Some general tips for struggling players

[a passerby]

Try not to button mash: You have limited stamina. Mashing buttons depletes your stamina really quick, putting you in dangerous situations. Mashing dodge instead of timing it to enemy attacks will frequently have the opposite effect of bosses landing hits on you instead. Also, don't button mash attack. You lock yourself into animations, preventing you from dodging, and most bosses only have brief windows to allow you to land a single light attack finisher anyway.

Use transformations wisely: The Wolf transformation is extremely strong. It's essentially a second life that allows you to do massive amounts of damage. However, transformations are limited by MIGHT, and using the dash attack of the wolf transformation depletes a chunk of might while doing very little damage. What you want to do instead is to use light attacks until you charge up your focus meter, then use dodge followed by heavy attack to perform an insanely powerful attack that cannot be interrupted most of the time. By using might wisely, you can use 2-3 of these nuke attacks before your transformation ends

Use Spirit attacks: It may be easy to forget that you have access to a free nuke attack that you get from the Wandering Wight very early in the game. Don't forget to use it. However, you want to make sure you use it after a boss completes their attack combo to avoid missing with it.

Don't split stat points between multiple stances too early: You can only use one stance at a time. This means that the stats that are allocated to other stances aren't activated when you aren't using the stance. Prioritise skills that benefit you at all times. Some of the best skills to get early:

- Focus points: These are not exactly skill points, but you only get more focus points when you invest in the stance tree. On the first chapter, you want to make sure you rush for at least 2 focus points, and you really can't go wrong by getting 3 early. Using focus polnts not only heals you, but also allows you to do far more damage.

- Composure (Stamina Tree): This is a godsend. Being able to complete finishing combos even after dodging increases your damage output significantly while keeping you safe.

- Focused Breath (Stamina Tree): Faster stamina recovery = more dodges and more damage.

- Instinct (Stance Tree): Focused heavy attacks are your bread and and butter to doing the most damage. Reducing the stamina cost gives you more stamina = good

- Robust Constitution/Rampant Vigor: You can never go wrong with more health and stamina. Add according to how you see fit

Lastly, you can freely re-allocate stat points at shrines. So feel free to experiment and find what works for you. Good luck out there

[Liddy]

thank you!! I was afraid to ask questions in this forum. I followed a guide that said to unlock all the stances asap but your explanation makes a lot more sense! I will try out your suggestion instead :))

[Nomadski]

Cheers. When you say Dodge+Heavy attack during transformation, do you mean to say press dodge and heavy buttons at the same time?

In transform I only see option to light attack or dodge.

Also, I put points into the left stance, but pressing left on directional buttons doesn't seem to change stance?

[zeta]

You missed the most important part: go get few more levels

[a passerby]

Originally posted by Nomadski:

Cheers. When you say Dodge+Heavy attack during transformation, do you mean to say press dodge and heavy buttons at the same time?

In transform I only see option to light attack or dodge.

Also, I put points into the left stance, but pressing left on directional buttons doesn't seem to change stance?

That's right. You gotta press both buttons at the same time. The tool tip will appear on your screen when your focus bar is maxed. The left stance is smash stance which is the default. Unless you've unlocked Thrust or Pillar Stance, you won't be able to switch.

EDIT: Oops I said the wrong thing. You gotta dodge, then press heavy attack.

[Nomadski]

Originally posted by a passerby:

Originally posted by Nomadski:

Cheers. When you say Dodge+Heavy attack during transformation, do you mean to say press dodge and heavy buttons at the same time?

In transform I only see option to light attack or dodge.

Also, I put points into the left stance, but pressing left on directional buttons doesn't seem to change stance?

That's right. You gotta press both buttons at the same time. The tool tip will appear on your screen when your focus bar is maxed. The left stance is smash stance which is the default. Unless you've unlocked Thrust or Pillar Stance, you won't be able to switch.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

By unlocking stances you mean just putting points into their skill trees?

