Dual Blades

Overview

Dual Blades is one of the power sets. It is a primary power set for Brutes, Scrappers, and Stalkers, and a secondary power set for Tankers. The developers, particularly Back Alley Brawler, designed the set to be insanely quick.

A video of this set in action is available from the Official movie page.

Possible Dual Blades Weapon Customizations.

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.

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.			Continue
Sweeping Strike	26	Melee (Cone), Superior Damage (Lethal).			Finish
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. Combo effects also gain the benefits of any relevant Enhancements in the move that finished the combo.

When you hit an enemy with the beginning move for a combo, you have 5 seconds to hit with the continuing move or the combo breaks and your attacks 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, but they don't advance it either, and only the fastest attacks cycle quickly enough to be tried again before the 5-second timer runs out.

If a move is both a beginner for one combo and a continuer for another, it will do only one of those two things, depending on when it is used.

Combo Name	Effect	Attacks
Empower	+Damage, +To-Hit	Nimble Slash	Build Up
		Ablating Strike	Assassin's Blades
		Blinding Feint	Placate
Weaken	Foe -ToHit, -Def	Nimble Slash	Sweeping Strike
		Ablating Strike	Power Slice
		Typhoon's Edge	One Thousand Cuts
Attack Vitals	Damage Over Time(Lethal)	Ablating Strike	Power Slice
		Vengeful Slice	Nimble Slice
		Sweeping Strike	Vengeful Slice
Sweep	PBAoE Minor Damage(Lethal), Knockdown	One Thousand Cuts	Build Up
		Power Slice	Assassin's Blades
		Typhoon's Edge	Ablating Strike

Weaken and Attack Vitals only affect enemies hit by the finisher move, so they have different AoE characteristics for Stalkers than for other ATs. Sweep is always a PBAoE.

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) Accurate Defense Debuff

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

Blinding Feint

You perform a feint attack that deals light damage. After this attack hits, it gives you a large bonus to Damage and To-hit for a brief time. This power is the finishing move in the Empower combination attack. This power is unavailable to Stalkers.

Damage Light(Lethal) Recharge Slow Minimum Level 8 (Brute) 8 (Scrapper) 20 (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)

Confront

Challenges a foe to attack you. Useful to pull a villain off an ally who finds himself in over his head. An Accuracy check is required to Taunt enemy players in PvP, but is not needed against critter targets.

This power is available only to Scrappers.

Recharge Fast Minimum Level 12 (Scrapper) Effects Ranged Foe Taunt, -Range Enhancements Enhance Accuracy Enhance Range Increase Attack Rate Enhance Taunt Effectiveness Set Categories Taunt

Nimble Slash

A quick swipe 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 Melee AoE 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 Assassination. 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.

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 a moderate amount of lethal damage. This power is needed for the Sweep 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 finishing move for the Attack Vitals 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 Melee AoE 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 Melee AoE 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)

Historical

This section contains information about changes that took place in City of Heroes/Villains. It is provided for historical purposes.

• This set was added to the game for Brutes, Scrappers, Stalkers, and Tankers in Issue 11.

External Links

• Dual Blades for Scrappers at City of Data v2.0
• Dual Blades for Tankers at City of Data v2.0
• Dual Blades for Brutes at City of Data v2.0
• Dual Blades for Stalkers at City of Data v2.0

• Guide to DB and Combos by Pippy