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Kliff Spear Build
April 4, 2026 at 09:22 AM
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The Kliff Spear Build is a counter-focused, mid-range configuration for Kliff in Crimson Desert. It centers on the spear's unique Counter Stance mechanic, which lets Kliff enter a sustained defensive posture that automatically retaliates against incoming attacks. Combined with the spear's natural reach advantage and a built-in ranged projectile, this build excels at controlling the pace of combat and punishing aggressive enemies.
Unlike the hit-and-dodge rhythm of one-handed weapons, the spear build rewards patience and positioning. Counter Stance stays active as long as your Stamina holds out, giving you a generous defensive window compared to frame-precise parries. Between counters, you chain Tactical Stab and Forward Slash to overwhelm enemies, then fire ranged projectiles with the spear's Stab input to harass targets at a distance. The build is powerful from the early chapters and scales well into mid-game content with upgraded spears and Abyss Gears.
This build is one of the most approachable setups for new players because Counter Stance is far more forgiving than parry timing, and the ranged poke lets you engage safely before committing to melee. It also serves as a strong secondary weapon for players who primarily use a Sword and Shield or dual-wield loadout, since Quick Swap lets you pull out the spear mid-combat for punishing openings.
Spears are two-handed weapons in Crimson Desert, which means they occupy both equipment slots and cannot be paired with a shield. The trade-off is superior reach, strong single-target damage, and access to the Counter Stance and ranged projectile mechanics. The table below outlines the recommended spear progression as you advance through the story.
Phase | Weapon | ATK | ATK Speed | How to Obtain | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Early Game | 12 | Lv. 1 | Purchased from merchants or found in early-area chests. | Starter option. Low damage but decent attack speed. Serviceable until you find crafting manuals. | |
Early Game | 13 | - | Crafted from manuals found in Wyvern's Sanctum dungeon near Three Brothers Cliff. | Recommended first spear. Its Stab input fires a ranged projectile that staggers normal mobs from a distance. Built-in Destruction I, Destruction I, and Swift I Abyss Gears. | |
Early-Mid Game | 13 | Lv. 1 | Purchased or looted from enemies in the Hernand region. | Sidegrade to the Rhinard Cannon with slightly better attack speed. Good option if you have not found the Rhinard Cannon crafting manual yet. | |
Mid Game | 16 | Lv. 1 | Looted from Tommaso Guard enemies or treasure chests in Tommaso territory. | Solid mid-game upgrade. CRIT +1 gives occasional burst damage on counter-attacks. | |
Mid Game | 18 | Lv. 2 | Dropped by Bleed Bandits at Karin Quarry and Perwin Quarry. Not guaranteed. | Strong mid-game spear with 5 Abyss Gear sockets and Refinement 3. Farm Bleed Bandits until it drops. | |
Late Game | 21 | Lv. 1 | Found stuck on a wall in Icemoor Castle, or rarely dropped by Bleed Bandits. | Significant damage upgrade over the Spear of Righteousness. Reliable late-game option before obtaining the Soul Spear. | |
Endgame | 27 | - | Found in the Antumbra Ritual Grounds dungeon in the Argent Peaks region, west of Hernand. | Highest ATK of any weapon in the game. Unique passive: finishing off a weakened enemy shoots soul projectiles forward (10-second cooldown). Best-in-slot endgame spear. |
The Rhinard Cannon is the cornerstone of the early-game spear build. Its built-in ranged projectile on the Stab input lets you stagger normal enemies from a safe distance before closing in for melee combos. It comes pre-loaded with Destruction I (x2) and Swift I Abyss Gears, so it is combat-ready the moment you craft it. As you progress, upgrade to the Spear of Righteousness for its 5 Abyss Gear sockets and higher base ATK, then transition to the Soul Spear for endgame content.
Spears benefit from offensive Abyss Gears that amplify their already strong single-target damage. Because you lose the shield's defensive Abyss Gear slots when using a two-handed weapon, prioritize attack and attack speed cores on the spear itself, and rely on armor cores for survivability.
