Melee Expertise reflects a character’s skill in close-combat weaponry such as swords, axes, spears, and hammers. It includes precision, timing, footwork, and understanding of various fighting styles. Characters use Melee Expertise to strike effectively, counter opponents, and control the battlefield up close. It’s vital for warriors, duelists, and frontline combatants.
Identify and strike the weak points in medium and heavy armor—gaps at joints, seams, or vents—to inflict extra damage where protection is thinnest.
Strike quickly and decisively in melee when an opponent exposes themselves, reducing penalties to your follow-up attack by seizing the perfect moment.
Launch multiple rapid melee strikes in a single flurry, overwhelming your opponent through sheer speed.
Quickly retreat from melee without provoking attacks.
Smash into an enemy's armor with brute force, reducing its effectiveness for the rest of the combat.
Strike with a weapon in each hand by replacing the severe penalty on off-hand attacks with a dedicated skill roll, enabling fluid two-weapon combat.
Assume a poised, reactive stance - delaying your strike until the enemy commits, then responding with precision and speed.
Keep at bay attempts to keep opponent out of melee range, making it harder for the enemy to use closing maneuvers or straight out attacking them if they move into your melee range.
Strike an enemy from beyond melee range by lunging forward and immediately retreating, making it harder for the opponent to react or counter.
Deliver a slower but devastating melee blow by focusing your full strength into a single, high-impact strike.
Instantly draw and ready a melee weapon to gain a tactical advantage, enabling fast reactions or surprise attacks.
Spell Touch is a skill that allows a character to cast spells requiring physical contact. This would normally put caster at large risk, but this is mitigated by this skill.
Strike with precise force to shake your opponent’s balance and defensive posture, leaving them exposed.
Remain alert and aware of all nearby threats, allowing you to avoid being caught off-guard, flanked, or surprised by attacks from multiple directions.
Fluidly change your combat stance mid-attack to adapt to the flow of battle, seamlessly shifting between offensive and defensive approaches.
Hold your attack and unleash a flurry of reactive strikes the moment enemies enter your melee range - forcing them to either stay back or get hit.