As you explore the rooms and maze-like corridors of the castle in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, you’ll begin to discover powerful combat Techniques that can be used to deal extra damage to your enemies. Whether you find them in a bookcase, or just figure them out on your own, Techniques are well worth learning, but finding the bookcases for each can be time consuming. To help you out we’ve put together a list of all Techniques in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night so that you can start mastering them right away.
All Techniques in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
As states above, Techniques are typically learned by finding bookcases in the castle. These will tell you the input as well as which weapons you can master the skill with. However, you can still learn the Technique and add it to your Archive by performing the action even if you’ve not found the right bookcase.
Techniques are tied to certain weapon classes, but before you can use them with any weapon in that class, you first need to master the technique with certain weapons. Mastering a technique is as simple as using it repeatedly to damage enemies. This will fill up the mastery meter, and when it’s full you’ll be able to use the technique with any weapons in that weapon class. To get you started, here are all the Techniques in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night that we know of so far, as well as the weapons you need to master them with. If a technique has no mastery meter, it can only be used with that specific weapon.
Note: Arrows refer to the directional input required, while Attack refers to the default attack button on your platform of choice (X on Xbox, Square on PS4). The directions must be input quickly before pressing the attack button.
Shoe Techniques
Shoes are fairly special in that their techniques can be performed while airborne, making them particularly powerful against certain foes. The Flashing Air Kick can even be used to gain horizontal distance in the air, letting you cross longer gaps before you learn the air dash.
Flashing Air Kick
Perform up to three strikes by repeating the input. Can be used in the air.
Mana Cost: 15
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Kung Fu Shoes
Hatchet Heel
Flip forward, slamming your heel down before spinning on the floor to damage nearby enemies. Can be used in the air.
Mana Cost: 20
Input: ⬇️ ⬇️ + Attack
Learned from: Lethal Boots, Hell’s Knells
Dagger Techniques
With their short range, daggers may not be your go-to weapon in Bloodstained, but by learning their Techniques you can make them deadly from afar or close the distance in an instant.
Surprise Gift
Throw your weapon forward, piercing enemies in a line.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Baselard, Main Gauche, Canwennan, Mandau Pasir
Assassinate
Appear behind an enemy in front of you, backstabbing them for increased damage before returning to your original position.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬇️ ↙️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Kukri
Rapier Techniques
Rapier techniques are all about dealing high damage in rapid, repeated strikes
Thousand Blossoms
A blur of poking attacks that finishes with a strong lunge when you stop attacking.
Mana Cost: 20/s
Input: Attack, Attack, Attack… (Repeatedly)
Learned from: Rapier, Stinger, Kazikli
Lasting Wound
Cut a Z shape in the air, striking three times.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ➡️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Misericorde
Sword and Club Techniques
Oddly swords and clubs share their pool of Techniques, giving them a wide range of options. The game doesn’t outright tell you this, but once mastered you’ll have these Techniques available for both weapon types.
Power Slash
Swing your weapon back before slamming it overhead in a powerful strike. Can hit enemies behind you.
Mana Cost: 20
Input: ⬇️ ↙️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Morgenstern, Ulfberht Sword
Force Blast
Jump and fire out a beam of energy from your sword. The attack matches the weapon’s elemental type.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Florenberg, Almace, Caladbolg, Dainsleif, Blue Rose, Yagrush, Sharur, Mistilteinn.
Parry
Block an incoming attack, freezing the enemy when successful to let you counterattack.
Mana Cost: 15
Input: ➡️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Blutgang
Back Steal
Move behind enemies and steal from them.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ➡️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
This Technique is unique to the Bandit Blade.
Great Sword Techniques
The heaviest, slowest weapons of Bloodstained, Great Sword Techniques will deal immense damage at a high stamina and time cost. You’ll need good spacing and timing to use these well.
Trucidating Gyre
Leap into the air and slam your weapon down in a heavy strike for massive damage. Can be interrupted.
Mana Cost: 50
Input: ⬇️ ↙️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Pelekus
Sickle Moon
Dash forward, dragging your weapon along the ground. When you release Attack you’ll slash forward. The damage depends on how far you ran before releasing.
Mana Cost: 60/s
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack (hold and release)
Learned from: Gram, Schedar, Durandal
Katana Techniques
Katana’s offer an interesting alternative to swords, and provide many similar basic techniques. Later techniques include powerful abilities such as freezing time.
Eleventh Hour
Assume a brief defensive stance, parrying any enemies you hit you during it. They’ll be frozen in place while you perform a straight counterattack.
Mana Cost: 20
Input: ➡️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Nodachi, Honebami, Zangetsuto
Sansetsuzan
Slash forwards with up to three strikes by repeating the command.
Mana Cost: 20
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Tsurumaru, Dojigiri, Mikazuki
Crimson Blizzard
Charge your blade with energy before launching a large projectile forwards.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬇️ ↙️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Tsurumaru, Dojigiri
Helmsplitter
Jump forwards, striking your enemy from overhead. Temporarily reduces their CON, causing them to take extra physical damage.
Mana Cost: 20
Input: ⬇️ ⬇️ + Attack
Learned from: Honebami
Jinrai
Freeze time, dashing forwards in a long slash that cuts anyone you pass through. You’ll be invincible during the dash.
Mana Cost: 50
Input: ➡️ ⬅️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Raikiri
Crescent Stroke
Slice around you in a circle, damaging all nearby enemies.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬅️ ⬇️ ➡️ ⬆️ + Attack
Learned from: Zangetsuto
Spear Techniques
Spears provide great range by default, and learning their Techniques will let you strike out even further, or turn them into a defensive shield. Be aware though, these Techniques consume an awful lot of mana.
Orbital Wheel
Spin your spear, deflecting enemy attacks and damaging nearby enemies. When you release you’ll lash out with one last hit to anyone nearby.
Mana Cost: 60/s
Input: ⬇️ ⬅️ ⬆️ ➡️ + Attack (hold and release)
Learned from: Lance, Gae Assail
Penetrate
Charge forwards, damaging everything in your path. If you fail to kill an enemy while dashing, you’ll be knocked back and begin charging again. Penetrate is also an excellent way to traverse the castle quickly.
Mana Cost: 60/s
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack (hold)
Learned from: Gondo-Shizunori
Lunging Serpent
Thrust your spear forwards to strike and pierce through enemies in a straight line.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ➡️ ➡️ + Attack
This Technique is unique to the Sanjiegun.
Whip Techniques
A classic weapon from the Castlevania heritage, whips only have a single Technique in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
Critical Swing
Lash the whip forward, dealing high damage to enemies struck.
Mana Cost: 30
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack
Learned from: Thorn Whip, Snakebit, Albireo
Firearm Techniques
Far from the most exciting weapons in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, firearms are still useful for taking out enemies from afar, albeit at the cost of damage.
Rapid Fire
Fire off repeated shots forward. The time between each shot will reduce the longer you hold down Attack.
Mana Cost: 80/s
Input: ⬇️ ↘️ ➡️ + Attack (hold)
Learned from: Blunderbuss, Torador, Verethragna
Those are all the Techniques in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night that we’ve found so far, and should be plenty enough to keep you mastering them for some time to come! What’s your favorite weapon type or Technique? Let us know in the comments below! While you’re here, why not also take a look at our list of all weapons in Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night.