Effect | Priority | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Destruction I / II | ATK +1 / +2 | Essential | Flat attack increase applies to every hit, including Counter Stance retaliations and ranged projectiles. Stack two copies if possible. |
ATK Speed Lv. 1 | Essential | Faster attack speed means faster Stab and Forward Slash chains. Also reduces the recovery animation after Counter Stance triggers. | |
Summons crows for bonus damage on hit | High | Obtained from the Tauria Curved Sword (dropped by Crowcaller in Chapter 5). Transfer it to your spear for passive bonus damage on every attack. | |
Charged heavy attacks send a ranged wind blade | Medium | Gives you a second ranged option on top of the spear's built-in projectile. Useful against flying or retreating enemies. | |
Critical Rate Lv. 1 | Medium | Counter Stance retaliations can critically hit. Higher crit chance adds burst damage to your reactive playstyle. |
Effect | Priority | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Health +0.2/sec | High | Passive health regeneration keeps you topped off between engagements. Found on the Canta Plate Armor. | |
Stamina Regen +2% | High | Counter Stance drains Stamina continuously. Faster regeneration lets you re-enter Counter Stance sooner after it expires. | |
Defense +3 | Medium | Flat defense bonus to offset the lack of a shield. Slot on armor pieces that have open sockets. | |
Ice Resistance Lv. 1 | Situational | Useful in Icemoor Castle and other frost-heavy zones. Swap in when facing ice-element enemies. |
The recommended armor for the early-to-mid game spear build is the Canta Plate set, purchasable from the Equipment Shop in Hernand Town after completing the Matthias duel in Chapter 2. The Canta set provides a balanced mix of defense and attack bonuses that complement the spear's playstyle. It can carry you comfortably through the early chapters and remains relevant into mid-game with Tier 4 refinement.
Piece | DEF | Abyss Gears | Special Bonuses |
|---|---|---|---|
3 | - | Daze immunity (set bonus) | |
6 | Highest DEF piece in the set; refinable to Tier 4 | ||
3 | ATK 13, ATK Speed Lv. 1 | ||
3 | Destruction I, Destruction I | ATK 13, ATK Speed Lv. 1 |
Total base DEF from the set is 15. The Daze immunity from the set bonus is especially valuable for spear users, because getting dazed mid-Counter Stance would cancel the stance and leave you completely open. The ATK bonuses on the gloves and boots also boost your unarmed damage if you weave in Grappling or Lariat between spear combos.
Slot | Item | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
Cloak | DEF 3, Ice Resistance 3 | Provides extra survivability without requiring refinement. The ice resistance is helpful in Icemoor and other cold zones. | |
Necklace | ATK +1 | Small but free offensive bonus. Not required for the early game, but every point of ATK matters for Counter Stance retaliations. | |
Earring | Improved movement speed helps with positioning. Closing distance to fire the spear's ranged projectile and retreating after combo chains becomes smoother. |
Kliff's three skill trees (Stamina, Spirit, and Health) each offer abilities that complement the spear playstyle. The Stamina tree is your primary investment because it contains the core armed combat skills that define spear gameplay. The Spirit tree provides defensive reflexes and crowd control, while the Health tree offers survivability and elemental options.
The Stamina tree contains every skill that makes the spear build work. These abilities should be your first investment priority.
