Swords Photon Arts

Photon Arts
Hunter	Swords	Wired Lances	Partisans
Fighter	Daggers	Double Sabers	Knuckles
Ranger	Rifles	Launchers
Gunner	Twin Machine Guns
Techter	Wands
Braver	Katanas	Bows
Bouncer	Soaring Blades	Jet Boots
Hero	Swords	Twin Machine Guns	Talis
Phantom	Katanas	Rifles	Rods
Etoile	Double Sabers	Soaring Blades	Wands
Luster	Gunblades
All Class	Gunblades
Buildup Photon Arts

Overview

Being one of the Hunter's initial weapons of equipment, its strong attacks are generally limited to its PAs. It can be relatively easy to get accustomed with the Sword.

The capabilities of the PAs vary greatly depending on the Focus Gauge of the Sword. It is recommended to accumulate and maintain Focus as much as possible during battle.
Its overall performance, such as the instantaneous damage and attack range, tends to be modest.
To compensate for this, the PAs have Super Armor, which allows unflinching when being attacked, and additional effects such as ignoring Stun based effects.
The number of Charge PAs makes it a good choice for the Hunter's skill, Charged Parry, providing excellent defensive capabilities overall.
The Sword can be easy to use, but can be more effective when used properly.
Most of the PAs boast high average power, making it somewhat easy to deal with lots of enemies, but only a few of them have a fast initiating attack, and many with narrow attack range. Take in consideration of the properties of every PA to utilize them effectively in higher difficulties.
Most of the Sword's PAs can be canceled early by guarding (except for some PAs such as Cross Cut).

Swords

Rising Edge

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Rising Edge	Potency	1557	2613	Launches targets into the air and allows for mid-air combos. Can be charged to increase the number of attacks.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Raises the sword to strike the target. A valuable anti-air PA for the Sword, where upward attacks are scarce. The Focus effect reduces the charge time.
• This PA can be charged up to 2 stages. Charging it increases the number of hits and elevation of the attack.
  • Hits once without charging, 3 hits on the first stage of charge, and 5 hits on the second stage of charge.
• The PA will give you Super Armor (unflinching) and resistance to being knocked over while in use. Also allows you to cancel the PA early by guarding at any point.
• 40% of the noted power is in the initial attack. 15% of the noted power is added in the first stage of the charge, and the rest of the noted power is in the second stage of the charge.

Twister Drop

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Twister Drop	Potency	1042	1246	Jump up high and perform a whirling attack and then a drop attack accompanied by a shock wave. The Focus effect increases the attack range.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Jumps up into the air to do a 2 hit spinning attack that slams down onto the ground to send out a shockwave.
  • Jumping into the air to perform this PA will skip the initial jumping motion.
    However, if the jump is too low, the spinning attack will be skipped and will only make you send out a shockwave, greatly reducing the power of the PA.
  • If performed well, the PA can also be an anti-air move.
  • Can be guard canceled at any point of the PA.
• The higher the Focus Level, the longer the shockwave range. The shockwave can hit multiple times.
• Single hit power notation is 19% for the spinning attacks and 39% for the slam. The shockwave is 27% + 26% of the noted power.
  With all hits connecting it will be 130% of the noted power.

Twister Drop Zero

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Twister Drop Zero	Potency	-	3538	It's possible to move in a certain direction while performing a spinning attack. Holding down the button while performing a spinning attack will prolong your attack time.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	40

Custom Type 1: Power +0 ~ +254
Custom Type 2: PP Consumption -0 ~ -10

• Holding down the button will extend the amount of hits on the spinning attacks (3-15 hits from the ground and 2-17 hits in the air + slam + shockwave).
• Inputting a movement direction will allow you to move around while the PA is being performed.
• The spin can be interrupted by Guarding.
• Has Super Armor during the PA.
• The initial PP consumption is 40 (2x of its normal counterpart). Depending on the customization of the PA, the actual damage efficiency may be poor even with high damage.
• With the best customization, the PA can be 3792 for power, and 30 for PP cost.
• Single hit power notation is 5% for the spinning attacks and 25% for the slam. The shockwave is 18% + 9% of the noted power.
  With all hits connecting it will be 137% of the noted power. If performed on the ground, it drops to 127%.

Nova Strike

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Nova Strike	Potency	1981	2369	A spinning attack that knocks foes away. Can be charged to increase the number of attacks.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Swing around the sword to blow away surrounding enemies. Can be charged up to 2 stages. Charging the PA will increase the number of hits. The Focus effect decreases charge time.
  • Does 1 hit without charging, 3 hits on the first stage of charge, and 4 hits on the second stage of charge.
• A valuable stationary attack PA that can be charged, repositionable with movement, wide attack range, all for the cost of 20PP.
• Has Super Armor and has resistance to knockdown during the PA.
  • Unlike Rising Edge, you cannot guard cancel the PA during the motion.
• Single hit power notation is 25% of the stated power. All hits connecting with two-stage charge will result in the full power notation as shown.
  However, the first stage charge will have 22.5% of the noted power.

