Have you ever wanted to take down enemies Attack-on-Titan-style in Wild Hearts? Swing around them and slice them apart midair? Well, Wild Hearts has just the weapon type for you. In this Wild Hearts claw blade weapon guide, we’ll show you how to nimbly cut your way through kemono and deal stylish finishers. If you’re in the mood for something flashy and fast, then the claw blade has you covered.
- Related Reading: Wild Hearts – Bladed Wagasa Weapon Guide
Unlike previous Wild Hearts weapon guides we’ve made for the starting weapon types, this one will cover two additional karakuri, namely the Torch and Glider karakuri, as you will already have unlocked them by the time the karakuri staff is available to use.
Wild Hearts Claw Blade Weapon Guide
Overview
The claw blade is a short-ranged weapon that specializes in latching onto enemy kemono. By dealing consistent damage, you’re able to build up a weapon gauge that lets you latch onto enemy kemono for an extended period of time. While latched, you’re able to move around and onto the kemono at fast speeds, weaving in and out before delivering one final attack.
Though the flashiness of this weapon may hint at a complex and difficult kit, it’s actually pretty easy to pick up, so you shouldn’t have any trouble transitioning from whatever weapon you were using in Chapter 1 if the claw blade struck your fancy.
Weapon Gauge
The claw blade has a weapon gauge that builds as you land attacks on enemy kemono. This gauge increases faster when landing airborne attacks, so you’ll ideally want to be in the air while attacking if you’re looking to build the gauge quickly.
The more filled the weapon gauge is, the longer time you’ll have while latched onto an enemy kemono, so it’s generally a good idea to maximize your gauge before you start zipping about.
Square Button – Paring Slash
The Square button executes various attacks depending on what state your character is in upon pressing. While standing still, pressing Square executes Paring Slash, a quick strike that can be chained up to eight times.
You can also input movement in a certain direction and you’ll leap slightly before striking, executing a Running Slash.
Finally, you can use Square while airborne to deliver aerial paring slashes, which, as mentioned earlier, build up your weapon gauge faster. These can be chained up to six times in sets of three.
Square attacks are your bread and butter and you’ll be using them, standing or midair, to build your gauge.
Triangle Button – Jump Slash
Like the Square button, the Triangle button executes different attacks depending on your character’s state.
Pressing Triangle will execute Jump Slash, a backwards jump strike that’s great for disengaging from a kemono.
When inputting a movement command while pressing Triangle, you execute Dive Slash, which is much like Running Slash but with more distance covered.
You can also use it while airborne to execute Forward Roll Drop Slash, which deals good damage and spins your character down to the ground.
Use Triangle attacks if you want to cover more distance on the ground or if you want to exit your aerial combo midair.
Cross (X) Button – Evasive Leap
Your jump button actually changes when using the claw blade. Immediately after executing an attack, you can press the Cross/X button to execute Evasive Leap, an upwards leap in the direction you choose (forward by default). This launches you in the air and can potentially help you dodge certain kemono attacks. You can also use this to enter an aerial combo from the ground.
Note that you can only execute Evasive Leap once if you’re already in midair, or twice if you used the first one while on the ground.
R2 – Claw Plunge
Pressing R2 will execute an attack that latches your claw onto the enemy kemono. If the attack lands, you’ll then leap back a considerable distance and a circular timer will appear on the kemono. This is your plunge timer, and it indicates how much time you have left before you unlatch from the kemono. Moving decreases the timer faster, so you’ll need to plan your moves wisely.
Note that you can also press R2 while in the air if you want to latch onto the kemono mid-combo.
Wingblade Moves
When latched onto an enemy kemono, you’ll gain access to special Wingblade moves. These moves let you dive in and out of a kemono’s inner space and deal lots of damage.
There are two special Wingblade moves that let you move around and onto the kemono. The first is Wingblade Orbit, which swings you around the kemono in the direction you’re moving in.
Wingblade Power Lunge, on the other hand, lets you dash directly onto the kemono.
While mid-lunge, you can press either Square or Triangle to execute one of two special Wingblade attacks. Pressing Square executes Wingblade Spin Slash, a spinning attack followed by a backwards swipe.
Pressing Triangle executes Wingblade Crescent Slash, which spins your character around in an upwards spiral.
You’ll also notice that your character gains an orange glow as you execute these Wingblade attacks. This is because using Wingblade attacks actually charges up your Wingblade Crescent Slash. You’ll fully build up the charge once you notice a reddened glow around your character or when you hear the associated sound effect. Executing Wingblade Crescent Slash during this charged state will add a heavy-hitting finisher to the attack, after which you will unlatch from the kemono.
Even if you manage to fully charge your Wingblade Crescent Slash early, it may be worth saving the attack until your timer’s about to expire so you make the most out of your latched state.
Karakuri Moves
The claw blade gains access to useful karakuri moves that you can use to latch onto kemono or deal damage. While the torch simply imbues your blade with fire, the other three base karakuri have their own uses:
The crate-based attack latches onto a kemono if it connects.
The spring-based attack executes a flurry of hits.
The glider-based attack lets you latch onto a kemono from a distance and while in the air.
It’s worth noting that the spring-based attack doesn’t actually build your weapon gauge, so it’s not very useful other than for entering a fight.
In Action
One of the claw blade’s quirks is that fights can be a little bit difficult to follow if you’re fighting in a closed space (such as the location you see in the footage below). In these situations, you’ll have to rely on your muscle memory, in-game sound effects, and your character’s outline as you move around.
You’ll want to time your Wingblade attacks carefully, as you can get interrupted by kemono while you’re executing them. Remember, just because you’re airborne doesn’t mean you’re immune to kemono attacks. Wait them out and go in when the opportunity presents itself.
The claw blade’s unique playstyle makes it one of the most alluring weapons in Wild Hearts, and while it can be a bit of a struggle to use in certain situations, it’s certainly one that you won’t regret picking up.
Check out our other Wild Hearts guides here.