Skill | Priority | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Armed Combat Lv. 2 | Essential | Unlocks the Evasive Slash input, which on spears activates Counter Stance. This is the foundation of the entire build. Without it, you cannot use Counter Stance at all. |
Counter Stance | Essential | Hold the Counter Stance input to enter a defensive posture. Any incoming melee attack triggers an automatic retaliation: a wide horizontal swing followed by rapid thrusts that stagger most targets. Stays active as long as Stamina lasts. |
Essential | Core spear attack. Fires a quick triple thrust in melee range. The button combination for Stab on spears also fires a ranged projectile that hits enemies from a distance and applies stagger. | |
Tactical Stab | Essential | Enhanced version of Stab with improved accuracy and follow-through. Chains seamlessly into Forward Slash for a rapid six-thrust assault that breaks most enemy guards. |
Essential | Primary sustained damage skill. Chains after Tactical Stab to form your main DPS combo. Invest until you unlock Forward Slash Sure Hit for reliable connections against mobile enemies. | |
High | AoE crowd control burst. Press LMB + Block to activate. Staggers all nearby enemies and creates breathing room. The Finisher upgrade holds heavy attack during Blinding Flash for a rapid combo flurry. | |
High | The strongest burst-damage opener in the build. Hold heavy attack during Blinding Flash to unleash a flurry where time slows, dealing massive damage. Costs 5 Spirit per strike. | |
Medium | Grapple move with a shockwave that pushes enemies back. Useful for creating space when surrounded. The stagger damage from Lariat is higher than standard spear attacks. | |
Medium | AoE spin attack that chains almost instantly off any preceding skill. Pushes enemy groups backward and creates breathing room during multi-enemy encounters. Better for mob clearing than boss fights. |
The Spirit tree provides the defensive awareness and crowd control tools that make the spear build consistent at higher difficulties.
Skill | Priority | Effect |
|---|---|---|
High | Gateway skill that opens up the rest of the Spirit tree. Deals decent stagger damage and can interrupt enemy attack animations at close range. | |
Medium | Environmental manipulation ability. Useful for pulling distant enemies into spear range or creating environmental hazards. Situationally powerful in areas with interactable objects. | |
High | Arguably the most important defensive skill in the game. Enables Counter, Parry, and Perfect Dodge. While Counter Stance handles most incoming attacks, Keen Senses gives you options against attacks that bypass stance (grabs, magic). | |
Medium | Roots enemies in place for a short duration. Excellent setup for spear combo chains because rooted enemies cannot dodge your Tactical Stab into Forward Slash chain. |
The Health tree provides survivability and traversal tools. Invest here after your Stamina and Spirit skills are established.
Skill | Priority | Effect |
|---|---|---|
Medium | Core traversal skill that enables flight and gliding. Required for reaching certain spear locations like the Antumbra Ritual Grounds (Soul Spear) and Wyvern's Sanctum (Rhinard Cannon). | |
Medium | AoE dodge mechanic. Lets you roll out of danger while airborne. Useful against bosses with large ground-based AoE attacks that Counter Stance cannot block. | |
Low | Applies elemental effects (fire, ice, lightning) to your spear attacks. Situationally useful against enemies weak to specific elements, but the base spear build does not rely on elemental damage. |
Stat points determine how many skills you can unlock in each tree and directly affect your combat performance. The spear build prioritizes Stamina above all else because Counter Stance duration scales directly with your Stamina pool.
Stat | Recommended Points | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
5+ (primary) | Every Stamina point extends Counter Stance uptime and lets you chain longer Stab and Forward Slash combos before running out. Invest here first and continue investing as points become available. | |
4 (secondary) | Provides a survivability cushion for when Counter Stance fails or enemies use unblockable attacks. Four points is enough to avoid one-shot deaths from most mid-game bosses. | |
Remaining points | Spirit fuels Blinding Flash Finisher (5 Spirit per strike) and supports Spirit tree skills like Force Palm and Nature's Snare. Invest remaining points here for more frequent skill usage. |
The spear build has a reactive combat flow that revolves around Counter Stance as your primary defensive and offensive tool. Unlike aggressive builds that initiate fights, the spear build lets enemies come to you and punishes them for attacking.
Open with Blinding Flash Finisher if facing a group. Hold heavy attack during Blinding Flash to trigger the Finisher flurry. This deals massive AoE damage and staggers the entire pack, giving you a safe window to follow up.
Enter Counter Stance against any remaining enemies. Let them attack into your stance, which triggers the automatic retaliation: a horizontal swing followed by rapid thrusts. This handles most standard enemies without you needing to attack manually.
Chain Tactical Stab into Forward Slash against enemies that survive Counter Stance retaliations. The six-thrust assault from this combo breaks guards and deals heavy single-target damage.
Use Turning Slash to push back any enemies closing in from the sides. It chains instantly after Forward Slash and creates breathing room.
Fire ranged projectiles at fleeing or distant enemies using the Stab input. The projectile staggers normal mobs, giving you time to close the gap or finish them off.
