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Dual Blades
March 27, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Fixed 4 broken wikilinks: weapons-equipment -> weapons, kliff-macduff -> kliff, unarmed-combat-and-wrestling-and-wrestling -> unarmed-combat-and-wrestling, unarmed-combat-and-wrestling-and-wrestling -> unarmed-combat-and-wrestling
Dual blades are a melee weapon type in Crimson Desert focused on rapid, whirling attacks with an emphasis on speed and evasion. Unlike the sword and shield, which provides a balanced offensive-defensive playstyle, dual blades sacrifice the shield's blocking capability and weapon reach in exchange for high attack speed and the ability to inflict bleed damage. The weapon type is part of Crimson Desert's broader combat system, which allows players to equip two weapon types at a time and switch between them seamlessly during combat.
Dual blades consist of two separate, shorter blades wielded simultaneously. Preview footage shows that the two blades have different shapes and curvatures, suggesting they are individual weapons rather than an identical matched pair. GamesRadar has described them as "dual-wielding short blades or daggers," and they visually appear smaller than a longsword.
The weapon was shown visually in the Features Overview #2: Combat and Progression trailer released in February 2026 and has appeared in multiple pre-release gameplay footage segments, though most demo sessions defaulted to the sword and shield.
Dual blades are designed for players who want quick strikes and plenty of evasion. The weapon emphasizes fast combos with rapid, whirling attack patterns. Switching to dual blades is performed through a quick tap, allowing fluid transitions during active combat.
In NoisyPixel's hands-on preview, the journalist described flipping into dual daggers as "trading reach for rapid bleed procs." This confirms that dual blades can inflict a bleed status effect, a damage-over-time condition applied through rapid successive hits. The trade-off is clear: shorter range compared to weapons like the spear, but the ability to stack bleed damage quickly.
Dual blades sit at the fast, agile end of the weapon spectrum. Compared to other weapon types:
Weapon | Speed | Reach | |
|---|---|---|---|
Dual Blades | Very fast | Short | Dodge/evasion-focused |
Sword and Shield | Moderate | Medium | Shield blocking, parries, ripostes |
Spear | Moderate-fast | Long | Range-based spacing |
Greatsword | Slow | Long | Positioning and timing |
Axe | Slow | Medium-wide | Wide arcs for crowd control |
Equipping dual blades means giving up the shield. Game8 confirmed this directly: the character wields "two blades, replacing the shield in one hand." Without a shield, dual blade users rely on dodging rather than blocking for defense.
NoisyPixel's hands-on preview mentioned "a stamina-free parry" that "rewarded me with a brutal counter that sent shields flying" in the same combat passage as dual daggers. Whether this stamina-free parry is specific to dual blades or a general combat mechanic available across all weapon types has not been definitively confirmed.
Players can equip two weapon types at a time. Crimson Desert features a weapon wheel for quick swapping between equipped weapons during combat. The same seamless switching system that allows Kliff to parry with a sword and shield before switching to a spear for a follow-up attack applies to dual blades as well. NoisyPixel described the switch as a "quick tap" that "flipped Kliff's stance into dual daggers," confirming the transition is fast and fluid.
Preview build guides suggest dual blades work well in DPS-focused builds that prioritize attack speed and elemental damage. A recommended build approach for dual blades involves:
Pairing dual blades with elemental infusions from the Axiom Bracelet for additional damage-over-time effects on top of bleed
Prioritizing attack speed and elemental damage in the Abyss Artifact progression system
Including at least one defensive skill like a large dodge or guard ability to compensate for the lack of a shield
Using gap-closing abilities to close distance quickly, since dual blades have shorter range than most weapons
Like all weapon types, dual blades can be infused with elemental effects through the Axiom Bracelet. Fire, ice, and lightning infusions can be applied to the blades, adding elemental damage on top of the weapon's natural bleed effect. This creates the potential for stacking multiple damage-over-time effects on a single target.
Dual blades integrate with the game's unarmed combat and wrestling system the same way other weapons do. Players can chain dual blade attacks into kicks, grapples, and wrestling moves, and vice versa. The weapon's fast attack speed makes it particularly effective for building combo chains before transitioning into grapple finishers.
Weapon Type | Style |
|---|---|
Sword and Shield | Balanced; counters, parries, and ripostes |
Spear | Rapid thrusting with long reach |
Greatsword | Slow, concentrated heavy strikes |
Axe | Slow, wide-arcing crowd control |
Dual Blades | Fast, whirling attacks with bleed damage |
Bow and Arrow | Fast ranged attacks with bullet-time precision aiming |
Musket | Slow reload, high single-shot damage at range |
Always available; punches, kicks, suplexes, wrestling moves |
Topic | Connection |
|---|---|
The broader combat framework dual blades operate within | |
Defensive mechanics; dual blades rely on dodging over blocking | |
Grapple moves that chain with dual blade combos | |
Elemental infusions applicable to dual blades | |
Weapon Types | Overview of all available weapon categories |
The protagonist who wields dual blades |
