Elsword’s Way of the Sword System
 

Energy radiates from the sword in Elsword’s hands. Its nature is fickle—vitalizing the bearer one minute, and boosting destructive power the next.
The Way of the Sword allows Elsword to take full control once more and defeat all evil that crosses his path.

When playing Elsword, there will be an additional bar below the mana gauge called Way of the Sword. This bar has 10 segments that, by default, contain 5 red Destruction slots and 5 blue Vitality slots, and depending on your actions, the bar will lean towards one color or ‘aura’ (from right to left for Destruction, from left to right for Vitality), replacing the other aura’s slots. As long as an aura has at least one slot in the bar filled, you will receive special benefits depending on which aura you currently have active. The “Aura of Destruction” is selected by default, and you can switch between it and the “Aura of Vitality” by using the V key.

Depending on the type of skill you use, the bar will fill towards the right with blue Vitality slots or towards the left with red Destruction slots:

• Flexibility/Tenacity skill: 1 slot
• Strength skill: 2 slots
• Bravery skill: 3 slots

Note that skills fill the slots contrary to their mode: vitality-based skills fill the bars with destruction slots; destruction-based skills fill the bar with vitality slots.
If the bar is filled completely by either aura’s slots, the aura for the other mode will deactivate and you will enter a neutral stance with no benefits when it is toggled on, until at least 1 slot is re-gained for that mode. As such, the bar acts as a balancing mechanic so over-using one mode’s skills can prevent that mode’s aura from being active.

Aura of Vitality		Aura of Destruction
When Aura of Vitality is toggled on, you will be surrounded by a blue aura. While in this mode you will receive the following benefits: Increased attack, movement, and jump speed. Vitality-based skills cost 30% less mana (10% in PvP). Hits from vitality-based commands and skills will have mana regeneration per hit increased to 200% (120% in PvP).		When Aura of Destruction is toggled on, you will be surrounded by a crimson aura. While in this form, you will receive the following benefits: Destruction-based actives and skills will do 50% more damage. Destruction-based commands will do 100% more damage. (This stacks with any other damage modifiers)

State	Class	Command
Wait / Walk	Base	Vitality	Vitality	Vitality	Vitality
	Base				Vitality
	Lord Knight				Destruction
	Base	Destruction	Destruction	Destruction
	Lord Knight			Destruction	Destruction
	Base			Vitality
	Rune Slayer		Destruction	Destruction

State	Class	Command
Dash	Base	Vitality	Vitality
	Sword Knight		Vitality	Destruction
	Magic Knight			Destruction
	Magic Knight		Vitality	Vitality
	Magic Knight			Destruction
	Base	Destruction

State	Class	Command
Jump	Base	Vitality

State	Class	Command
Dash Jump	Base	Destruction
	Base	Vitality	Vitality	Vitality
	Base	Destruction	Destruction
	Sword Knight		Destruction	Vitality
	Magic Knight		Destruction
	Rune Slayer		Destruction	Vitality

Skills will contain vitality or destructive properties which will contribute to your play style.