Dual Blades
Overview
Dual Blades is one of the powersets added in Issue 11. It is a Scrapper primary power set and a Tanker secondary set in City of Heroes, and a Stalker and Brute primary powerset in City of Villains. The devs (Back Alley Brawler in particular) designed the set to be insanely quick.
A video of this set in action is available from the Official movie page.
Powers
The Dual Blades powerset is available to Scrappers, Stalkers, and Brutes as a primary powerset and to Tankers as a secondary powerset. The following tables lists the powers available, sorted by level. They also indicate which combination uses which power.
The layout of these tables may change, please discuss. Talk:Dual Blades
Scrapper
Power | Level | Effect | Weaken Foe -ToHit -Def |
Empower Self +Damage +ToHit |
Attack Vitals Cone +DoT |
Sweep PBAoE +Knockdown | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nimble Slash | 1 | Melee, Minor Damage (Lethal). | Begin | Begin | |||
Power Slice | 1 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal). | Continue | ||||
Ablating Strike | 2 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Foe -Defense. | Continue | Continue | Begin | ||
Typhoon's Edge | 6 | Point Blank Area of Effect Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal). | Finish | Finish | |||
Blinding Feint | 8 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal) Self +Damage +To-Hit. | Finish | ||||
Confront | 12 | Ranged, Foe Taunt | |||||
Vengeful Slice | 18 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Foe Knockdown. | Continue | ||||
Sweeping Strike | 26 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Finish | ||||
One Thousand Cuts | 32 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Begin |
Tanker
Power | Level | Effect | Weaken Foe -ToHit -Def |
Empower Self +Damage +ToHit |
Attack Vitals Cone +DoT |
Sweep PBAoE +Knockdown | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nimble Slash | 1 | Melee, Minor Damage (Lethal). | Begin | Begin | |||
Power Slice | 2 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal). | Continue | ||||
Ablating Strike | 4 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Foe -Defense. | Continue | Continue | Begin | ||
Taunt | 10 | Ranged(Targeted AoE), Foe Taunt | |||||
Typhoon's Edge | 16 | Point Blank Area of Effect Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal). | Finish | Finish | |||
Blinding Feint | 20 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal) Self +Damage +To-Hit. | Finish | ||||
Vengeful Slice | 28 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Foe Knockdown. | Continue | ||||
Sweeping Strike | 35 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Finish | ||||
One Thousand Cuts | 38 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Begin |
Brute
Power | Level | Effect | Weaken Foe -ToHit -Def |
Empower Self +Damage +ToHit |
Attack Vitals Cone +DoT |
Sweep PBAoE +Knockdown | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nimble Slash | 1 | Melee, Minor Damage (Lethal). | Begin | Begin | |||
Power Slice | 1 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal). | Continue | ||||
Ablating Strike | 2 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Foe -Defense. | Continue | Continue | Begin | ||
Typhoon's Edge | 6 | Point Blank Area of Effect Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal). | Finish | Finish | |||
Blinding Feint | 8 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal) Self +Damage +To-Hit. | Finish | ||||
Taunt | 12 | Ranged (AoE), Foe Taunt | |||||
Vengeful Slice | 18 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Foe Knockdown. | Finish | ||||
Sweeping Strike | 26 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Continue | ||||
One Thousand Cuts | 32 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Begin |
Stalker
Power | Level | Effect | Weaken Foe -ToHit -Def |
Empower Self +Damage +ToHit |
Attack Vitals Cone +DoT |
Sweep PBAoE +Knockdown | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nimble Slash | 1 | Melee, Minor Damage (Lethal). | Continue | ||||
Power Slice | 1 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal). | Continue | Begin | |||
Ablating Strike | 2 | Melee, Moderate Damage (Lethal), Foe -Defense. | Finish | ||||
Assassin's Blades | 6 | Melee, Moderate Damage +Special. | Continue | Continue | |||
Build Up | 8 | Self +Damage +To-Hit. | Begin | Begin | |||
Placate | 12 | Ranged, Foe Placate. | Finish | ||||
Vengeful Slice | 18 | Melee, Moderate Damage(Lethal), Foe Knockdown. | Finish | ||||
Sweeping Strike | 26 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Begin | ||||
One Thousand Cuts | 32 | Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal). | Finish |
Combination Attacks
The highlight of the dual blades power set is its implementation of a "combo system." Most attacks lack a secondary effect, like Katana's -Def or Dark's -ToHit, but the set makes up for this by adding the ability to chain attacks together to create an additional effect at the end.
When you hit an enemy with the starter move for a combo, you have 5 seconds to hit with the continuing move or the combo breaks and your attacks will cause only their normal effects. Likewise, hitting with a continuing move gives you 5 seconds to hit with a finishing move before losing the combo. The combo also breaks if you hit with any Dual Blades power other than the next one in the combo. Taunt and Confront are exceptions to this rule -- they don't automatically break combos, although they may make you run out of time. Powers outside the Dual Blades powerset don't break combos either.
Attacks in a combo don't all need to hit the same enemy, but they do all need to hit. Misses don't break the combo instantly, but they don't advance it either, and only the fastest attacks cycle quickly enough to be tried twice before the 5-second timer runs out.
If a move is both a starter for one combo and a continuer for another, it will do only one of those two things, depending on when it is used.
