Swordmaster Guide
From SpiralKnights
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Foreword
Swords are the bread-and-butter of Spiral Knights, but to utilize them to their greatest potential, one must study them in great detail. Specializing as a Swordmaster is very fun due to the fact that you can easily deal vast amounts of damage. In most fights, swords are often the fastest way of getting rid of single enemies or small groups. Using swords the right way will allow you to face nearly any danger in the game.
Introduction
A Swordmaster's most effective technique is the use of shielding. Swords remain the top damage-dealers in-game, but using them puts oneself in close proximity a wide array of enemies; this makes skillful use of the shield even more important for sword bearers. If one fights recklessly, one may find oneself quickly dying in many situations. Spiral Knights should familiarize themselves with the information in the Shieldbearer Guide, and especially with the technique of shield bumping.
It is equally important for a Swordmaster to keep attack patterns in mind. A Swordmaster needs to memorize the timing/rhythm of enemy attack patterns as well as how to break them. Doing so will enable a Knight to land as many hits as possible. Attack patterns are best memorized through first-hand experience.
Of course, it is essential for all Spiral Knights to familiarize themselves with the concept of damage. There are four damage types: normal, piercing, elemental, and shadow. Having three swords with damage corresponding to monsters is a great advantage for a Swordmaster. While good old Calibur and its big brothers are good enough to handle almost every monster in Clockworks, specialized swords are better against specific threats.
Control Scheme
Control schemes are important for every swordsman. Having quick access to weapon-switching and shielding is important. Here is an example of a good control scheme for a Swordmaster:
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Techniques
A good Swordmaster should put evasion as his top priority during battle; remember, you can always land another hit later! You could also let your friends finish a monster by themselves. Health is important, especially when going up against a great amount of enemies. Defense always comes first, except in a few specific situations (such as killing healing enemies such as the Gremlin Menders).
When facing a huge mob of enemies, a good attack pattern would be to:
Wait for enemy to come in range -> Attack once -> Shield and retreat -> Repeat
You can avoid having to attack before charging your weapon by using this pattern:
Shield -> Hold attack key -> Un-shield.
(See shield charge for more information.)
Slow two-hit swords have a wide swing; so, before attacking try to position and angle yourself to hit as many enemies as possible. This is sometimes easier with auto-targeting turned off (so you can aim between monsters rather than at one in particular), so make sure you bind the toggle to a convenient key.
Cutters, Spurs, Flourishes and Thorn Blades make you move a lot while attacking, which can be both a blessing or a curse. This allows you to dodge hits while attacking, but in some cases can put you in danger or make you run into spikes. Autotargeting is quite useful while using them (especially for Flourishes/Snarble Barbs), as it makes it easier to follow enemies with consecutive attacks, but can make it difficult to target small enemies (such as Silkwings) that are nearby larger ones.
Advanced Techniques
There are several subtleties in the mechanics and controls for swordplay in Spiral Knights that can be exploited to your advantage with a little practice.
Beat
The final attack of a sword combo generally does more damage than the attacks leading up to it, and may also have a larger hit area or greater knockback. While you can always begin a new combo, sometimes you really want to get that finisher, and the enemy just isn't in the right place.
Well, you don't need to attack as fast as possible to perform a combo; you can wait a fraction of a second between attacks and still build towards your finisher. Most enemies try to move towards nearby knights. If you notice an enemy is slightly out of range when you are ready to perform your next attack, waiting a beat will often give the monster enough rope to hang itself, allowing it to blunder into your attack range just before you complete your combo.
This can be especially handy when you see the enemy charging an attack, if you have a finisher capable of interrupting them or knocking them out of range before their attack goes off. Alternately, many enemies move forward while making an attack, and waiting a beat may be the difference between missing them as you step into their kill zone and letting them whiff before you strike.
Lunge
If you hold down your attack button after making any sword attack, you will begin charging for a charge attack. If you release the button while you are charging but before charging is completed, you will perform a normal attack instead. If you release at just the right time, the release attack will continue your previous combo instead of starting a new one.
The trick is this: unlike while performing a combo, while charging an attack, you can move. If you continue a combo by holding the attack button and then releasing it with correct timing (rather than pressing it a second time, as normal), you can move up to one square in any direction between attacks without breaking your combo.
This can be done between any two attacks in a sword combo. However, because it relies on holding down the attack button when making the previous attack, a lunge cannot be performed before and after the same attack--you can do it at most once every two attacks.
Shield Cancel
Shield canceling is a general technique usable with all weapons, but sword users gain the greatest benefits, because they can use it to change which attacks are included in a combo.
