Forget basic tutorials. This Half Sword guide unloads item progression mechanics, hidden strength systems, Abyss survival tips, crossbow mastery, and elite strategies the devs won’t tell you. Whether you’re grinding ranks, dodging death, or hiring mercs for tournaments, I’ve got you covered.
Quick Navigation:
- Fun Fact: Kicking Willies in the Balls
- Mastering Item Looting & Insurance
- How to Get & Use the Crossbow
- Armor Compatibility & Customization
- Hidden Strength Score Explained
- Death, the Abyss, & Zombie Management
- Secret Legendary Weapon: Counselor Staff
- Hire Mercs from the Fencer
- Crush Tournaments Easily
- Final Lord Tips
Ready to level up? Let’s dive in.
Fun Fact: Kicking Willies in the Balls
The Willies got an upgrade—they have balls now. Kick ’em right in the groin for hilarious reactions. “AH, MY GROIN! “It’s peak comedy in early fights, but don’t rely on it forever. Pro tip: Use it to stagger unarmored foes.
Mastering Item Looting & Insurance
Shops are for noobs. Lords take what they want. After battles, yoink weapons off the ground—they carry over to your loadout screen intact.
Step-by-Step Looting Weapons:
- Defeat the enemy.
- Pick up their weapon.
- Exit to menus—it’s yours!
- Unequip to inventory.
- Sell or insure at the shop.
Looting Armor & Gear:
- Grab the defeated body.
- Hold the grab button to “fish” for items (pants, shoes, everything).
- Hold again to equip armor like belting a weapon.
- Check the loadout screen post-fight.
Insurance is Key:
- Insured items return to inventory if dropped or lost on death.
- Uninsured? Gone forever.
- Ensure everything is cool—drop freely for more loot.
This is Half Sword item progression at its finest: Loot > Insure > Repeat.
How to Get & Use the Crossbow
Early-game sniper: In the forest level near the cart, spot the crossbow in a box. It’s unloaded—R for reload menu.
Loading Steps:
- Drag the string to the doohickey.
- Drag bolt from quiver.
- Boom—loaded!
Pro Tips:
- End round holding it to keep (insure after).
- V for first-person—deadly accurate on unarmored Willies (one-shots!).
- Drops off vs. armor; equip sidearms.
- Comes loaded in loadouts.
Practice aim—no apples required.
Armor Compatibility & Customization
Not all shirts are Under Armour. Look for the vine graphic icon—it unlocks slots.
- Basic tunic? No.
- Arming doublet? Yes.
- Chain attachments? Useful early, but upgrade later.
Armor Smith Magic:
- Remove chains from arming doublets.
- Add/remove bits for custom fits.
- Spend pennies wisely.
Gear carries over—loot, customize, dominate.
Hidden Strength Score Explained
Unmentioned in-game: A secret strength score powers everything. Starting Willie feels “flaccid”? Train it!
- Fight & spend stamina = gains.
- Heavier gear = bigger gains.
- Per-character; resets on death.
- Feels like a demo version at max.
Grind heavy loadouts for god-mode swings.
Death, the Abyss, & Zombie Management
Critically wounded? Save your soul—enter the Abyss.
- Border of life/death: Zombies of your kills await (they bite!).
- Kill them all to return.
- Blunt weapons prevent zombies (defeat, don’t kill).
- Avoid death entirely with non-lethals.
Seer at Night:
- Pay 10 pfennigs to clear sins (zombie prevention).
- Or DIY in Abyss before overload.
Abyss Pro Strat: Blunt everything, and visit Seer often.
Secret Legendary Weapon: Counselor Staff
Only in the Abyss: Steal the Counselor Staff—gangster loot from purgatory. Insure it, wield purgatory power.
Hire Mercs from the Fencer
Money buys friends: a fencer hires mercenaries (shapes, sizes, and scaling to your rank up to Knight).
- Assign 2 to co-op: 2v2 doubles, 3v3 brawls, and tournaments.
- Hire higher-level players than tournament foes = easy wins.
Tournaments? Walk in the park with Max Mercs.
Final Lord Tips
- Insure everything.
- Blunt for Abyss control.
- Heavy gear for strength.
- Loot > Shop.
- Mercs for endgame.
You’ve got the blueprint to lordship. Drop comments: Missed secrets? Embarrass me! Thanks for reading—now go conquer Half Sword.
