Tier A Beginner Build
Sword + Spear Balanced Build – Beginner Guide
The Sword + Spear Balanced build is the ideal starting point for new players. It’s simple, versatile, and remains effective into endgame. You get safe ranged damage from the spear and reliable melee burst from the sword, making it a true all-rounder.
Tier
A
Difficulty
Beginner
Primary Weapon
Strategic Sword
Secondary Weapon
Heavenquaker Spear
1. Build Overview
Role & Playstyle
- Role: All-rounder DPS
- Best For: new players, solo progression, story, general open-world
- Playstyle: balance offense/defense; swap between safe poke and melee burst
Core Strengths
- Versatile in almost every scenario.
- Beginner-friendly with room to grow.
- Solid in solo and co-op play.
- Reliable, consistent DPS.
- Good survivability via HP/Defense focus.
- Flexible range to learn boss patterns safely.
Weaknesses
- No extreme specialization—won’t top pure DPS/tank charts.
- Less flashy than berserker/glass cannon builds.
- Moderate skill ceiling.
- Other builds can outdamage it in niche setups.
2. Weapons
Loadout Details
Primary – Strategic Sword (4★)
- ~265 Attack, balanced stat spread.
- Strong, reliable, and gimmick-free.
- Smooth moveset—ideal for learning spacing and parry timing.
- Obtain: Moonveil Mountains boss drop, crafting (~Lv35), or Chapter 3 reward.
Alternatives: Nameless Sword (early), Azure Blade (mid-game).
Secondary – Heavenquaker Spear (4★)
- ~280 Attack, long reach.
- Top-tier spear for raw damage and crowd control.
- Great for safe poke and stagger building.
- Obtain: Heartseeker boss drop, legendary spear crafting, weekly quest reward.
Alternatives: Stormbreaker Spear (mid-game), Nameless Spear (starter).
3. Gear Sets
Recommended Sets
Harmony Set (4-piece)
- 2pc: +50 Max HP
- 4pc: +5% Attack, +5% Defense, +5% HP
- Perfect for beginners: pure balanced stats.
- Farm: Palace of Annals quests, Qinghe bosses, Mercyheart merchants.
Balanced Force Set (4-piece)
- 2pc: +3% All Damage.
- 4pc: +10% damage for 8s after weapon swap.
- Rewards proper swapping; great stepping stone.
- Farm: General’s Shrine elites, Verdant Wilds chests, crafting recipes.
4. Stats
Stat Priority
- Attack: primary scaling—pump it first.
- HP: gives breathing room while learning.
- Critical Rate: aim for 25–30% baseline.
- Critical Damage: 130–150% keeps crits meaningful.
- Defense: enough to prevent one-shots.
Don’t overthink min-maxing early. A balanced spread leaning Attack/HP works perfectly.
5. Rotations
Combat Rotation
Standard Rotation
- Spear – Sweeping Gale to engage/control.
- Spear – Thrust Barrage from mid-range.
- Swap to Sword.
- Sword – Rising Slash to close/launch.
- Sword light combo (4–5 hits).
- Sword – Piercing Strike finisher.
- Swap back to Spear and repeat.
Boss Rotation
- Phase 1 – Safe Poke: stay mid-range with Spear, learn patterns.
- Phase 2 – Burst: Sweeping Gale → swap → Rising Slash → combo → Piercing Strike.
- Phase 3 – Defensive: back to Spear, maintain 5–12 m distance, poke while recovering.
Mob Clearing
- Start with Spear – Sweeping Gale into packs.
- Spear light attacks to thin crowds.
- Swap to Sword for cleanup/Blade Storm-style skills.
- Use Spear pokes for stragglers.
6. Advanced Techniques
Tech to Grow With
Weapon Swap Combos
- Spear combo → swap → Sword combo for stagger spend.
- Sword Rising Slash → swap → spear follow-up midair.
- Practice swapping during animations for seamless flow.
Range Management
- Spear sweet spot: 8–12 m (safe poke).
- Sword zone: 0–5 m (burst window).
- Danger zone: 5–8 m—commit in or back out.
Stagger Management
- Spear builds stagger safely.
- Sword spends stagger with high burst.
- Ideal loop: Spear build → Sword convert.
Defensive Fundamentals
- Use Spear range to avoid trades.
- Practice Sword parries for learning patterns.
- Block up close, reposition with Spear when needed.
7. Team Play
Team Synergy & Role
Solo Play
- Fully self-sufficient.
- Handles story, exploration, and bosses alone.
- Adaptable without respeccing.
Group Play
- Reliable DPS that fits any comp.
- Supports from range or goes melee when safe.
- Not dependent on specific buffs.
Flexibility
- Can play defensive if team is squishy.
- Can switch to offensive if shielded.
- Always contributes something.
8. Mistakes
Common Mistakes
- Overcommitting with Sword: ignoring patterns and getting punished.
- Underusing Spear: treating it as a backup instead of main safety tool.
- Bad swap timing: swapping mid enemy telegraph.
- Ignoring range advantage: lingering in awkward mid-range.
- Skipping parry practice: slows long-term improvement.
- Overthinking stats: balanced gear > perfect numbers early.
9. Tips