Ride Slash

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Ride Slash	Potency	-	2702	Hop aboard your sword and assault your foes. Can be charged to increase the number of attacks.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	25

• Ride on top of the sword like a surfboard and charge against enemies. Can be charged up to 2 stages. Charging increases the distance travelled and hits. Activating the PA on the ground will perform a somersault before attacking, in the air will skip the somersault. The Focus effect decreases the charge time.
• The charge time is faster than some other charged PAs. Even without Focus, the first stage charge builds up in about 1 second, making it considerably easy to use without Focus.
• The Focus buildup makes it one of the best out of all Sword PAs.
• The PA can be guard canceled at any point except for the startup animation.
• Single hit power notation is 25% of the stated power. All hits connecting with two-stage charge will result in the full power notation as shown.

Cross Cut

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Cross Cut	Potency	-	3596	Form a colossal sword with the power of photons to strike down your target.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	40

• Form a long light blade that slashes left and right once, ending on a large overhead swing hitting 3 times for a total of 5 hits. Moves forward one step at a time on the ground, but stationary in the air. The Focus effect increases power.
  • Has the highest power out of all of the Sword PAs and the widest attack range, but has a somewhat slow animation and takes about 5 seconds to fully release the attack.
• Although the PA has a long animation, the following features makes it easy to hit enemies.
  • You are able to pivot to any direction up until the overhead slash.
  • There is a knockback effect for the left and right slashses with somewhat fast speed. However, be aware that the motions are very long, allow enemies to retaliate inbetween hits. The fifth and final hit has a knockdown/knockback effect.
  • The third overhead slash has a very long reach, but also has a wider range than it looks.
• From the moment of activating the PA to the end of the attack, there is a Super Armor effect and resistance to knockdown during the PA. However, the PA is susceptible to stun effects.
• Due to the length of the duration, the Focus Gauge decreases during the PA unless multiple enemies are involved. Without Hunter Focus Boost, it will be difficult to maintain Focus.
• The first 4 hits are 10% of the noted power, and the 5th hit (The last overhead slash) is 60% of the noted power. All hits connecting without Focus will result in the full power notation as shown.
  Sword Focus increases the power of the first 4 hits by 1.5x in Focus level 2 and 2x in Focus level 3. All hits connecting with full Focus results in 140% of the noted power.

Blade Bash

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Blade Bash	Potency	-	572	Strike a target with the flat of your blade stunning them and leaving them defenseless.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	15

• Step forward and perform a stun based attack with the flat of the blade. Has a very fast attack motion with short range. The Focus effect increases attack range.
  • The Sword Focus effect slightly increases the front range of the attack.
  • Stun I is inflicted when the hit connects.
• Allows you to interrupt attacks that cannot be interrupted by normal means. Also useful for knocking down flying enemies.
• Single hit power notation is 100% of the stated power.

Sonic Arrow

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Sonic Arrow	Potency	-	555	Draw your body taunt like a bowstring, and then fire yourself at a target with a slashing attack.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	25

• A medium-range attack that creates a disc-shaped slash that can penetrate through enemies. Slower than a normal shot and won't be able to catch up to fast moving enemies. The Focus effect increases the number of hits.
• The animation is very short, and you will be able to change direction immediately.
• The fast Focus buildup makes it one of the best out of all Sword PAs.
• Sword Focus increases the number of hits. 2 hits for Focus level 2 and 3 hits for Focus level 3.
• Single hit power notation is 100% of the stated power. Sword Focus reduces the power of a single hit, but increases the number of hits.
  Focus level 2 results in two hits of 50% + 70% of the stated power and Focus level 3 results in three hits of 50% of the stated power.

Merciless Throw

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Merciless Throw	Potency	-	2880	Skewer a target and then fling them in any chosen direction.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• A Hold PA that skewers and throws the enemy. The Focus effect increases attack speed and Sword Focus increases the stabbing motion speed.
• The stab is 20% of the stated power while the throw is 80%. Regardless of whether or not you grabbed the enemy, a full hit on an enemy will result in the full power notation as shown.
  When hitting a non-holding enemy, the animation will create a light ball instead. The additional damage is dealt when the light ball makes contact with the enemy.