The layout of these tables may change, please discuss. Talk:Dual Blades
Powers
The following are powers in the Dual Blades powerset.
Ablating Strike
You slash at your foes with your blades, dealing a good amount of lethal damage. This attack can reduce a target's defense, making him easier to hit. This power is needed for the Empower and Weaken combination attacks, and is the beginning of the Attack Vitals combination attack.
Damage | Moderate (Lethal) |
Recharge | Fast |
Minimum Level | 2 (Brute) |
2 (Scrapper) | |
2 (Stalker) | |
4 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee, Foe -DEF |
Foe Defense Debuff | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Enhance Defense Debuff | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Defense Debuff | |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
Assassin's Blades
A signature Stalker attack. This attack does moderate damage on its own as a frontal attack. However, if it is executed while you are Hidden, this attack will do tremendous lethal damage as you waylay your unsuspecting foe. This attack may be interrupted if you move or are attacked while executing this power, or if your target breaks your line of sight. This power is needed by Stalkers for the Empower and Sweep combination attacks. This power is unavailable to Tankers, Scrappers, and Brutes.
Damage | Special (Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 6 (Stalker) |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Build Up
Greatly increases the amount of damage you deal for a few seconds, as well as slightly increasing your chance to hit. This power is the opening to both the Empower and Sweep combination attacks for Stalkers. This power is unavailable to Tankers, Scrappers, and Brutes.
Recharge | Long |
Minimum Level | 8 (Stalker) |
Effects | Self +Damage, +To-Hit |
Enhancements | Reduce Endurance Cost |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance ToHit Buff | |
Set Categories | To Hit Buff |
Nimble Slash
You perform a quick with your blades. Does minor lethal damage, but has a quick recharge rate. This attack begins both the Empower and Weaken combination attacks.
Damage | Minor(Lethal) |
Recharge | Very Fast |
Minimum Level | 1 (Brute) |
1 (Scrapper) | |
1 (Stalker) | |
1 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
One Thousand Cuts
Unleashes a flurry of attacks on all foes in a cone in front of you, dealing moderate lethal damage to each foe hit. This power is the opening move for the Sweep combination attack.
Damage | Superior(Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 32 (Brute) |
32 (Scrapper) | |
32 (Stalker) | |
38 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Enhance Knockback Distance | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Knockback | |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
Placate
Allows you to trick a foe into no longer attacking you. A successful Placate will also Hide you. This Hide is very brief, and offers no defense bonus, but it will allow you to deliver a critical hit or an Assassin's Strike. However, if you attack a Placated foe, he will be able to attack you back. This power is the finishing move in the Empower combination attack for Stalkers. This power is unavailable to Tankers, Scrappers, and Brutes.
Recharge | Long |
Minimum Level | 12 (Stalker) |
Effects | Ranged |
Foe Placate | |
Self Stealth/Hide | |
Enhancements | Enhance Range |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Set Categories | - |
Power Slice
You perform a powerful deadly strike with your blade. This is a basic attack that deals moderate damage. This power is needed for the Weaken combination attack.
Damage | Moderate(Lethal) |
Recharge | Fast |
Minimum Level | 1 (Brute) |
1 (Scrapper) | |
1 (Stalker) | |
2 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
Sweeping Strike
You make a sweeping strike with your blades, hitting all foes in a cone in front of you and dealing moderate lethal damage to each. This power is the opening move for the Weaken combination attack.
Damage | Superior(Lethal) |
Recharge | Moderate |
Minimum Level | 26 (Brute) |
26 (Scrapper) | |
26 (Stalker) | |
35 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
Taunt
Taunts a foe and all foes around him to attack you.
Tanker: Useful for pulling villains off an ally who finds himself in over his head. Taunted foes tend to ignore other enemies and focus on you for quite a while, so use this power cautiously. An Accuracy check is not required to Taunt your foes.
Brute: Useful to pull enemies off allies and keep them attacking you to raise your Fury.
This power is unavailable to Stalkers or Scrappers.
Recharge | Fast (Brute) |
Slow (Tanker) | |
Minimum Level | 10 (Brute) |
10 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Ranged(Targeted Area of Effect) |
Foe Taunt | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Range | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | Taunt |
Typhoon's Edge
You spin around in a circle, attacking everyone within melee range with a striking attack. This attack is the finishing move in both the Weaken and Sweep combination attacks for Brutes, Scrappers and Tankers. This power is unavailable to Stalkers.
Damage | Moderate(Lethal) |
Recharge | Slow |
Minimum Level | 6 (Brute) |
6 (Scrapper) | |
16 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Point Blank Area of Effect |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | PBAoE Damage |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |
Vengeful Slice
Unleashes a series of strong attacks on your foe, dealing high lethal damage and knocking them down. This power is needed for the Attack Vitals combination attack.
Damage | High(Lethal) |
Recharge | Moderate |
Minimum Level | 18 (Brute) |
18 (Scrapper) | |
18 (Stalker) | |
28 (Tanker) | |
Effects | Melee |
Knockdown | |
Enhancements | Enhance Accuracy |
Enhance Damage | |
Reduce Endurance Cost | |
Enhance Knockback Distance | |
Increase Attack Rate | |
Enhance Taunt Effectiveness (Brute/Tanker only) | |
Set Categories | Melee Damage |
Knockback | |
Taunt (Brute/Tanker only) |