Conquer Stellar Blade's challenging combat system with this comprehensive guide covering 19 essential tips and tricks to master parrying, combos, Beta Skills, Burst attacks, and more.
Stellar Blade is a challenging action-adventure game that demands precise timing, keen reflexes, and a deep understanding of its complex combat mechanics. To help you navigate the battlefield with confidence, we've compiled 19 essential tips and tricks to master Stellar Blade's combat system.
Stellar Blade's combat system allows for a degree of non-commitment in attacks. This means you can switch to a guard or dodge during the start-up of an attack, but once damage can be dealt, you're locked into that animation. Leverage this by being aggressive with your combos, but always be ready to transition into a defensive stance when needed. A perfect example is the Square, Square, Square, Triangle combo - you can cancel out of the final airborne attack, but once you connect, you're vulnerable. Practice this in the training room to dial in your timing.
There are eight unique combo strings in Stellar Blade, each with their own properties and uses. While you don't need to master them all, you also don't want to stick to the same one every time. Longer combos deal more damage, but are more prone to interruption. Assess each situation and choose the right combo accordingly. Also keep in mind that the number next to a combo's name corresponds to its level, which can interact with certain Exospines and Gear pieces.
Unlike many action games, Stamina is not a resource you need to manage in Stellar Blade. You're free to attack, block, and dodge as you please. However, blocking does incur small amounts of chip damage, especially when your Shield is depleted. While blocking is still preferable to taking a full hit, you'll want to intersperse parries to avoid gradually whittling your health away.
Parrying is absolutely essential in Stellar Blade, particularly against enemies with uninterruptible attack strings. When an enemy glows red, it indicates they're about to launch a lethal multi-hit combo that can only be stopped by precisely timed parries. Get the timing right, and you'll deplete their Balance, allowing you to punish them with a devastating counterattack. If you're struggling, invest in the Reflex Boost skill or equip Gear/Exospines that widen the parry window. Alternatively, you can lower the difficulty to Story Mode to make parrying a quick-time event.
Stellar Blade generally favors blocking over dodging. The timing for a perfect dodge is about the same as a perfect parry, but if you mistime the dodge, you'll take the full brunt of the attack. Dodges also don't contribute to depleting an enemy's Balance. However, certain attacks do require precise dodging, and when executed flawlessly, can open up powerful counterattack opportunities. Just be cautious about relying too heavily on dodges, as blocking is usually the safer option.
Chipping away at an enemy's Shield meter is crucial, as it not only increases the damage you deal once it's depleted, but also causes the enemy to stagger back, giving you an opening. Use skills like Shield Breaker or consumables like Pulse Grenades to accelerate Shield depletion.
Don't neglect the powerful combat consumables at your disposal. Grenades like Pulse, Sonic, and Shock can be invaluable for disrupting enemies, damaging their Shields, or creating openings. Mines are also great for softening up distant foes before engaging them in melee. Be sure to stock up on these items at Supply Camps and make liberal use of them when the situation calls for it.
Stellar Blade's enemies use a variety of color-coded attacks that require different defensive responses. Yellow attacks are unblockable, so your best option is to simply dodge them. Blue and purple attacks can be avoided with Blink and Repulse respectively - watch for the weapon flash cue to time these properly. Red attacks indicate an incoming flurry that must be parried. Mastering this color-coding system is crucial to surviving the game's tougher encounters.
Beta Skills are special abilities that consume Beta Energy. They have a wide range of applications, from interrupting enemies (Triplet) to reducing their Shields (Shield Breaker) to area-of-effect attacks (Shockwave, Slash). These skills are immensely powerful, so be sure to unlock and utilize them frequently in combat.
Later in the game, you'll gain access to devastating Burst Skills that consume Burst Energy. These can stun and knock down enemies, setting you up for massive follow-up damage. To generate Burst Energy, you'll want to master Beta Chains - holding down the final button of a combo to execute a more powerful version at the cost of one Beta Energy point. If the Beta Chain hits, you'll gain a point of Burst Energy in return.
While Stellar Blade is primarily a melee-focused experience, don't forget about your wrist-mounted gun. This ranged weapon can be invaluable for quickly finishing off weaker enemies, dealing with foes that try to keep their distance, or softening up stationary targets from afar.
If a fight is going poorly and you find yourself outmatched, there's no shame in retreating and living to fight another day. The penalty for death in Stellar Blade is relatively mild, and checkpoints are generally spaced out, so it's often better to escape and regroup. You can also use this to your advantage, luring enemies back to their starting positions to hit them with area-of-effect attacks. And don't forget that you can still sprint and heal during combat if you need to create some distance.
In multi-enemy encounters, it's crucial to prioritize your targets. Generally, you'll want to deal with ranged enemies first, as their projectiles can easily interrupt your combos. You can also use ranged enemies to your advantage, waiting for them to attack and then perfectly dodging to counterattack. Additionally, always make eliminating Skullings a top priority, as they'll revive fallen foes if left unchecked.
Your wrist-mounted gun can be a lifesaver in combat, but you need to ensure you have enough ammunition to use it effectively. When upgrading your drone, focus on unlocking increased ammo capacity and new ammo types to give yourself more options in tough fights.
The Tempest Burst Skill is an incredibly valuable tool, as it not only deals massive damage and reduces an enemy's Shield, but also grants you a brief moment of immunity. This can be a real game-changer when you find yourself in a precarious situation, so don't hesitate to use it when needed.
Many Stellar Blade bosses have a maximum amount of damage they can take in a given phase. However, their Balance often carries over between phases. Take advantage of this by depleting a boss's Balance to the brink before a phase change, then quickly finish them off in the next phase.
Certain skills like Dual Breaker, Finishing Blow Increase, and Cross Wave can stun-lock bosses, allowing you to interrupt their unblockable attacks and create windows for healing or additional damage. Wait for the enemy to fully recover before hitting them again to maximize this opportunity.
It's almost always advantageous to keep your target locked on during combat. Many of your abilities will automatically home in on the locked-on enemy, ensuring your attacks land with greater consistency. Losing that lock-on can make your attacks significantly less accurate.
As you explore Stellar Blade's environments, keep an eye out for explosive red barrels. These can be extremely useful in combat, as you can lure enemies towards them and detonate the barrels to deal significant passive damage. This can be especially helpful against large groups or tanky foes that you want to weaken before engaging directly.
By mastering these 19 essential tips and tricks, you'll be well on your way to dominating the battlefield in Stellar Blade. Remember, practice and patience are key - the more time you invest in honing your skills, the more rewarding the combat experience will become. Stay vigilant, learn from your mistakes, and above all, have fun on your journey to become a true Stellar Blade warrior.
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