Promotional Image for Way of the Sword Update in KR 10/20/2011

Basic Information

 

When playing Elsword, there will be an additional bar below the mana gauge called Way of the Sword. This bar has 10 segments that, by default, contain 5 red Destruction slots and 5 blue Vitality slots, and depending on your actions, the bar will lean towards one color or 'aura' (from right to left for Destruction, from left to right for Vitality), replacing the other aura's slots. As long as an aura has at least one slot in the bar filled, you will receive special benefits depending on which aura you currently have active. The "Aura of Destruction" is selected by default, and you can switch between it and the "Aura of Vitality" by using the special action key ([V] by default).

Depending on the type of skill you use, the bar will fill towards the right with blue Vitality slots or towards the left with red Destruction slots:

  • Flexibility/Tenacity skill: 1 slot
  • Strength skill: 2 slots
  • Bravery skill: 3 slots

Note that skills fill the slots contrary to their mode: Vitality-based skills fill the bars with Destruction slots; Destruction-based skills fill the bar with vitality slots.

If the bar is filled completely by either aura's slots, the aura for the other mode will deactivate and you will enter a neutral stance with no benefits when it is toggled on, until at least 1 slot is re-gained for that mode. As such, the bar acts as a balancing mechanic so over-using one mode's skills can prevent that mode's aura from being active.

Aura of Vitality

 

When Self BuffAura of Vitality is toggled on, you will be surrounded by a blue aura and gain the following effects:

  • Action, Movement Speed increase: 20%
  • Vitality-based skills MP Cost decrease: 30% (PvP: 5%)
  • MP Gain when Attacked increase: 100% (PvP: 20%)
  • Vitality-based Command/Skill MP recovery per hit increase: 100% (PvP: 20%)

Aura of Destruction

 

When Self BuffAura of Destruction is toggled on, you will be surrounded by a crimson aura and gain the following effects:

  • Damage increase when using Destruction-based Skill: 50% (PvP: 25%)
  • Damage increase when using Destruction-based Command: 100% (PvP: 20%)

Aura Chart

  • Elsword
  • Knight Emperor
  • Rune Master
  • Immortal
  • Genesis
Idle/Walking   Vitality   Vitality   Vitality   Vitality
  Vitality   Vitality   Vitality   Vitality
  Destruction   Destruction   Destruction
  Destruction   Destruction   Vitality
Running
 
  Vitality   Vitality   Destruction
  Destruction
Jump
 
  Vitality
  Destruction
Air Dash
 
  Vitality   Vitality   Vitality
  Destruction   Destruction
Knocked Down   Destruction
  Vitality


Skill Auras

Class Skill Name Aura
Elsword   Mega Slash Destruction
Elsword   Roll Vitality
Elsword   Flame Geyser Destruction
Elsword   Unlimited Blade Vitality
Elsword   Triple Geyser Destruction
Class Skill Name Aura
Sword Knight   Kick Vitality
Sword Knight   Spiral Blast Destruction
Sword Knight   Mortal Blow (A) Vitality
Sword Knight   Impact Smash Destruction
Sword Knight   Armor Break (A) Destruction
Sword Knight   Double Slash (A) Destruction
Lord Knight   Armageddon Blade (A) Vitality
Lord Knight   Rolling Smash Vitality
Lord Knight   Shoulder Tackle Vitality
Lord Knight   Sandstorm (A) Destruction
Lord Knight   Windmill (A) Vitality
Lord Knight   Counter Attack Destruction
Lord Knight   Vertical Slash Vitality
Lord Knight   Sonic Blade (A) Vitality
Transcendent Lord Knight   Sonic Blade: Crescent Destruction
Transcendent Lord Knight   Power Smash Vitality
Transcendent Lord Knight   Imperial Crusher Destruction
Transcendent Lord Knight   Grand Cross Destruction
Class Skill Name Aura
Magic Knight   Explosive Fist Destruction
Magic Knight   Rising Slash (A) Destruction
Magic Knight   Wind Blade Destruction
Magic Knight   Sword Fire (A) Vitality
Magic Knight   Critical Sword (A) Vitality
Magic Knight   Storm Blade Vitality
Rune Slayer   Phoenix Talon (A) Vitality
Rune Slayer   Fire Rune Destruction
Rune Slayer   Enchant Dash Vitality
Rune Slayer   Lodestar Vitality
Rune Slayer   Luna Blade (A) Destruction
Rune Slayer   Magic Counter Destruction
Rune Slayer   Rune Field Vitality
Rune Slayer   Splash Explosion (A) Vitality
Transcendent Rune Slayer   Triple Saber Destruction
Transcendent Rune Slayer   Enchant Breaker Vitality
Transcendent Rune Slayer   Overs Geyser Destruction
Transcendent Rune Slayer   Extreme Rune Buster (A) Destruction
Class Skill Name Aura
Sheath Knight   Sword Shield Vitality
Sheath Knight   Sword Fall (A) Destruction
Sheath Knight   Crescent Cut (A) Vitality
Sheath Knight   Harsh Chaser Destruction
Sheath Knight   Mirage Sting Vitality
Sheath Knight   Final Strike Destruction
Infinity Sword   Phantom Sword Vitality
Infinity Sword   Fatal Slap Destruction
Infinity Sword   Assault Dash Vitality
Infinity Sword   Rage Cutter (A) Vitality
Infinity Sword   Maelstrom Rage Vitality
Infinity Sword   Compact Counter Destruction
Infinity Sword   Phantom Dance Vitality
Infinity Sword   Sword Blasting (A) Destruction
Transcendent Infinity Sword   Infinite Chaser (A) Vitality
Transcendent Infinity Sword   Infinite: Flurry Destruction
Transcendent Infinity Sword   Blade Circle (A) Destruction
Transcendent Infinity Sword   Infinite Strike (A) Destruction
Class Skill Name Aura
Root Knight   Extortion Vitality
Root Knight   Sword Trace Destruction
Root Knight   Persistent Rush Vitality
Root Knight   Sword Explosion Vitality
Root Knight   Pressure Destruction
Root Knight   Resolution Destruction
Sacred Templar   Divine Lift Vitality
Sacred Templar   Reclaim Destruction
Sacred Templar   Detention Vitality
Sacred Templar   No Mercy Destruction
Sacred Templar   Destination Destruction
Sacred Templar   Predicted Counter Destruction
Sacred Templar   Sin Cleaver (A) Vitality
Sacred Templar   Dominion Destruction
Transcendent Sacred Templar   Holy Sword Destruction
Transcendent Sacred Templar   Intense Slam (A) Vitality
Transcendent Sacred Templar   El Assimilation Vitality
Transcendent Sacred Templar   Retribution (A) Destruction


