Revision 1

Day combat

During the day, Coen fights as a human. His primary weapon is a sword — the only blade he owns, learned from his father. There are no bows, crossbows, or alternative ranged weapons. Combat is melee-focused with a directional system.

The directional system gives players four options for both attacking and parrying. You choose a direction to swing and a direction to block. Enemies telegraph their attacks, and reading their patterns correctly lets you parry and counterattack. When you land hits successfully, you build up activation charges.

Activation charges power two things: hex magic abilities and execution moves. Hexes are combat abilities inscribed as scars on Coen's body — things like Acrid Dust, Burning Blood, and Compel Soul. Execution moves are finishers that deal heavy damage. You earn the charges by fighting well, which creates a rhythm where offense enables more offense.

Coen can also fight bare-fisted. Punches and blocks follow the same directional system as sword combat. This might come up in situations where weapons are confiscated or as a player choice.

Night combat

At night, the combat changes. Coen's vampire side takes over, and he fights with claws instead of a sword. The pace is faster and more aggressive. His vampiric powers add new dimensions:

• Shadowstep: A short-range teleport that lets Coen reposition instantly during fights, close gaps, or escape danger

• Bite: Draining an enemy's blood restores Coen's health, rewarding aggressive play

• Plane Shift: Walking on walls and ceilings opens up vertical combat options and ambush positions

Night combat also ties into stealth. Coen has to avoid being detected by guards and civilians while in vampire form. Getting spotted can escalate into combat encounters you might not be ready for, or it can have narrative consequences.

Blood craving in combat

The blood craving system connects directly to combat. As Coen takes damage and loses health, his hunger increases. If it gets too severe, he risks losing control — potentially draining an NPC mid-conversation or killing someone he didn't intend to kill. In combat, biting enemies serves the dual purpose of healing and managing the craving meter.

You can satisfy the craving by drinking blood from defeated enemies (including vampires), innocent villagers, animals, or stored blood vials. Each choice has different consequences. Draining an innocent villager is efficient but affects your relationships and questline access.

Skill trees

Character progression uses three skill trees: Human, Vampire, and Shared. Human skills improve sword combat, hex abilities, and daytime effectiveness. Vampire skills improve claw attacks, supernatural powers, and nighttime capabilities. Shared skills benefit both forms. Skill points come from leveling up through normal gameplay.

Design influences

Previews from Gamescom 2025 compared the combat to a mix of influences. The daytime swordplay has drawn comparisons to The Witcher 3's directional combat but with more responsiveness and quicker direction changes. The nighttime vampire gameplay reminded some journalists of the Arkham series and Dishonored, with its emphasis on supernatural mobility and predatory stealth.