Console Gaming

Dirt Rally Tips: How to Become Faster

Last updated on November 4, 2019

Looking for some Dirt Rally tips? Well, first of all, don’t cut. No. Seriously. Don’t – cut.

Now, I’m not exactly a pro. WTLS is more or less a team of pro-tech-writers – not racers. But, still, as someone who always finishes somewhere at the top of the top tier, I think I’m at least a bit qualified to give you a few basic tips that will help you become faster.

Do keep in mind that all of these tips can be applied to both Dirt Rally and Dirt Rally 2.0.

1: Listen to My Calls Samir

First things first, I know that this goes without saying. But, listen to your co-driver. Seriously. It’s very important.

There are some pro racers that somehow manage to finish without listening to their co-driver. But, these are real-life pros. Not gamers.

In case you’re just starting out and you’re not too familiar with rally calls, we basically use numbers from 1 to 6 in order to define how sharp or flat the upcoming corner is. The lower the number, the tighter that the corner is going to be.

So, basically, left 1 means that the upcoming turn is going to be a slow left. Speaking of which, a common misconception is that these numbers always represent what gear we should be in while taking a corner. That’s completely false.

Trying to take a 5 or even a 6 at 5th gear on maximum rev with some of the most powerful Group B cars is suicidal. Of course, that highly depends on the stage and the specific car. But, you get the point.

So, the system is pretty straight forward. But, there are some other, high-alert calls to keep in mind as well.

Don’t cut: This means that there is something dangerous on the side of the corner and that you should stay on the road. It could be because of a rock or something like that
Gate: Gate ahead. Stay in the middle of the road to avoid crashing
Square: 90-degree corner
Hairpin/Acute: Usually a 180-degree turn
Crest/Bump/Jump: Describes small details on the road. Be particularly wary of jumps since there is not a whole lot of control in the air
Deceptive: You’ll usually find this in corners with low visibility where you won’t be able to see how tight the turn really is

2: Know Your Limits

A big part of rally racing is knowing your limits and staying well below them at all times. That’s because driving close to the limits means that we’re more likely to make a mistake.

And, sure. Rally racing is ultimately that. Racing. So, it makes sense for us to wanna go as fast as possible.

The question is, what’s faster? Driving as fast as possible and crashing every once or twice per stage? Or going just a little bit slower and finishing without an issue?

This is even more useful at online challenges where there is no restart button. Not to mention the weekly and monthly challenges that require you to be very careful just for making it to the finish line.

Overall, take a step back, get to know yourself and your limits, then stay under them for as long as possible.

3: Learn How to Drive

This goes without saying, but knowing how to drive is very important. And rally driving can be a bit more complicated than you may think.

It’s not all about the simple things like braking, throttle control, and turning (Though, they do obviously play a massive role). There are also a few things that are not visible at first, such as oversteer control, weight balance, racing lines, various techniques like the “Heel and Toe” or the “Scandinavian Flick”, and more.

If all that sounds like Greek to you, then you should probably consider looking into that kind of stuff. There are a ton of helpful guides online.

Do keep in mind that some techniques are impossible to use on a gamepad or keyboard. Especially a keyboard. For example, if memory serves right, the game automatically pushes the throttle a little when we downshift on a gamepad. So, without a wheel, it basically performs the “Heel and Toe” automatically for you – even with all the assists being disabled.

Other than that, do also consider learning how to tune a car to your personal preference. In most cases, it seriously didn’t help me a lot. But, some cars on certain surfaces felt very tough to control without at least adjusting the suspension a bit.

With all of that being said, each car feels different. Especially when you switch from a front-wheel-drive to a rear-wheel-drive. So, take some time to get used to the different cars of your preference as well.

4: Consider Getting a Wheel

If you can afford it, a budget sim-racing setup helps a lot in getting faster and having more fun as well.

Now, we’re not saying that getting a wheel with pedals will automatically make you faster. But, what we’re saying is that it helps a lot with precision movements. And with practice, this is what’s going to make you both faster and more consistent.

As for which wheel to get, we personally wouldn’t recommend anything less than the Logitech G29. This is as cheap as one can go without completely butchering quality and the driving experience.

One of the most important reasons that the G29 is the bare minimum is because it offers a somewhat decent force feedback motor. That’s essential for feeling the movements of your car – not to mention for extra immersion.

Speaking of immersion, consider getting a shifter as well. After all, most of the older cars in Dirt Rally use a classic shifter.

5: Consider Getting Rid of Any Assists

There is a bit of a stigma with assists and racing sims. But, that’s not what this is about. Using any assists is ok and that’s completely up to you to decide.

However, do keep in mind that car assists reduce the level of control and precision. At least that’s how it felt for me. It’s as if you can no longer feel the weight of the car all that much anymore and that makes driving feel a bit dull and maybe even slower.

So, if you can get used to driving without any assists and taking full control over the car, then that’s probably going to benefit you in the long run.

Just do keep in mind that budget gamepads need a few assists. Especially those that don’t provide a lot of throttle and breaking control.

I once tried playing with a 10$ gamepad and breaking without the front wheels locking up or using the throttle without a rear-wheel-drive car going out of control was kind of impossible.

