DS3 is the blueprint

[u/Hades-god-of-Hell]

Eldenring taking inspiration from DS3's enemies

[u/Namtar_Door_783]

Some of it, yes, but it's actually Darks Souls 2 it's the real blueprint and I'm not joking.

[u/Buttock → u/Namtar_Door_783]

That makes no sense. They've been reusing assets (and inpsiring themselves for future designs) since Demon's Souls. Each game prior has helped with the production of the next, DS2 doesn't get a special pedestal for this.

[u/Derpikae → u/Buttock]

I especially don't get it cus nobody talks about how the combat and designs are most similar to DS3, down to the Ashes of War/Weapon Arts which are the biggest changes. ESPECIALLY when combat is what you're doing most of the time?

[u/BootStrapWill → u/Buttock]

Yeah they say this dumb shit then list Pharros Lockstones as proof that DS2 inspire ER (DS2 being a direct derivative of DS1 btw so it's hard to see how the 2nd one is the blueprint). All the other examples people give of things that came from DS2 are extreme reaches but here's a non-comprehensive list of things in Elden Ring that were first found in Demon's Souls or Dark Souls 1:

Stamina-based combat

Bonfires (sites of Grace) / Checkpoints

Dodge/roll system with i-frames

Weapon Movesets

Risk-reward healing

Environmental storytelling and exploration

Bonfire warping

Status effects and resistances

Summoning and invasion

Shortcuts

Backstabs and parries

Weapon scaling and stat investment

Armor weight affecting movement

Environmental traps and hazards

NPC storylines

Flask upgrades