Understanding the Mechanics of Blocking and Parrying in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers offers players a rich and complex combat system that allows for deep customization and strategic gameplay. While the game encourages players to explore and develop their own style, it doesn’t provide an extensive tutorial on all mechanics right from the start. One such mechanic is blocking and parrying, which adds a layer of depth to the combat experience.
Blocking and parrying are not immediately available at the beginning of the game. Instead, they require specific skill investments and are limited to certain weapon types. This design choice ensures that players must invest time and effort into mastering these techniques, adding to the game’s challenge and uniqueness.
How to Unlock Blocking and Parrying
To gain the ability to block or parry, players must invest in specific skills within the Impetus Repository. These skills include:
- Discipline: A set of abilities that can be added to weapons.
- Weapon Skills: Specific abilities tied directly to the weapon being used.
Blocking is primarily available for axes and longswords, with one exception: the Two Bandits dual blades. To unlock blocking for other weapons, players need to complete the following steps:
- Pray at a shrine.
- Select “Discipline” in the bottom left corner.
- Choose the weapon you want to modify.
- Assign the blocking skill to the appropriate trigger (LT/L2/Shift+Right Mouse).
It’s important to note that the Two Bandits Dual Blades have a unique setup. Their blocking ability is locked to the weapon skill trigger and cannot be changed, unlike other disciplines.
Using Blocking and Parrying Effectively
Once the blocking skill is equipped, players can hold the skill key indefinitely as long as there is stamina available. However, parrying requires precise timing. It involves using the block skill exactly when an enemy’s attack lands. This demands quick reflexes and a good understanding of enemy attack patterns.
Upgrading Blocking and Parrying
Players can further enhance their blocking and parrying abilities by unlocking additional skills. These upgrades improve the effectiveness of blocking and parrying, making them more reliable and versatile. Some of the key skills include:
- Clashing: Combines the mechanics of blocking and parrying by attacking at the same moment as an enemy. This results in damage being mostly or completely negated.
- Charged Attacks: Certain attacks gain the ability to clash, allowing players to counter effectively.
- Light Combo Modifications: Specific attacks in a light combo can now clash, providing opportunities for counterattacks.
Clashing Mechanics
Clashing is a powerful technique that can be used across all weapon categories, though the degree of effectiveness varies. Here are some of the skills that allow for clashing:
- Axe & Hook: Axes can perform clashes with charged attacks, negating most damage.
- Chop & Weave: The third attack in a light combo has the potential to clash, negating most damage.
- Blade Dance – Variant I: Dual blades can use this discipline to negate damage during a blade dance.
- Blademaster: This discipline allows for clashing during the skill, which can recover some HP.
- Deadly Shadow: Dash attacks can clash, rewarding players with Skyborn Might.
- Feather Chaser: All attacks have the ability to clash, making this a versatile skill.
- Leaf-Slasher: The fourth, fifth, and sixth attacks in a light combo can clash, each giving a stack of Skyborn Might.
- Sudden Strike – Variant I: This discipline gains the ability to clash, rewarding players with Skyborn Might on success.
- Wave Breaker: Heavy and charged attacks can clash, giving a stack of Skyborn Might per success.
- Whirling Flurry – Variant I: This discipline includes clashing, granting Skyborn Might on a successful clash.
- Spear Flurry: This discipline can gain clashing when Skyborn Might is used.
- Swift Lunge – Variant II: Adds a second attack to the Swift Lunge Discipline that can clash.
- Sword Savant: The third attack in a light combo gains the ability to clash, negating most damage.
By mastering these mechanics, players can significantly enhance their combat capabilities and enjoy a more dynamic and engaging experience in Wuchang: Fallen Feathers.