Overview
The Turning Slash Nuke Build is a burst-damage setup in Crimson Desert designed to stack as many damage multipliers as possible onto a single Turning Slash. The result is a build that can delete boss health bars in just a few hits. It combines three Turning Slash modifier effects in the weapon, two fire-triggered Abyss Gear abilities in the armor, fire element imbuing, and the Momentum abyss core for a flat 35% Turning Slash damage increase.
When everything fires at once, a single fire-imbued Turning Slash triggers: a raw amplified Turning Slash hit, three separate Turning Slash modifier effects (Frost Spike, Ground Surge, Wound of Darkness), exploding volcanic fireballs (Volcanic Eruption), and explosive spark lines (Flames of Judgment). The combined stagger output is massive, often sending bosses flying or triggering a stagger state that allows free follow-up attacks.
This build works with one-handed weapons and a shield, dual wield, or two-handed swords. The core principle is the same regardless of weapon type: lock onto the boss, wait for it to commit to an attack animation, phase through the attack using Turning Slash's invincibility frames, and then crash down with all effects firing simultaneously.
How it Works
The build is straightforward in concept. Every piece of gear and every skill point feeds into making Turning Slash as devastating as possible. Here is the damage chain that fires when you execute a fire-imbued Turning Slash:
Base Turning Slash hits with amplified damage from Momentum (+35% Turning Slash damage).
Fire Imbue adds fire damage on top of the physical hit, increasing overall damage.
Volcanic Eruption triggers: launches exploding volcanic fireballs that deal AoE fire damage.
Flames of Judgment triggers: sends out spark lines that erupt and explode for additional fire damage.
Frost Spike fires: a line of jagged ice spikes erupts forward, dealing frost damage.
Ground Surge fires: fire spikes erupt from the ground, dealing fire damage in an area.
Wound of Darkness fires: three blades of dark energy launch forward, dealing heavy single-target damage.
All of these effects hit at roughly the same time at point-blank range. The sheer number of simultaneous hits builds enormous stagger, frequently knocking bosses down or sending them flying. While the boss is on the ground, you can follow up with a second Turning Slash for free or chain into regular attacks.
Complete Gear Setup
Weapon Abyss Gears (3 to 5 Slots)
Your weapon should have as many Abyss Gear slots as possible. Two-handed weapons can hold up to 5 slots, which is ideal. One-handed weapons have 3 slots, which is sufficient for the core effects.
Slot | Effect | Priority | |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Line of jagged ice spikes on Turning Slash | Core | |
2 | Fire spikes erupt from the ground on Turning Slash | Core | |
3 | Three dark energy blades fire forward on Turning Slash | Core | |
4 (Two-Hand) | Regenerates Spirit on hit, sustaining the build | High | |
5 (Two-Hand) | Flex: Shadow Claw / 4th Turning Slash effect | Shadow Claw adds shadow claws on heavy attacks; alternatively, socket a 4th Turning Slash modifier for even more burst | Optional |
Note on Turning Slash effects: You do not need these specific three effects. Any combination of Turning Slash modifiers works. However, Wound of Darkness is particularly recommended because it deals the most single-target damage. The other two slots can be filled with whichever Turning Slash modifiers you have available.
Note on Frost Spike + Ground Surge interaction: When both are socketed, their effects come out in a V-shape rather than both firing straight ahead. This can reduce single-target damage since one line may miss the boss. If focused boss damage is your priority, consider replacing one of them with a different modifier or adding a 4th Turning Slash effect in a two-handed weapon to compensate.
Armor Abyss Gears
Slot | Effect | |
|---|---|---|
Chest Armor | Turning Slash Damage + Volcanic Eruption | Raw Turning Slash damage boost plus fireballs on fire-imbued attacks |
% Damage to Mighty Foes (Malice Bane) | 4% bonus damage against bosses and strong enemies. Note: Attack/Crit in gloves only affects unarmed combat, so percent-based damage bonuses are better here | |
Boots | Spirit Regen (0.3/sec) | Passive Spirit recovery to reduce downtime between Turning Slashes. Can be replaced with a second Malice Bane for more damage |
Helmet | Spirit Regen (0.3/sec) | Additional passive Spirit recovery. Optional slot if you prefer a fashion helmet |
Shield (if used) | Defense / Damage Reduction | No offensive shield Abyss Gears benefit this build, so use defensive options |
Armor (alt) | Spark explosions on fire-imbued attacks. Socket this in whichever armor piece has a free slot after Volcanic Eruption and Turning Slash damage |
Important: Attack and Crit Rate stats on gloves only affect unarmed combat. Do not socket raw Attack or Crit into your gloves; use percentage-based damage bonuses like Malice Bane (Damage to Mighty Foes) or Turning Slash Damage instead.