So, again, in some cases, there is no option but to rely on assists. If you’ve got the equipment to get rid of them, we’d recommend doing so.

Dirt Rally Tips: Summary

That’s all for now. If all these Dirt Rally tips are a bit too much information for you to take in at once, here’s everything that we talked about in nutshell:

Listen to the calls of your co-driver
Always drive under your limits (unless you’re practicing on a private session)
Invest a bit of time into learning at least the basics of how to drive a rally car (Weight shifting, oversteering, etc)
Consider buying a budget sim-racing setup (Wheel, pedals, and shifter)
Get rid of driving assists if you can afford to do so. In the end, this will give you more control over the car

Best VPN for Xbox One – Complete Review

Last updated on October 24, 2019

Hook up to VPN for Xbox One and unleash the multiplayer gaming potential your console comes packed with. Here’s a complete guide on how to set up a VPN on your Xbox One console and a step-by-step tutorial on how to do it.

Back in the late 1990s when a tech wiz over at Microsoft invented the technology behind virtual private networks, who would’ve thought that two decades later, there would be hundreds of top VPN services catering to billions of users all over the world? Over the years, the growing threat of cybercrime and the tightening fist of government agencies all over the world has forced the hand of consumers to find meaningful and effective ways to safeguard their access to the World Wide Web at large.

The VPN service providers have been able to capitalize not only on desktop-based users, but the popularity of anonymity online has led to the creation of VPN mobile apps too. However, the real-time benefits of using a VPN service are now being recognized by the gaming community as well. This has led to a surge in VPN services made available for gaming consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox One and the Sony PlayStation 4.

Why Use a VPN for Gaming?

As a mainstream internet user, you’re sure to have come across a VPN service at least once in your lifetime, and for some of us, it is a part of our daily online activity. The way a VPN service works is that it reroutes your internet connection through a private server situated at a remote location. Unless you’re using a premium VPN service, you can expect slower internet speeds when connected to a VPN server. So why would anyone want to risk the horror of suffering through a drop in frame rates and server lag during action-packed gaming by using a VPN?

Get the latest game titles

For those of us who are dead serious about gaming and never miss out on the latest released, getting your hands on the newly released game title means the world. Since launch dates for most games are region-specific, the game that you wish to fire up on your PC or gaming console may not be available right away.

When you have a premium VPN for Xbox installed, you can skip past the waiting line and connect to a regional server where the game has already been launched. Rather than waiting for weeks to get started on highly anticipated game titles, you could begin smashing the living heck out of your controller.

Bypass ISP throttling

There’s no doubt over the fact that the quality and speed of your internet connection decides the quality of gaming experience you are going to enjoy online. You might be shelling out a premium each month to get a high-speed internet connection from your ISP, but the age-old problem of internet speed throttling could be ruining your online multiplayer game on the Xbox.

Whether it’s the increased server load because everyone on your local server is hogging on the connection, or the ISP is throttling your connection to reduce the load and offer a uniform browsing experience to all of the users, rerouting your network connection while gaming encrypts the data that is being transferred, thus skipping the inspection cue set up by the ISP.

Gaming on the go

Imagine you’re traveling halfway across the world for business or leisure, so are you going to manage to play your favorite games on your usual regional servers? Since only a handful of multiplayer games allow you to manually choose your game server location, you will need to use a VPN for Xbox One to mask your IP address and connect remotely to a home server.

Using a high-end VPN server should give you hundreds, if not thousands of server locations to connect to, allowing you the ability to access your preferred game servers back home. As long as you have a stable internet connection abroad, your gaming experience should be unaffected by your regional location.

Securing your device

Whether you take into account the hundreds of dollars you’ve spent on game titles in your library or the special collectibles in your inventory – there’s a bunch of valuable content in your gaming account. Since your gaming account also holds social media and personal information, along with payment details, there’s a lot to lose if some hackers decide to hijack your connection.

The first and foremost feature of almost every premium quality VPN service provider has bolstered security all around. When you’re rerouting your game connection through encrypted servers, it becomes virtually impossible for attackers to find their way into your personal game account.

3 Best VPN for Xbox One

Now that you understand the core importance of using a VPN service while gaming on your Xbox, its time to make a difficult choice. Ever since the popularity of VPNs has exploded, so has the long list of names increased in the business, with each and every one of them offering high-speed and secure browsing experience online. We’ve put these claims to the test and shortlisted some of the most popular and reliable VPN services for Xbox One out there.

1. ExpressVPN (Recommended)

A pioneer in the world of VPN services, ExpressVPN is regarded as a preferred choice among gamers on the Xbox One and Xbox 360. Getting the basics right, the VPN service comes with TrustedServer technology, which puts forward essential privacy measures that keep your gaming experience secure, along with speed optimizations and anonymity that allows you to access restricted content the easy way.

When it comes to gaming-specific features, you get hundreds of high-speed remote servers situated all across the world to connect to. The ability to mask your geographical location makes it simpler for you to connect to any local game server effortlessly, and the 30-day money-back guarantee in place ensures that your investment is always protected.

2. NordVPN

Another formidable name in the business of VPN service providers for gaming, the reason we recommend you to use it as a VPN for Xbox One isn’t limited to just the high-speed performance. While protecting your connection from DDoS attacks and security breaches, NordVPN does so without dampening the internet speed.

