VV Ultimatum Skill Tree Tier List – Best Skills

Effect: Gain the ability to fight with your fists.

Evaluation: Important pathing pickup that unlocks a mechanic or later branch options rather than acting as a direct damage button.

Effect: Powerful sweeping kick.

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings.

Effect: You no longer take chip damage from blocking.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Swapping between hakuda and your primary weapon is much faster.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes.

Effect: Increase Hakuda Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Hakuda scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Increase Kido Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Concentrate your reiatsu into a small pressurized blast projectile and release it.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Unlock an air variant of Surge Fist when holding jump while casting. 35% Faster, however only aimed in a set direction·Lvl 6: Air variant hits crumpled opponents

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Summon homing blasts of reiatsu from the ground.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Perform three advancing kicks.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Landing all 3 kicks will apply Concussion on the third kick

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings.

Effect: Every 3rd basic attack deals bonus Kido scaling damage.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Shoot energy blasts from your hands. Lock onto an enemy if hit.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Increase Kido Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Perform a reiatsu-infused uppercut that ragdolls the opponent on the second hit.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain Super Armor during the end-lag·Lvl 5: Perform "Demon Flash" during the 2nd hit·Lvl 7: "Demon Flash" can execute

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Increase Kido Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: I've been saving this! God Fist!

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: Increase Kido Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: YOU'RE THROUGH!

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: A mid range, high-stun aerial kick.

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Temporarily gain a 20% output boost after executing someone.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Increase Strength Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Lunge a short distance forward, then attempt to perform a stylish suplex. Concusses opponents that are hit by the slam.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Landing the grab on the first frame will cause your throw to do an additional 2% max health dmg, signified by blue sparks.·Lvl 6: After knocking an opponent with their theme active using Suplex, automatically cancel their theme and pop yours.

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo.

Effect: If there is a 30% HP gap between you and your opponent, your next basic attack deals +5 enemy health percent bonus damage (25s CD).

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Grab your opponent by the waist and violently swing them around, then throw them at full force to finish

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Landing the grab on the first frame will cause your throw to do an additional 2% enemy max health dmg, signified by blue sparks·Lvl 6: You can pick up ragdolled opponents

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage.

Effect: Increase Strength Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Secret technique of Death Kwon Do...

Upgrade note: Lvl 8: Landing the move on an enemy with low health will auto execute them

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Increase Strength Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Flex your muscle and gain 90% damage reduction. If you take more than 10 of pre-mitigation damage you gain an HP pack relative to damage taken, reduces 10% of posture.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Pressing Counter while near a ragdolled will mount you on top of opponent and beat them down (40s CD).

Upgrade note: Lvl 8: Grappler's Gambit now works on crumpled opponents

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Enter a sprint stance; once your dash is completed, if nearby an opponent, attempt a RKO.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Concusses enemies

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Strength Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Thrash around your opponent.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: Flip towards an airborne opponent, grab them out of the air and slam them to the ground with you.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Apply concussion prone to enemies·Lvl 6: Aerial flip is now unblockable

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage.

Effect: Increase Speed Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Spin around and launch your opponent into the air with a powerful kick.

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings.

Effect: Increase Speed Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Think you can keep up? After a short startup turn briefly invisible and barrage your opponent with a flurry of attacks.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Focus and warp your enemies perception of you, then teleport to them and deliver a strong kick.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Deal additional damage / posture damage when used right up close

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Dealing basic hakuda damage will refill your shunpo stamina.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Speed Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Landing 3 consecutive attacks will empower your 4th.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Enter a counter pose where you negate all incoming melee damage and retaliate with a spinning kick.

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Speed Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Do a rushing knee, on contact connect into a barrage of flaming kicks.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Perform a flip instead of the traditional spinning kicks, increasing air time·Lvl 6: Scorch your opponents on the final hit, causing tick damage

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Landing a blunt attack off a flash step will increase the posture damage.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Increase Hakuda Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Hakuda scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Cloud your opponent's vision, landing this attack at close range will deal the damage of your kick itself

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Dust Kick ignores ragdoll

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings.