Study the boss's attack patterns during the first phase. Identify which attacks can be countered and which are unblockable (glowing red). Counter Stance handles most melee attacks, but grabs and magic require dodging.
Activate Counter Stance when you anticipate an incoming attack. The generous timing window means you can activate it early and hold it until the attack lands. The automatic retaliation deals solid damage and creates an opening for follow-up combos.
Punish with Tactical Stab into Forward Slash immediately after Counter Stance triggers. This combo deals the highest single-target damage in the spear build's kit and can push bosses toward stagger.
Use Blinding Flash Finisher when the boss is staggered. The time-slow effect lets you land the full flurry uninterrupted for maximum burst damage.
Backstep with Keen Senses against unblockable attacks. Backstep has extended invincibility frames that let you avoid grabs, magic projectiles, and ground slams that bypass Counter Stance.
Fire ranged projectiles during periods when the boss retreats or uses long wind-up animations. Free damage at no risk.
Combo | Input | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
Counter Stance Retaliation | R1 + Circle (PS) / RB + B (Xbox), hold until hit | Primary defensive-offensive tool. Counters melee attacks and retaliates automatically. Hold as long as Stamina allows. |
Tactical Stab into Forward Slash | Stab input chained into Forward Slash input | Six-thrust assault that breaks guards. Main single-target DPS combo after counter openings. |
Blinding Flash into Finisher | LMB + Block, then hold Heavy Attack | AoE burst opener. Best used against groups or staggered bosses for maximum damage. |
Ranged Projectile Poke | Stab input at range | Fires a projectile that staggers normal mobs. Use for free damage at a safe distance or to interrupt enemy animations. |
Stab into Turning Slash | Stab input, then R1 + R2 (PS) / RB + RT (Xbox) | Quick melee thrust followed by an AoE spin. Effective for clearing mobs that cluster around you after a projectile stagger. |
Counter Stance trigger, then immediately Tactical Stab | Transitions from defense to offense. The counter retaliation staggers the enemy, creating a perfect opening for the full Stab chain. |
Stamina is the most critical resource for the spear build because Counter Stance continuously drains Stamina while held. Running out of Stamina mid-stance cancels it immediately, leaving you completely defenseless. Follow these guidelines to keep your Stamina healthy:
Invest 5+ stat points into Stamina as your first priority. Each point noticeably extends how long you can hold Counter Stance and how many Tactical Stab/Forward Slash chains you can execute before needing to pause.
Do not hold Counter Stance indefinitely. Activate it when you see an enemy winding up an attack, not as a passive defensive posture. Entering stance too early wastes Stamina on idle time.
Slot Vigor I on your armor to accelerate Stamina regeneration. Even a small percentage increase lets you re-enter Counter Stance sooner after it expires.
Use brief pauses between combo strings to let Stamina regenerate naturally. Even a half-second break between Forward Slash chains allows partial recovery.
Carry Stamina-restoring food for extended dungeons and boss fights. A full Stamina bar can mean the difference between surviving a boss's combo string and getting caught without Counter Stance.
Forgiving defense. Counter Stance has a generous timing window compared to frame-precise parries. It stays active as long as your Stamina lasts, making it much more accessible for new players.
Built-in ranged option. The spear's Stab input fires a projectile that staggers normal mobs from a distance. No other melee weapon type offers this without an Abyss Gear.
Excellent reach. Spears have the longest melee range of any weapon type, letting you hit enemies that would be out of range for swords. This makes spacing and positioning easier.
Strong single-target damage. The Tactical Stab into Forward Slash combo deals concentrated damage to a single target. Ideal for bosses and elite enemies.
Easy to set up. The Rhinard Cannon is accessible from crafting manuals early in the game, and the Canta Plate armor is purchasable in Hernand. You can have the full build running within the first few chapters.
Safe weapon swap option. Quick Swap lets you pull out the spear as a secondary weapon for punishing openings, then swap back to your primary loadout. Great as a complementary tool for other Kliff builds.