Regardless of where you’re situated, NordVPN allows you to connect to international remote servers and get gaming right away. More than 5,000 spread across the global map allows you as a user to stream content without a hiccup, get access to region-locked games, and even cut out the ping times that can ruin a multiplayer gaming experience.

3. PureVPN

Even if you aren’t on the move and gaming right from the comfort of your home, PureVPN highlights the reasons why you absolutely must get yourself a VPN for Xbox One or PS4. Apart from the common claims of high-speed internet access and complete identity protection while being connected to the World Wide Web, PureVPN comes with dedicated Port Forwarding.

This feature allows you to conveniently connect to games with the most crowded servers such as PUBG and Fortnite without much of a wait time. Whether you’re trying to evade the ISP throttling issues on your desktop or gaming console or want matchmaking to be from a specific region, PureVPN has got you covered.

How to set up VPN on Xbox One with ExpressVPN

Unlike your desktop computer or your mobile phone, most gaming consoles do not come with native support for a VPN service. The Xbox One is no exception, but the versatility of certain supported VPNs such as ExpressVPN allows you to install it and have it running on your console in minutes.

Method 1: Get a VPN Router

Since the demand for security and privacy is on the rise, the market has adapted to the need for VPN services at every step of the way. The best way to keep each and every network connection in your home or office secure is by equipping the source of the network connection with a reliable VPN service provider.

With a VPN router installed and your ExpressVPN login credentials set up with it, you don’t have to worry about individually enabling the VPN connection on each and every device. Since your Xbox One console would be hooked up to your wireless router as well, all of your online gaming with being funneled through secure servers.

Choosing the Best VPN Router – Buying Guide

Method 2: Connect via PC

While gaming consoles may not have a dedicated app for ExpressVPN, desktop PCs do, which is just what you need to make this method work. All you need to do is connect your computer to a remote, secure server and share the internet connection with the Xbox One. The only downside to this method is that you need to have the computer turned on when gaming on the console.

Plug in one end of the ethernet cable into the Xbox One console and the other end into the computer with ExpressVPN enabled on it.
Right-click on the Start button and then press on the Settings
Head over to the Network & Internet menu and select the VPN
Click on Change adapter settings on the right corner of the screen.
On the new screen, right-click on the Ethernet icon and select the Properties
Select the Sharing tab and then check the box that reads “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection”.
Select the Xbox One ethernet connection using the drop-down menu below it and press OK to confirm your action.

You can now navigate on the Xbox One console screen to Settings – Network – Network settings – Test network connection to see if the VPN connection through the computer has been established.

Final Words

From being a pastime for the youth of the developed world to a global phenomenon that has become an industrial complex worth billions of dollars today – gaming has come a long way. We’ve managed to take back the freedom on which the internet was invented with the help of the best VPN service providers available today, and the same flexibility of usage needs to be afforded to gamers as well.

Taking into account the deciding factors on which online multiplayer gaming stands today, we have boiled down the list of the best VPN for Xbox One to the major 3 names. Whether you’re interested in unlocking regional content that is not available in your country, wish to bypass ISP throttling and get ahead in the game, or wish to play on location-specific servers, connecting your gaming console to a VPN is all you need to do.

Which one of the aforementioned VPN service providers are you going to side within this great battle of breaking free your Xbox One console for online gaming? We’re looking forward to hearing from you, so be sure to mention in the comments section below, what you think about it.

Force Feedback Wheel Comparison (2019)

Last updated on October 9, 2019

A force feedback wheel is an absolute must-have tool for any sim-racer. Especially when it comes to sims like Assetto Corsa and iRacing that generally don’t play too well with gamepads and cheap wheels.

But, which one should you pick? There are a ton of options out there starting from less than $100 all the way up to the thousands. That’s why we’re here to help you out with the process.

Here are some of the best wheels that you can get in 2019!

1: Logitech G29: Best Budget Force Feedback Wheel

Those of you who have been into sim-racing for a while probably saw this coming from a mile away – and rightfully so. After all, Logitech’s wheels have been an extremely popular option for a long time now.

It definitely struggles to compete with some more expensive wheels. But, for just about 200 bucks, it’s really hard to go with this one.

Covered in leather with a metal frame, the G29 does its best to look like a real driving wheel. And for the most part, it does a rather ok job at it.

That being said, the flashy buttons definitely take away from all that. So, it may be a deal-breaker for some people. While we’re at it, the Playstation buttons are also off-putting for PC gamers who are used to the Xbox layout – but that’s just a minor detail.

What really matters is the feel of the wheel and the force feedback. Thankfully, the force feedback is extremely strong. Probably more than you’ll ever need it to be.

However, the overall feel is a bit weird. It just doesn’t feel as smooth as its competitors like the T300 RS. Then again, both wheels have their own pros and cons which makes it hard to recommend one over the other.

For us, the clutch pedal is enough to go with the G29 over the T300 RS. But, that’s just a matter of personal preference. Speaking of additional features, do keep in mind that the shifter isn’t included with the wheel and actually costs 50 extra bucks or so.