Effect: Enter a state in which you dodge attacks instead of parrying for 12s after perfect parrying 3 times in quick succession, with no neutral parries. Dodges have 35% increased posture loss vs parries.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Lunge forwards dealing light posture damage.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Drop Kick is fully rotatable·Lvl 6: Apply concussion on landed hits

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Rupture the ground, then cause it to burst — transfers up to 25% of your posture to your opponent if landed.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: The second strike of Breaker Fist hits ragdolled/crumpled opponents

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Pressing Counter while near a opponent who is posture broken will cause you to flip them over your shoulder, ragdolling them. This also replaces your default Red Counter. (30s CD)

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Hakuda Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Hakuda scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Strike a pose, reducing your posture and making all of your melee attacks reduce your posture.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Fighter's Tempo becomes uncancellable

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Sweep kick which stuns the target in place.

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Enter a state of ferocity and unleash a barrage of strong left and rights. Once hit, the enemy cannot escape.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Pressing Counter while facing a wallbanged enemy will grab them and slam them into the ground.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Apply concussion to enemies

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Grab your opponent then drag them through the floor, if you meet a wall, perform a 2nd attack combo, failing to meet a wall allows an alternate combo route. Unblockable.

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: Increase Hakuda Scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Hakuda scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: An aerial slam attack. Gain bonus damage based on landing height, ignores crumple.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Your max height multiplier is changed from 1.2x → 1.3x

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hakuda routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Decrease the minimum range needed to sense someone

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Sense routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: View the reiatsu grade of the entities that you sense

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Sense routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: View the factions of the entities that you sense

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Sense routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: View an approximate powerlevel of the entities that you sense

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Sense routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Kick the target away, inflicting decent posture damage.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Apply concussion prone to enemies

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings.

Effect: Lunge forwards dealing light posture damage, the speed you travel increases with time.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Thrust is rotatable during startup

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo.

Effect: Send out a whirlwind from the tip of your sword.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Tenran sucks people in when blocked

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Landing a basic attack shortly before a kido move buffs its damage.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Strike a pose, in which you gather reiatsu, and activate kido-enhancement for your next basic attack

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain extra reiatsu on completed cast·Lvl 4: Gain enhanced reiatsu regeneration for 2.5 seconds after completed cast·Lvl 5: Recasting Kinetic Force very quickly after a completed pose will slice out 2 energy slashes

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Strengthen a powerful slash with impressive range using your own blood, does not require full ultimate bar. If cast with full ultimate bar, perform a 2nd equally devastating slash.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Landing the move on an enemy with low health will auto execute them

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A single AOE slash

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Hitting someone with the edge of the slash will deal more damage and cause bleed·Lvl 4: You can dash during the startup of

Evaluation: Area-pressure tool that gains value in messy fights, clustered targets, and predictable movement paths.

Effect: Roll into an overhead slash

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: You can now feint the slash·Lvl 7: Vault slash gives dodge frames at the start of the move

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Leap backwards and attack your previous position.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Riposte frames on startup·Lvl 8: Execute low health enemies

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A onslaught of relentless slashes, with a powerful strike at the end.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain riposte frames in One Mind

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Guardbreaking an opponent will wound them. While wounded, their posture damage taken is increased significantly.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: An overhead strike with poor damage, but extremely high posture damage.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Overhead Strike restores posture regardless of it being blocked or parried·Lvl 5: Gain hyperarmor for the first .75s of startup·Lvl 6: Overhead Strike inflicts bleed·Lvl 7: Overhead Strike deals 2x posture damage to enemies under 30% health

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Actions that cancel posture regen will reduce the cancellation time.

