I was doing some PVP in the Luna Belltower last night and I was completely baffled. Every time I hit this person, I lost a quarter of my health to what looked like lightning. I got a backstab, and died from it.
Is there anything like Thorns from Blizzard games in Dark Souls 2? Something that does damage to anyone attacking the player. Gear, spells(probably a miracle based on the lighning), or even weapons are fine. I've looked around, but from what I've seen, a lot of resources aren't fully in place yet.
33 Answers
The only thing that would be similar to it would be the Ring of Thorns or the Pyromancy Immolation, but both do not work as you described.
When the Ring of Thorns procs (it doesn't work on every hit, only on a %, based on the ring level) it shoots out some darts (see this video at 0:58).
Immolation sets the caster on fire, so you would have seen it.
What probably happened - you encountered a cheater (likely) or lag
4After much discussion and your alternative question about cheating, I have experienced what you experienced multiple times and I do not think he was cheating.
As others have mentioned there is a ring (the Ring of Thorns) that shoots thorns out at a certain damage threshold. What I have not heard anyone else mention is that there is a second ring that creates an AOE explosion at the point of impact a couple seconds later, the Old Sun Ring. This ring can be stacked with the thorns ring and its behavior would describe exactly what you described. A backstab on someone wearing both of these rings with little physical defense and little fire defense could easily one hit someone with mid to low health.
I do not believe he was cheating, in the countless hours that I have played this game I have not once run into a cheater, not to say that they are not out there. There is currently not a game save editor for DSII for the 360 (you mentioned you were playing on 360 in the other question), I would put it at an extremely low probability that he was a cheater and an extremely high probability he had both rings on and you got hit with damage threshold recoil.
4Actually there is something quite similar, it's called the Ring of Thorns.
There's still doubts as to how it works exactly (the damage amount given to the attacker), based on the amount on damage taken, basic user stats, etc.
I haven't actually used it to know if the retaliation looks like lightning, but I hope this helps.