Still, all things considered, finding a wheel that’s as reliable and sturdy at that price point is kind of impossible right now. So, if all you have to spend on a wheel is about $200 or so, definitely consider this one!

Pros:

Great value
Feels sturdy
Has proven to be more reliable compared to its competitors
Compatible with PS3, PS4, and PC
Strong force feedback

Cons:

Force feedback doesn’t feel as smooth compared to other options (Still much better than entry-level options)
The shifter is not included
No support for Xbox One (There is the G920 for that. But, it’s a slightly inferior version)

2: Thrustmaster T300RS GT: Best Mid-Range Force Feedback Wheel

Yet another very popular option. The T300 RS GT is all around a better choice compared to the G29. It looks like a real wheel, feels like a real wheel, doesn’t come with those flashy buttons, and the pedals are also superb.

But, with all of that being said, do keep in mind that it’s also much more expensive. On certain occasions, it asks for twice as much compared to the G29. Does that mean that it’s twice as good? Probably not.

Still, if you want something that’s objectively better than the Logitech G29 without having to spend a fortune, then this is more or less your only choice. It has one of the best force feedback responses that we’ve ever seen and it looks gorgeous as well.

If there’s one downside, then that has to be Thrustmaster’s quality control. It’s not uncommon for some people to report that their wheel stopped working after a couple of years.

On some occasions, it didn’t even last for more than a few months – and that seems to be a recurring theme with Thrustmaster wheels. That’s obviously unfortunate. But, at the same time, there are no better alternatives at this price point.

Pros:

Great force feedback
Feels great
Looks objectively good
Compatibility for both PS4 and PS3 while also being supported for PC

Cons:

Not compatible with Xbox (There is the TMX for that – but it’s a significant downgrade compared to this one)
Generally more expensive than the G29
Also doesn’t include a shifter

3: Accuforce Pro V2: Best High-End/Enthusiast Force Feedback Wheel

Let’s make one thing clear, this is not targeted towards your average consumer. The Accuforce Pro V2 is a direct drive wheel which is mainly made for pros and/or enthusiast sim racers.

To give you a point of reference, just the base with the wheel will cost you a thousand bucks. No shifter, no pedals – just the wheel and the base unit.

If that sounds expensive to you, then do keep in mind that this is one of the cheapest direct drive wheels on the market. By comparison, other direct drive wheels can easily ask for $1400 or more just for the base unit without even a wheel.

In case you’re not familiar with direct drive wheels, then you should know that the reason that they are superior to consumer alternatives is that they are directly connected to the force feedback motors.

See, cheaper wheels like the G29 use a sort of gear system to connect the wheel with the motor. The problem with that is that since there is a medium that needs to transfer the motion over to the wheel, a bit of detail and power always gets lost on the way.

Direct drive wheels, on the other hand, don’t lose any power or detail. After all, they are directly connected to the motor and that’s what makes them so much superior.

Does that mean that you should spend the extra money? Well, if you’re the average sim-racer like us, no. But, if you’re an enthusiast or someone who wants to take every bit of advantage, then do absolutely consider getting one.

Pros:

Amazing feel
Great attention to detail
Easy to use (For a direct drive wheel)
Extremely sturdy
Literally more powerful than you can handle (May even end up breaking your wrists at full power)

Cons:

Way too expensive for your average player
Complicated to use (Compared to consumer wheels)
Add-ons are relatively expensive

Conclusion

At the end of the day, there is no clear winner. Each wheel has its own pros and cons. Overall:

Logitech: Offers better reliability but the force feedback isn’t that smooth
Thrustmaster: Better force feedback but it’s more likely to break down
Accuforce: Surpasses both wheels in every single way but also costs a lot of money and is tougher to setup

Subnautica Tips: How to Reach The Bottom

Last updated on September 24, 2019

Articles regarding Subnautica tips don’t seem to be that common. Many people may tell you that you don’t need them. After all, Subautica is generally not considered a very hard game. It most certainly isn’t Dark Souls.

That being said, there’s also no doubt that trying to reach the bottom of the sea will suddenly increase the level of difficulty and annoyance by a huge margin. Having finished the game a couple of times, I know all about that experience firsthand.

That’s why I decided to make a small guide about it. No spoilers are present (assuming that you’ve already played up to this point).

1: Craft Everything That’s Necessary Before Moving On

There are lots of people that feel the need to rush their game in order to progress through the main story. I’m guilty of this as well and it has been one of my many downfalls.

So, first of all, I’d advise you to craft everything that’s necessary before heading to the depths. If you don’t, prepare to face a lot of frustration and possibly lose a ton of progress as well.

Due to the no-spoiler policy, I can’t tell you what dangers you’ll face. But, what I can tell you is that the level of difficulty is on a whole different level.

Now, regarding the tools that need to be crafted, there’s no absolute list. It all comes down to personal preferences and playstyle.

For example, despite how useful the sonar is, some people prefer saving that energy and navigating on their own. Others would rather receive damage and fix their vehicles afterward in favor of saving energy instead of using the shield generator.

And if saving energy sounds dumb to you, then chances are that you haven’t gone below a certain depth level just yet. Because believe me when I say that the travel distance to the bottom is really long.