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Your 'unblockable counter' is more posture-effective. Additionally, disrupt the aura of those weaker than you, or those at low HP.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Pressing Counter while facing a wallbanged enemy will grab them and slam them into the ground.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Apply concussion to enemies

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Use your strength to cause a ripple effect via shockwaves erupting from the ground when you strike it. Can hit ragdolled and crumpled opponents.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Your super armor from Piercing Draw lingers making it very difficult to whiff-punish·Lvl 6: You can rushdown from hit ragdolled opponents

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Deflecting projectiles now reflects them towards the caster.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Guard your body with your blade, reducing all incoming damage by 90%, then reflect all damage back in a spinning hurl.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Returned damage bypasses riposte frames·Lvl 8: Slice off low HP opponents heads if you absorb any damage at all

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Hitting someone's block reduces your posture slightly.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase penetration through armor and armor-like techniques.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Strong attack that grants hyperarmor, has a lengthy wind-up.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Gain riposte frames on startup·Lvl 5: Follow-up attack used by using shunpo after landing the move·Lvl 6: Follow-up becomes amped on-hit if opponent is below 40%

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Strength routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Impale an opponent and slam them back down to the ground, inflicting bleed.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Impale can automatically execute low HP opponents

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Enter a state of rage caused by anguish when entering low HP. Increases melee damage dealt by 15%–30% based on missing HP.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Posture executing an enemy can trigger Berserker.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Jump high in the air towards your opponent before attacking them with an impactful slam.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Strength routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Conjure a basic spirit bow by pressing E. (Passive —)

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes.

Effect: Conjure an arrow and throw it.

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: The offensive form of Blut which grants the user inhuman attack power. Allows artery fortifying at a basic level, and increasing damage & posture damage slightly

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: No longer passively saps Blut Bar during usage and increases weapon dmg by 4%·Lvl 5: Increases weapon dmg by 6%·Lvl 6: Increases weapon dmg by 8%·Lvl 7: Increases weapon dmg by 11%·Lvl 8: Increases weapon dmg by 15%

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Quincy routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Deliver a lethal moonlight strike.

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: The defensive form of Blut, which grants the user inhuman durability

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: No longer passively saps Blut Bar during usage. Veins pulsate on your limbs.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Quincy routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Gather reiatsu from the atmosphere, increasing reiatsu regeneration rate by 7.5%.

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst.

Effect: You have began specialization into your quincy medallion, allowing access to more advanced quincy spells, and you can switch between your bow at a faster rate

Evaluation: Important pathing pickup that unlocks a mechanic or later branch options rather than acting as a direct damage button.

Effect: Throw up an energy ball that blinds surrounding opponents

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: The first flare now burns your opponents retinas, causing excruciating pain, and stunning for a second

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage.

Effect: Heilig Pfeil now fires a faster, weaker arrow. Only one variant can be picked.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options.

Effect: Heilig Pfeil's arrow is much bigger and deals more damage, however is slower. Only one variant can be picked.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options.

Effect: Heilig Pfeil now fires three weaker arrows at a slower rate. Only one variant can be picked.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Summon a massive spirit greatsword above your opponents head and then cast judgement on them, hits ragdolled opponents

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Inflict bleed on enemies

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Thieve your opponents reiryoku with a deadly chokehold. Restores blut charge on hit

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Your chokehold steals a bit of reiatsu

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Summon forward pillars of holy fire.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Feurige Säulen can hit ragdolled opponents

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Summon a raging thunderstorm, and then strike lightning on the blast zone.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Standing in the strikes blast zone heals you for 3% max HP

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Summon various spirit weapons once used by your deceased comrades to rain down warfare on your target. Ultimate Skill.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Quincy routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: You are more in tune with your bow, allowing you to conjure a stronger bow and allowing access to the archery path. Allows mouse aim with your bow.

Evaluation: Important pathing pickup that unlocks a mechanic or later branch options rather than acting as a direct damage button.

Effect: Rush at your opponent then leap into the air and unleash a volley of arrows.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: You can now feint your bow fire, restore half of the cost on feint, empower your next arrow after a feint.

Upgrade note: Lvl 2: Restore full cost of the arrow on feint·Lvl 3: Gain 3x swap speed to your spirit weapon after a feint

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst.

Effect: Fire a single homing arrow.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Disables reiatsu regeneration·Lvl 5: Disables transformations

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Your Spirit Bow is more powerful, reflected in a brand new appearance

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Your spirit bow's arrow now impale targets when charged for a bit

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Fire an arrow capable of pinning opponents to it, and shredding through their internals. Enemies will experience bleeding both internal and external when struck.

