Half Sword Guides & Resources
Master medieval combat with our comprehensive guides. Combat techniques, weapon mastery, and survival strategies.
Quick Start Guide
New to Half Sword? Follow these 5 essential steps when starting in Gauntlet mode:
- 1 Accept your first Fistplay duel at the Jester's booth
- 2 Focus on kicks and grappling since you start with no weapons
- 3 Win fights to earn points toward your first tournament
- 4 Grab the knife in Carnage mode – it spawns in the center
- 5 Surrender if you're about to die – press G to save progress
DO: Loot everything, save gold, practice spacing, target unarmored body parts
DON'T: Be afraid to surrender – losing rank progress beats dying and going to the Abyss
Rank System
Climb from lowly Beggar to legendary Baron. Your rank is permanent – you won't drop below your current rank even if you die.
1
Beggar
2
Peasant
3
Commoner
4
Soldier
5
Veteran
6
Man-at-Arms
7
Knight
8
Champion
👑
Baron
How to Rank Up
- • Earn points by winning duels in various game modes
- • Fill your progress bar (visible above the Jester's booth)
- • Win the Tournament – 7 rounds of combat against random opponents
- • Receive ~90 gold reward and advance to the next rank
Game Modes Overview
| Mode | Description | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Gauntlet | Main progression mode. Start as Beggar with fists only. | Rank-based |
| Single Combat | 1v1 duels. Best for practicing mechanics. | +1 point |
| Carnage | Free-for-all deathmatch vs 3 opponents. | +2 points |
| Spoilance | 5-player FFA with improvised weapons only. | +2 points |
| Melee | 3v3 team battles. Coordination is key. | +2 points |
| Abyss | Survival mode triggered by dying. Fight Vengeful Spirits. | Preserves rank |
When to Surrender
Surrendering (press G) is a smart survival strategy. Know when to use it:
⚠️ When to Surrender
- • Fatal wound but not dead yet
- • Outnumbered in team modes
- • Disarmed vs armed enemies
- • Critical limb loss
✓ Why Surrender?
- • Avoid the brutal Abyss
- • Only lose 1-2 rank points
- • Keep your current rank
- • Smart long-term strategy
💀 Abyss Alternative
- • Fight waves of Vengeful Spirits
- • Dying wipes back to Beggar
- • Can hire NPC to clear it
- • Very risky for beginners
Ready to Enter the Arena?
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