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Update: Dark Souls 3 Gameplay Demonstrates Return Of Mana

By Rebekah Valentine

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Update: Looks like there’s going to be a beta stress test of Dark Souls 3 coming up! The stress test is PS4-only, so you have to own a PS4 and a network account to participate. The goal is not only to test how the network handles large numbers of players, but also to check game balance for multiplayer mode. The application process begins tomorrow, and the tests will be in October. You can find out more and apply to join the stress test at the official website.

Original story:

A new gameplay video of Dark Souls 3 has surfaced, featuring four full minutes of casually strolling down stone-covered pathways strewn with enemies, horrific screeches in the distance, and surprise attacks from the shadows. There’s some cutting, but overall this gives a nice idea of what to expect from Dark Souls 3 gameplay and combat. And watch for the boss battle around 3:26!

Apart from the nice-looking visuals, challenging enemies, and the return of staples such as Estus Flasks and dodge rolling, take a look at the blue bar under the health. It’s mana! We haven’t seen mana in a Souls game since Demon Souls, where spells could be used by expending some mana. Mana pools in Demon Souls were influenced by a player’s intelligence stat, as well as certain items or weapons.

According to an assessment from Polygon, mana in Dark Souls 3 can be used to charge up certain spells and make them more powerful. It is also a base cost for abilities on a new system of weapons skills and magic skills. You can refill your mana using Ash Estus Flasks, the blue Estus Flasks displayed in the item window on the bottom. Gold Estus Flasks still refill health.

We’re not entirely sure how it all works yet, but it is sure to add a new layer of strategy and complexity to an already-difficult game. Dark Souls 3 will be released for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in April of 2016.

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