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Your spirit bow's arrow now smite opponents with holy light once they are pierced.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Fire an arrow that calls upon the holy king's magic. Ricochets off walls, creates lightning explosions on ricochet or impact.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Your arrow no longer despawns on hit, and can ricochet off living targets as well.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Release a storm of arrows from your bow.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Turnable for twice as long

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Summon a bow that will fire an arrow to send airborne opponents back to the ground. (Target must be airborne)

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Your arrow judges true, it must be parried to be avoided.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Conjure an arrow and throw it

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Blue kido beam.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Applies an after-shock that deals a small % of the ability's damage when landed

Stats: Reiatsu cost 24; cost/level -1.1; cooldown 27.5s; cooldown/level -0.4s

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Lock an opponent's hands together preventing them from attacking. Ineffective against stronger opponents.

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: Your Sai now ignores block

Stats: Reiatsu cost 30; cost/level -1.4; cooldown 40s; cooldown/level -0.6s

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Shinigami routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Increase stun and damage.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Having Tsuzuri Raiden buffs all forms of lightning damage·Lvl 6: Parrying attacks with Tsuzuri Raiden active will restore more 12.5% posture

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Stun the enemy with a net of kido before it explodes

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Fushibi disables the dash/flashstep of those caught in the web initially for a brief duration

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Conjure a blinding continuous energy beam in front of you.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Parrying a kido-type attack will absorb its energy into your blade empowering your next melee attack.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A blast of purple energy which incinerates a target upon contact. Requires Weapon Equipped.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Purple flames linger after the attack hits·Lvl 6: Your purple flame no longer damages you

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Fast green lasers that deal solid damage and posture damage. Requires Weapon Equipped.

Upgrade note: Lvl 2: Projectiles will autotrack to enemies slightly outside the move's range

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Shinigami routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Summon heavenly beams to smite your opponents. Extremely high DMG, but very slow startup and very high reiatsu cost

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As an Ultimate, it should be treated as a major branch payoff.

Effect: Create a lightning field in front of you.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A chargeable lightning projectile which implodes upon impact, sucking entities in.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Rushdown potential off knockback·Lvl 5: After-shock that allows for follow up

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Moves that deal electric damage are now more potent.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Counter with a lightning slash projectile.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Zangerin can be used without countering by having Tsuzuri Raiden active

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Knockback opponents, even when they are knocked.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Sho prevents enemies from getting up from a knocked state while active·Lvl 4: Sho can wallbang enemies·Lvl 6: Seals reiatsu while active

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Reduce the duration of kido-based binding techniques used on you, additionally provides small dmg reduction against any kido-based attacks.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Summon 6 beams of light to pierce an opponent and temporarily restrict their movement.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Upon guardbreak, bind the enemy in red energy. Extends guardbreak time a moderate duration. (60s CD)

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: If you take 40+ damage in quick succession raise a kido barrier for 2 seconds reducing 100% of the next attacks damage

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Lightning tendrils which steal reiatsu from your opponent.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Summon dragons behind you that you can send one-by-one to your mouse position.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Shinigami routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Place 3 points to create a triangular-shaped barrier. Enemies inside the barrier will take damage over its duration.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Shinigami routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Create a motion detecting trap.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Shinigami routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Red smoke which stuns and deals minor damage. Hitting an opponent with the edge of the move, or hitting a crumpled opponent, will send them flying into the air.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: You can rushdown after sending an opponent into the air

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A kido rope that pulls in a targetted enemy. Works on ragdolled opponents.

Upgrade note: Lvl 8: Horin goes through block

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: A weaker blast-like counterpart to Cero.

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: Bala tracks to nearest opponent

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Concentrate your reiatsu into a charged beam that eviscerates anyone hit. Executes low health opponents.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit.

Effect: Reduces startup speed of cero massively, and slightly reduces its damage.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Increases Cero damage and startup time.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options.

Effect: Increases cero damage and size MASSIVELY. Increases startup time and cooldown.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: An automatic defensive technique that makes the user's skin harder than steel.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes.

Effect: Charge a Bala-like attack to create an explosion in front of you.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hollow / Arrancar routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Fire a bala infused with reiatsu tethers, if landed onto an opponent directly, yank them towards you using the tethers.

