Overview
The Damiane Dual Weapon Build replaces Damiane's shield with a second one-handed weapon, turning her into a high-speed melee attacker focused on landing as many hits as possible in a short window. The build pairs two rapiers for the fastest possible attack rhythm and takes advantage of Damiane's innate attack speed bonuses to chain strikes together with minimal downtime between swings.
This setup is beginner-friendly in terms of setup: Damiane's starter weapons are sufficient to begin dual wielding from the first time you control her in Chapter 3, and the core rotation stays the same throughout the game. The only thing that changes as you progress is swapping in stronger rapiers with better base ATK and more Abyss Core slots.
The biggest adjustment compared to Rapier and Shield play is the loss of passive block mitigation. Without a shield absorbing partial damage on guarded hits, every attack you fail to dodge or parry hits for full damage. In exchange, you gain a second weapon's worth of Abyss Core slots and access to the dual-weapon attack animations, which produce more total hits per combo than the single-weapon moveset.
How to Equip Dual Weapons
No skill unlock or story gate is required. As long as you have a second one-handed weapon in your inventory, you can equip it at any time.
Hold Left on the D-Pad (or the equivalent PC key) to open the Armed Combat radial menu.
Navigate to the two weapon slots at the top of the wheel.
Hover over the shield slot and press R2 or L2 to replace it with a one-handed weapon from your inventory.
Only one-handed weapons can go in the off-hand slot. Two-handed weapons and spears cannot be dual-wielded. The specific rapier combination you choose does not change your available moves; the dual-weapon moveset is a fixed set of animations shared by all one-handed pairings. That said, rapiers are the best choice for Damiane because her passive attack speed bonuses and riposte mechanics scale well with fast-hitting weapons.
Early-Game Setup (Chapter 3)
Damiane arrives in Chapter 3 with the Demenissian Elite Uniform set already equipped. Her starter rapier, the White Wind Rapier, and the Grace Rapier available early in her chapter are enough to start dual wielding immediately.
Starting Weapon Pair
Slot | Weapon | ATK | ATK Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Main Hand | 10 | Lv. 2 | Swift I (more attack speed) | |
Off Hand | 12 | Lv. 1 | Destruction I (raw damage increase) |
The White Wind Rapier has Level 2 attack speed out of the box, which is the highest tier on any starter weapon available to Damiane. Slotting Swift I pushes that speed advantage further, directly increasing how many hits land per combo string. The Grace Rapier covers the damage side with Destruction I, raising the value of each individual hit. Together, the pair gives a comfortable balance of speed and power for the first few chapters.
Starting Armor
Slot | Piece | DEF | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Body | 9 | Lightning Resistance 1 | ||
4 | ATK 13, CRIT 2, Lightning Resistance 1 | |||
Boots | 4 | ATK 13, ATK Speed 1, Move Speed 1, Lightning Resistance 1 |
The Demenissian set provides a strong starting foundation. The gloves offer both ATK and critical rate, which pair well with the rapid-strike style. The boots add movement speed on top of attack speed, helping you close gaps and reposition between combo strings.
Mid-Game Weapon Upgrades
As you progress through the mid-game, look for rapiers with higher ATK values and additional Abyss Core slots. The following weapons are notable upgrades over the starter pair.
Weapon | ATK | ATK Speed | Crit Rate | Abyss Slots | How to Obtain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
17 | Lv. 2 | Lv. 1 | 3 | Dawn Cave chest in Hernand (Mountain of Frozen Souls area). Requires the Stab skill to break through a waterfall entrance. | |
17 | Lv. 2 | - | 3 | Icemoor Castle Ruins chest in western Hernand. Found next to a barrel through a hole in the wall near a ladder. | |
14 | Lv. 1 | - | 2 | World loot. Can appear in open-world locations across Pywel. |
The Hollow Visage and Fallen Kingdom's Rapier are the standout mid-game pair. Both sit at 17 ATK with three Abyss Core slots each, and both are found in the Hernand region, so you can collect them on the same run. The Hollow Visage's built-in critical rate makes it the stronger main-hand choice, while the Fallen Kingdom's Rapier works well in the off-hand slotted with damage and speed cores.
Abyss Core Priority
With two weapons, you have twice as many Abyss Core slots as a Rapier and Shield setup. The dual-weapon style scales on landing many hits in quick succession, so cores that increase speed and per-hit damage deliver the most return. See How to Equip Abyss Cores for setup instructions and Best Abyss Cores for a full tier list.