Some of the absolute necessary parts are definitely the depth modules and maybe the drilling arm for the prawn suit. Everything else comes down to personal preferences.

2: Don’t Forget About Food and Saving

One of the most important Subnautica tips that nobody ever gave me is to take care of food and water before heading down to the bottom levels.

It makes sense that you wouldn’t be able to find a lot of edible stuff and ways to make drinkable water one thousand meters below sea level. But, at the same time, you can find all that for the rest of the game in a 5-minute swim. So, most players don’t really think about that before heading to the bottom until it’s too late and 2 hours of process are absolutely wasted.

Obviously, there are tons of choices on how you’ll manage to do that. You can just grab a ton of fish and store them to the Cyclops, maybe plant some trees that grow fruits, anything that you feel most comfortable with, really.

After my first playthrough, I personally disabled hunger and thirst completely cause they are more tedious than anything else. If you truly care about that kind of survival, check out something like The Long Dark.

As for saving, you should keep on doing it frequently, but not when you know that you’re already screwed. For example, if your vehicle is already at 20% power and you’re not sure just how much road there is to cover, then saving at that point is probably a bad idea.

When things go bad, it’s better to just load a previous, safe checkpoint. Some people may call that cheating. But, hey, if you want to craft a new Cyclops and Prawn along with everything that was stored in them, be my guest.

3: Manage Your Energy Wisely

This is the only point in the game where you’ll truly have to worry about energy consumption. Not only because the travel distance is very long, but also because it’s very easy to get lost. And that’s without even mentioning other things to avoid spoilers.

So, when it comes to Subnautica tips for reaching the bottom, saving energy is quite possibly the best tip that I can give you. And saving comes in many forms.

First of all, let’s start with the somewhat obvious by stating that you should carry extra batteries on your storage. Also, do make sure to turn off the engine of your Cyclops while you’re not driving. I don’t think that it makes a huge difference. But, just to be safe.

Things get more complicated when modules are concerned. There are things like the Sonar and the Shield that are extremely useful in certain situations.

Problem is that they are also very hungry for energy. So, don’t use such things unless you absolutely have to; especially the shield which will deplete your power storage in no time.

Other than that, do also try avoiding the usage of the Cyclops’ fabricator while you’re traveling to the depths. It’s not much, but every little bit of power drain will make a difference in the long run.

4: Don’t Be Afraid To Use Google

I understand that this sounds a bit weird, but as far as gaming is concerned, many people shy away from Googling for information and how-to guides.

When it comes to Subnautica tips for reaching the bottom of the sea, let me tell you that you WILL need Google at some point. Maybe you just can’t find a specific location, crafting material, or anything.

Stubborn people who refuse to use Google with this game have a very high chance of getting stuck for hours. Usually, the one thing that’s holding you behind isn’t but a specific material. So, don’t be that guy.

That’s unless you’re willing to spend the next 5 hours or even days just looking for one item. So, yeah. Google is your friend.

Subnautica Tips for Reaching the Bottom: Wrapping Up

For those who can’t reach the bottom, those are all the Subnautica tips that I’ve got for now. I hopefully didn’t forget anything and, hopefully, I also didn’t spoil anything. If the names “Cyclops” and “Prawn Suit” mean nothing to you, then you’re probably reading this article way too early into your playthrough.

If there any questions or extra recommendations that you wish to make, then let me know about them in the comments section or on Reddit. Try to keep it spoiler-free for those who haven’t experienced the game yet.

In case there is a question that contains spoilers, either use Google or reach to me with a PM on Reddit.

My rig:

CPU: Ryzen 5 2600 GPU: GTX 1060 6GB RAM: Corsair Value 16 GB kit (2400 MHz) PSU: Corsair RM 650X Headset: HyperX Cloud 2 Keyboard: Corsair K70 LUX Mouse: Logitech G203

Recommended Specs:

Doesn’t really matter. The game runs like trash anyways.

The Long Dark Interloper Guide

Last updated on August 9, 2019

The Long Dark interloper is quite possibly the toughest survival challenge you’ll ever face. I mean, there’s an achievement for surviving a single day on this difficulty. And those who survive are not the strongest or most intelligent, it’s those who adapt to change.

We’re not part of mother nature’s plan. We’re interlopers in this cursed, cold land, and we’re about to experience her wrath!

1: Priorities

First things first, if there is one huge difference between Interloper and the rest of the difficulties, then that would be the tools and weapons. In every other mode, you can look for hatches, knives, bows, rifles, and even pre-crafted bows with arrows.

This doesn’t happen in Interloper. Ever. You need to craft everything on your own. And for this reason, there are a few things that you must absolutely find and hold on to:

A heavy hammer
Coal
Scrap metal
Firestarters

Those are absolutely necessary for crafting all the tools and weapons that you’ll need for survival later on. So, your main priority upon starting is finding those ingredients and tools, holding on to them, and heading towards a forge.

Heavy hammers are most commonly found next to forges or crafting tables. Update: turns out that Interloper, unlike other difficulties, rarely ever drops hammers in forge areas. So, do keep that in mind.

Pieces of coal can mostly be found in caves or next to a fireplace, while scrap metal spawns all over the place. Obviously, scrap metal is much more scarce on Interloper.