Weak against ranged attacks. Counter Stance only triggers on melee hits. Archers and magic-wielding enemies bypass the stance entirely, forcing you to rely on Keen Senses dodges instead.
Struggles with large mob groups. While Counter Stance handles one-on-one fights well, getting surrounded by multiple enemies attacking from different angles can overwhelm the stance. Blinding Flash Finisher helps, but the build is weaker in AoE situations than dual-wield or longsword setups.
Stamina-dependent. Counter Stance drains Stamina continuously. Misjudging your Stamina bar means the stance drops at the worst possible moment, leaving you exposed.
No shield Abyss Gear slots. Two-handed weapons sacrifice the shield slot, meaning you lose access to defensive Abyss Gears like Aegis (damage reduction) and Fortification (guard stability).
Counter Stance can be beaten by large creatures. Some non-human bosses have attack animations fast enough to land before the counter retaliation completes. Against these enemies, dodge-based defense from Keen Senses is more reliable.
Build | Damage | Range | Difficulty | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Spear (this build) | Medium-High | Medium | Long | Medium | Counter-focused play with ranged poke; patient, reactive combat style |
Medium | Very High | Short | Low | Beginners and defensive, methodical players | |
Very High | Medium | Short | Medium-High | Aggressive players who master dodge timing for maximum DPS | |
High | Low | Medium | Medium | Combo-focused players who enjoy long chains and stagger mechanics | |
High | Low | Very Short | High | AoE stacking with offensive Abyss Gears for experienced players |
The spear build sits in the middle of Kliff's build spectrum, offering a balance between offense and defense. It cannot match the dual-wield build's raw DPS output, but its Counter Stance provides far more reliable defense. Compared to the Sword and Shield build, the spear sacrifices some tankiness for superior reach and a ranged poke option. The Longsword build shares a similar two-handed philosophy but focuses on combo chains rather than reactive countering.
Many experienced players use the spear as a Quick Swap secondary alongside a Sword and Shield primary. This combination lets you block and parry with the shield during defensive phases, then swap to the spear for heavy punishes during boss stagger windows.
Spears degrade faster than one-handed weapons because each Counter Stance retaliation and each Turning Slash puts additional wear on the weapon. Keep Repair Kits in your inventory at all times, especially during extended dungeons like the Antumbra Ritual Grounds. A broken spear deals significantly reduced damage and cannot trigger Counter Stance retaliations, which is effectively a death sentence for this build.
Crimson Desert allows full skill respecification without penalty. All Abyss Artifacts invested in skills are refunded when you respec. This means you can try the spear build without any permanent commitment. If the counter-based playstyle does not suit you, respec into a Sword and Shield build or dual-wield build at no cost.
Practice Counter Stance timing against weaker enemies like bandits before attempting it on bosses. Learn the retaliation animation so you know exactly when you are vulnerable after the counter triggers.
Against archers, close the distance quickly using sprinting and dodge rolls. Counter Stance is useless against ranged attacks, so your best defense is closing to melee range where your spear's reach gives you the advantage.
Refine the Canta Plate Armor to Tier 4 as soon as materials become available. The defense boost makes mid-game bosses significantly more forgiving, especially when Counter Stance drops and you take a hit.
The Soul Spear's passive (shooting soul projectiles after finishing a weakened enemy) has a 10-second cooldown. In groups, try to finish off the weakest enemy first to trigger the projectile and soften up the rest of the pack.
Mix in unarmed skills like Lariat and Pump Kick between spear combos. These deal higher stagger damage than spear attacks and can break a boss's guard faster when the stagger bar is nearly full.
Use Blinding Flash Finisher as your opening move against groups, not Counter Stance. The AoE stagger from Blinding Flash thins the pack and prevents enemies from surrounding you, which is Counter Stance's biggest weakness.
When facing bosses with fast multi-hit combos, do not try to Counter Stance every hit. Instead, counter the first attack and then immediately dodge out. Some bosses have follow-up strikes fast enough to land before your counter retaliation finishes.
The ranged projectile from Stab has no damage falloff at distance. You can fire it at enemies across an arena for the same damage it deals at close range. Use this to pull individual enemies out of groups.
