While I am most certainly unable to get a key for Swordsman Online’s debut test phase come 20th March in China, I though I should refresh some game content news for the game. There are 10 sects/ clans which will be playable at launch, and today I will be touching briefly on Shaolin and Wudang.
Shaolin will be a male-only clan, staying true to the original novel’s settings. Players’ role will be the primary tank, given its defensive and support skills, thus making them positioned at the front-line during party fights. They are able to lower targets’ defense as well. Despite being a tank, Shaolin players do have extreme melee damage to facilitate single plau, although the lack of AOE skills will prove to be a handicap eventually.
The staff will be Shaolin players’ main weapon. While it is focused on melee, the staff can actually break into 3 chained parts (like a whip), allowing them to hit targets from a decent range and seeing an increase in damage. This make Shaolin characters the secondary damage dealer in parties, with their ranged abilities able to chase and lock down targets. There are a couple of fists and kicks skills as well.
In PvP, Shaolin characters have skills which will allow them to close in on targets. With an already healthy pool of hit points and defense, dodging devastating ranged attacks is key, while searching for an opening to strike ranged characters. A basic character to master, the Shaolin clan is recommended for new players.
Wudang is accessible to both male and female genders, but the surprise here will be the weapon of choice, which is a gigantic great sword, rather than the light and swift single-hand sword the clan is renown for in the media. Using the great sword requires huge amount of internal energy, which Wudang disciples excel in. There are skills involving the Taichi Fists too.
Players of this clan will see some similarities as Shaolin, with both of them being melee characters and able to deal high burst damage. Wudang players will see their lack of defense aided by several supportive formation skills. These are skills which will boost players and party members within their range. Wudang works best during crowd control, while does well as secondary damage dealer with the AOE skills.
PvP wise, while Shaoline gets close to targets, Wudang does it the other way – pulling targets to them. Using the great sword, players can block and attack, kill and control with few control mechanisms, making the Wudang clan 1 of the easier clans to master for new players.