Weaponry
Generally, swords have either Normal or split Normal and other damage. This prevents swordsmen from taking as much advantage of damage types as gunners can, but the bonuses are still quite significant. The only exception are the Flourishes and Thorn Blades which deal pure Piercing damage which allows them to greatly outdamage other swords while fighting enemies vulnerable to Piercing.
Still, it is a good idea to carry three swords with different damage types and alternate for different enemies.
Slow Swords
The slow swords - the Divine Avenger, Gran Faust, Sudaruska, Triglav, and Warmaster Rocket Hammer - have combos with two strikes (with the exception of the Warmaster Rocket Hammer). These swords have wide attacks with long range and good knockback, but they are very slow. Attack speed increases, be it from UVs or gear, will help greatly when using these swords. The second strike of these swords have a moment afterwards when the player is vulnerable and cannot shield. Attack speed increases can shorten this time, however there are some situations where it will always be better to use the first strike only and shield cancel.
Divine Avenger
Probably the most popular and impressive endgame sword, DA is a split Normal/Elemental Sword. Its charge is very useful for a Swordsman because it gives them a powerful ranged attack, great for crowds of enemies or distant Gun Puppies, but the swing itself deals even more damage (nearly doubled 2nd hit damage).
Be Aware
- Is able to hit otherwise inaccessible enemies/blocks by charge attacks
- Projectile blades from charge attack make some enemies dodge or shield
- It is possible to activate several switches at once with the charge attack
Gran Faust
Gran Faust is a Normal/Shadow damage version of the Divine Avenger. It is currently the only weapon capable of dealing Curse, the most powerful status effect, with its second strike or charge. Unlike the Divine Avenger, then Gran Faust's charge shoots one large blade instead of three smaller ones. This makes it more useful on single enemies or tightly clumped groups, but far less effective at crowd control. The charge also has an approximately 1/3 chance of cursing the user. While the curse time (usually 40 seconds) and amount of weapons cursed can be reduced with curse-resistant gear, the charge attack is often not worth using unless you are confident that the curse will wear off before needing to attack again. Be aware the curse only effects TWO weapons, should you have a third then the curse wont be a problem at all.
Be Aware
- Can Curse both opponents and you (with charge)
- Undead and Fiends (excluding Greavers, Trojans, Silkwings, and Howlitzers) are immune to Curse
- Is able to hit otherwise inaccessible enemies/blocks by charge attacks
- Projectile blades from charge attack make some enemies dodge or shield
Sudaruska
The Sudaruska deals pure Normal damage. While slower than the Divine Avenger and Gran Faust, its swings provide more knockback. Its charge attack is an overhead swing with good AoE range, ridiculous damage output and massive knockback, and may also stun struck enemies. It causes rocks to erupt from the ground around the area you strike, but they do not appear to deal extra damage.
Be Aware
- Both the Sudaruska's and Triglav's charge attacks can leave you very vulnerable, as there is a recovery period right after the attack where you are unable to move or shield.
- The charge attack deals enough damage to instantly kill most enemies in stratum-appropriate areas while traveling solo
- The low speed means that the charge attack is almost useless in lockdown
Triglav
Triglav is the final form of the alternate Troika (Grintovec) line, and freezes enemies instead of stunning them. It can cause freeze with both the second hit of the combo and the charge attack. Its charge attack is similar to Sudaruska, but creates a patch of ice instead.
Be Aware
- If an opponent is frozen by an attack, it won't be knocked back.
- This sword is obtained as a PvP reward
- The charge attack deals enough damage to instantly kill most enemies in stratum-appropriate areas while traveling solo
- The low speed means that the charge attack is almost useless in lockdown
Warmaster Rocket Hammer
The Warmaster Rocket Hammer is slightly different to all the other slow swords, as it not only deals pure elemental damage, but has an additional "in-between" attack, the dash. Its charge attack is a large overhead swing with a large knockback, like the troika lines, except that the smash is performed twice in succession. Remember that it is not always ideal to perform the dash attack in a combo. For this reason the shield cancel becomes vital: Shield cancelling after the first attack will turn the "dash" attack into a strike, allowing a knight to perform a 3-hit combo with this sword. Remember that the dash does not always have to be made in the direction of the enemy, so by striking once, then holding shift to disable Auto-Aim (Or by disabling it in the options menu) you can dash away from enemies before they have a chance to retaliate. Like other slow swords, it is often more wise to shield cancel after the second attack (strike or dash) rather than complete the combo with the final strike.
Be Aware
- This weapon can only be obtained by purchasing and completing the Operation Crimson Hammer expansion mission.
