Many sword-fighting games use a singular move list for each weapon.

Consider the hit franchise Soul Calibur.

Perhaps you feel like Combat Styles hinder your skills.

The symbols for Chi, Jin, and Ten combat styles against a sepia-toned backdrop of a sword in a field from Rise Of The Ronin.

What Are Combat Styles?

Ryoma fights with theHokushin Itto-ryustyle, a departure from theMumyo-ryucombat style you learned under the Kurosu clan’s training.

You canequip up to three combat stylesfor both your primary weapons via theEquipmentmenu.

Aerith levitating in the air, preparing to cast Planet’s Protection, her level two Limit Break in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

Did you know you’re free to switch Combat Styles mid-combo?

But you’re gonna wanna learn the technique later in the campaign to use it.

How Does Counterspark Compatibility Work?

The Select Combat Style Menu from Rise Of The Ronin.

Your Combat Style can put you at an advantage or disadvantage in battle depending on your enemy’s weapon.

Each Style pop in has a specific counterspark compatibility.

The three most common Style Types areJin,Chi, andTen.

The protagonist countersparks Gonzo’s attack during a battle atop a Japanese castle in Rise Of The Ronin.

Style pop in

Counterspark Compatibility

Jin

Advantage Against:Sabre and other lightweight weapons.

Disadvantage Against:Odachi and other heavyweight weapons.

Chi

Advantage Against:Odachi and other heavyweight weapons.

A tutorial explaining the Combat Style Effectiveness system in Rise Of The Ronin.

Disadvantage Against:Katanas and other middleweight weapons.

Ten

Advantage Against:Katanas and other middleweight weapons.

Disadvantage Against:Sabre and other lightweight weapons.

“The Men From Tosa” Bond Mission rewards a new Combat Style upon completion, as displayed in this menu from Rise Of The Ronin.

Shinobi

Disadvantage against all weapons.

Regardless of your Style key in’s Counterspark Compatibility, a precisely timed counterspark will always stagger your opponent.

A visual guide indicates your counterspark compatibility against your current enemy.

We placed an orange box around the Mumyo-ryu Combat Style Upgrade Requirements in Rise Of The Ronin.

The symbol is on theright side of your opponent’s health bar.

Here’s the full rundown!

That means you’ll have dozens of combat variations to experiment with.

Game screen from Elden Ring.

Check back regularly to see what new Combat Styles we discover next!

The protagonist takes on an unarmed combat stance in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Katana in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Spear in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a set of Paired Swords in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields an Odachi in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Sabre in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Polearm in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Bayonet in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields a Greatsword in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

The protagonist wields an Oxtail Blade in Rise Of The Ronin’s Combat Style menu.

Game art from Elden Ring.

Triple-A Games

Rise of the Ronin