Blood of Dawnwalker features an omni-directional sword combat system

Recently revealed gameplay footage for Blood of Dawnwalker, a new action RPG from former Witcher 3 developers, showcases the game's interesting four-way sword combat system.

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Polish game studio Rebel Wolves took the lid off of their new game Blood of Dawnwalker, highlighting the game's visceral and gritty combat. From the looks of the new pre-beta gameplay footage, Dawnwalker's combat sequences are more tactile and impactful, adding a sense of weight to the omni-directional attack-and-block system.

The combat sequence reveals Blood of Dawnwalker will have ability-based debuffs like acrid dust, which stuns enemies in place. Successfully pulling off combat actions like attacking, blocking, or parrying will add an ability charge that can be spent to execute strategy-based skills like acrid dust, a DoT searing blood spell, and even a spin strike that can decapitate opponents.

Rebel Wolves explains that the four-way attacks are also complemented by a similar scheme for blocking and parrying. For example, if an opponent swings to your left, you want to block to the left to deflect the strike.

"Our goal was to make the player feel like a real swordmaster who closes observes his enemies,"Rebel Wolves design director Daniel Sadowski said in the gameplay reveal.

"When you attack, you choose one of four directions--up, down, left or right--in order to hit the opponent where he isn't able to parry. And similarly when defending, you have to take note of the enemy's intent and the direction of the attack."

The omni-directional combat is apparently easy to pick up, offering a more instantaneous battle flow that may deliver a more streamlined experience. In the Q&A portion, the hosts described Blood of Dawnwalker's combat as "fast, frantic, and intuitive."

Here's how Rebel Wolves describes the combat on the game's website:

"Defy gravity, become a brutal force of nature, and use your supernatural skills as a vampire. Or raise your sword and employ powerful magic to take on opponents as a human. Experiment and adapt as you form changes during the day and night; each has its strengths and weaknesses."

It's worth reiterating that the gameplay footage reflects a pre-beta build of the game.

The Blood of Dawnwalker is due out sometime in 2026 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Check below for more info:

The Blood of Dawnwalker is an open-world dark fantasy action RPG set in 14th-century Europe. You play as Coen, human by day and vampire by night, fighting to save your family in a story shaped by your actions and the secrets you uncover.

Vale Sangora

Step into the gripping world of The Blood of Dawnwalker, where exploration and player choice shape Coen's journey. Unveiled during the Summer Solstice gameplay showcase, Vale Sangora serves as the heart of this immersive narrative offering players freedom to traverse its landscapes, from swamps and towering mountains to abandoned ruins and shadowy caves and the horrors within them. Svartrau, the region's largest city, contrasts starkly between day and night where bustling medieval life masks the influence of a vampire regime by day, while moonlit rooftops reveal hidden secrets after dark, with residents reacting to the player's choices and behavior.

Coen's duality and combat

As a Dawnwalker, Coen is neither fully human nor entirely vampire. By day, he can wield both a sword and use magical runes in the form of bloody scars etched on his skin. However, at night, Coen embraces his supernatural instincts, and unlocks an entirely new powerset. His nocturnal abilities include lethal vampiric claws and Shadowstep, a skill that allows him to swiftly navigate across rooftops. The Blood of Dawnwalker uses a directional combat system designed to bring cinematic intensity and tactical challenge to every confrontation. Players must study enemy movements, block precisely, and time counterattacks to execute seamless, strategic takedowns.

The vampire nature

As a Dawnwalker, Coen grapples with his relentless bloodlust that intensifies at night. Accompanied by visual cues during gameplay, players can help Coen satisfy his hunger in various ways - by drinking the blood of defeated foes, including vampires, innocent villagers, or animals, or by using special blood vials. If left unsatisfied, this craving not only weakens Coen's abilities and vitality but, in critical moments, may cause him to lose control, and unintentionally cause the death of an important story character.