Accessories
Slot | Notes | |
|---|---|---|
Necklace | Attack + Crit Rate | A split Attack/Crit necklace is ideal. Crits are a double damage multiplier, so crit rate scales this build enormously |
Ring 1 | Attack + Crit Rate | The Pelony Sign ring provides both Attack and Crit Rate, making it excellent for this build |
Ring 2 | Attack | Pure Attack rings (like the Tiger Fang) work well in the second slot |
Health Regen + Stamina Regen + Movement Speed | Upgrade earrings for passive health/stamina regen. Movement speed is preferred over a pure stat earring because it has a strong effect on positioning |
Push Crit Rate as high as you can across your accessories. Critical hits deal double damage in Crimson Desert, and when a crit procs on a fully stacked Turning Slash, the damage numbers become enormous.
Skill Priorities
Skill | Priority | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Turning Slash (Lv. 3) | Essential | Maximize base damage and unlock Expertise (charged follow-up) and Proficiency (chain from other skills) |
Spirit (Max 12/12) | Essential | Raising max Spirit to 150 lets you execute three full Turning Slashes per Spirit bar instead of two. Requires research to break the cap |
Imbue Element (Fire unlocked) | Essential | Fire element is required to trigger Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment. Unlock fire at the Spire of Ringing Truth |
Focus (Max) | High | Maxing Focus improves Focus Parry (free parry during Spirit regen in slow-mo) and Spirit regeneration rate in Focus mode |
Keen Senses (Lv. 3) | High | Unlocks Parry, Dodge, and Counter. Focus Parry while regenerating Spirit gives a free opening for another Turning Slash |
Breaking the Spirit cap: The default maximum Spirit is lower than 150. To reach the 12/12 Spirit cap, you need to invest in the Spirit branch of the skill tree and complete specific research at the Witch NPC. At the default cap, you can only execute two Turning Slashes (with three weapon effects) before running out of Spirit. Reaching 150 Spirit gives you a third use, which makes a significant difference in boss fights.
Spirit Management
Spirit is the primary limiting factor of this build. Each Turning Slash effect socketed into your weapon increases the Spirit cost, so a fully loaded Turning Slash consumes a large chunk of your Spirit bar. Here are the Spirit recovery methods this build relies on:
Method | Details |
|---|---|
Spirit Siphon (Weapon) | Regenerates Spirit on weapon hits. Essential for sustaining the build in extended fights and mob clearing |
0.3 Spirit per second from helmet and boots. Seems small but adds up significantly over time, especially between engagements | |
Focus Mode | Enter Focus (slow-motion) to rapidly regenerate Spirit. Use during boss downtime or after a Turning Slash rotation depletes your bar |
Spirit Food | Consumable food that restores Spirit. Keep your food wheel stocked for emergency recovery during boss fights |
Enemy Kills | Killing enemies regenerates Spirit. When clearing groups, each kill refunds Spirit, reducing the need for manual recovery |
The typical rotation against bosses: fire two to three Turning Slashes (spending your Spirit bar), then enter Focus mode to regenerate. While in Focus, use the Focus Parry if the boss attacks. A successful Focus Parry gives a free opening for an immediate Turning Slash, and parries also restore some Spirit and Stamina. Against regular enemies, Spirit Siphon on the weapon and the passive Spirit regen from armor usually keep you topped up without needing to Focus.
Combat Strategy
Against Bosses
Lock on to the boss and maintain medium spacing.
Wait for the boss to commit to an attack animation.
Execute Turning Slash (R1 + R2) to phase through the attack using Turning Slash's i-frames. You become briefly invincible at the start of the spin.
All effects fire at once: Frost Spike, Ground Surge, Wound of Darkness, Volcanic Eruption fireballs, and Flames of Judgment sparks all trigger on impact.
Follow up: if the boss staggers or gets knocked down, immediately use a second Turning Slash for free while they are grounded. If they enter a stagger state, you can chew through their health with regular attacks or use the Turning Slash Expertise finisher for extra burst.
Regen: when Spirit runs out, enter Focus mode and regenerate. Use Focus Parry if the boss attacks during this window.
Against Groups
The AoE from Frost Spike, Ground Surge, Volcanic Eruption, and Flames of Judgment makes this build surprisingly effective at clearing groups. Lock onto a central enemy and execute Turning Slash to hit the entire cluster. Each kill regenerates Spirit, so chain Turning Slashes against large groups without needing to stop and Focus.
Element Flexibility
This build is centered on the Fire element because Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment both require fire imbuing to trigger. However, if you encounter a boss that is resistant to fire or particularly weak to another element, you can swap elements:
Switch to Lightning, Frost, or Wind via the Axiom Bracelet.
When using a non-fire element, Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment will not trigger. The three weapon Turning Slash effects (Frost Spike, Ground Surge, Wound of Darkness) still fire regardless of element.
Replace Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment with element-specific alternatives. For example, Lightning Orbs (obtained from a Chapter 7 boss) can fill the role for lightning-weak bosses.
The Turning Slash modifier effects in the weapon are element-agnostic. They always trigger on Turning Slash regardless of which element you have active.