[someoneproud]

Always nice to see threads like this, have a bunch of points!

I've been pressing dodge then heavy to do the transformed finisher thing the whole time and I thought it was coming out but now I'm doubting.

I notice sometimes a spinning attack comes out and sometimes it's a jumping slam but I couldn't figure the trigger.

[a passerby]

Originally posted by Nomadski:

Originally posted by a passerby:

That's right. You gotta press both buttons at the same time. The tool tip will appear on your screen when your focus bar is maxed. The left stance is smash stance which is the default. Unless you've unlocked Thrust or Pillar Stance, you won't be able to switch.

Ah, thanks for clearing that up.

By unlocking stances you mean just putting points into their skill trees?

Sure. And yeah, putting a single point in the skill tree will unlock them. Personally, I just completed chapter 3 and I only have 1 point in each of them for very situational situations. I think Smash Stance is good enough for pretty much everything.

Btw, I was wrong about the transformation focus attack. You dodge, then press heavy attack.

[a passerby]

Originally posted by someoneproud:

Always nice to see threads like this, have a bunch of points!

I've been pressing dodge then heavy to do the transformed finisher thing the whole time and I thought it was coming out but now I'm doubting.

I notice sometimes a spinning attack comes out and sometimes it's a jumping slam but I couldn't figure the trigger.

I haven't really done proper testing to confirm what triggers the spin versus the slam, but it looks like the spin triggers when I'm moving, but the slam occurs when I'm standing still after the dodge. Or it could also be distance. Either way, both do great damage.

[Peek]

Great guide, definitely agree with the recommended skills if you're just starting.

[someoneproud]

Originally posted by a passerby:

I haven't really done proper testing to confirm what triggers the spin versus the slam, but it looks like the spin triggers when I'm moving, but the slam occurs when I'm standing still after the dodge. Or it could also be distance. Either way, both do great damage.

Yeah it must be something like that, as you say either one is fine in practice.

[Peek]

Originally posted by a passerby:

Originally posted by someoneproud:

Always nice to see threads like this, have a bunch of points!

I've been pressing dodge then heavy to do the transformed finisher thing the whole time and I thought it was coming out but now I'm doubting.

I notice sometimes a spinning attack comes out and sometimes it's a jumping slam but I couldn't figure the trigger.

I haven't really done proper testing to confirm what triggers the spin versus the slam, but it looks like the spin triggers when I'm moving, but the slam occurs when I'm standing still after the dodge. Or it could also be distance. Either way, both do great damage.

I think it's dependent on the direction you're using, I could be wrong. And to answer the original question, you have to hit the dodge button and then follow it up with a heavy attack, no need to hold down the button. You know the finisher is used when the bar on the right side is drained to 0 and you have to fill it up again to use the finisher.

[Liddy]

OMGG I thought the dodge heavy attack attack you were talking about was just attacking after dodging. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW IT WAS A NEW ATTACK!!! I just beat the sand wind guy with this attack after being stuck on him for so long Tysm for the tips again!!

[Hollow Snake]

Learn how to do the see-through attack, especially with the Resolute Counterflow and Tactical Retreat. I guarantee you stagger the bosses all the time, if not cheesing the whole process.

[a passerby]

Originally posted by Liddy:

OMGG I thought the dodge heavy attack attack you were talking about was just attacking after dodging. I DIDNT EVEN KNOW IT WAS A NEW ATTACK!!! I just beat the sand wind guy with this attack after being stuck on him for so long Tysm for the tips again!!

Nice. Yeah I saw a few gameplay clips and noticed a lot of people not using the focus attack lol. Happy to help

[Ashuran]

Good tips. I admit the game becomes even more enjoyable once we figure out the various mechanics and options. Took me until near end of chapter 2 before I learn to do resolute attack and skyfall haha. Really fun to use and really strong. I will make a second playthrough once I finish since it will be more enjoyable to employ more stuff right at the beginning haha.