Combat Mastery: Stamina, Parrying & Stances
Welcome to the complete combat guide for Of Ash and Steel. This game's combat system is unforgiving but deeply rewarding. Understanding the numbers behind the mechanics is key to survival.
Stamina Mechanics: The Numbers
Every action has a cost. Manage your stamina or die.
| Action | Base Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light Attack | 15 | -20% cost in Quick Stance, +20% in Power Stance |
| Heavy Attack | 30 | -10% cost in Quick Stance, +10% in Power Stance |
| Dodge | 20 | +30% cost with Heavy Armor, -20% with Light Armor |
| Parry | 10 | Perfect Parry refunds 8 stamina |
| Block | 8/hit | +2 passive drain per second while holding |
| Sprint | 5/sec | Don't sprint in combat unless necessary |
Golden Rule: Never let stamina drop below 20%. You need that buffer to dodge or parry an unexpected attack.
Combat Stances: Deep Dive
Quick Stance
Best for: Groups, Fast Enemies, Assassins
- Pros: +40% Attack Speed, -20% Stamina Cost, Faster Dodge.
- Cons: -20% Damage, Weaker Blocking.
- Strategy: Use with Daggers or Rapiers. Hit and run. Don't try to block heavy attacks.
Power Stance
Best for: Bosses, Armored Enemies, Tanks
- Pros: +50% Damage, Stronger Block, Higher Stagger Chance.
- Cons: -30% Attack Speed, +20% Stamina Cost, Slow Recovery.
- Strategy: Use with 2H Axes or Maces. Wait for an opening (like after a parry) and land one devastating hit.
Balanced Stance
Best for: Exploration, Unknown Enemies
- Pros: No penalties. Reliable.
- Cons: No specialized bonuses.
- Strategy: The default stance. Switch out of it once you identify your enemy's weakness.
Weapon Types & Stats
| Weapon | Speed | Dmg | Stamina | Crit | Special |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sword | 1.0 | 100 | 1.0 | 5% | Balanced, good for parrying |
| Axe | 0.8 | 120 | 1.2 | 8% | Armor penetration, high stagger |
| Staff | 0.9 | 90 | 0.9 | 3% | Crowd control, wide swings |
| Dagger | 1.4 | 70 | 0.8 | 15% | High crit, applies poison fast |
| Crossbow | 0.6 | 110 | 0.5 | 10% | Ranged, armor piercing |
Advanced Combat Tips
- The Perfect Parry: The window is 150ms. Tap block just as the attack is about to hit. It refunds stamina and staggers the enemy.
- Stance Dancing: Switch to Balanced to parry, then instantly switch to Power for the counter-attack, then Quick to back away.
- Armor Matters: Heavy armor increases dodge cost by 30%. If you rely on dodging, wear Light or Medium armor.
Master these numbers, and you will master the battlefield.