Priority | Core | Effect | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Swift (I / II) | Increases attack speed | More swings per combo string means more total damage. The single most important stat for this playstyle. |
2 | Destruction (I / II) | Increases attack power | Flat damage increase on every hit. Scales efficiently when you are landing many attacks per second. |
3 | Insight (I / II) | Increases critical rate | More critical hits during rapid combos add up to noticeable burst damage over a full fight. |
4 | Vigor (I / II) | Increases max HP | Without a shield, chip damage accumulates. Extra HP provides a safety buffer, especially in the late game. |
5 | Haste (I / II) | Increases movement speed | Helps close gaps and reposition between combos. Less valuable than the damage-focused cores but useful as a filler. |
As a general rule, put Swift on the main-hand rapier and Destruction on the off-hand. Fill remaining slots with Insight for more burst or Vigor for survivability depending on how much difficulty you are experiencing.
Skill Priorities
Damiane's skill tree blends offensive abilities, mobility tools, and defensive options. For the dual weapon build, the focus is on skills that increase melee damage output, improve gap-closing, and reward staying in constant contact with enemies. The full skill tree is in the Damiane Skills article.
Core Offensive Skills
Skill | Target Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Level 2 | Increases weapon damage. Level 2 unlocks Evasive Smite, which lets Damiane dodge backward while calling down a bolt of light. Useful for creating space without stopping damage. | |
Level 3 | Spirit-consuming weapon attack with high damage. Level 2 extends the chain. Level 3 grants armor penetration, letting it interrupt Super Armor on elite enemies and bosses. | |
Level 2 | Strikes while sidestepping laterally. Level 2 allows two consecutive uses. Combines offense and repositioning in one action, making it ideal for the no-shield playstyle. | |
Level 2 | Charges forward to close distance instantly during basic attack combos. Level 2 unlocks Uppercut (launcher for crowd control) and Skewer (escape tool when surrounded). |
Support and Defensive Skills
Skill | Target Level | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Level 2 | Regenerates Spirit during combat. Level 2 required for Shield Sentinel. Essential for sustaining Smiting Strike without running dry mid-fight. | |
Level 1+ | Improves dodge and parry timing windows. Without a shield's passive mitigation, clean defensive timing is more important. Each rank widens the window meaningfully. | |
Level 5 | Level 3 unlocks Screwdriver finisher. Level 5 enables Aerial Grapple, chaining Uppercut into Screwdriver for large single-target burst. Also provides invulnerability frames during the animation. |
Optional Skills
Skill | Effect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Adds fire or lightning damage to weapon attacks | Unlocked through Abyss puzzles. Pairs well with Smiting Strike for elemental burst. A high priority once you find the right Abyss puzzle. | |
Converts a stored shield into an autonomous attack drone | Requires Shield Toss 2 and Focus 2. Even without using a shield in combat, you can activate Shield Sentinel from the inventory for passive bonus DPS. |
Combat Rotation
The dual weapon loop for Damiane revolves around closing distance, spending a short melee window dealing maximum hits, and then repositioning before enemies can counter. The key principle is to always be moving between attacks rather than standing still.
Close the gap with Piercing Light. Hold the skill button to charge fully, then release to dash toward the target. The charged version deals damage on arrival. Skip this step if already in melee range.
Open with a running attack. Immediately after landing, input a running attack for three quick strikes. This establishes the combo rhythm.
Chain into Sword Flurry. Flow from the running attack directly into Sword Flurry to deal hits while sidestepping. At Level 2, you can chain two Sword Flurry uses back to back.
Weave in Smiting Strike for burst. When your Spirit bar is healthy, insert Smiting Strike into the chain for a high-damage Spirit attack. At Level 3, it bypasses armor on elite enemies.
Dodge attack to create space. After Smiting Strike, dodge backward or to the side. A dodge attack during this movement activates Evasive Smite, dealing damage while repositioning.
Follow with heavy attacks from mid-range. Use two heavy attacks from mid-range before closing in again. Dual-weapon heavy attacks have slightly more reach than light attacks.
Repeat. Once dodge cooldown resets and Spirit recovers, re-engage with Piercing Light and start the cycle again.
Against regular enemies this rotation ends fights before step five. Against bosses, the full cycle balances damage and safety. Against elite enemies with Super Armor, use Smiting Strike Level 3 specifically during their attack animations to interrupt them.
Parrying Without a Shield
A common assumption is that going dual weapon removes the ability to block and parry. In practice, both remain available. The damage mitigation from a held guard while dual wielding is comparable to a shield for most attacks. The main difference is that there is no passive damage reduction from simply holding a shield up; if you are hit without actively guarding, you take the full hit.
To parry while dual wielding, press the guard button just before an enemy attack lands. The timing window is the same as with a shield. A successful parry staggers the attacker and opens a free-hit window, which is especially rewarding at dual-weapon attack speed. If you find the timing difficult, invest in Keen Senses to widen the window.
For most combat situations, dodging is more reliable than parrying because it also repositions you. Reserve parries for attacks with clearly telegraphed wind-ups. Use Sword Flurry as a substitute for parrying in situations where the timing is ambiguous, since it lets you attack and reposition simultaneously.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
High melee output. Two rapiers with stacked attack speed cores produce more hits per second than the Rapier and Shield setup. Against enemies that stand still, the total damage advantage is significant.
