Overhead Stance

Type

Ashes of War

Default affinity

Keen

Light follow-up

8 FP

Heavy follow-up

10 FP

Skill

Overhead Stance

About this Ash of War

This Ash of War grants an armament the Keen affinity and the following skill:

"Overhead Stance: A skill that starts with the blade held high in a ready stance. Execute a normal attack from this stance to step forward and slash downwards, or a strong attack to deliver a series of downward slashes."

Usable on great katana.

Great Katana in the lake below the Abandoned Ailing Village

Gravesite Plain

Starting Site of Grace: Greatbridge, North

1. Reach Greatbridge, North and ride west toward the lake below the Abandoned Ailing Village and east of Belurat Gaol.
2. Look for the corpse in the shallow water near the sleeping Ghostflame Dragon. You can ride in and collect the Great Katana without defeating the dragon.
3. Overhead Stance comes attached to that weapon. Remove or transfer it through the Ashes of War menu at a grace when you want to change affinity.
4. Do not confuse the nearby gaol's Demi-Human boss reward with this open world weapon pickup.

Notes

• Holding the raised-blade stance costs no FP. From that stance, a light attack spends 8 FP for one forward chop, while a heavy attack spends 10 FP for three successive chops.
• The single chop is the shorter commitment. The three-hit option needs more time and stamina, so missing its last swing gives up a significant part of the attack.
• Damage follows the weapon's attack power and affinity. The physical part of the skill is Slash damage, rather than a piercing thrust.
• The light chop applies the weapon's full status buildup. The heavy sequence applies 70%, 75% and 85% across its three contacts, totaling 230% if all land, rather than three full-strength status applications.
• The single chop deals 11 stance damage, and the three chops deal 5.5, 5.5 and 11 for 22 total. It is not the same stance-break pattern as ordinary katana Unsheathe.
• Rellana's Cameo improves the follow-ups after holding the stance for at least one second. Shard of Alexander also improves the skill; Godfrey Icon does not, because holding a ready stance is not a charged attack.
• Holding the stance slows movement and stamina recovery. Release or cancel it when the opening is not there rather than waiting indefinitely with a nearly empty stamina bar.
• The transferable Ash is attached to the Great Katana beside the sleeping Ghostflame Dragon. It lets compatible great katanas keep the stance while changing affinity; ordinary katanas cannot use it.
• The dragon is unnecessary for the pickup. Collect the corpse in the lake, then change the Ash or affinity at a grace rather than trying to defeat the boss for a separate Ash drop.
• Compatible weapon classes: Great Katana. A weapon with a fixed skill cannot use this Ash of War.
• Its default affinity is Keen. The supported choices are Standard, Heavy, Keen, Quality, Fire, Flame Art, Lightning, Sacred, Magic, Cold, Poison, Blood and Occult; the appropriate whetblade is needed for additional options.