- Used carelessly this sword can propel you into traps and other unpleasant situations with both the dash and charge attacks.
- Pure Elemental Damage is dealt, so it is much less effective than other split-elemental swords for fighting gremlins or beasts.
Average speed Swords
They follow 3-hit combo pattern, with third hit usually knocking enemies over and/or interrupting attacks.
Leviathan Blade/Scissor Blades
The Calibur is a good choice for beginning knights - they deal Normal damage and have the same attack pattern that Proto Sword does, with the addition of a powerful 360 spin attack charge with great damage and knockback. Normal damage makes them equally good against all enemies. Its charge attack is useful for dealing out damage or dispersing a crowd of enemies, and can deal heavy damage to stationary monsters such as Gun Puppies. The Leviathan Blade is recommended over the Cold Iron Vanquisher as a general use sword, as it deals more damage overall, and the charge attack provides far more knockback.
Be Aware
- Charge attack will strike static enemies three times
- Charge attack has huge knockback and may throw enemies at your allies
Cold Iron Vanquisher
The Cold Iron Vanquisher, compared to the Leviathan Blade, provides a damage bonus against Undead in trade for less damage against every other monster type. The charge attack also provides far less knockback than the Leviathan Blade, however, this can be useful in some cases as it is far easier to strike enemies with every hit of the charge attack.
Be Aware
- Deals less damage than Leviathan Blade despite appearing to have the same attack power
- Charge attack strikes enemies multiple times in exchange for poor knockback
Combuster/Glacius/Voltedge
The Brandish is a versatile sword, able to be upgraded into various different alchemy paths. The Combuster, Glacius, and Voltedge deal Normal/Elemental damage and may inflict their respective status effect with their charge attacks. The charge attack consist of explosions which number and chance of triggering increase with each upgrade. There is no clear "best" choice between the three, as they only differ in which status effect their charge applies. Some users will opt to use a Brandish as alternate to Divine Avenger for Firestorm Citadel, in which case either Voltedge or Glacius is preferred.
Be Aware
- Combuster can ignite Oilers with the charge attack
- Glacius can refreeze Ice Cubes with the charge attack
- Voltedge can electrify Quicksilvers with the charge attack
- The Voltedge, like the Triglav, is a PvP reward
- The explosions generated from these sword's charge attacks will cause projectile-fearing enemies to try and dodge the explosions (this is rarely a problem if the monster was hit by the initial swing and knocked down as a consequence).
Acheron
Unlike the other 5* Brandishes, Acheron inflicts Normal/Shadow damage and lacks a status effect. Otherwise, its attack patterns are identical. The Acheron is a popular choice to use against the Royal Jelly as its speed will allow great damage and quick shielding. Unfortunately, it lacks the Curse status so Gran Faust can still be more useful than Acheron in the battle despite being riskier to use.
Be Aware
- The explosions generated from this sword's charge attack will cause projectile-fearing enemies to try and dodge the explosions (this is rarely a problem if the monster was hit by the initial swing and knocked down as a consequence).
- Does not inflict curse or any other status effects
Cautery Sword
The runt of the litter, the Cautery Sword is a pure Normal damage Brandish that does not upgrade past 3* and lacks explosions or status effects during the charge. Its only apparent upside, the high damage bonus against Slime, is made completely useless as even the 3* Nightblade will deal more damage on Slimes. It is highly recommended to avoid this sword completely.
Be Aware
- This sword's one use is done far better by the Acheron
- As rock salt is required to craft this sword, it is technically a boss reward
Fang of Vog
Currently the most difficult sword to obtain, the Fang of Vog has a chance of causing Strong Fire with all three hits and its charge attack. The Fang of Vog deals Normal/Elemental, and its normal attack is both slower and weaker than all other 5* average speed swords, making the Combuster outclass it for normal use. However, where the Fang of Vog truly shines is its charge attack. Similar to the Leviathan Blade, it is a 360 swing with great knockback. While risky to use due to the chance of setting the user on fire, it provides both better range and far more damage than the Leviathan Blade's charge. The damage is so great that it can one-hit many enemies, especially solo, and can make boss fights much easier. The Royal Jelly in particular is made a breeze with the Fang of Vog. It is also heavily applicable in fights with Lord Vanaduke and his shadow lair version, as the charge attack hits for massive damage on slag guards and the fire recoil is easily healed with the hearts the slags drop.
