For Blade Masters and Kung Fu Masters who are Level 55 and higher and have completed the “Legacy of the Hongmoon Clan” Awakening quest, the third class specialization will be open to you on June 19. Embrace the Way of the Spectral Blade or Way of the Iron Claw!

Blade Master

The Blade Master’s third specialization is the Way of the Spectral Blade. This specialization focuses on utilizing the Blade Master’s already-magical blades in new, ghostly ways. With this specialization you’ll call upon the soul of a Legendary Blade Master to enhance your abilities, and, if you select the right talents, you can even summon her to fight alongside you for a brief time.

The soul of a legendary Blade Master fights alongside you. The Blade Mentor’s soul assists you in unleashing devastating sword attacks. While in the Flock of Blades stance, the “Spectral” set of skills can automatically defend you or fight for you. While the Blade Mentor will gladly help you, if you rely on her too much she will run out of “Patience” and you will temporarily be locked out of the Flock of Blades stance.

This specialization heavily relies on the Flock of Blades stance, which is where the Blade Mentor is most helpful and provides stronger abilities. Once you switch into this stance you’ll notice there is a new UI on screen, featuring the face of the Blade Mentor. As you use your spectral abilities, a gauge will fill up around her face (indicating her level of frustration due to needing to assist you), and decreases as you use your RMB ability “Slice.” If the gauge completely fills up, she will become frustrated with you and her face will turn red. During this time she is "Vexed" and will no longer assist you, thus removing your ability to be in the Flock of Blades stance and unable to utilize the added benefits it provides. You’ll need to wait for her to cool off before you can switch back into the Flock of Blades stance.

Three special talents available will change your Tab ability. While you’re in the Flock of Blades stance, you’ll be able to access another ability which is determined by your talent selection. Star-Crossed and Lucky Stars will both allow you to enter Starstrike, which empowers your abilities for 8 seconds. If you select the Blade Mentor talent instead, your ghostly mentor will jump to your aid for a brief moment.

Enables Starstrike Applies the following effects during Starstrike: Falling Stars is available

Adds 1 to the hit count of the Spectral Blades triggered during Falling Stars Enables Starstrike Applies the following effects during Starstrike: Falling Stars is available

Immortal for 8 sec. and +25% HP recovery on use

No additional strikes from the Spectral Blades on use Enables the Blade Mentor skill Applies the following effects to Blade Mentor: Stuns enemies within range for 2 seconds when the Mentor appears

+3,000% Damage and Stuns for 2 seconds on a successful last hit

Kung Fu Master

Iron Claw is the Kung Fu Master’s third specialization. Like the Blade Master, there are new and powerful abilities at your fingertips as your Kung Fu Master becomes more in tune with nature. With these new abilities, the Kung Fu Master can utilize powerful buffs and summon a powerful gauntlet to deal high amounts of damage for a small amount of time. Kung Fu Masters will also be able to transform into one of three different wolves each with their own unique abilities.

Able to use Iron Claw and Twin Palm skills Able to transform into either a Dire Wolf, Blood Wolf, or Timber Wolf Immune to Knock Back, Grab, Grapple, Phantom Grip while in Wolf Form Enhance party members within range with Dire Wolf, Blood Wolf, or Timber Wolf effect while in Wolf Form Resets cooldowns for Flurry and Searing Stomp on Resist

Chakra & Titan Ire

The core of the Iron-Claw specialization is building up Titan Ire and unlocking Chakras, which you can see with a new UI on screen. While using abilities, you will build up your Titan Ire, and once it’s full you can switch into the Titan Stance (certain talents provide other ways to switch to the Titan Stance). Switching into the Titan Stance changes your weapon into a powerful gauntlet, and grants you 4 new abilities for your Z, X, C, and V skill slots. These skills provide a high amount of damage. Depending on how you combo your Z, X, and C abilities, a unique V ability will become available. Using this special V ability will grant you one stack of the appropriate Chakra.

