Community Bulletin Board #10 – Swordmastery

Coen’s life is intimately linked to the sword.

His father, a former mercenary, trained him from a young age to wield a weapon that could one day save his life.

*Concept art by Damian Bajowski*

Combat in The Blood of Dawnwalker is built around an intuitive system that can be easily adapted to individual preferences.

Players can use omniblocks and omniattacks that will automatically choose the directions of sword swings and deflect incoming strikes, or fully embrace the directional, tactical approach by observing their opponents’ movements and reacting to them. Reading incoming attacks, choosing the right response, and finding an opening can make the difference between victory and death.

Rather than relying solely on reflexes, every encounter is designed to feel like a deadly exchange where positioning, timing, and commitment matter – regardless of the approach or playstyle.

Throughout development, artists and designers took inspiration from Historical European Martial Arts and other historical materials to make combat feel authentic. Whilst it was never the intent to recreate one-to-one medieval combat habits, this contributed to a philosophy shared by the dev team.

Combat evolved through numerous iterations before reaching its final form – to ensure encounters remained satisfying without losing their grounded feel. A huge chunk of combat was shot in motion capture and later adjusted by the animators to match the game’s mood and direction. Each attack includes three phases: windup, anticipation, and swing frames – to create a certain kind of agility that results in a combat system that's approachable for newcomers while still offering depth for those seeking mastery.

As Coen's journey progresses, so does his mastery of the blade.

Stumbling upon books will unlock new techniques & combat abilities, while upgrading passive perks will support different approaches to swordplay. Some may choose to focus on defense and devastating counterattacks, while others may favor mobility, aggression, and relentless pressure.

Whatever path you choose, growth is about more than increasing numbers; it's about developing your own fighting style as Coen. And remember – his arsenal includes not only a sword, but also a set of newly acquired and razor-sharp claws, and magic that flows through his body.

To close this month’s Community Bulletin Board, here’s a question from our **Discord**:

Are there any other weapon types in the game outside of swords?

We have mostly different types of swords: short swords, long swords, great swords, and they will feel differently and affect how fast you attack. However, you’ll also be able to pick up axes and other weapon along the way… and maybe a pickaxe.

☼ September 3rd, 2026. Pre-order now. ☽

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3751260/The_Blood_of_Dawnwalker/