Easy to start. No special unlocks or quest rewards needed. The starter rapiers are sufficient to begin from Chapter 3.
Double Abyss Core slots. Two weapons versus one weapon plus a shield means more room for offensive cores across the loadout.
Maintains defensive capability. Parrying and blocking still work. The playstyle is more aggressive, but defensive options are not removed.
Stays consistent throughout the game. The same rotation used in Chapter 3 scales into the late game. The only changes are the weapons used.
Weaknesses
No passive damage reduction. Every hit you fail to dodge or parry deals full damage. Chip damage accumulates faster than with a shield.
Requires clean defensive play. New players may find the lack of shield protection difficult while learning enemy attack patterns. Rapier and Shield is more forgiving for that learning curve.
Spirit management needed. Smiting Strike and the overall pace of dual weapon play burn through Spirit quickly. Focus skill investment is important.
Build Comparison
Build | Damage | Survivability | Difficulty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Dual Weapon (This Build) | Very High | Low | Moderate | Players who prefer aggressive, fast-paced melee combat |
Moderate | High | Easy | New players or those who prefer a defensive approach with reactive combat | |
High | Moderate | Moderate | Wide-area damage against groups of enemies | |
Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Extended reach, mob control, and counter-focused playstyle |
For a full breakdown of all Damiane options, see Best Damiane Builds. For a general overview of how dual wielding mechanics work across both characters, see Dual Wield Build Guide.
Related Articles
Damiane - Character overview and lore
Damiane Skills - Full skill tree and upgrade paths
Best Damiane Builds - All build paths compared
Dual Wield Build Guide - General dual-weapon guide covering both characters
Rapier - Weapon type overview and comparisons
One-Handed Weapons - Full list of one-handed weapons available
Abyss Cores - Core types and effects
Best Abyss Cores - Core tier list and recommendations
Weapon Tier List - Weapon rankings across all categories
Post-Patch Crit Rate Fix
A recent patch corrected what the notes described as a visual bug on jewelry and the Kuku Flame Resistant Chest. In practice the issue was functional, not cosmetic, so those pieces really were handing out double critical rate. After the fix, a critical rate necklace such as the Engraved Silver Necklace now gives the advertised 4 critical rate instead of 8, and the chest no longer contributes a doubled amount either.
The practical consequence for builds is that critical rate has to be rebuilt around weapons and Abyss Gear slots. To hit the 15 critical rate cap you generally need the highest crit-rate weapon available for your type plus 2 to 3 Insight III gears in the weapon, with a crit necklace and a crit ring filling out the remainder.
Rapier Build Math (Post-Patch)
For a rapier-and-shield heavy-attack build, the cleanest way to reach the 15 critical rate cap is:
Rapier: 2 critical rate at max refinement plus 3x Insight III abyss gears (9 critical rate).
Necklace: a crit-rate necklace such as the Engraved Silver Necklace for the remaining 4 critical rate.
Rings: two attack-speed level 4 rings like Mark of Darkness; each also adds 6% stamina regeneration.
If you prefer using Crow's Pursuit (the homing heavy-attack proc from the chapter 5 boss), be aware that dropping an Insight III gear for it means you cannot reach crit 15 on the rapier without moving crit onto other slots. The plain three-Insight rapier is the reliable crit-15 baseline.
Damiane-Exclusive Gloves
The only gloves in the game that hit attack speed level 4 on any character are crafted from Cloth Armors of the World Vol. IV. The recipe book is sold by the back-alley vendor on the north end of Pailune, just outside the OTC, and he only opens the listing once you reach 100 trust with him.
With the exclusive gloves and two attack-speed level 4 rings you settle around attack speed 12 at full refinement. Terra Cloth Gloves (attack speed level 3) land you at attack speed 11 instead, which is functionally very close because attack speed above rank 10 gives diminishing returns. Either option is fine if you have one already refined.
Armor Gear Slots
Chest and helmet: 3 Stamina Regen abyss gears across the two pieces (18% stamina regen), plus your two attack-speed rings at 6% each for the 30% stamina regen cap. Leave one slot for an imbue or Momentum (Turning Slash damage) if you lean on turning slash often.
Gloves: 1 Relentless for general play; swap it for a Bane/Shred/Rend/Shatter matched to the enemy when you are doing boss sessions.
Boots: Bane or attack-speed gears depending on whether you want 15 attack speed at full refinement or extra enemy-type damage.
Rapier Lightning Loop
The loop is built around spamming the lightning-strike heavy attack from outside melee range. When an enemy closes in, combo heavy to turning slash for the lightning-infused ground strike, then evade back out and resume the heavy-attack rain. The lightning bolt itself does not trigger imbue procs, so imbue abyss gears are optional flavour rather than core damage.