Guilty Break

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Guilty Break	Potency	-	1364	Close the distance between you and a foe and unleash a flurry of attacks. Can be charged to increase the number of attacks.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Makes a fast dash towards the target, followed by a flurry of attacks. Can be charged up to 2 stages. The first hit has a flinching effect. The Focus effect decreases charge time.
  • Has a fixed motion so sidestepping or guarding can only be done before the end of the dash (cannot be canceled during the dash).
• The PA can also hit towards non-targeted enemies, even though the range is about the same as a Normal Attack.
• The Sword Focus effect decreases charge time for the PA. The first and second stage charges without Focus are the second shortest after Ride Slash. When Hunter Focus Boost is applied, it can be maxed out early.
• Tracking is applied onto locked-on targets, while non-lockable targets are not tracked.
• Single hit power notation is 32% of the stated power with no charge. First stage charge is 41% of the stated power and second stage charge is 50%. Two hits on the second stage charge will result in the full power notation as shown.

Sacrificial Bite

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Sacrificial Bite	Potency	1236	1478	Siphons the target's photons to restore PP. Absorbing more photons increases the duration of the effect and the amount of PP recovered.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Thrusts the sword into the enemy, taking away photons and gaining additional effects for a short time. The Focus effect increases attack speed.
  • Successfully grabbing an enemey will allow you to absorb up to 3 levels. Enemies that cannot be grabbed are limited to one level.
  • The duration of the effect regardless of the PA's Lv, is 40 seconds at the first level of absorbtion, 50 seconds at the second level, and 60 seconds at the third level.
  • The effect duration cannot be accumulated, and is overwritten at each absoprtion level.
• The effect by absorbing is an automatic increase to PP recovery. The increase is +5% regardless of the PA's Lv and absorption level.
  • Upon the completion of absorbing photons from the enemy, you will recover 45PP. This recovery is affected by various effects that increase PP recovery on attack.
• The effect persists even if you switch to another weapon.
• Even if the enemy dies during the first thrust or absorption motion, you will still gain the effect.
• The absorbing animation can be guard canceled.
• After absorption, a blue light effect spirals around the sword for the duration of the effect.
  • The size of the effect changes depending on the level of the absorption.
• Single hit power notation is 25% on the thrust, 13% per absorption, and 36% on the final slash. All hits connecting (3 hits with absorption) will result in the full power notation as shown.

Sacrificial Bite Zero

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Sacrificial Bite Zero	Potency	1262	1479	Quickly approach your victim and steal its photons to recover PP. Auto recovery of PP will increase, and the range of your Normal Attacks will expand.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

Custom Type 1: Power +0 ~ +98
Custom Type 2: PP Consumption +0 ~ +10

• A three hit attack consisting of a stab, photon absorption, and slash.
  • The absorption action behaves like the old Sacrificial Bite.
• The lunge has a distance of about 2 sidesteps before attacking.
  • If you are locked onto an enemy, it will stop right in front of the enemy.
• Upon hitting the enemy with the PA, additional effects are granted for 3 minutes, an increased reach to your Normal Attacks, and an increase in automatic PP recovery.
  • The Sidestep attack changes to a 180-degree forward slash.
  • The reach of the Normal Attacks are roughly one sidestep longer for both ground and aerial.
  • The automatic PP recovery of PP remains the same from the old Sacrificial Bite at +5%. The PP recovery is also the same at 45PP.
  • The hilt of the weapon glows while the effect is manifesting, and the blade is covered with a thin spiral. A blue blade extends from the weapon on sidestep attacks and Normal Attacks.
    • The effect also persists if you switch to another weapon.
• Single hit power notation is 25% on the thrust, 13% per absorption, and 36% on the final slash. All hits connecting (3 hits with absorption) will result in the full power notation as shown.

Blaze Parry

Icon	Name	Stat	+1	+17	Description
	Blaze Parry	Potency	1313	2301	Guard against an enemy attack to nullify it and strengthen your own string of slashing attacks.
		DEX Correction	100
		PP	20