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Bala ripcord goes through block

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Condense your Bala into 2 sharp, tracking saucers and send them flying.

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: Landing the move on an enemy with low health will slice them in half

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A faster laser-like version of Cero that comes from your finger.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: You can rushdown off Finger Cero

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hollow / Arrancar routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Press Counter while charging cero to delay it by 0.75 seconds, at the cost of lowering damage.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Your cero can now be fired in bursts of 3. However, the damage is reduced appropriately.

Evaluation: Build-defining passive choice. Pick it only if this specific trade-off matches your route, because it blocks competing options. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Concentrated reishi projectile slash.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain Cero-Enhancement on your blade when landing Hollow Cutter.

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Using cero while hierro is active allows you to absorb an extra hit before your cero is cancelled.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Fire sky-splitting lasers from your eyes.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Landing your laser will cause you to leap into the air and land an extra hit

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hollow / Arrancar routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: If you take a burst of damage in quick succession, discard a injured limb for a new one healing yourself a portion of damage taken based on skill level.

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Fire a rapid volley of Bala shots.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Hollow / Arrancar routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: If you take 30+ damage in quick succession raise a kido barrier for 2 seconds reducing 100% of the next attacks damage

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Right-clicking before your cero fires will cancel it and absorb its energy into your weapon granting you enhanced damage for 3 swings

Evaluation: Offensive passive that improves pressure once your core combo or stat investment is already online. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Grab your opponent by the neck, choke them, then finish with a finger cero to the dome

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Zero clutch autoexecutes at low hp

Evaluation: Commitment-heavy control tool. Best after stun, ragdoll, guardbreak, or a confirmed opening rather than as a raw engage. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Perform an overhead punch, if landed, infuse your sword with cero energy, then slam down an energy burst, ignores ragdoll iframes.

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Hold run while using your critical attack to launch an opponent into the air.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Misc routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Flashstep after applying heavy knockback to someone, or knock someone into the air to teleport to them

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Flashstep right before landing to cancel the stun.

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Gain the ability to fill up your aura bar when fighting players. Once filled, you can unleash your spiritual pressure and gain a short-term buff.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Misc routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Flex your spiritual power (keybind in settings), affecting weaker opponents to varying degrees.

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Hold shift and flashstep to manually use rushdown on a target with added startup.

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo.

Effect: Counter weapon-based overheaded swings on deflect, increasing the enemies posture significantly.

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Winning a clash when the opponent is low on health and high on posture will cause you to impale them with your fist.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Misc routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Press Counter after winning a clash to launch your opponent into the air.

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Counter specific melee attacks with your foot, increasing the enemies posture significantly.

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Winning a clash when the opponent has low health and medium posture initiates an execution.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Misc routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Counter mid-air opponents with a fast shunpo attack.

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Knockback an opponent into an afterimage slash.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Clone Strike can hit ragdolled enemies

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Teleport behind your opponent for a slash attack.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain riposte frames after the initial startup·Lvl 6: Knockback on hit and block

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo.

Effect: Enter a stance where you counter ANY incoming attacks, then perform a kick if landed flash step infront of them and do a massive slash

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: Countering a ranged attack will skip the kick portion, teleport you infront of them and slash

Evaluation: Reaction tool for players who can read pressure; stronger as a punish than as a random neutral button.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Your reiatsu regeneration speed slightly scales with the speed stat.

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Commit to 2 wide area slashes, before kicking the opponent away.

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: The attack becomes supercharged, draining reiatsu on connected hit

Evaluation: Area-pressure tool that gains value in messy fights, clustered targets, and predictable movement paths. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: Ignite flammable dust for a blinding attack.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Fireworks cancels enemy ragdolls

Evaluation: Control-focused move that is most valuable when it sets up a follow-up, reset, or tempo swing. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Kido scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Kido scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: A whirlwind projectile which shreds through enemies in its wake.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: You can rushdown to hit enemies·Lvl 4: Refreshes rushdown cooldown

Evaluation: Ranged pressure option that helps force movement, punish spacing mistakes, or add a non-melee threat to your kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Retreat before flashing forwards with a slash of your weapon.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Pressing parry during startup will cause you to strike from above

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Focus your blade forward, leading into a sliding thrust.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Pressing "Counter" before the thrust will do a high ranged slash, which deals less damage but leads into rushdown faster

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Speed routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Launch an enemy into the air.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Speed routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Hitting someone directly after a flash step restores 75% of the shunpo bar spent.

