Gameplay
How to Play The Duskbloods
The Duskbloods is an action RPG built around 8-player PvPvE multiplayer matches. Here's how combat, characters, and match flow come together.
PvPvE matches for up to 8 players
Each match brings together up to eight Bloodsworn. PvPvE means player-versus-player-versus-environment: you compete against other players while also facing powerful enemies, so every fight is a three-way contest of rivalry, opportunism, and survival.
The Bloodsworn and their blood powers
Players take on the role of the Bloodsworn — humans who have gained superhuman abilities through special blood. These blood powers let fighters transcend ordinary human limits, defining how each character plays and how they pursue the First Blood at the heart of the conflict.
A dozen-plus playable characters
More than a dozen Bloodsworn are available, each with distinctive weapons, abilities, and appearance, plus room to customize your build. Every character carries a blood history that influences their path and destiny across a match.
The First Blood and the Twilight of Humanity
The setting is the Twilight of Humanity — the end stage of civilization. Within it flows the First Blood, a mysterious force the Bloodsworn compete to obtain. This pursuit is the engine that drives every match and the game's overarching conflict.
Solo play and cooperation
While multiplayer is the core, The Duskbloods also includes a single-player mode. Cooperative elements have been discussed for the full release, so both solo and group play are part of the experience.
FromSoftware's craft, a new direction
Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki and built by a dedicated team, The Duskbloods channels FromSoftware's dark-fantasy design language into a fresh multiplayer format — without interfering with the studio's single-player lineup, which continues in parallel.
Roles & Builds
Bloodsworn Roles & Builds
Each Bloodsworn offers distinct weapons and abilities, and your blood history shapes their path. Experiment with different characters and loadouts to find the fighter that fits your style.
Weapons
Every Bloodsworn wields signature weapons that define their range, pace, and approach to combat.
Abilities
Blood powers grant moves and skills that go beyond human limits, opening offensive and defensive options.
Blood History
A customizable narrative element that influences your character's path and destiny through the match.
MATCH STRUCTURE
Dusk Battle Match Flow
Eight Bloodsworn are summoned to the human dusk to compete for the First Blood. Battles are divided into 4 phases, with the Grail progressively culling until the final 3 survivors compete for the Blood Bestowal.
Phase I: Exploration and Conquest
Eight Bloodsworn enter the Lands of Dusk and begin accumulating Virtue.
- Defeat enemies, light lantern corpses for Flame Virtue, explore for items
- Regional features appear — Bloodbag Elders, Alchemy Furnaces, Kin Small Circles
- Earn Repulsion Virtue by defeating great foes or trespassers
- Collect items to increase Collector Commendation
Phase II: Ritual Sites and Culling
The Grail begins its culling. Bloodsworn with insufficient Virtue are eliminated. Ritual sites open.
- Two Virtue types at ritual sites: Sword Virtue (defeat Bloodsworn) and Pledge Virtue (swear to pillars)
- Claim Redstones (boost Sword Virtue) or Goldstones (boost Pledge Virtue) from rock plinths
- Leaving a ritual site after entering penalizes you with HP loss
- Random events trigger: zeppelin support fire, magnetic storms
Phase III: Events and Intensifying Battle
Culling continues. Regional features change. The battlefield grows more dangerous.
- Regional features change, offering new enhancement opportunities
- Ritual sites reopen with even fiercer competition
- Random events continue to affect the battlefield
- Accumulate Blood Powers and grow your kin to prepare for the final phase
Final Phase: Moon's Blood Bestowal
Only the three Bloodsworn with the highest Virtue remain. They fight for the ultimate victory.
- The Grail grants two lives — you can revive once
- Bonus HP based on accumulated Virtue from previous phases
- Alliances dissolve — former allies become opponents
- Use your Bloodsworn, kin powers, and items to claim victory
Only the tear of the moon falls for one. Use the Bloodsworn, kin powers, and items you've honed in earlier phases to become the last victor.
Virtue System Explained
Virtue is needed to survive Dusk Battles. Only the Bloodsworn with the highest Virtue in the second and third phases survive the culling. Virtue can be obtained not just through battle, but also through exploration and strategy.
Repulsion Virtue
Within the Lands of Dusk, there are great foes. These are stronger even than other enemies. Then there are even greater outside threats called trespassers.
Flame Virtue
Flame Virtue can be obtained by lighting flames within the skulls of corpses sitting on chairs scattered around the Lands of Dusk. There are lantern corpses that are a degree larger.
Sword Virtue
You can get Sword Virtue by defeating other Bloodsworn at ritual sites. This Virtue is not earned outside of ritual sites.
Pledge Virtue
Blood pledge pillars can be found within each ritual site. Swear to them to earn Pledge Virtue. This Virtue is lost if the pledge is overwritten by another Bloodsworn.
Commendation Virtue
There are two types of Commendations, and the players with the highest and second-highest values for each of these can earn Virtue at the end of each phase.
Ritual Sites
Red & Gold Stones Guide
Claim Redstones and Goldstones from rock plinths at ritual sites. Only one type at a time — Redstones boost Sword Virtue, Goldstones boost Pledge Virtue. Choose based on your play style.
Redstone
While holding a Redstone, earn more Sword Virtue at ritual sites. Suited for aggressive players.
Goldstone
While holding a Goldstone, earn more Pledge Virtue. Suited for players who prefer to avoid combat.
Enhancing Bloodsworn — Upgrade Guide
Leveling Up Bloodsworn
You can earn experience and level up by defeating enemies and other players, increasing HP and attack power.
Compacts with Kin
Those who have entered an agreement with the Order of Dusk are known as kin.
