Early Bleed Build: Jagged Steel, Shield Breaking and Upgrades

This early build assigns a clear role to each part: Jagged Steel builds bleed, Scarlet Wraithblade handles shields, and Phantom Edges add pressure or control. Assemble the pieces as you reach their unlocks; you do not need the complete setup when you first arrive at the station.

Establish the two weapon roles

Use the early bleed blade, Jagged Steel, as the main damage option. Its attacks build bleed, which triggers additional damage when full. Put longer sequences into safe openings so you can build the effect without continuing to attack through an enemy’s response.

For the shield-breaking weapon, Scarlet Wraithblade, reach Sha-Chi Tower. Take the staircase down from a corner of the first floor and defeat the optional bride boss, Hua, Deadly Betrothed. Add the reward to your loadout once you have cleared that fight.

Add the axe and chain-sickle in stages

Equipment	Unlock	Role	Limitation
Dread Axe	Defeat the boss beyond the station	Charged attacks wear down shields and pressure some humanoid enemies	Limited uses; charging leaves you open to attacks
Hunter’s Chain Sickle	Defeat The Hunt, Sixfold Scythe at the large waterfall	Quick attacks at medium to long range	The skill that pulls enemies toward you needs a later upgrade

Give the axe enough room to charge before committing to it. It can supplement your shield-breaking options, but its limited uses make it a poor substitute for a plan across repeated encounters.

Upgrade the chain-sickle to level 5 to unlock Shadow Bound. This skill pulls eligible targets toward you, letting you continue a combo. Against large or super-armored targets, it pulls Soul toward the target instead. Until that upgrade is available, use the weapon’s ranged attacks without planning around the pull.

Accessories, flasks and first skill upgrades

Early accessory candidates are the items labeled Battle Wraps and Token of Pursuit. For the flask setup, start with the basic flask and Focus Pill. Check the effects shown in your equipment screen when deciding which items fit the way you currently fight.

Prioritize the upgrades that add one accessory slot and one flask use. They give you more equipment space or more supplies while you are still learning the combat loop. Choose later skills around equipment you already own and moves you can reliably fit into that loop.

A practical progression order

1. Build your early damage around the bleed blade once you have it.
2. After the station boss, add the axe as a limited-use option against shields.
3. At the tower, obtain the shield-breaking weapon from the optional bride boss when you are ready for the fight.
4. After the waterfall boss, use the chain-sickle at range; add its pull to your combos after reaching level 5.

If the station boss is your current obstacle, practice the axe boss’s black-flash responses and guard-break timing first, then expand the equipment around that rhythm.