You’ll also need a bit of wood to get a fire in the forge going. But, that’s the least of our worries here. Firestarters like matches are much more important to find as early as possible as they can help you with both food and water.

2: The Long Dark Interloper Guide: Starve To Death, But Don’t

For the first few days, every other game mode gives you enough food to survive easily for the next few weeks or so. Not Interloper, though. In-game loot is very rare and definitely not enough to keep you from starving. And that’s precisely what we’re going to do!

One very popular technique of dealing with the lack of food on Interloper is by not eating anything until you go to sleep. That’s because the lack of food doesn’t punish you nearly as much as not sleeping, not drinking water, or freezing.

You can spend the biggest part of the day without eating anything, losing a small percentage of condition, and then gaining it back at the end of the day with sleep.

Of course, there is the relatively new food buff mechanic which gives you extra capacity as a reward for continually avoiding starvation. But, my recommendation is to not think about it until you get your tools and weapons crafted.

When you first spawn on The Long Dark Interloper, a few pieces of cattail should be more than enough to get you through the night. Plenty of them can usually be found on lakes and rivers. So, do keep that in mind!

3: Navigation Is Key

As I’ve previously stressed on my “normal” guide for TLD, navigation is extremely important. It can make the difference between life and death and that’s especially true for Interloper playthroughs.

If you don’t know all the maps like the palm of your hand, then I’d suggest stopping here now, going back to something easier, learn the maps there, and then come back to Interloper.

The reason that navigation is so much more important here is because:

You don’t get to choose the map in which you’ll spawn
The weather is extremely deadly

That’s why most people never make it past day one. They commonly spawn somewhere in Timberwolf Mountain, Pleasant Valley, Hushed River Valley, or any other place with almost no shelters, and they freeze to death because they don’t know where to go.

How you navigate and where you go is completely up to you. But, do keep in mind that most people prefer using the landscape to tell where they are while Mystery Lake is generally considered to be the most favorable region. Quite possibly because it has lots of shelters while also being connected to numerous other regions at the same time.

4: Hunting

After you’ve crafted everything that’s necessary, hunting is the next big thing on the menu. And it works a bit differently on Interloper:

Don’t go after wolves and bears
If there are signs that bad weather is approaching, consider leaving the task for another time
Understand that your tools are extremely precious. Use them with care
Consider lighting up a fire next to you while harvesting a body

In other difficulties, going after predators isn’t a horrible idea. Bears provide enough food for numerous days while wolves can be taken down for safety. But, on Interloper, there’s the risk of intestinal parasites, and there’s also the fact that your tools are very precious.

You don’t want to waste arrows, bows, or knives and hatchets for no reason. After all, crafting can be tedious and even dangerous due to the distance that must be covered.

Then there’s also the weather. If you shoot your prey and a storm sneaks up on you, then you probably just lost a valuable arrow. So, be careful with that. A cloudy sky and small winds that get increasingly stronger are often an indication that things are about to get rough.

One other major difference between Interloper and other difficulties is that you can get mauled while harvesting a carcass. So, consider lighting up a fire next to you every time you want to harvest. This won’t save you from bears, but it will keep wolves at bay.

5: The Long Dark Interloper Tips: Adapt To The Situation At Hand

Now, when everything is said and done, do understand that TLD is a situational game. Even more so on Interloper which tries its hardest to kill you.

So, do keep everything that we’ve mentioned in mind. But, don’t follow everything by the letter. Judge every situation carefully and proceed to make the right decision for that particular situation.

For example, one very good point that one of my readers made on the last guide is that cold kills condition much faster than anything else. So, if you’re starving during the sunset with low condition and you don’t have food, then it makes sense to just abandon your prey since starvation won’t kill you as fast as cold, right? Wrong!

That’s precisely why I’m saying that TLD is a situational game. In the above case scenario, if you go to sleep starving with low condition, you’ll wake up to hunt in the coldest part of the day while being close to death.

So, the best idea would probably be to sleep for an hour or two until the storm goes away and then proceeding to hunt during the night. It’s not ideal. But, you gotta do whatever is necessary to survive.

The Long Dark Interloper Guide: Wrapping Up

That’s all I’ve got for now. Of course, if I were to mention every tiny detail that there is for Interloper mode, then we’d be here forever. So, I only mentioned everything above by taking into account the fact that you’re already familiar with the game.

If you’re relatively new and/or inexperienced, take it back a notch and play Voyager or Stalker until you’ve got a solid grasp of the maps and mechanics of the game. Also, consider reading my other guide which was made for your average player and not Interlopers.

