Dark Souls 2 introduced a wide range of new weapons, armor, and rings that opened up thousands of build options. To this day, Dark Souls 2 has the most build variety out of any Dark Souls title. One reason build variety skyrocketed with this game is the fact that Dark Souls 2 has four ring slots instead of the original's two.

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As a result, From Software introduced plenty of new rings for players to try. Nearly every ring has a purpose and isn't a bad option, but there are certainly rings that triumph over the rest. Whether they grant a wide range of stat bonuses or increase damage output, some rings are must-haves for certain builds. Here are the ten best rings players can use in Dark Souls 2.

Updated January 27th, 2021 by Charles Burgar: Rings are a core part of any Dark Souls build. With Dark Souls 2 allowing players to use four rings simultaneously, finding the right rings can make a major difference to most builds. To make finding these rings easier, this article now has a section dedicated to explaining where to find each ring and its upgraded variants.

10 Stone Ring

For PvE, there aren't many rings that are as instantly noticeable as the Stone Ring. While equipped, every attack will deal an additional 30 Poise damage. This works on all attacks including spells. For fast-attacking weapons, this is a must for shutting down heavily-armored opponents in a few strikes. It can even stun a few bosses when used properly.

Where To Find It

Players can find this ring right after they start the game. From the starting position in Things Betwixt, run until the wooden bridge that connects to the house is visible. Run left instead of straight. Running past some shrubs will reveal a hidden path with an Ogre at the end. Kill the Ogre to receive the ring.

9 Ring Of Thorns

The Ring of Thorns is a PvP-centered ring that has a moderate to high chance of counter-attacking an opponent when the player is hit. The normal ring has a 30% chance, the +1 version has a 50% chance, and the +2 variant has a 70% chance. The +1 version is a great choice for aggressive PvP players that want to quickly stagger a target when they overcommit. Obtaining the +2 version isn't worth the effort for most builds.

Where To Find It

• Normal Variant: Kill Pate at any point during a playthrough. Doing this at the Forest of Fallen Giants is the most convenient time.
• +1 Version: Purchased from the Grave Warden Agdaybe in the Undead Crypt. Costs 9,000 Souls.
• +2 Version: Defeat 1,000 hosts as a red phantom. That isn't a typo; it really takes 1,000 successful invasions.

8 Vanquisher's Seal

Granted after reaching rank 3 with the Company of Champions, the Vanquisher's Seal increases unarmed melee attack damage to 280 base, and grants it 75% Attack Rating scaling from strength with 25% from dexterity. Note that this damage is only active while the player's fists are completely empty. Fist weapons won't work.

RELATED: Dark Souls 3: The 7 Best Rings In The Game (& 7 Worst)

Vanquisher's Seal allows players to beat the entire game using their bare hands. No weapon runs are usually a joke amongst the Souls community, but this is the only time that a no weapon run is perfectly viable and, arguably, a solid choice. Two-handed heavy attacks with this ring can demolish just about any foe, including bosses.

Where To Find It

Reach rank 3 with the Company of Champions. This requires the player to turn in 50 Awestones to the Covenant.

7 Life Ring

Since players need to spend quite a few levels upgrading their adaptability stat, invasions and most co-op summons are a rather high level. Investing so much into adaptability can give players less room to breathe when speccing for other stats, which is where the Life Ring comes in. At +3, the Life Ring grants a solid +15% to maximum HP. If players have a fourth ring slot open, the Life Ring +3 is a solid pick.

Where To Find It

• Normal Variant: Found in the Forest of Fallen Giants. In the ballista room near Pate, attack the wooden door to have an enemy open it. Alternatively, players can receive this ring as a starting gift.
• +1 Version: Obtained in the Iron Keep. Found in the left corner of the room above the Smelter Demon arena.
• +2 Version: Found in the cavern near Shrine of Amana's third bonfire.
• +3 Version: Residing in an iron chest on the top floor of Brume Tower.

6 Clear Bluestone Ring

Every character that casts some type of spell, miracle, pyromancy, or hex will want to obtain the Clear Bluestone Ring. This ring increases the casting speed of every spell in the game. It reduces cast times by 20% on its own, but it grants an even faster 35% cast speed bonus with its +1 version and a whopping 55% cast speed boost with the +2 version.

Where To Find It

• Normal Variant: Sold by Carhillion of the Fold in No-Man's Wharf. Costs 2,000 Souls.
• +1 Version: Found in the misty part of the Shaded Woods inside a chest.
• +2 Version: Obtained after defeating the Skeleton Lords boss in NG+. Invader Armourer Dennis at Iron Keep has a very small chance of dropping it as well.