Be Aware
- This sword's charge attack is incredibly powerful, but may set fire to the user
- Avoid this sword if you do not plan on using the charge attack, as its normal swings are outdone by other 5* swords
- Getting this sword requires at least 14 full Vanaduke runs
Fast Swords
Fast swords have various patterns (usually 3-hit patterns like the medium speed swords), but the common feature is their exceptional speed. If you are using a fast sword, it is adviseable that you turn off auto-aim because this feature can cause you to be thrust into floor hazards by your own attacks. With auto-aim off a fast sword is much safer but it also requires some skill at aiming. I would recommend that former (or hybrid) gun users use this technique if they wish to use a sword.
Cutter
It has low damage, but hits very, very fast with a ten-hit combo routine, and the Vile Striker and Dread Venom Striker, it's 4* and 5* versions, are capable of poisoning enemies which increases damage they receive. It is a very good sword for T1 and T2, but in T3 it's overly aggressive playing style requires much more skill to use safely. It is not recommended to take the Wild Hunting Blade upgrade because Poison is far more useful and the attack gain from the blade isn't really worth the status sacrifice.
Be Aware
- Can make you walk into Floor hazards.
- Dangerous to use in endgame
- Charge attack is potentially useless.
(These issues can be counteracted by player skill)
Flourish
Flourishes are excellent swords for every Swordmaster that has trouble with Fiends or Beasts. They have the same damage as their Calibur counterparts but are faster. Their attack pattern allows you to follow enemies as they dodge, and enabling auto-aim helps you dance around the battlefield decimating whole groups of Devilites. Their second attack is able to interrupt Greavers, third even Trojans. It is not recommended to upgrade it to Rigadoon or Flamberge because they have nearly 20% less damage than pure Flourishes and the chance to Stun or Fire is below 10%. Flourishes charge attack is extremely powerful, but rarely useful - its main use is against a group of devilites or single Trojan which can barely survive such an attack.
Be Aware
- Thrusts have long range and can make you enter Floor hazards.
- Due to the strict piercing damage output, this sword is nearly useless against slimes and constructs
Snarble Barb
The Snarble Barb is identical to Flourish, except for the charge attack. Snarble Barb shoots multiple spikes which makes it better for crowds, but worse for single enemies (unless all spikes hit a single enemy). It is also harder to obtain good UV's because it is a boss reward.
Be Aware
- Thrusts have long range and can make you enter Floor hazards.
- Due to the strict piercing damage output, this sword is nearly useless against slimes and constructs
Spur
The Spur line has a basic combo which is similar to the Calibur or Brandish lines, except that each slash will propel the user forwards a fair distance. At 4*, each slash also causes a small projectile to appear. The charge attack of the Spur line is a backstep followed by a strong slash which fires a projectile that deals low damage; the charge attack can have it's aim adjusted at any point until the slash occurs, and can be shield cancelled.
Be Aware
- Each attack causes a high level of movement and can easily throw the user into traps.
- Once the line reaches 4*, the projectiles that are added cause enemies that have reactions to bullets to use said reactions. This is a minor drawback when fighting those enemies.
- There currently isn't a 5* form of this line.
Armor
While these are not all the options available, sword specialists or simply those who favor swords will often choose either a full or mixed Wolver set, which provides a low sword bonus on each piece. This is fairly simple up until 5*, where one must make the choice between Skolver, Snarbolax, and Vog Cub. While it is ideal for a sword specialist to possess both full sets, those who cannot yet afford this should conider the pros and cons of each.
Skolver
Skolver is the straight upgrade of the Wolver line, it protects against normal and piercing damage, gives resistance to Freeze and offers a medium sword damage bonus on each piece, offering a very high bonus when both pieces are equipped. When used with the Barbarous Thorn Shield, a maximum sword damage bonus will be obtained. While very good offensive armor, and excellent armor all around for the Royal Jelly Palace, its lack of elemental defense, attack speed increases, and fire resistance can make you much more vulnerable than Vog Cub users, especially with heavy swords and in Firestorm Citadel. However, remember that player skill can make this set shine anywhere by simply avoiding attacks, and Elite Quick Strike Modules can be used to make up for the lack of attack speed increases.
Snarbolax
Snarbolax provides the same sword damage bonus as Skolver, but has shadow defense in place of piercing, and loses some (not all) freeze resistance in exchange for poison. Since this armor can only be crafted after completing a Shadow Lair, it is not really a realistic choice for your first five-star armor, unless you are willing to pay someone else to craft and unbind it for you.