As for those who are about to get started with the hardest difficulty of the game, here are some final The Long Dark Interloper tips for you:

Firestarters are a treasure here. Don’t use one unless you absolutely have to. It’s best to rely on the magnifying lens since it never breaks
When lighting a fire with a match, always prefer using a torch since you won’t have to waste a second match in case the fire doesn’t light up in the first try
After lighting up a fire, get as much meat and water as you can out of it to save up matches
Intestinal parasites are a massive pain in the butt. Try to stay away from predator meat
When it comes to avoiding cabin fever, a snow shelter is a much better solution than a bedroll. After all, as long as you tend to it regularly, you only need sticks to maintain it. Not to mention that it’s much warmer
Try not to use your tools unless you absolutely have to in order to keep them longer

My Gaming Rig:

Dark Souls 3 Bosses And How To Beat Them

Last updated on June 18, 2019

I just finished Dark Souls 3 for the 5th time and came to notice that all the Souls game are on sale. That explains the sudden rise in host of embers and the inexperienced invasions. So, I thought, these guys will probably have a rough time with some of the Dark Souls 3 bosses – why not make a guide to help them out? And here we are.

For now, I’m not going to include the DLC bosses. But, if you like this guide and want more, do let me know about it in the comments. Just don’t be surprised if I can’t reply because the comment system is more bugged than the remastered DS1 release for computers.

1: Ludex Gundyr

Luded Gyndyr is the first boss of the game and by far one of the easiest bosses in the whole DS franchise. If you’re new to the game and you’re getting your butt kicked by him, no need to worry. We’ve all been there.

It’s natural to feel intimidated by his long reach and destructive second form. But, remember, he is:

Very slow
Has ridiculously long recovery times
Can be parried
And is weak to fire

So, be brave. If you’re new to the series, do keep in mind that apart from timing, the dodging direction is very important as well. Try to get behind him as that slows him down a bit more and limits his moveset.

As for his second form, try to keep a bit of distance before dodging and counter-attacking as trying to identify his attacks up-close is a bit tough when he is so big.

2: Vordt of The Boreal Valley

Vordt is all around another easy boss. All you need to do is dodge around him and smack him in the butt. Not much that he can do about it.

Do be very careful of his second stage charge, though. It causes a lot of damage. His icy breath is something to look out for as well but it’s very slow and can easily be dodged. You can also use the time that he takes to cast it in order to safely deal massive amounts of damage.

He seems to be weak with lightning, but the Wiki page only mentions that he is weak only to melee and dark. So, go figure. Not like you’ll need that extra damage. But, just saying.

3: Curse-Rotted Greatwood

If you don’t know the secret to beating this boss then you’ll never manage to do it. But, it’s simple really. See these sacks that are hanging on his legs, back and crotch? That’s his weakness. Simply try to smash those without dying and you’ll be good to go.

Be careful of his middle hand while he is on his second form. If it grabs you it may result in instant death. And that’s all there is to it really. Curse-Rotted Greatwood is an optional boss. But, you’ll need him if you wish to turn the souls of bosses into items by relying on Ludleth.

4: Crystal Sage

The Crystal Sage can be a massive pain in the butt for Knight builds. Especially during the second stage where multiple clones come out.

Some people say that the best strategy is to take out the clones one by one before attacking the Sage, preferably by using knives. But, I personally found it easier to just rush straight into the boss and deal enough damage so that he’ll go away before the close have any time to do anything.

He is weak to pretty much everything except magic, fire, and dark. At this point, you can probably rely on the sword of Irithyll to deal extra frostbite damage.

This one seems like an optional boss, but he is not. You’ll need him later to progress through the Deacons of The Deep and thus through the rest of the game as well.

5: Deacons of The Deep

Find that one guy who has red LEDs
Beat him to a pulp
Repeat with the new guy
Done. Easy

That’s all there is to it with this boss. They can instantly kill you with their curse attack but if you move fast they won’t have time to do anything.

6: Dark Souls 3 Bosses: Abyss Watchers (Lord of Cinder)

The Abyss Watchers are the first real challenge on your path and the first Lord of Cinder. They are fast with small recovery times and big combos. Beating them is a bit of a challenge no matter what.

You can both parry and backstab them. But, I wouldn’t recommend the first choice. They are way too agile and not worth the risk. And since they are so fast, your best bet is probably dual wielding a relatively light weapon in order to take advantage of the low poise while having time to counter-attack as well.

On the first stage, you don’t have to fight everyone. Once a third watcher comes out, at least two of them will start fighting each other which gives you space to do whatever you want.

On the second stage, just be careful of the after-attack flames, dodge consistently, and you’ll be good to go. If it’s any help, they are weak to lightning and frost.

7: High Lord Wolnir

Wolnir is an easy one. Simply smash his bracelets and that’s all there is to it. Try doing it before all the skeletons spawn cause they are very frustrating and a pain to deal with.

Other than that, stay away from that smoke behind him and you’ll be good.

8: Old Demon King

Not much to say about this optional boss. Just dodge consistently, avoid his ranged attacks, and you’ll be good. He is weak to dark but it’s not like that will make a huge difference.

One thing that must be noted is that he is rather slow. So, you can take advantage of that to use a big and strong weapon if you can.

9: Pontiff Sulyvahn

Pontiff is where boys become men. His combos are insanely long and deal massive amounts of damage while he leaves very little room for fighting back.

Thankfully, you have the option of parrying most of his attacks. Most people say that this is where you learn to parry or you go home. But, honestly, I found parrying to be insanely tough with this guy. So, I just went with a lightweight sword, dodged consistently, and did as much damage as I could.

In his second form, he will spawn a clone of him which mirrors his attacks. At this point, he’ll start using ranged magic attacks as well – do be very careful with them as they deal massive damage.

