Weapon / Mercenary
Sword & Shield
A defensive frontline stance built around blocking, parries, short pressure, and reliable resets.
Weapon familySword & Shield
ClassMercenary
Primary jobFrontline defense
What this weapon solves
Sword & Shield turns blocking and parries into short, repeatable pressure. It is the safest way to learn how to hold an angle without giving up the route home.
- Block the frontal sequence, then answer during recovery.
- Use a parry when the attack pattern is readable.
- Keep the shield answer available before opening a risky container.
Build around the stance
The Sword & Shield path changes the way Mercenary creates and finishes an opening. Pair it with skills that support its range, recovery, and escape pattern.
- Use the shield to create the space where the sword can finish.
- Choose one primary win condition before adding secondary stats.
- Keep a route home whenever the stance commits the hunter forward.
Field checklist
Test the weapon on the route where it will be used. A weapon is ready when the player can repeat its opening, answer its counter, and reach extraction without emptying every resource.
- Learn the first safe action against a common enemy.
- Practice the recovery after the main attack.
- Record the skill and affix priorities in the Build Planner.