Specialization (Not Available Anymore)

Character   Specialization A   Specialization B
 
Destruction and Vitality gain amount +x% (Except when either Destruction and Vitality is activated) (Max: 40%) Destruction and Vitality consume amount -x% (Max: 50%)


Tips and Details

  • Commands do not affect the bar's slots in any way. As long as 1 slot of the respective aura is left, they will benefit from the aura they align to.
  • Destruction-based skills benefit from the 50% damage bonus in their entirety, as long as you consume a Destruction slot by using them, even if this makes your whole aura become Vitality.
  • Vitality's MP gain increase is very potent, allowing you to throw out many costly skills with little issues. Keeping at least 1 bar of Vitality left at all times to be able to gain the effect for your commands is exceptionally helpful.
  • Although Way of the Sword Mode Switching is a Special Move, it is still counted as a skill that cannot be used during some disabling debuffs like Silence.
  • Due to Way of the Sword effects being active as long as you have at least one bar of the respective type, there is no benefit from consuming more bars in the case of Strength and Bravery skills.


Trivia

  • The sword icons that appear at the ends of the gauge are Lord Knight's and Rune Slayer's swords for "Aura of Destruction" and "Aura of Vitality", respectively.


Old Version

  • In the past, the Way of the Sword system featured a non-segmented resource meter which could fill or deplete based on the amount of damage and number of hits dealt from skills and combos as opposed to purely skill category.
    • The ability to switch between "Aura of Destruction" and "Aura of Vitality" was not present. To enter a particular mode, Elsword must fill the meter with the using the opposing aura's attacks. When it was filled, Elsword would be in that mode until the meter was depleted via the respective aura's attacks. Once the meter was depleted, Elsword would be in a neutral state until he fills the meter back up with one of the auras.


Gallery


Updates

Date Changes
KR NA PvE PvP
10/20/2011 11/21/2012
  • Way of the Sword added.
04/21/2016 05/18/2016
  • The number of destruction roars when attacked in Aura of Destruction decreased.
06/15/2017 06/28/2017
  • None
  • Vitality Mode effectiveness decreased.
11/02/2017 11/15/2017
  • Destruction Howl and super armor removed.
  • Vitality Mode Skill MP Gain decreased.
  • Vitality Mode Command MP Gain decreased.
  • None
06/20/2019 07/17/2019
  • Can switch between Destruction and Vitality using V key.
  • System mechanics revamped.
08/14/2019 08/28/2019
  • None
  • Vitality Mode Skill MP Gain decreased.
09/11/2019 09/25/2019
  • Allows switching modes even during skill use.
  • System will remember the mode in effect on initial skill cast.
07/08/2021 08/04/2021
  • Fixed tooltip incorrectly stating that the Aura of Vitality increases Jump Speed.
  • Added detailed values to tooltip.
02/03/2022 03/02/2022
  • None
  • Vitality Skill MP Usage Decrease decreased.
07/04/2024 07/31/2024
  • None
  • Damage increase when using Destruction-based Commands decreased.



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