Killing the clone is probably not worth it since another one will spawn shortly afterward anyway. Just focus on killing the main boss.

10: Dark Souls 3 Bosses: Aldrich, Devourer of Gods (Lord of Cinder)

As a Lord of Cinder, Aldrich can be a bit of a pain. He launches numerous attacks at once with the rain of arrows being by far the most dangerous one.

To avoid the arrows, run into zig-zag motions and not in a straight line. Also, try to keep your distance when he launches the arrows or leap behind him if you can since that’s a safe zone from them
The ranged blasts are highly destructive. Try to keep your distance where he fires them as that makes dodging easier
You can safely hit his tail while he is teleporting
Stay locked on while he fires his arrows as he can still attack you in the middle of the rain
Don’t be too scared of the fire in the second stage. It doesn’t deal a lot of damage

He ate my waifu, so I ended his laifu.

11: Dark Souls 3 Bosses: Yhorm The Giant (Lord of Cinder)

Yhorm is easy. You just need to know his weakness. Have you noticed the weapon that lies beside his throne? That’s what you need to bring him down.

All you need to do is fully charge it, aim at his head, fire, repeat. His second form is highly destructive. But, if you can dodge his attacks successfully then he really is the one of the easiest Dark Souls 3 bosses – especially if you consider that he is a Lord of Cinder.

12: Dancer of The Boreal Valley

Hands down one of the best fights in the game. The Dancer is insanely difficult not because of the destructive attacks, but because of just how unpredictable she is.

Compared to the rest of the bosses, she is moving at a much different pace with weird combos that are tough to memorize. But, once you do memorize them, that’s all you really need.

Do be very careful of the grab attack as it can kill you immediately – depending on how much you leveled up your health. Other than that, get your dodging game on point and you’ll be good to go.

If it helps you, she is weak to lightning and dark.

13: Oceiros, The Consumed King

I’ll never understand why so many people struggle with Oceiros. All I had to do was move behind him and smack him to oblivion. This technique got me through him numerous times almost always with the first try.

Just be careful with his second stage charges and you’ll be fine. Consider using a light weapon with fast attacks since he is moving a little bit unpredictably.

14: Champion Gundyr

Champion Gundyr is basically Ludex in his prime and we can safely assume that we’re fighting him on an alternate dimension/timeline. He is basically the same thing but with more combos, faster attacks, and much smaller openings than before.

All you need to do is memorize his moves and you should be good. You can parry him, but, good luck doing that with his fast attacks. I personally felt safer just dodging and counter-attacking.

Other than that, just keep a bit of distance when you want to drink an Estus cause he doesn’t give you a lot of room.

15: Dragonslayer Armour

This guy took the saying: “The best offense is a good defense!” a bit too literally. It’s shield bash after shield bash.

No special tactics are required in order to beat him. Just dodge, hit, dodge, hit. Be careful with the dragon attacks on the second stage, and that’s about it.

16: Dark Souls 3 Bosses: Twin Princes (Lord of Cinder)

Ever thought you’d feel good about beating a couple of cripples? Yeah, me neither. Darn you Dark Souls.

Beating the Twin Princes is easy. All you need to do is start predicting and avoiding the teleportations and you’re set for a victory. Other than that, careful with the ranged attacks as well.

Last, but not least, do keep in mind that you need to defeat both of the brothers in the second stage or Lorian will keep on getting revived time and time again. So, try hitting from behind.

17: Soul of Cinder

Soul of Cinder requires a ton of patience. His attacks may be easy to dodge, but they deal a lot of damage.

It’s best to attack him while he is on mage form. Especially while he is casting soul stream which leaves him wide open. If you don’t feel comfortable fighting him in the other forms, there’s nothing wrong with holding back till he switches.

As for the second form, just try to stay away from the massive combo which can kill you instantly and the grab. You can tell when he is about to launch the combo since he is taking a ton of time to begin.

The lightning attacks may be intimidating. But, if you stay calm, keep your distance, and dodge correctly then there’s nothing to worry about.

18: Ancient Wyvern

Climb to the top of the wooden platform, move over where the pre-installed messages are, then jump down and kill him with a plunging attack. Probably one of the most boring fights ever.

19: Nameless King

One of the toughest bosses ever. The reason that Nameless King is so tough isn’t because he has a variety of moves or anything. It’s because he deals so much damage and leaves very little to no room for healing.

If you manage to learn his moves and dodge accurately, then he immediately becomes an easy boss. The hard part is gathering the patience to get through him because it’s such a long fight.

He is weak to fire and dark. But, again, those don’t make a huge difference anyway. Again, I’d recommend using a fast weapon because a single mistake can cost you more than half of your life.

That’s all for now. Sorry for the short tips but the list is a bit too long to get into detailed descriptions.

Personal Setup:

Gamepad: GameSir G3s Headset: HyperX Cloud 2 CPU: Ryzen 5 2600 GPU: GTX 1060 6GB RAM: 16GB DDR4

Recommended Specs:

Gamepad: GameSir G4s Headset: Anything will do
CPU: Ryzen 3/Core i3 GPU: GTX 1660/RX 570 RAM: 8GB DDR4