• Unleashes a total of 6 with high attack speed. Pressing the Weapon Action at the right time allows you to protect yourself. The Focus effect increases power.
  • The PA moves slightly forward on the ground and remains stationary in the air.
  • The first four slashes do not have any flinching properties while the final two slashes do.
• Pressing the Weapon Action button will make a wind visual effect with a sound effect, and if timed perfectly, you will be able to Perfect Guard.
  • The timing on the Perfect Guard is 1/3 of the original Perfect Guard frames.
  • Perfect Guard timings can be made to 3 times during the PA, repeatedly pressing the weapon action will cause the Perfect Attack timing to disappear afterwards.
  • After the last two slashes will allow you to use the Weapon Action to guard cancel.
  • When the PA is used on the ground, jump canceling is possible throughout the entire PA. When the PA is used in the air, sidestep cancel is only possible.
• Succesfully activating Perfect Guard increases the power and attack speed, allowing you to flinch the enemy in the first half of the attack. Invulnerability is activated until the animation is complete.
  • Attacks from behind are unguardable, but when All Guard is learned, it becomes possible to guard from all directions during the PA.
  • There is no Super Armor during the PA, failing to guard will interrupt the PA.
• Perfect Guard timing is subject to Advanced Guard Stance, Healing Guard, and Perfect Guard PP Gain.
• Power distribution is 10% x 4 in the first half without a successful guard and 30% x 2 in the second half (Focus 2: 35% x 2, Focus 3: 40% x 2).
  • If Perfect Guard is performed, the attack immediately afterwards changes to 30%, 10% x 3 -> Finish changes to Focus 1: 70% x 2 (Focus 2: 80% x 2, Focus 3: 90% x2).
  • When the Focus 3 Perfect Guard is performed, it is 2.4x more powerful than the stated power.
  • The only part that changes with Sword Focus is the power of the final 2 slashes.

Sword Frame Data

60F = 1 second
DPS = Damage Per Second
DPP = Damage Per PP
Proportion refers to the proportion of power listed on the PA disc compared to its actual power.

Disclaimer:
This data assumes level 17 discs.

Name	Frame	Power	DPS	Notes	Proportion	PP Cost	DPP
Rising Edge	Charge 0: 58 Charge 1: 20+60 Charge 2: 40+83	1053 1842 2631	1089 1382 1283	All Focus 3	40% 70% 100%	20	52.6 92.1 131.5
Twister Drop	Ground 82 / Air 66	960 1296 1620	873 1178 1473	Air 3 Hits Air 4 Hits Air Max Hits	77% 104% 130%	20	48.0 64.8 81.0
Twister Drop Zero	Short Duration(Ground) 112 Short Duration(Air) 85 Max Duration(Ground) 260 Max Duration(Air) 265	2541 2352 4816 5196	1361 1660 1111 1176	3 Hits 2 Hits 15 Hits 17 Hits	67% 62% 127% 137%	30	84.7 78.4 160.4 173.2
Nova Strike	Charge 0: 67 Charge 1: 20+86 Charge 2: 40+108	1066 1718 2369	955 972 960	All Focus 3	45% 72.5% 100%	20	53.3 85.9 118.4
Ride Slash	Charge 0: 111(Ground)/86(Air) Charge 1: 20+112/20+88 Charge 2: 50+11/50+95	1351 2027 2702	943 1126 1118	Used from the air All Focus 3	50% 72.5% 100%	25	54.0 81.0 108.0
Cross Cut	273	3596 4316 5035	790 949 1107	Focus 1 Focus 2 Focus 3	100% 120% 140%	40	89.9 107.9 125.8
Blade Bash	24	572	1430		100%	15	38.1
Sonic Arrow	40	555 666 833	833 999 1250	Focus 1 Focus 2 Focus 3	100% 120% 150%	25	22.2 26.6 33.3
Perfect Guard Sonic Arrow (L) Lv20	40	705 846 1058	1058 1269 1578	Focus 1 Focus 2 Focus 3		0	-
Merciless Throw	Hold 130 Light Ball 139	2880 2880	1329 1243	All Focus 3 Does not include light ball contact	100% 100%	20	144.0 144.0
Guilty Break	Charge 0: 52/82 (Distance) Charge 1: 5+52 Charge 2: 10+52	873 1119 1364	1007 1178 1320	All Focus 3	64% 82% 100%	20	43.6 55.9 68.2
Sacrificial Bite	No hold: 94 Full hold 166	1434 1478	915 534	Focus 3	97% 100%	20	71.5 73.9
Sacrificial Bite Zero	92	1577	1028		100%	20	78.9
Blaze Parry	Normal: 162 Guard: 125	2301 2762 5523	852 1023 2651	Focus 1, No Guard Focus 3, No Guard Focus 3 Perfect Guard	100% 120% 240%	25	92.0 110.4 220.9
Normal Attack 1 Normal Attack 2 Normal Attack 3 Normal Attack 1-3	45 36 50 131	634 528 900 2062	845 80 1080 944	Ground	The following DPP column is PP recovery per second	-12 -13 -18 -43	-
Normal Attack 1 Normal Attack 2 Normal Attack 3 Normal Attack 1-3	39 38 38 115	502 500 675 1677	772 789 1066 875	Air	-	-11.5 -13.5 -17.5 -42.5	-
Sidestep Attack	16+28	740	736	-	-	-12	-

7/2/20
Source: JP wiki