Vog Cub
Unlike Skolver, Vog Cub trades out medium sword damage bonuses for medium attack speed bonuses. It protects against normal and elemental damage, gives resistance to Fire, and will give a very high attack speed increase with both pieces. Of the two sets, Vog is more defensive than Skolver, speeding up swords for faster shielding and also providing increased DPS. Vog Cub is considered the best armor choice for Firestorm Citadel, providing both relevant defenses for the stratum, and being a great complement to heavy swords such as the Divine Avenger. Elemental defense is much more important than Piercing in tier 3, which usually makes this set a better choice than Skolver unless you are confident in your ability to dodge. To make up for the lack of sword damage bonuses, one could equip two Elite Slash Modules to obtain both Very High sword damage (max with Barbarous Thorn Shield) and attack speed, essentially providing the same bonuses as the Skolver set while also keeping Vog's Elemental defense and fire resistance.
Mixed Vog/Skolver/Snarbolax
A hybrid set will provide an average of the benefits of the sets you choose to mix. You can still reach the maximum bonus for either damage or attack speed using trinkets as long as you get a single "medium" bonus from a helmet, armor, or shield.
A given area of the clockworks will often have a strong bias towards a particular damage type, which means a pure defense against that type will generally serve you better than hybrid defenses. However, if you wish to play in many areas and can afford only a single set of armor, you might prefer to have a moderately hard time in two areas than an easy time in one and a very hard time in the other. Still, note that any combination of these lines will leave you defenseless against at least one damage type (probably shadow, given the difficulty of obtaining the snarbolax set), so you'll have to handle that somehow.
It is often said that elemental is the most common damage type, but several patches have reduced its prevalence, and its primacy is much more debatable now; there are certainly many particular levels with far more piercing or shadow damage than elemental.
Barbarous Thorn Shield
This shield and its predecessors are the best shields for a Swordsman, offering good piercing defense and a medium sword damage bonus, much like a piece of Skolver.
Swiftstrike Buckler
This shield greatly increases your attack speed, but can only be used for real blocking in T1 and T2, because on T3 it is far too weak to withstand most attacks. Unless you are very confident in your skill, it is better to use a different shield that will actually withstand attacks, and obtain attack speed from Vog or trinkets instead.
Trinkets
The trinkets received for PvP play are extremely powerful, and allow for a lot of customization, so obtaining them can allow to max sword statistics without using UV's. As defense UV's don't seem to work yet, it is recommended to obtain one of those. Try to cover the bonuses you don't have from your armor - eg. with full Vog, you won't benefit that much from Quick Strike, while Slash module will make a significant difference. By the time you can afford those, you will know which suits your playing style the most. Just remember that bonuses can be maxed, so taking two 5* Quick Strike Modules while wearing Vog Cub armor is pointless.
Sword damage bonus: Low
Useful for every swordsman, if you don't know which trinket to pick, choose this one.
Sword Charge Time Reduction: Low
Useful especially for swords with spammable charges, like the Divine Avenger, Calibur or Brandishes
Sword Attack Speed Increased: Low
Great for slow swords. Medium/fast swords' attack speed are also increased in the approximately the same rate.
Attack Speed Increase Vs. Damage Increase
The two armor boosts available for swordsmen have positive and negative aspects and present different ways to squeeze the life out of the monsters inhabiting the clockworks.
ASI
This is most useful when you can constantly attack. the more you wait the more possible damage you have wasted. It also works well with hit and run strategies.
Suggested Swords
- BTB/FF. This will let you attack almost unimaginably fast and save your self with your shield much quicker.
- Cutter. ASI on this sword makes it easier to avoid running into traps and allows you to execute its charge a bit faster.
- Winmillion. Its smooth attack let you glide across the field much faster, allowing you to single out your prey faster.
- Divine Avenger/Gran Faust. This is only recommended if you use the swings more then the charge attack; It doesn't increase the speed of the projectiles and minimally increases the swing speed of the slash.
Damage Increase
This is more for the strategic play style. It allows you to wait around and set up attacks (Or run) to deal lots of damage to a crowd or to not take damage from a boss by just waiting. Some attacks will leave you very vulnerable and some fast swords do get better with more damage.
Suggested Swords
- Brandish line. The normal attacks are almost useless at high speeds if you do not have Auto aim on, it can cause you to miss the last swing of your attack and make you vulnerable. It's suggested to use the charge attack with Damage Increase because you can set up a large group to be afflicted with a status, and the damage boost just makes more of those wonderful numbers fly into the sky.
- Sudaruska/Triglav. These swords are the slowest and also the ones able to hit the most number of monsters at once in one charge attack. The slow nature of the charge itself and the animation make the damage boost much better for crowds; allowing you to set them up and hit almost all of them at once.
- Divine Avenger/Gran Faust. The damage boost is helpful here because it lets you deal massive amounts of damage to a handful of monsters
- BTB/FF. It is suggested to use the damage boost in Lockdown because you can end most foes in 2-4 hits.
