Hey everyone, just spent ages mastering the Destined One's combat, and let me tell you, figuring out the stances is like learning three different martial arts for one body! The game gives you three core stances—Smash, Pillar, and Thrust—each with its own vibe and playstyle. It's not just about swinging the staff; it's about becoming a rhythm god, switching flows mid-fight like a DJ mixing tracks. 🎵

Your Core Combat Toolkit: Focus & Varied Combos

First things first, you gotta understand the two key mechanics that make everything tick: Focus and Varied Combos. Focus is your special juice. You build it by hitting enemies or by holding down your Heavy Attack to charge it up. Think of it as building up static electricity before a big shock! ⚡

• Starting Max Focus: 1 point.

• Get More Focus: Unlock extra points by investing 3, 10, and 20 Sparks into any stance.

• Spending Focus: Boosts your Heavy Attack damage and adds cool effects.

Varied Combos are the secret sauce. They're not just button mashing! You start a combo with Light Attacks, then interrupt it with a Heavy Attack. This triggers a special move unique to your current stance. It's like interrupting your own sentence to drop a punchline—timing is everything! 😉 Each stance has its own set of these combos, and investing more points unlocks longer, more complex sequences.

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🦍 Smash Stance: The Aggressive Brawler (Unlocked from Start)

This is your default, go-get-'em style. Smash Stance is all about mobility and pressure. You're like a hyperactive hornet, constantly buzzing around your enemy. The best part? You can charge your Heavy Attack while moving, and later, even while sprinting or after a Perfect Dodge! This is huge for staying on the offensive.

Why I Love It:

• Mobility King: Close the gap and stick to enemies like glue.

• Damage Reduction on Heavy Attacks: Crucial for trading blows up close.

• Perfect for: Clearing regular mobs and aggressive, in-your-face play.

The Downside: Range. If a boss loves flying around or has a weird hitbox, you might feel like you're trying to swat a mosquito with a teaspoon. 🙃

Key Varied Combo - Resolute Strike:

1. Start your Light Attack combo.

2. Interrupt with a Heavy Attack just as an enemy is about to hit you.

3. If timed right, you "See Through" their attack, taking NO damage! It's a parry that feels as satisfying as catching a falling glass without spilling a drop.

4. After Resolute Strike, you can spend a Focus point for a follow-up Skyfall Strike for massive damage.

Playstyle Tip: BE AGGRESSIVE. Use your Varied Combos to push through enemy attacks. If they back off, start charging that Heavy Attack as you sprint back in!

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🏔️ Pillar Stance: The Defensive Fortress (Unlocks at Level 5)

Time to change gears! Pillar Stance is your defensive anchor. When you charge your Heavy Attack, you hop onto the top of your staff, rising higher with each charge stage. It's like your staff becomes a temporary watchtower. Most ground-based, sweeping attacks will whiff right under you!

Why I Love It:

• Cheese Horizontal Attacks: Bosses with big, wide swings become a joke.

• Stamina-based Defense: Attacks drain stamina instead of health while you're perched.

• Great for: Bosses that love to spam sweeping combos.

The Downside: Ranged, vertical, or aerial attacks can still clip you. It turns some fights into a tense standoff, like two statues waiting for the other to blink first.

Key Varied Combo - Sweeping Gale:

1. During a Light Attack combo, use a Heavy Attack (consuming 1 Focus).

2. You'll hop onto your staff and spin around it, damaging all nearby enemies—a rare AoE option!

3. This move doesn't make you invincible, but you get good Damage Reduction.

4. Use another Heavy Attack during the spin to trigger Churning Gale, spending more Focus for even more damage.

Playstyle Tip: This stance shines against specific bosses. Don't force it against flyers or spellcasters. The higher your Focus, the longer and safer your perch.

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🗡️ Thrust Stance: The Precise Duelist (Unlocks at Level 20)

Unlocked later, Thrust Stance is for the tacticians. It offers insane reach, letting you poke enemies from a safe distance. It's like trading your hornet's stinger for a skilled fencer's foil. This is your answer to those annoying, hyper-mobile bosses.

Why I Love It:

• Massive Range: Hit bosses from where they can't hit you.

• Safely Charge Attacks: Build Focus from a distance or inside buff areas (like a Ring of Fire).

• Burst Damage King: At 4 Focus, dodge and then use a Heavy Attack for a devastating instant charged strike!

Key Varied Combo - Tactical Retreat:

This is your bread and butter. It's a get-out-of-jail-free card that also starts your offense.

1. During Light Attacks, use a Heavy Attack.

2. You'll perform a graceful backstep, avoiding damage if timed against a boss attack.

3. Now, choose your follow-up:

   • Light Attack ➔ Whirling Thrusts: A rapid flurry of stabs. Good for applying pressure.

   • Heavy Attack ➔ Forceful Thrust: A powerful lunge attack. Perfect for punishing a boss's recovery.

Playstyle Tip: Use the range to control the fight. Thrust Stance rewards patience and precision. Let the boss come to you, then punish with your long reach.

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🌟 The Secret Stance: Sun Wukong's True Power

Okay, here's the legendary secret! Remember playing as the true Sun Wukong in the intro? That powerhouse stance is obtainable! It plays like a super-charged Smash Stance with even more range and aggression. Unlocking it is a journey worthy of the Monkey King himself.

How to Unlock:

1. Collect the Heaven's Equal Armor Set (5 pieces):

   • Defeat these bosses: Gold Armored Rhino, Emerald-Armed Mantis, Feng-Tail General, Cloudtreading Deer.

   • Get the final piece, Wukong's Jingubang, in the Water Curtain Cave (Chapter 6).

2. Wear the full set. Initially, you can only use the stance in Chapter 6.

3. To use it everywhere: You need to complete the secret ending 3 times, collect all 18 perk points, and enter a New Game+ cycle. Then, as long as you wear Heaven's Equal, it's yours!

How it Works: Perform a fully charged Heavy Attack, and you'll transform into this epic stance for about a minute. It's absurdly powerful, rewarding hyper-aggression and making you feel unstoppable.

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Final Thoughts & Pro Tips

Mastering the Destined One isn't about sticking to one style. It's about fluidity. Here's my quick guide:

Stance	Best For	Playstyle Vibe
🦍 Smash	Mobs, Aggressive Melee	The Brawler
🏔️ Pillar	Bosses with Sweeps	The Immovable Object
🗡️ Thrust	Mobile/Ranged Bosses	The Calculating Duelist

Remember These Core Principles:

• Invest Sparks Generically Too! The first generic talent heals you when you spend Focus—a must-have! 🍃

• Switch Stances Mid-Fight. Don't be a one-trick pony. Adapt to your enemy like water taking the shape of its container.

• Practice Varied Combos. They are your primary tool for defense (See Through), repositioning (Tactical Retreat), and dealing massive damage.

It's 2026, and this game's combat still feels fresh because of this deep stance system. It turns every fight into a dynamic puzzle. Now go out there, find your rhythm, and show those demons who's the true Destined One! ✨