Scuba Guides source note. This lesson is based on the older Scuba Guides and the supplied source archive. It is an independent community clarity rewrite, not an official GunZ publication; mechanics are not verified for the current Steam/remaster client.
Lesson content
While mechanically mostly the same, the style you’ll implement with kodachis requires a fairly different mindset to pull off compared to a sword. Here’s a quick dirt list.
Main Differences
The most obvious difference between a Sword and a Kodachi is quite simply the slash timing. That said, the timings are actually a LOT tighter with a kodachi compared to a sword. A kodachi requires you to time things vastly different than you would with a sword. They actually excel more in the counter play department compared to a sword, while focusing on changing up your slash tempo above all else. A very big part of the absolute best kodachi play is learning how to Void Slash effectively.
Pros and Cons
Pros
Faster - The obvious thing.
Tempo Variance - It’s very easy to go from slow to hyper fast.
Movement Speed Variance.
Faster and more varied ground attack speed variances.
Faster Sword Launches.
Harder to visually see massive direction.
More lenient on sneaking in slashes utilizing Double Ground Slash.
Able to Void Slash and Void Butterfly effectively.
Cons
Easy to land 2 slashes on a single block.
Shorter step in range (Hence why most people think shorter range).
Unable to Slash or Jump evade.
Heavier Weight.
Completely different ground timings compared to a sword.
Hard to master both Sword and Kodachi. Pick one or get crippled.
Easy to lock yourself into the vulnerable Slash > Block animation slide glitch.
Air Combat
To be completely blunt, there’s ZERO difference between swords and kodachis while in the air. Everything acts exactly the same for all aerial moves (Bfly, Dbfly, LS, etc)
Double Slash
The double slash of the kodachi is really a double edged blade. One one hand, you have greater leniency when trying to sneak in counter slashes or aiming at specific animation breaks. On the other, the timing of the 2 slashes is so close together that you can easily land both slashes on a single block. If you do it right, you just got 2 slashes for one. If you do it wrong, you just hit a single block and wasted your time. Another fact is that you step in half as far on the ground compared to using a sword, meaning your attack range is a touch shorter while on the ground.
Void Slash
This is the Kodachis Bread and Butter if you plan on getting serious with it. You need to learn how to execute void slashes and mix them in constantly if you want to really master the kodachi. A void slash gives you full control over your slash tempo. You want to learn how to mix in fast void slashes, slow void slashes, ground slashes, and double ground slashes, and juggle them all over the place to really throw your opponent off.
Void Slash Butterfly
An extension of the above. By doing a Void Slash, and immediately butterflying as soon as you reset your animation with the massive charge, you can basically get the effect of a full speed Void slash leading you directly into a double butterfly.
Key Combo : Slash (hold) > Jump + Slash > Block > Air Movement.
Void Dash Evading
By using Void Slash, then immediately dashing, you’re actually able to chain together a stream of iFrames and change up your tempo and position however you want. The reason this works is because as soon as you begin charging a massive, the moment you release the trigger the game thinks you’re actually in a neutral standing state. This means you can keep a combo going of nothing but ground slashes for however long you please and there’s practically nothing the opponent can do to you if he has a massive charge. Mind, this is a very high level tactic to utilize. That said, this REQUIRES you to full void slash and release your fire button to execute. If you dash too early, you’ll be sword launching, not straight dashing.
Key combo : Void Slash > Release LMB as soon as you start charging massive > Dash