Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree’s backhand blades were already a new favorite weapon for me, but the underhand assassin curved swords have an incredible depth of movement tech I wasn’t even aware of, like being able to completely no-sell the most devastating boss attack FromSoftware’s ever created.

Curiously-named Elden Ring YouTuber Sax Slave Gael explains the blades’ anti-Malenia properties in a video overview lauding their moveset. It all comes down to the Swift Slash ash of war, which can only be paired with the base backhand blades or throwable Smithscript Cirque version. Swift Slash is just sick as hell, a chargeable anime dash attack with a slightly delayed blade explosion at the end.

The Best Dex Weapon & Ash of War in 𝐄𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 – YouTube

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It’s already developed a strong following and attending backlash in Elden Ring’s PvP, where the ability’sgotten a small, mode-specific nerf⁠—though it still seems like a winner against other players. Swift Slash remains untouched in PvE, where its quick activation, versatility, as well as high damage, stagger, and status build up lend it to taking on Elden Ring’s hardest bosses.

Gael demonstrates how it can be used defensively as well: It’s possible to just launch it away from Malenia at the beginning of Waterfowl Dance, out-distancing her like you used to be able to with the Bloodhound Step ash of war. More juicy though is juking Malenia by aiming a charged Swift Slash behind her right at the beginning of the attack. “It certainly isn’t as easy as it looks here,” Gael cautions, but it still strikes me as a safer option than disabling lock-on and running in a circle around Malenia to avoid Waterfowl Dance, or otherwise perfectly timing your blocks with the Sekiro mode Deflecting Hard Tear.