They start out with both their base passive skill, Blade Mode, and Zandatsu.

Base passive is either Cyborg Ninja for Raiden or Brazilian Samurai for Sam. They both get 4AP, base sword slices no longer end the turn when applicable, and they get an additional aim bonus against unarmored units. Raiden's Fuel Cells bar is set to 10 units and has an immunity to fire and being knocked out, while Sam's FC bar is set to 6 units, and he has an immunity to most mental effects and being knocked out.

Blade Mode is a 2AP attack that pierces 20 armor and can't miss.

Zandatsu is a 1AP attack that restores the health and FC bar of the unit using it. It's like the Doom Slayer's glory kill mechanic if you've played that mod, so it's only usable once a unit is adjacent to an enemy that's weak enough (roughly 25% HP or less). Certain enemy units can not be zandatsu'd.

They also get Stormrider's Intercept by default.

Raiden and Sam are primary sword users. For other weapons:

They gain a heavy weapon launcher slot by default.

They both can wield either another weapon in their offhand (with the relevant mod), a shield (with
the relevant mod), or grenade launchers. (Iridar's rocket launchers are also supported).

Raiden's prior CQB training enables him to also use pistols.


Both

Tactical Rigging - like vanilla.
Raiden
Ripper Mode - powerful ability that costs 25 ability points to purchase. Requires 10 FC units, but in exchange provides a damage and shred boost that scales with the tech level of the sword, and any abilities that use FC now only cost 1 AP and don't use FC.

Stalk Mode - Special stealth mode. Raiden is undetectable for the turn, and any kills he makes with his sword won't break concealment on its own. Raiden's mobility is reduced by 50% while he's in this mode.


Sam
Ripper Mode is replaced with Taunt - Sam taunts an enemy, granting himself bonus damage and aim against the selected target. This also applies the other way around.

Stalk Mode replaced with Implacable. Works like Vanilla.

Both

Defensive Offensive - free action melee attack that requires adjacency to the target. Does half damage, but stuns the target if it lands. Also grants a bonus movement point even if the attack misses.

Total Combat - like vanilla.

Raiden
Shadowstrike - like vanilla.

Sam
Cool Hands - spend 1AP to give Sam bonus aim and crit chance for his turn. Stacks if you use it more than once.

Both
Grenade Bag - grants a grenade slot, and provides an extra charge to grenades in the grenade slot.

Mobile Scavenger - +3 mobility while concealed. Attacks on enemies have a 50% chance of granting the attacker +1 fuel cell. Kills on enemies have a 33% chance of healing the attacker for +1 HP.

Raiden
Ninja Run - gain Lightning Reflexes, and any damage from Overwatch or similar abilities is reduced to 1.

Sam
Inexplicable Reflexes - gain +20 defence, and Sam is immune to Falling and Viper Crush damage.

Both
Untouchable - like vanilla.

Raiden
Blitz Strikes - 2 AP and 8 FC, attacks a target three times. If the target dies early, Raiden will switch targets.

Assassinate - 2 AP, 8 FC, and needs to be concealed. Raiden executes the selected unit. Certain enemy types can not be assassinated.

Sam
Bladestorm - like vanilla.

Rooted Thrust - 2 AP and 4 FC. If the attack lands, Sam reduces the targeted unit's mobility to 20%.

Riposte - like in Stormrider's. Allows for counterattacks if the unit dodges or otherwise avoids an attack at melee range. Also provides bonus dodge and immunity to impairing abilities from certain enemies.

Blood Trail - like the vanilla Reaper perk.

Raiden
CQB Expert - pistol shots no longer end the turn. Also grants Cool Under Pressure, granting bonus aim to reaction shots, and letting reaction shots be able to crit.

Sam
Sabotage Slice - 2 AP, 4 FC. If the attack lands, Sam disables the unit's weapon. If applicable, it also primes the unit's explosives to explode if they don't immediately use them.

Rout - like in Stormrider's. Can mass intercept anybody within a 1AP movement range.

Bloodletter - sword attacks against organic enemies will inflict a bleeding effect on them. 2 damage per turn for 4 turns.

Heavy Weapons Expert - gains Salvo, and weapons in the heavy weapon slot gain a bonus charge.