Recommended Combos

Dual Blades—A Large Hit-Count Combo Usable from the Start

Step 1: or + , Step 2: Demon Fang, Step 3: Time Disintegration, Step 4: Falling Thunder, Step 5: Back-Step

After a or + attack, chain into Demon Fang (which deals additional hits at close range) and knock your foe down with Time Disintegration. Then pound the fallen foe with Falling Thunder for big damage, as that arte is a guaranteed critical hit against knocked-down foes. Once the attack lands, back-step away so you’ll have time to replenish your AC before your next combo.

Sledgehammer—Exploit Knockdowns to Deal Big Damage

Step 1: or + , Step 2: + , Step 3: Hungry Hunter, Step 4: Crushing Blow, Step 5: Hungry Hunter

Chain normal attacks into the Hungry Hunter arte to knock your foe down. Afterwards, use Crushing Blow (which scores critical hits against a fallen foe) to prop your target back up, just in time for another knockdown smash from Hungry Hunter. If you still have AC to spare, prop him up again with Crushing Blow to keep the combo going for an even greater damage total.

Dual Pistols—Deal Damage as You Back Away from Your Foe

Step 1: + , Step 2: Bubble Blast, Step 3: + , Step 4: Back-Step, Step 5: Crossfire

When wielding the dual pistols, it can be hard to get away from an incoming foe without taking a bunch of hits, but this combo will allow you to dish out damage as you safely back away. Launch your foe with a normal attack, then follow up with the Bubble Blast arte. Use a and attack to knock the foe down when it lands, then back-step away and unleash the Crossfire arte. You have access to all of these artes from the start, so you can use this combo from the beginning of the game.

Dual Pistols—A High-Power, Mid-Range Combo

Step 1: Scatter Bolt, Step 2: Blaze Bloom, Step 3: Migrating Sparrows, Step 4: Quick-Step x2, Step 5: Requiem

This is useful a combo for when you find yourself roughly one quick-step away from your target. The combo opens with Scatter Bolt, chains into a pair of long-range artes, and uses Requiem as a high-damage capper. Note that if you haven’t learned Requiem yet, you can instead take just a single quick-step after Migrating Sparrows and end with the Crossfire arte instead.

Chromatus—A Chromatus Combo with a Mystic Arte Finish

Step 1: Dark Projection, Step 2: (Mid-Air) + , Step 3: (Mid-Air) + , Step 4: Dual Waltz, Step 5: Grand Cleaver

Begin by using the Dark Projection arte to move above your target’s head. From there, immediately launch + and + attacks from mid-air. If you land before your target, rapidly press until you execute a Dual Waltz, and then unleash Grand Cleaver against your fallen foe. If your Chromatus Gauge is running low, finish off the target with your mystic arte immediately after Grand Cleaver.

Various—A Recommended Combo That Uses Every Weapon

Step 1: Time Disintegration, Step 2: Crushing Blow, Step 3: Blaze Bloom, Step 4: Migrating Sparrows, Step 5: Falling Thunder

This combo uses + to switch weapons between attacks. Start with dual blades, and execute Time Disintegration to knock your foe down. Switch to sledgehammer and use a Crushing Blow to prop the foe back up, then switch to dual pistols for a Blaze Bloom chained into Migrating Sparrows, which will knock your foe down once again. Switch back to dual blades for a critical-hit finisher with Falling Thunder.

Various—A Dual Pistols Combo with a Sledgehammer Finish

Step 1: Scatter Bolt, Step 2: Swift Strike, Step 3: + , Step 4: + , Step 5: Crushing Blow

When an enemy approaches while you’re wielding dual pistols, this combo will allow you to dish out damage as you switch to your sledgehammer. Use Scatter Bolt to attack while putting some distance between Ludger and his foe, then switch to dual blades for a Swift Strike. When the second + attack from your dual blades knocks your foe down, switch to the sledgehammer and unleash a Crushing Blow. (But if your goal is merely to get away from your foe, you can just keep using Scatter Bolts instead.)