Powers of Blood
Acquired by defeating great foes or trespassers — choose one of two options each time. Up to 5 Powers of Blood can be manifested at once; swap them from the menu.
Regional Features
Regional features change each phase: Bloodbag Elders (Bloodsworn Skill enhancement), Alchemy Furnaces (weapon enhancement), Kin Small Circles (kin EXP), and exploration items such as the Fire Flask and Memorial Stake.
Expedition
Taking on Great Foes
Powers of Blood
Defeat great foes or trespassers to acquire Powers of Blood, granting various abilities. Select one from multiple options. Up to 5 can be manifested at once, adjustable via menu.
Co-op Battles
When battling a trespasser, nearby Bloodsworn are invited to join forces. Fight together with those who accept.
Exploring Regions
Each region of the Lands of Dusk has different features per phase. Check the map for features that suit your play style.
Bloodbag Elder
Bloodbag Elders appear. Defeat them to earn Blood Crystals for enhancing Bloodsworn arts.
Alchemy Furnace
Alchemy Furnaces appear, granting elemental attributes to weapons. Matching attributes upgrades the weapon.
Kin Small Circle
Kin Small Circles appear, strengthening your compact and granting large EXP to contracted kin.
Exploration Items
Obtain items through exploration or defeating enemies. Molotov cocktails burn fiercely, Life Gravestones let you revive at their location.
Combat
Combat Mechanics Guide
Staggering
Attacking an enemy fills the stagger gauge. Max out the gauge to stagger enemies and create a significant opportunity.
Drinking Blood
Suck the blood of staggered enemies, inflicting large damage while recovering HP. Weaker foes will be spellbound and follow you.
Howling
All Bloodsworn can howl, producing a gust of wind. Howl in time with an enemy's attack to interrupt it and greatly increase their stagger gauge. Can deflect some ranged attacks.
Guard
Generate a shield to block frontward attacks. Works in the air. Repeated attacks will break the shield. Broken shields auto-repair. Press R after guarding for a Guard Counter.
Golden Blood Stake
Restores HP. Replenish uses by defeating enemies or finding Golden Blood in the world.
Battlefield Changes
Events
In Phase II and Phase III, there may be events that change the Lands of Dusk.
Events
In Phase II and Phase III, there may be events that change the Lands of Dusk. There may be unexpected developments, such as a zeppelin appearing in the sky from which you can request supporting fire, or a powerful storm that forcefully transports players to other locations.
Magnetic Storm
A powerful magnetic storm appears, forcefully transporting players to other locations.
Social
Alliances & Sigils
Alliances
You can form alliances with rival Bloodsworn. Petition other Bloodsworn you encounter for an alliance.
Sigils
Sigils establish relationships with other Bloodsworn. When a Sigil is etched, a unique objective appears, and completing it earns you Virtue. The network test version includes four Sigils: Sigil of a Sworn Enemy; Sigil of an Old Friend; Sigil of the Eye of Muralis; Sigil of Love Ephemeral. In the release version, they are planned to become freely changeable.
Base
House of Night
The base of the Bloodsworn. You can choose which Bloodsworn to use or learn basic controls and rules.
Battle Remembrance
You can experience parts of Dusk Battles and learn the rules. Once you visit the House of Night, it's recommended that you first try experiencing the battle from this menu.
Archive
Information recorded here can be reviewed at any time, including tutorials, Bloodsworn weapons, the kin you've entered a compact with, items, Powers of Blood, and events.
Courtyard
In the House of Night's courtyard, you can practice controls on the Graveyard Scarecrow or try out Bloodsworn actions. You can also change various settings from the menu.
Game Rules
In the Dusk Battle menu, you can configure matchmaking. Standard (default), No Alliances, or Bloodbound Alliances. In Bloodbound, all Bloodsworn battle in pairs — the alliance persists into the final phase.
Tips
Beginner Tips & Tricks
Lock-on Target Priority
In game options, set whether to prioritize enemies attacking you when switching lock-on targets. Default is OFF.
Info Screen
Press [+] during Dusk Battles to view the map, your position, other Bloodsworn traces, and regional features.
Warp
Select warp points on the map to travel far distances. Cannot be used: at phase start, shortly after warping/reviving, or during combat.
Trespasser Location
Trespassers are shown on the map with special markers. Even stronger trespassers also exist.
Gestures
Hold [+] to open the gesture menu. Some gesture actions are key to completing certain Sigil objectives.
Function Menu
Hold [Y] to open the function menu. Includes: Alliance Requests, Placing Markers, Observation Mode, Summoning Kin.
FAQ
Gameplay FAQ
How many players are in a Duskbloods match?
Each Dusk Battle match supports up to 8 players competing in PvPvE combat. Players fight against each other and against AI-controlled enemies simultaneously.
What is PvPvE in The Duskbloods?
PvPvE means Player versus Player versus Environment. In The Duskbloods, you compete against other Bloodsworn while also fighting powerful AI enemies, bosses, and environmental hazards across the map.
What are the Bloodsworn roles?
The Bloodsworn are playable characters with unique weapons and abilities. Each role offers a different playstyle — melee-focused fighters, ranged attackers, and support-oriented builds. Your Blood History further customizes your character's path.
How does the Virtue system work?
Virtue is a progression mechanic that enhances your Bloodsworn during a match. Different Virtue types provide passive bonuses and unlock new abilities as you progress through the Dusk Battle.
What are Red Stones and Gold Stones?
Red Stones and Gold Stones are collectible items found at Ritual Sites on the map. They provide powerful buffs and upgrades to your Bloodsworn during a match.
How do I join The Duskbloods network test?
Register through the Nintendo eShop on your Switch 2. The closed network test runs in 2026. Check our Network Test page for exact dates and registration details.