Fluidly change your combat stance mid-attack to adapt to the flow of battle, seamlessly shifting between offensive and defensive approaches.
Sequenced with an attack, you use your Versatile Strike skill instead of the attack roll.
You switch stance with your attack allowing you to for example attack offensively and then go directly into defensive stance against any reactions and further attacks:
If switching to defensive stance, the stance change takes effect after the attack
If switching to offensive stance, the stance change takes effect during the attack
Standard combat modifiers apply.
Shift Into Defense After Attack: You slash with a sword from offensive stance and transition into a defensive guard.→ Versatile Strike Skill: 55, Roll: 55 +20 offensive stance → Total = 130 → Attack uses 130 as attack roll→ After the attack resolves, you enter defensive stance wiith the +20 bonus to Defensive Bonus and -20 penalty to attack rolls.
Versatile Strike allows a melee combatant to flow between offensive and defensive postures without sacrificing tempo. Rather than taking time to manually switch stances, this skill enables a stance shift within the attack itself—executing a hit while already adapting to the next phase of combat.
The trade-off is that your attack is resolved using your Versatile Strike roll, which may be lower than your regular AB-based attack roll. However, the tactical benefit of changing stances in the same action can decisively shape the battle.
Used effectively, this skill allows players to play mind games—switching from cautious duelist to relentless striker in an instant, or baiting opponents into overcommitting only to turtle up post-strike.
Sequence with defensive stance to optimize your defensive move.
Counters usually used against attacks for improved defensive bonus.