TL;DR
- Blade excels as a versatile duelist with both melee and ranged capabilities through his weapon-switching system
- Master weapon-dependent Daywalker Dash variations for offensive pressure and healing denial
- Time Bloodline Awakening against isolated Strategists to negate their self-healing advantage
- Coordinate with Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight for enhanced team fight potential
- Avoid direct engagements with tanky Vanguards and long-range specialists who can zone you out
The highly anticipated arrival of Blade in Marvel Rivals Season 3.5 brings a dynamic new combatant to the arena. This iconic Daywalker’s introduction was carefully foreshadowed through multiple seasons, with lore references and physical appearances on specific maps. Players may recall spotting him in deep slumber at the Imperial Institute of Science on Birnin T’Challa, a detail that hinted at his eventual awakening.
Following the June update, observant players noticed Blade’s mysterious disappearance from the spawn room, signaling his readiness for combat. Now fully integrated into the roster, he brings a lethal combination of vampiric powers and weapon mastery that demands strategic execution. This comprehensive guide breaks down his complete kit and provides actionable strategies to maximize his potential.
Blade operates as an aggressive duelist specializing in burst damage elimination. His unique arsenal features two distinct weapons—the Dracula Sword for close-quarters decimation and the Hunting Gun for ranged pressure. With a robust 350 hitpoints health pool, he possesses the durability to survive extended engagements while maintaining offensive pressure.
His combat toolkit seamlessly blends traditional sword techniques with explosive projectile attacks, creating exceptional versatility across engagement ranges. Blade can channel his dhampir heritage to activate life-stealing capabilities and heightened sensory perception. His Ultimate unleashes a powerful AoE attack that combines forward momentum with devastating area denial behind him.
The character’s team synergy shines through his collaboration with Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight. Their combined ability provides sustained healing and temporary invisibility for the trio. When this team-up activates, Blade gains access to Swift Strike for targeted elimination of priority threats.
| Ability Name | Ability Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ancestral Sword | Primary Fire (Sword) | Wield Dracula’s legendary blade to execute precise slashing attacks against enemies within melee range, dealing significant damage per strike. |
| Hunter’s Shotgun | Primary Fire / Alt Weapon (Gun) | Discharge a specialized hunting shotgun that fires explosive fragmentation rounds, scattering shrapnel upon detonation for effective ranged pressure. |
| Scarlet Shroud | Adopt a defensive sword stance using Dracula’s Sword that significantly reduces incoming damage from frontal attacks. | |
| Daywalker Dash | Execute a rapid dash maneuver. When using the shotgun, impact applies 40% healing reduction to enemies. With sword equipped, perform a spinning attack that damages multiple targets and reduces their movement speed. | |
| Bloodline Awakening | Awaken your Dhampir bloodline to dramatically increase slash speed during sustained attacks and activate Whirlwind Slash. This state applies Reduced Healing to yourself but grants Lifesteal on all offensive actions. | |
| Thousand-Fold Slash | Q (Ultimate) | After a brief charging period, rapidly unsheathe your sword and surge forward, delivering a powerful Chop attack while leaving Dracula’s Sword to continuously assault the area behind you. Affected enemies suffer from Reduced Healing debuff. |
| New Moon | Team-Up Ability with Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight | Cloak & Dagger infuse Moon Knight and Blade with light and dark energy, creating a Light & Dark Realm that provides invisibility and Healing Over Time. Blade can execute Swift Strike against designated targets during this effect. |
Blade’s design as a DPS duelist focuses on winning 1v1 engagements, making him ideal for players who prefer aggressive, high-impact gameplay. His kit stands out as one of the most versatile in the duelist category, featuring both melee dominance and ranged harassment capabilities. The strategic weapon-switching system adds dimensional flexibility that surpasses more linear duelists like Wolverine or Star-Lord.
Understanding situational weapon selection forms the foundation of effective Blade gameplay. When engaged in close-quarters combat, the Ancestral Sword delivers superior damage output. Combine these slashing attacks with Bloodline Awakening to activate lifesteal, fundamentally shifting duel dynamics in your favor. Against distant threats or aerial specialists like Human Torch, utilize the Hunting Gun to systematically dismantle their health from safer distances.
The most impactful application of Bloodline Awakening emerges when confronting isolated Strategists. When you successfully corner these support-oriented characters either alone or in clusters, activating this ability neutralizes their self-healing advantages while boosting your attack velocity. These combined effects typically guarantee duel victory against most Strategist matchups.
Daywalker Dash represents another critical tactical component beyond basic mobility. This ability’s functionality transforms based on your currently equipped weapon. Triggering the dash with Hunting Gun active propels Blade forward, knocking back enemies on contact while applying substantial 40% healing reduction. Conversely, dashing with the sword equipped executes a ground-covering spinning attack capable of damaging multiple opponents simultaneously.
Maximizing dash effectiveness requires prioritizing offensive application over defensive repositioning. During standard gameplay, identify isolated targets or poorly positioned support characters, then engage with the dash to apply healing reduction. Immediately follow with lifesteal activation and aggressive sword combos. This sequence reliably eliminates most opponents and can become your primary engagement pattern.
| Character | Counter |
|---|---|
| The Punisher | Punisher’s exceptional ranged capabilities effectively deny Blade closing opportunities. Even if the daywalker manages to bridge the distance, Punisher’s close-range firepower can overwhelm Blade in melee exchanges. |
| Hawkeye | The marksman’s long-range burst damage combined with stun traps can catch Blade unexpectedly and eliminate his approach options. |
| Peni Parker | This frontline Vanguard possesses sufficient health pool to consistently obstruct Blade’s advances, complemented by self-healing that ensures survival in direct duels. |
| Groot | Similar to Peni Parker, Groot can effectively block Blade’s access to backline targets and suppress any offensive initiatives from the daywalker. |
When facing these challenging matchups, strategic adaptation becomes crucial. Against ranged specialists like Punisher and Hawkeye, utilize environmental cover and Hunting Gun pressure to create engagement opportunities. When confronting tanky Vanguards, coordinate with teammates to create 2v1 situations or use your mobility to bypass them entirely.
Action Checklist
- Practice weapon switching between Dracula Sword and Hunting Gun during combat scenarios
- Master Daywalker Dash variations based on equipped weapon for optimal engagement
- Time Bloodline Awakening against isolated Strategist targets to maximize effectiveness
- Coordinate team-up abilities with Cloak & Dagger and Moon Knight players
No reproduction without permission：Tsp Game Club » How to Play Blade in Marvel Rivals: Abilities, Counters, and More Master Blade's dual-weapon combat system and advanced tactics for dominating Marvel Rivals matches