it to cast your spells. Sorcery is a type of magic in Dark Souls 2. Weapon effects are applied only in active slots: lh-1 and rh-1. Rapiers suck for the mobs, but are good for bosses. The blade of this greatsword shines like the brilliant rays of the moon. Sorcerer is the best option imo because you start off with a staff and a decent spell that has 30 casts (and you can get to two attunement stats right away. 5. Dark Souls 2 - class guide, beginner, magic, melee, tank Don't miss our essential guide to all of the classes available in Dark Souls 2, whether you're a series newcomer or a Dark Souls veteran. As far as weapon classes go, each excels at different aspects of combat. Next you want a maxed out pyromancer glove. Cleric: Starting point for a pure Faith build, very efficient with not much in the way of wasted points. Gifts in Dark Souls II are starting inventory items which the player must choose from during character creation. Moveset: Katana (two-handed is a Berserker Blade/Claymore hybrid) Required Stats. You can also use the "Optimal Class" feature on Soulsplanner if you want to check. Reduces dark damage taken by 0. Straight Sword - There are people who will say that not only is the Longsword the best Straight Sword, it's the best PvP weapon in the game. It can be traded to some birds near the start of the game in what is basically a slot machine with the chance to get 1 piece of high end crafting material or equipment not available anywhere else in the game. It's easy mode. Hunter: Void>Solar>Arc>Stasis. Possessing decent armor and a solid weapon with its initial build, the Knight is a perfect choice for players who prefer a well-rounded melee character. Starting class is a bit meh. #2. ), the the good ones it has are IMO among the best in the companies. Halberds: Syans Halberd and Helix Halberd are the best for DEX. No human was intended to wield a sword of this weight or destructivenes. It has a primitive appearance, but also many advantages, including the ability to break the guard of a shield. Use the tools the game provides you and it's as easy as you choose to make it. Swordsman is hands down the best starting class in DS2. 3- Fume Sword. The standard Mace might be perhaps the most underrated strength weapon in Dark Souls 3, as it can wreak havoc in the right hands. Players may select one of eight different starting Classes , reduced from the ten. Most non-damage dealing stats are going to have to be raised. For more builds, check out our PvE Builds and PvP Builds pages to find various builds that have been created by the Fextralife team and its community. Vitality and equip burden determines how fast and long your character can dodge. DS2 Modern Buttons (FIX Keyboard with UI Icons) - LleroxD_Edit. Dark Scythe: treasure pickup in the Shaded Woods, near the Shaded. Can't go wrong with the Fire Longsword. The secret of Dark Souls II’s combat is timing your actions to manage your stamina so that you’re never at your opponents’ mercy. Force, Wrath of the gods, and Emit Force i use for when someone gets too close and there about to hit me but dont spam them. 1 Pyromancer. A majority of pvp in the game is done in arena as well. Google it there is a step by step guide. Bump dex to about 15 and start pumping str to at least 28. Covenants are "factions" within Dark Souls and Dark Souls Remastered. Wretch is a starting Class in Elden Ring. Moonlight Greatsword is a weapon in Dark Souls 2. Any player wanting a good experience for a first playthrough should consider this class as it is the most “noob-friendly” out of all the classes. . In the attribute input field press up or down keys on keyboard to increase or decrease the attribute value. The adap is really low starting out so try to pump that up asap after getting enough str to wield a respectable shield. Doesn't matter, honestly. Especially considering the ridiculous Forrest of the Giants area, where you actually get ganked from all directions and on top. 8 Moonlight Greatsword. ; What are Boss Soul Weapons in Dark Souls 2? Boss Soul Weapons are weapons. In DS2 any build is good as long as you have 100 or 105 agility. Also, you can pickup a free pyromancy flame from a corpse in the swamp just before Quelaag. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, live from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. 4 Bulldozer. Dark Orb - A basic Hex spell that's essential for a Hex Build. One can be chosen by the player at the beginning of the game as sort of an extra bonus to help them get going. Unlike many other builds you will find, the Cleric Knight build requires no farming, no grinding, and no prayers to RNGesus becuase you don't need him. Sorceries can be cast by the player at any time and each requires a specific number of Attunement slots in order to equip. The classes in Dungeon Siege II are. And the speed is key in leveraging damage rings. Classes can also be combined to create a multiclass that can harness the skills and powers of the classes. Stone Soldier TB is the best physical one, Dragonrider's TB is the best one for a. There are 10 Classes in Dark Souls that the player can begin the game with. If you are min maxing you will be. refresh. Pure STR should take bandit for the low casting skills. Previously known as “Forbidden Sun” in Dark Souls 2. 