There are three different Chakras that you’re able to unlock, which stack up to two times each. These Chakras provide different stats. As mentioned above, you’re able to gain stacks of the Chakra by doing the appropriate combos. Using your Fighting Spirit ability will also provide 1 additional stack for each Chakra.

Don’t worry, if figuring out the appropriate combos seems difficult, you will find a combo list available in your (K) Skills Menu.

Power Chakra, Critical Chakra, and Mystic Chakra trigger additional effects while in Wolf Form Increase Boss Attack Power, PvP Attack Power, Mystic, and Critial Hit Damage

Damage Reduction while in use

Stacks Titan Ire 100 times when Wolf Form ends Triggers Titan’s Wrath every 2 seconds when attacking an opponent while in Titan Stance Switches to Titan Stance when using Fighting Spirit

Titan’s Wrath inflicts Additional Damage to the target

Inflicts Searing Palm effect on an opponent during Titan’s Wrath

Generates 20 Titan Ire stacks on a successful Counter Increases range of Iron Paw and Wild Paw when using Claw Triggers Stealth when Pack Frenzy hits

Switches to Titan Stance when Wolf Form ends

Wolf

In your talents window you can see you’re able to choose between three different wolves: Dire, Blood, and Timber. Each wolf offers unique perks, including passive effects for your party. Be sure to look at each one to see what works best for your playstyle.

Depending on your Talents selection, they will enhance the Wolf transformation in different ways. Once you have successfully transformed into one of the wolves, you have new abilities to use. The wolf form also provides a hefty amount of defensive stats as well. Wolf form only lasts for 15 seconds, and deals a high amount of damage so be sure to utilize it to its fullest potential!

Allows you to transform into a Dire Wolf Duration: 15 seconds Increase Movement Speed Grants Dire Wolf effect to all party members within range Dire Wolf effect: Recovers HP for all party members within range Allows you to transform into a Blood Wolf Duration: 15 seconds Increase Movement Speed Grants Blood Wolf effect to all party members within range Blood Wolf effect: Increase PvP Attack Power and PvP Defense for all party members within range When targeting an opponent, Chase and Prowl move behind the target Chase and Prowl move forward when there is no target Allows you to transform into a Timber Wolf Duration: 15 seconds Increase Movement Speed significantly Grants Timber Wolf effect to all party members within range Timber Wolf effect Increases Movement Speed for all party members Chase and Prowl move forward with or without a target Primal Guard (blocking skill) changes to Primal Ruse (parrying skill)

Accessories & Badges

For Blade Masters and Kung Fu Masters, Legendary Stage 10 or Awakened (any level) Bracelets, Earrings, Necklaces, and Rings can be evolved to the third specialization through Manage Equipment with a Spectral Blade Emblem or Iron Claw Emblem. These can be purchased from the Dragon Express for 5 Naryu Tablets. You can swap between specialization accessories with the specific specialization emblem from the Dragon Express.

To change specializations for the the Stage 10/Awakened Starbreaker Bracelet and Stage 10/Awakened Divinity Bracelet, you will need (1) Unrefined Battalion/Divinity/Starbreaker Bracelet that you can purchase from General Merchant Songhyun in Ajanara Monastery for (5) Tranquality Emblems.

For Legendary Badges, you can exchange your Mystic Badge or Soul Badge of any stage, Awakened or not, with Dragon Trade Union Junsorei at Dasari Palace Gardens or Mushin’s Tower.

If you have a War Song or Wildborne Soul Badge, you can change to the Exemplar Soul Badge [Compass] available at the Dragon Express for 10 gold and 1 Naryu Silver.

For Blade Masters and Kung Fu Masters, if you have the Thornbreaker or Groundbreaker Mystic Badge, you can exchange it for the Escalation Mystic Badge, but be aware you will not be able to re-exchange it for the other specializations’ badges.

These new specializations are robust and complex, and we’ve just begun to scratch the surface of the changes they bring. Be sure to check them out in-game to learn these new specializations to their full potential when Blade & Soul: Empyrean Shadows arrives on June 19.