Absurdly Sharp Blade: Ornstein's Dragonslayer Spear, apparently.Since actually reaching that level cap takes forever, most players intentionally limit themselves, at least as far as PvP is concerned. Typically speaking, one can reliably defeat the Final Boss at around level 100. Since each stat caps at 99, the maximum level in these games is around the mid-700s to low 800s (depending on the specific game). Absurdly High Level Cap: Each time a stat is raised by one point, a level goes up.Together, the so called "Soulsborne" style of gameplay has inspired many imitations and seeped into the broader game design culture. See also Demon's Souls (a spiritual predecessor to the Souls trilogy), Bloodborne (a game with similar themes and gameplay but a very different setting), Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (a game with similar but altered gameplay and a Feudal Japan setting, but retains the style of the Souls games), and Elden Ring (a spiritual successor created in collaboration with George R. Dark Souls: Legends of the Flame (2016).Dark Souls: The Breath of Andolus (2016).By entering one of the games' various covenants, players gain benefits to co-op play, invasion, hunting invaders, and so forth. While online you can summon other players to help you, but you can also be invaded and killed by others. You can also leave messages on the ground warning of enemies, hazards and treasure (or to lure others into traps).
Examining bloodstains while playing online will replay the last ten seconds of another player's life, which highlights potential hazards.