Combat Mechanics & Virtue System

Combat Mechanics & Virtue System

Virtues

Soulframe uses three core stats called Virtues: Courage, Spirit, and Grace.

You start with 16 Virtue points. Each Envoy Rank gained awards one additional point. Each Loadout saves its Virtue distribution independently.

Courage

• Grants the highest Life bonus per point of the three Virtues
• Increases damage with Courage-attuned weapons (Long Blades, Greatswords, Polearms, Shields)
• Empowers the first Arcanic of all Pacts
• Best for frontline Pacts: Tethren, Ode Tempest, Mora's Hand

Spirit

• Grants +3 Life per point
• Increases damage with Spirit-attuned weapons (Magick staves)
• Empowers the second Arcanic of all Pacts
• Reduces all Arcanic cooldowns by 1.5% per point of Spirit over 2
• Best for caster/support Pacts: Garren Rood, Oscelda

Grace

• Grants a moderate Life bonus per point
• Increases damage with Grace-attuned weapons (Bows, Flyblades, Short Blades, Rapiers)
• Empowers the third Arcanic of all Pacts
• Reduces detection chance while sneaking
• Weapons with natural Grace attunement gain an additional +0.3 hidden damage per point of Grace (does not apply to Joinery-added attunement)
• Best for agile Pacts: Sirin, Duelo

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Allocating Virtues

Manual allocation (Preludes 14 onwards) Adjust your three Virtue values freely in the Arsenal. No consumable required — you can respec at any time.

Virtue Prisms Equippable gemstones introduced in Preludes 14. When equipped, they automatically distribute Virtue points as your Envoy Rank increases, according to a fixed ratio. Available from Enclave shops. Four types exist, each favouring a different distribution. Useful if you prefer not to manage points manually.

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Weapon Attunement

Every weapon has Virtue Attunement Pips (small dots) that determine which Virtue provides bonus damage.

Damage formula: Attunement Bonus = Courage × (Courage Pips ÷ 2) + Spirit × (Spirit Pips ÷ 2) + Grace × (Grace Pips ÷ 2)

Key rules:

• Maximum 5 Pips per Virtue (gold border = full)
• Each weapon has a cap on total Attunement bonus damage
• Weapons with natural Grace attunement gain +0.3 bonus damage per Grace point (Joinery-added attunement does not grant this bonus, nor does it bypass the 5 Pip limit)
• Virtue Requirement: if your Virtue value is below the weapon's requirement, you receive no Attunement bonus
• Starter weapons (Wulder, Thistle, Gwylen) have no requirement

Reforging with a Joinery: At the Nightfold Reforge menu, use a Joinery to add an extra Attunement Pip to a weapon. This increases scaling from that Virtue. Note: reforging again replaces the previous bonus.

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Combat

Light attack combos

Tap the attack key to chain hits. Each weapon type has a unique combo length and rhythm:

• Long Blades: 4-hit combo
• Greatswords: slower 3-hit combo, higher stagger
• Short Blades: fast multi-hit
• Bows: switch between melee and ranged
• Rapiers: fast thrusts, high precision required

Heavy attack and throwing

Hold the attack key to charge. Heavy attacks break guard and deal bonus stagger damage.

Weapon throw: a charged heavy attack throws your weapon. Headshots can one-shot standard enemies. The Combat Art "Perfect Throw" enhances this.

Parry and Riposte

Press block the instant an enemy attack lands. On success:

• Fully negates that hit's damage
• Briefly staggers the enemy
• Opens a Riposte window
• Builds Pact energy faster

Parry timing varies by enemy. Practice on Sproutfolk first.

Dodge and Spectre Strike

Tap dodge to roll. Invincibility frames (i-frames) are active throughout the roll.

• Costs stamina
• Roll through attacks, not away — i-frames protect you mid-roll
• A perfect dodge triggers Spectre Strike
• Some Boss attacks must be dodged, not parried (ground slams, AoE attacks)

Spectral Sight

Hold E to activate. Reveals:

• Hidden paths and interactable objects
• Mote locations
• Hidden chests in dungeons
• Enables Smiting enemies

Aerial combat

Jump then attack to perform an aerial strike. Flyblades and Short Blades excel in the air. Aerial attacks can hit weak points on large enemies.

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Pact ability systems

Combat Arts (passive)

Passive effects from your Pact's progression tree:

• Virtue bonuses
• Stagger resistance
• Faster Arcanic charge
• Enhanced Smite effects

Unlocked by levelling a weapon to 30. Allocate and reset points at the bookshelf in your Nightfold.

Arcanics (active)

Active skills with cooldowns. Consume Pact energy built through combat (blocking and kills charge it fastest).

Each Pact has three Arcanics, enhanced by different Virtues:

• First Arcanic → scaled by Courage
• Second Arcanic → scaled by Spirit
• Third Arcanic → scaled by Grace

Spirit also reduces all Arcanic cooldowns.

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Enemy types

| Enemy | Notes | Strategy | |-------|-------|----------| | Sproutfolk | Low-health plant creatures | Best targets for parry practice | | Sinecure melee | Ode'n mercenaries | Parry then riposte | | Sinecure archers | Ranged attackers | Dodge in, aerial attack | | Ode'n Knights | Heavy armour, shield | Heavy attack to break guard | | Agari world bosses | Varied, 30-min respawn | Learn attack patterns, parry or dodge accordingly |

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Key tips

• Parrying is king — the fastest way to build Pact energy
• Match your Virtue to your weapon — check attunement before investing points
• Roll through attacks — i-frames cover the full roll
• Heavy attacks break guards — use them when enemies block
• Use Spectral Sight in every new area — reveals hidden content
• Throw weapons at heads — charged throws can one-shot standard enemies
• Respec freely — adjust manually in Arsenal or swap your Virtue Prism