Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-11227880-20130720090814/@comment-4511886-20130721230018

2-1 gives lots of upgrade materials aswell as access to Blacksmith Ed who can upgrade weapons down every path and use Demon Souls to make weapons (provided you have given him the Red Hot Demon's Soul)

4-1 gives A LOT of souls. The Uchi requires a painful 18 STR and weighs 5.0, it is supposedly one of the strongest DEX weapons but I don't know. The Crescent Falchion provides good damage output even without high stats. I usually use it in 2-1 if I don't have access to a pierce weapon.

3-1 is the hardest area imo. Those Mind Flayers always manages to hit me somehow. But if you can deal with some minor/moderate rage, then it's definetly worth it for the Spices and the Clever Rat's Ring. You can also get a bunch of Mercurystone and a Mercury Rapier. And save Sage Freke if you want to use advanced magic.

Personally I start by going through 4-1 so I have access to a good soul farming area (the first Reaper in 4-2, gives about 4-5000 Souls once the shadows die) and then beat the Dragon God in world 2 (Flamerlurker is enough but Dragon God is pretty easy and allows access to 1-3.)

Stay back in the tunnel and shoot the Armor Spider with arrows, avoid the fire blast and web shot attacks, spam when it does the fire barrage. Use the Crescent Falchion from 4-1 on the Flamelurker, make sure to dodge or block his explosions. Use w/e on Dragon God, just make sure that you reach the harpoon launchers without dying. I think blunt weapons, like the Club, are more effective at breaking down the rubble during that fight.

Make sure to get the Jade Hair Ornament from 1-1 if you haven't already. Trade it for the Ring of Herculean Strength. It will let you carry more stones from world 2.

I believe Biorr is inaccessible until you've beaten atleast 1 archdemon. He is pretty helpful in the Penetrator fight (atleast he was for me.)