Where to Get Each Piece
Gear / Effect | Source | When Available |
|---|---|---|
Momentum (+35% Turning Slash) | Chest inside Sanctum of Benediction (light a lamp to unlock the door) | After meeting the first Witch |
Scorch Flame Plate Gloves found inside a waterfall cave (Twilight Grotto) | Early/mid-game (no boss fight required) | |
Gloves reward from completing Chapter 8 of the main story | Chapter 8 | |
Vessel of Dark Pursuit sword from Sanctum of Absolution (defeat Antumbra's Sword) | After meeting the first Witch | |
Melted Ambition weapon from Chapter 7 final boss | Chapter 7 | |
Boss at Hoenmark Ruins (need cold resistance; drops Shadow Plate set) | Mid/late-game (optional, difficult) | |
Found on various gear drops throughout the game. Common drop; no specific farm needed | Throughout the game | |
Malice Bane (Damage to Mighty Foes) | Found on various weapons and gear drops from bosses. Check your equipment inventory | Throughout the game |
Shadow Claw (optional) | Reward from defeating the Legendary Wolf. Shadow claws appear on heavy attacks | After finding the Legendary Wolf |
Turning Slash Effect Count Trade-Off
Each Turning Slash effect socketed into your weapon increases the Spirit cost of Turning Slash. Here is the trade-off:
Effects Socketed | Uses at Default Spirit | Uses at 150 Spirit (Max) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
1 Effect | 3+ | 4+ | Low burst, high sustain |
2 Effects | 2-3 | 3-4 | Balanced approach |
3 Effects (Recommended) | 2 | 3 | High burst; the sweet spot for most players |
4 Effects (Two-Hand) | 1-2 | 2-3 | Maximum burst but very Spirit-hungry |
If you find yourself running out of Spirit too quickly, consider dropping one Turning Slash effect for Spirit Siphon or reducing your total effects until you can raise your Spirit cap through research.
Tips
Always imbue Fire before engaging bosses to activate Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment. The fire imbue is what turns this from a strong build into a devastating one.
Use the i-frames at the start of Turning Slash to phase through boss attacks. Lock on, wait for the boss to swing, then execute. Timing this correctly means you take zero damage while dealing maximum burst.
After knocking a boss down with stagger, immediately follow up with another Turning Slash for free damage while the boss is grounded.
The Turning Slash Expertise finisher (charged downward slam) also deals significant damage with this build. Use it when the boss is staggered and you have the time to complete the full animation.
Carry plenty of Spirit food. Against long boss fights, food is your safety net when Focus regeneration is not enough.
Spirit Regen abyss gears (0.3/sec in helmet and boots) look like small numbers on paper, but over a multi-minute boss fight they contribute noticeably. Against trash mobs, the passive regen combined with kill-based Spirit recovery makes the build nearly self-sustaining.
If a boss is resistant to fire, swap to a different element. Your three weapon Turning Slash effects still trigger, so the build still works. You just lose the Volcanic Eruption and Flames of Judgment bonus damage.
Crit Rate is the most impactful secondary stat for this build. A critical Turning Slash with all effects active deals roughly double the already enormous burst number.
See Also
Spear Move Set Reach and Weapon Choice
The reach of Turning Slash scales with the weapon's move set. The spear move set, which covers Two-Handed Spears, halberds, and Cannons, gives noticeably more distance than any other two-handed move set and blows every one-handed option out of the water. For a Turning Slash nuke build, you always want a weapon that uses the spear move set so your ultimate covers more enemies and lets you stay safer at the edge of a boss's hitbox.
Two-Gear Weapon Combo for the Nuke
On the main two-hander, socket two Turning Slash-enhancing abyss gears: Graceful Howling and Ground Search. Two is the ceiling, running three would drain spirit far too fast. For the third socket, use Shadow Claw, which buffs Forward Slash. Double-stack two Inside 3 refinements on the weapon for a base six crit before innate crit is added.
Forward Slash Into Turning Slash Chain
Do not spam Turning Slash alone. Once Turning Slash is upgraded in the skill menu, the tree grants a chaining passive that lets Forward Slash flow directly into Turning Slash with no recovery window in between. The full nuke rotation is Shadow Claw-enhanced Forward Slash into a Graceful Howling plus Ground Search-enhanced Turning Slash. Max out Forward Slash and Turning Slash in the skill tree and dump extra points into the Echo passive to multiply a portion of that damage.
Helm Socket: Momentum
On the helm, socket Momentum. At max tier it adds 35% extra damage to Turning Slash, which is the highest single-socket damage multiplier in the build and the reason the helm slot is non-negotiable.
Boot Sockets: Flames of Judgment and Volcanic Eruption
On the boots, pair Flames of Judgment with Volcanic Eruption. The two gears together blanket the battlefield in flame projectiles and mini comets, giving full 360-degree saturation that shreds enemy packs and stacks extra damage on bosses while you are busy chaining Forward Slash and Turning Slash.