5 Flynn's Ring

Dark Souls 2 was no stranger to damage-enhancing rings. One such ring is Flynn's Ring, an item that grants increased Attack Rating as a player's total Equip Load decreases. When the player is under 60 units, they gain a rather large +50 Attack Rating to all attacks. Since this is a flat buff, it is best used on rapid-attacking weapons such as swords or claws. If players are above 60 units in weight, the buff will be less potent.

Where To Find It

Found in the Dragon's Sanctum in the Crown of the Sunken King DLC. It can be found after dropping into a room filled with Corrosive Egg Crawlers and climbing a nearby ladder.

4 Chloranthy Ring

Stamina is a core stat that every character needs to manage. The Chloranthy Ring makes this much easier, granting up to a 25% recovery bonus to Stamina with its +2 variant. Virtually every build can benefit from this. Mages and melee characters alike both rely on Stamina to sprint and use their weapons.

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Where To Find It

• Normal Variant: Behind a Pharros' Contraption in the Forest of Fallen Giants' ballista room.
• +1 Version: Found at the end of a narrow path in the Shaded Woods. While in the misty area, hug the right wall and follow the edge of a cliff.
• +2 Version: Obtained after defeating the Executioner's Chariot boss in NG+.

3 Ring Of Blades

Similar to Flynn's Ring, the Ring of Blades grants flat physical damage to all attacks while worn. The base version grants 20 flat physical damage, the +1 version grants 35, and the +2 version grants 50. Players can obtain this ring incredibly early just after slaying The Pursuer in the Forest of Fallen Giants. It grants a noticeable damage increase with no downside. This is a no-brainer for melee characters.

Where To Find It

• Normal Variant: Obtained after defeating the Pursuer boss in the Forest of Fallen Giants.
• +1 Version: Dropped by a certain Pursuer in Iron Keep. After defeating the Smelter Demon, rest at a bonfire, then backtrack to the boss arena. Kill the Pursuer inside to claim the ring.
• +2 Version: Obtained after defeating the Pursuer duo in Drangleic Castle's throne room in NG+.

2 Clutch Rings

Each of Dark Souls 2's DLCs contain special elemental rings named Clutch Rings that reduce a player's defenses in exchange for increased elemental damage. Each ring reduces a player's defenses by 80 in exchange for a +30 Attack Rating boost on the respective element. Casters will get great use out of this, but anyone using infused weapons or resins to buff their gear will notice a damage increase as well. As long as the player is careful with their positioning and avoids damage, the damage bonus well outweighs the negative.

Where To Find Them

• Dark Clutch Ring: Found in the eastern section of Eleum Loyce in the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. From the Outer Wall, head right towards the courtyard with a water fountain. Enter the tower on the left and climb up the flight of stairs. At the roof, walk to the right to fall off the roof. The ring is on a corpse leaning on a tree.
• Fire Clutch Ring:  Found in the Inner Wall of Eleum Loyce in the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. From the Inner Wall bonfire, reach the upper level of the wall. The end of the path will have a corpse in a corner. Attack the wall to the right of it to find an illusory wall. Drop down, then run up the set of stairs to find the ring in a chest.
• Lightning Clutch Ring:  Found in the Dragon's Sanctum the Crown of the Sunken King DLC. At the start of the zone, head left to find a locked door. Open it with the Eternal Sanctum Key found at the end of the area. The ring can be found inside.
• Sorcery Clutch Ring: Found in the Crown of the Old Iron King DLC. Head to the lowest floor of Brume Tower, take an elevator up a floor, then follow the path to the left of the first enemy.

1 Third Dragon Ring

Combining the Life Ring, Royal Soldier Ring, and Chloranthy Ring into one, the Third Dragon Ring is the most versatile ring in all of Dark Souls 2. Obtained from Dragon Shrine, this ring grants a plethora of small yet noticeable bonuses that are useful on all builds. It stacks with rings that grant similar bonuses such as the +3 Life Ring or +2 Royal Soldier Ring. Note that the First, Second, and Third Dragon Rings cannot be worn simultaneously.

Where To Find It

• First Dragon Ring: Reach rank 2 in the Company of Champions. This requires 25 Awestones.
• Second Dragon Ring: Dropped by the Manscorpion Tark in the Shaded Woods. Players can either kill him or speak to Tark after defeating The Duke's Dear Freja.
• Third Dragon Ring: Found in a chest in the Dragon Shrine castle. When players find two Drakekepers with a sword and mace, respectively, turn around to find a group of boxes. Drop down and follow the path to find the ring.

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