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Auto-execute opponents who have low HP.

Upgrade note: Lvl 5: Using on a guardbroken opponent has a much higher kill threshold·Lvl 7: Flash Execute is useable on knocked people

Evaluation: Finisher-style skill. It matters most when you can reliably create kill windows instead of needing more neutral tools. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Enter a state in which you dodge attacks instead of parrying for 12s after perfect parrying 3 times in quick succession, with no neutral parries. Dodges have 35% increased posture loss vs parries.

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: While stunned, use Shunpo to create afterimages around you that let you escape stun.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Lunge towards an opponent. If the hit lands, kick off them and fall backwards.

Upgrade note: Lvl 4: Press Counter after hitting an enemy to do a 2-part attack

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: While you were progging Hakuda, I studied the blade. While you were going full-strength, I mastered speed. While you were abusing kido I cultivated inner strength. Now outskirts is on fire, and you come to me for help?

Upgrade note: Lvl 6: Inflict bleed

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Speed routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.

Effect: You can cancel basic attacks by flash stepping.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Landing 3 consecutive attacks on a single opponent causes an afterimage to strike them. [Speed 420 required — currently unobtainable in-game]

Evaluation: Currently marked as unobtainable, so treat it as reference information rather than a practical build target. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Disappear briefly before reappearing to surprise your opponent with a lethal strike.

Upgrade note: Lvl 2: Your skewer bypasses riposte frames

Evaluation: Direct combat skill that fits naturally into melee pressure, but its value depends on confirming hits and managing openings. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Dashing before flash stepping creates a clone.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Increase Speed scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Speed scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Shunpo to your mouse position — windup scales with teleport distance. [Speed 420 required — currently unobtainable in-game]

Evaluation: Currently marked as unobtainable, so treat it as reference information rather than a practical build target. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build.

Effect: Your dash's invincibility frames cooldown is reduced.

Evaluation: Useful passive if it supports your chosen route, but its value depends heavily on whether it unlocks stronger follow-up nodes.

Effect: Leave a clone in your place to attack.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Your afterimage's strike is no longer able to be advanced countered

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Speed routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Flash forward in a straight line before attacking, tracks onto moving enemies.

Upgrade note: Lvl 7: Landing this move on low HP opponents will dismember their arm

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: Cancelling your Shunpo quickly with a dash will make it take you further, and apply damage reduction for the duration of your dash

Evaluation: Defensive/technical passive that rewards good timing and helps stabilize trades, pressure, or bad situations. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Increase Strength scaling.

Evaluation: Pure Strength scaling/pathing node. Take it when it opens the next skill you want or when that stat is central to your build.

Effect: If you are about to be parry-executed mid battle, avoid the execution and regenerate posture.

Evaluation: Strong quality-of-life passive for longer fights, helping with uptime and resource recovery instead of raw burst. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Advance forwards, awaiting enemy contact.

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Perform three soaring strikes; the third strike teleports you to the nearest opponent.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Gain riposte frames after the first slash·Lvl 4: The second slash is true, provided you landed the first one

Evaluation: Mobility/combo tool that improves engage, chase, or repositioning, especially for players who like aggressive tempo. It is a mid-to-late investment, so weigh it against cheaper utility before committing.

Effect: Ashes to ashes.

Upgrade note: Lvl 3: Auto execute low health opponents in your wake·Lvl 5: Refresh a random cooldown of a speed-strength skill when landed, fully rebuild ultimate bar as well.

Evaluation: Situational active skill for Speed routing. Consider it when the effect fills a real gap in your current kit. Since it sits deep in the tree, only path here if the earlier nodes already fit your build. As a Special, it is more of a defining payoff than a small utility pickup.