Combat (Slave Pits)

Every fight in Slave Pits is a duel between two fighters, won by timing and by reading the opponent. The Glossary explains every term.

The basics

Three directions. Attacks and parries go left, middle or right; dodges go left or right. Red buttons attack. Blue buttons parry, towards the same side as the incoming blow. Green buttons dodge, towards the opposite side.
Taking turns. When both fighters are idle, the chance to attack passes back and forth between them. The defender has a short window to parry or dodge. Some weapons are easier to parry, others easier to dodge.
Timing. Every button shows an animation with a shining center: the closer to the centre you press (also called deviation), the better the result. A perfect attack (deviation 0%) is a critical hit.
After the exchange. A chain lets the fighter who has just landed a hit attack again at once. A riposte lets a fighter who has just parried strike straight back.
Pressure. It builds while nobody lands a blow, and makes everything faster.

Vulnerable spot. One direction is marked on the opponent, and hitting it deals extra damage.
Surge. The orange bar fills as you take damage. When it is full you can spend it: by default it restores stamina and balance, and some talents turn it into a special effect instead.
Combos. Sequences of actions in a strict order that end in an attack, such as a dodge followed by an attack on the same side. Talents unlock them.
Effects. Buffs help you: Rage, Frenzy, Ready, Charged and Adrenaline. Debuffs hurt you: Stunned, Bleeding, Exhausted and Weakened.
Scenarios. Special fights that hinder only you: caltrops make dodging harder, a cage makes parrying harder, barricades soak up your damage until they break, and hot coal burns you for every imprecise action.
Thrown items. A Throwing shard, Klag powder or a Combat net can be thrown during the fight.

Weapons. One-handed weapons pair with an off-hand weapon or a shield, and each off-hand gives its own bonus. Two-handed weapons hit harder and are harder to parry, but easier to dodge.
Armor reduces damage, but costs stamina and slows you.
Tier. Equipment comes in wood, carapace and iron. A weapon of a higher tier hits harder, unless the opponent's armour is as good or better.
Talents are bought with reputation: five basic talents with three levels each, and many more that open up when their requirements are met.
Constellations are suggested groups of talents, each a way to fight.
Services are bought before a fight: thrown items, equipment upgrades, care for your wounds, rumours about your opponent, and more.