Summary
Many players are givingThe First Berserker: Khazantheir seal of approval asa solid Soulslikewith some unique ideas. With a random loot system similar toNiohand a stylized anime art style, the game comfortably occupies its own niche while containing many recognizable systems from other action RPGs.
There’s a lot of random loot to find inThe First Berserker: Khazan, but there are only three overall weapon categories: Spears, Dual Blades, and Greatswords. Each weapon type comes with its own moveset and skill trees, so combat and playstyle variety doesn’t feel too limited by this design. There are five skill trees foreach weapon type, so players will need to think hard about how to distribute their skill points.
There is an item that lets players respec in the game, but it’s relatively limited until players reach the endgame and New Game Plus. That means it’s handy to know what skills are going to help with getting through the game’s campaign. So for players who want a quick guide, these are some of the best skills to get for Spears inThe First Berserker: Khazan.
10Moonlight Stance
Afterimage Attacks
The first skill in the Swift Attack tree for Spears, Moonlight, changes the third attack of a light attack combo into a sweep. With Moonlight Stance, hitting an enemy with this attack activates the stance.
When active, attacking in Moonlight Stance causes afterimages to appear and deals additional damage to enemies. The effect lasts 15 seconds and can be triggered any time with the light attack combo, so it’s relatively easy to keep Moonlight Stance active for the additional damage.
9Full Moon
AoE Sweep
The skill Full Moon from the Swift Attack tree further enhances Moonlight Stance’s effectiveness. This skill changes the charged potent blow to a wide, high-damage AoE sweep while in Moonlight Stance and also makes the potent blow charge faster.
This move excels at dealing with groups of enemies, which will come in handy while fighting through the many smaller enemies inThe First Berserker: Khazan’s levels.
8Spiral Thrust
Single Target Damage
Spiral Thrust is an early active skill from the Potent Blow tree that can be very useful for single-target damage throughout the game. The move performs a powerful forward thrust while spinning the spear. It costs a spirit point to activate but deals a good amount of damage in return.
With later upgrades, the move can deal guard penetration damage, so it can deal damage through guards and break the stance of guarding enemies. Other linked skills allow the move to deal more damage to exhausted enemies, a good synergy for Spears, since they deal increased stamina damage and exhaust enemies more easily thanother weapon types.
7Vital Strike
Jumping Sprint Attack
For Spear players who like to stay on the offensive, Vital Strike is a versatile leaping attack that can be activated with the potent blow (heavy attack) button while sprinting or dodging.
This lets players weave this attack into their combos while dodging enemy blows or quickly close the gap by sprinting and leaping at further away enemies. It’s an early skill in the Shrewd skill tree that’s wellworth investing in.
6Endurance
Reduced Guard Cost
Endurance is the mostbasic skillin the Guard tree for Spears, but it can be upgraded twice for a significantly reduced stamina cost when blocking. This makes defending against multiple attacks much more viable, as even perfect guards cost a little stamina inThe First Berserker: Khazan. It’s a humble, seemingly passive skill, but Spear players shouldn’t neglect it.
5Shadow Strike
Crouch And Sweep
Shadow Strike is a gap-closing attack that costs a spirit point to use. The skill charges with a crouch animation before dashing toward the enemy and slashing them twice with the spear. At its first level, it’s a strong attack that adds somemobility in combat. Once players reach mastery level 18, though, they can get the linked skill, Shadow Strike: Relics, which makes this move much more powerful.
Relics give the start-up of the attack animation the ability to nullify incoming damage, which means Shadow Strike can be used as a counterattack. If it successfully counterattacks, then the move pierces the enemy and repositions the player behind them, letting them continue their assault.
4Quick Slash
Brink Dodge Counter
Every Spear player should consider this basic skill from the Shrewd tree as essential. After performing a brink dodge (perfect dodge), this skill lets the player chain a quicker version of their swift attack or potent blow into a dodge attack with a brief invincibility window. This lets players quickly turn defense into offense, close the gap on ranged attackers, and work in attacks even againstlonger boss combos.
3Shadow Reversal
Backstab
Shadow Reversal is a useful move for the Spear that can help players dominate fights against smaller enemies. Using a potent blow after a swift attack or dodge attack will activate this skill, a thrust that impales the enemy with the spear. If the enemy’s stance is broken, the attack pulls them off balance and positions the player behind them.
If their stance isn’t broken, there is a follow-up slash instead. The move can also be used after a Rod Smite (brink guard counter) or Zero Point from the potent blow skill tree. Getting the linked skill Shadow Reversal: Impact increases the move’s ability to break enemy stances and allows it to work against somelarger enemies.
2Ghost Strike
Phantom Follow-ups
Ghost Strike is a very useful counterattack, but it requires players to have already invested in Phantom: Heatwave to access it. When players brink guard with Phantom: Heatwave (which is automatic), they can swift attack to counter with this move.
Successfully landing this counterattack also increases the duration of the buff from Phantom: Heatwave, so there’s some great synergy between the two skills.
1Phantom: Heatwave
Phantom Deflection
Phantom: Heatwave is one of the most powerful abilities players can take for the Spear inThe First Berserker: Khazan. When activated, the move automatically brink guards incoming attacks while the Spear spins. Attackers who are guarded against take damage, and players gain a 30-second buff to their Moonlight and Full Moon attacks after the move ends.
The move costs two spirit points to activate, but the combination ofperfect defenseand damaging attack is well worth the cost. The move can be upgraded for more counter damage and given a longer duration using the linked skill Phantom: Whirlwind.
