The starting gift in Demon’s Souls defines your experience for the first couple of hours. You can choose from nine different items that can empower your character to face the odds without much trouble, or you can choose to select none of them at all.
This guide will look at each of the starting gifts, stating their uses and providing a little analysis on why some of these items are better than the others.
Which Demon’s Souls Starting Gift to Pick
Providential Ring
Providential Ring is only available in Demon’s Souls Remake as it did not feature in the game's original version. It is the only starting gift you can use throughout the game as it permanently remains in your character’s inventory. Providential Ring, by far is the best starting gift you can have for a good head start in Demon’s Souls. This is because the ring increases item discovery and, therefore, your playthrough can become a rewarding experience from the get-go.
If you miss the Providential Ring as a starting gift and aim to get it in later in the game, acquiring it can be an arduous journey. Moreover, for the King Of Rings Trophy, players are required to acquire every ring in Demon's Souls. So, getting the Providential Ring as a starting gift will later ease the process of unlocking the trophy.
Soul Remains
Soul Remains is another excellent starting gift for the players who want to avoid conflict at the start of the game. Unlike Providential Ring, this item is consumable, and therefore after exhausting its supply, you can no longer use it. However, it can always be bought from Graverobber Blige on The Ritual Path or looted from enemies and the environment.
Soul Remains distracts enemies for a few seconds, giving your character enough room to sneak past them or attack them from behind. Theoretically, this starting gift is befitting for a Thief class; however, it can also be used with other classes.
Fire Arrow
Fire Arrow is another consumable starting gift in Demon’s Souls. This item can prove its usefulness and become a great boon if used on tough opponents or on the tutorial boss Vanguard. However, after using all ten arrows you get as a starting gift, if you want more fire arrows, they must be bought from Graverobber Blige.
Kunai
Like Fire Arrows, Kunai is also a ranged weapon that can be thrown after locking onto an enemy. This starting gift deals a good amount of damage and can apply poison to a target after hurting it in rapid succession. It's another consumable starting gift though, so once you've used it, it will have to be rebought from Graverobber Blige.
Fire Bomb
The Fire Bomb is a small consumable item that bursts into flames, engulfing the target in a raging fire. Players get five Fire Bombs as a starting gift, and short supply indicates the lethality of the item as it deals a massive amount of damage to a target. After exhausting the supply, players can buy it Merchant Dregling located in the Boletario Palace.
Grass Jelly
For a consumable item, Grass Jelly can be an excellent starting gift in Demon’s Souls. Using it allows the user to receive some of the lost HP over time, and hence most new players go with it.
Bright Water
Like Grass Jelly, which restores HP, Bright Water recovers the consumed MP. Players who pick the Magician class tend to select Bright Water as it allows them to keep casting their spells for a little longer.
Elixir
The consumable Elixir allows the character to recover stamina at a faster rate for a short duration. Using this item while fighting against strong foes can turn the tide of combat in your favor.
Augite of Guidance
Augite of Guidance is a consumable starting gift that can be used as a marker to guide players on the path. Since it does not offer defensive or offensive attributes to your character, it is a bad choice for a starting gift in Demon’s Souls