2- Red Iron Twinblade. Bussy Apr 30, 2014 @ 9:32am. We. 2. Axe is the best starting weapon for STR too. Who has the best souls grind ds2? The best bosses to farm for souls are Velstadt and King Vendrick. Bosses - Dark Souls. While Homeward Bone is one of the best Dark Souls 2 best gifts, its usage is limited for the time when you accumulate too many souls and try to escape a strong. Other stats you'll want to focus on are Vitality and Endurance. DS2 has the best magic by far. You can also use the "Optimal Class" feature on Soulsplanner if you want to check. Petrified Something is the best gift, but only if you're willing to restart and make your character all over again to get the best result. Deprived will only be the best if you want your lowest stat to be only 6. The best weapon augmentation is Darkmoon Blade;. Staff of Wisdom +5 (magic), Moonlight Greatsword +5 (magic) Drangleic Shield. Play using a rapier in DS 2 or 3, because rapier on DS1 sucks. Note : Two-handing doesn't boost damage at 99 Strength. Otherwise pick the Healing Wares. Dark Souls 2 Wiki Guide compiles different guides, tips & tricks on all the features available in the game, which includes all Classes, Abilities, Stats, Weapons, Equipment types, Build recommendations, obtaining different types of Items and each of their effects, how to complete Achievements and gain Trophies and more. Received in trade from the Weaponsmith Ornifex for the Old Dead One Soul, the Crypt Blacksword is one of the most unique ultra greatswords in Dark Souls II, but it can be. It is by far the best option, always. I’m starting dark souls 2 on an Xbox 360 and was wondering what the best class is. And most bosses leave themselves open for counter hits. Knight is a good one to start with - it has high HP, decent armor and good offensive stats. This straight sword is sufficient in most respects, and effective in most situations if wielded properly. In the attribute input field press up or down keys on keyboard to increase or decrease the attribute value. . Me/vanbuinen. The strong attack unleashes its strength, launching a wave of moonlight. Select bow and crossbow to view arrow attack and bolt attack. The Warrior class has a broken straight sword for a. ago. I am very new to Dark Souls 2 and I have no idea what class to start with, I have used a few classes for a brief time and can't seem to find the best class. Related Tags. Doesn't matter, honestly. These player-created equipment and stat combinations are character builds made to tackle Solo or co-op play with a focus on winning boss battles and overcoming regular enemies. Important Min/Maxing character tip. Fire would be a infinity better choice, you do not split the damage for a start, also Fire damage stacks of Faith and Int equally so also does very good damage, and being an inherent fire wep would gain better scaling as a "Fire. Deprived: He's got a good spread. It is the only class that begins with ranged weapon, the Short Bow. The SL 120 Pure Quality, 40/40 build for Dark Souls Remastered, with a little bit of Pyromancy. It starts with a Dagger and a Sorcerer's Staff as its starting weapons. Those are basic, bare-minimum requirements to even start being effective. 6. What really makes this build worthwhile is the reality-shifting abilities given at 10th and 14th levels. To join a covenant the player must make oaths to specific NPCs. The Knight is a well-rounded class that offers very nice starting armor and has balanced stats for strong offensive purposes. I sunbro a lot, so I went faith. 1 Pilgrims Of The Dark. Focus on getting a decent chunk of health, I'd say 15 is good for a start. #1. sumerioo. Deprived. Scythe adjusted for battle. I havent gotten very far in Dark souls 2 yet. You get bonkers damage, a nice wall to hide behind, and a simple but effective PvE playstyle to ease you into the game. Don't upgrade your starting staff, it's garbage compared to what you'll use later. Blacksmith Hammer is a close second but gets edged out due to lack of counter damage. Highly recommend whatever class has the highest Adaptability. "Their hopes dashed on our shields! Their victory slashed by our swords!" Devil_Killer_JC 9 years ago #3. Clear Bluestone Ring +2, Northern Ritual Band +2, Southern Ritual Band +2, Third Dragon Ring. ago • Edited 7 yr. Installation: -Open up your Remastered game location: C:Program Files (x86)SteamSteamAppscommonDARK SOULS REMASTERED. Regular rapier is probably best if you're going for lots of backstabs and parries. Thanks. The statistics are horrible for a clunky piece of armor and. again cleric is better 4 pure caster miracles but as soon as u add a decent amount of str or dex 4 weapons u will find knight is the better class. Herald Set, Kite Shield. . If you go with poison, which is great, you won't need int or faith. Especially the beginning of the game. The Starting Classes of Dark Souls II will only give you a head start on certain stats. It also has a lower starting Resistance stat to make up for its high Intelligence and. Each one of them will use a specific build. 7- Majestic GS. Unfortunately, these were highly debuffed in the potential damage section. they are the best noob starting classes since they both start. Sorcerer: Top tier pure Int class. Deprived: He's got a good spread. Dagger is a weapon in Dark Souls 2. Choosing the Knight Class in Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 continues the series tradition of a flexible class system, but the Warrior class outshines the rest when it comes to newer players. Because a valiant Boxer knows never to back down until the final bell tolls. Scythe is a weapon in Dark Souls 2 "A scythe fitted with a large custom blade. Pyromancer: best starting catalyst, best for twinking, best for cheesing the game. Players that aspire to make a paladin or. The "best" solo PvE build imho, is going to for an INT build. The below classes, stats, and starting equipment are from the beta version of the game only. For your main weapon, you can have any Great Hammer, but we recommend the Smelter Hammer. The Bandit class is pretty underpowered, and is easily outperformed by the majority of other classes. Get a Dragonrider Bow with Poison arrows for times you need ranged and your're straight. refresh. 5 - Loyce GS. 3 . And most bosses leave themselves open for counter hits. The third entry in the "Dark Souls" series, Dark Souls III was released in Japan in March 24th 2016, and worldwide in April 12th 2016. There are three types in Dark Souls: Miracles, Sorcery, and Pyromancy. 0) and pyros require Int investment. This guide will provide an overview of each class. Starting Gift: Really doesn't matter. g. Endurance: 20. Both of the swords are good options depending on your situation. Using a consumable Humanity item gave you some bonuses, including a beautiful facelift. DemonKiller007 (Topic Creator) 9 years ago #9. Poise has also made a return through armor sets as well. The Sorcerer is meant for players who prefer a Magic Long-Range type class. If you're good enough to beat the game with Deprived go ahead, it allows for more focused builds.