Sapphira the Carian Swordstress

Sapphira the Carian Swordstress

A RL 125 build focused on Carian sorceries and equipment. Built primarily around PvE and balanced around the lowest recommended level for the DLC. Serves as a solid foundation for higher-level builds as well.

My goal with this build was to make a blue-themed spellblade that could use a variety of magic weapons with Carian and Night Sorceries. She is a counterpart to Garnet the Dragon Dancer (my red build and invader) and Sophia the Seer (my gold build and cooperator).  The key to this build is to combine sorceries with melee attacks in creative ways.

For multiplayer, I chose the Blue Hunter role for this character, to keep with the blue theme.  Protect your allies from those evil red phantoms.

Carian Sorcery Sword

• Use the Main-Gauche with the Carian Sorcery Sword to use the dual thrusting-sword move set combined with sorceries. This allows a mix of short- and long-ranged attacks with parries. A technique inspired by Clankymocha’s Carian Fencer playstyle.
• Swap to the Wolf Crest Shield for a more defensive playstyle, inspired by Fextralife’s Carian Knight. Use it with Carian Retaliation for parries or with No Skill for easier access to your main hand weapon skill. This makes it easier to close the gaps with Impaling Thrust.

Magic Swords

• Use the Milady (light greatsword) for a sword-and-board or two-hand playstyle. Combining heavy attacks with light attacks is key with this weapon. You can use Carian Sovereignty as a finisher or as a way to open fights.
• Alternatively, use a Magic Flamberge with Carian Sovereignty, as Greatswords provide the highest active poise while casting Carian Sovereignty, and this build natively meets the requirements to use the Flamberge.  The Flamberge’s native hemorrhage buildup is a plus.
• Use a Magic Zweihander with Waves of Darkness for a strong AoE option when surrounded (a technique borrowed from OnlyWaifu).  Add a little Faith, and a Magic Fire Knight’s Greatsword becomes a viable option as well.

Moonveil

• While not included in this loadout, Moonveil and the Glintstone Kris are fantastic alternative weapons that can be incorporated into your arsenal.
• Use Moonveil with an off-hand staff to cast your sorceries while having ready access to Transient Moonlight.  You can cast Glintblade Trio and Carian Phalanx as openers, then switch to two-hand stance to use Moonveil’s katana move set and skill.
• Alternatively, wield Moonveil with an off-hand Magic Wakizashi to use the dual katana move set with a parry option.

Ranged Sorceries

• Loretta’s Greatbow and Night Comet provide solid ranged options.  Use these to open up fights or finish off foes at range.  Loretta’s Greatbow and Master also make strong sniper options.
• Glintblade Trio and Carian Phalanx provide wonderful pressure options.  Use these to to give yourself cover while casting ranged spells or while closing in for melee.  Something to keep in mind should you play as a hunter.
• Use the Glintstone Kris’s Glintstone Dart as a quick ranged option.  It’s stronger and faster than the Comet sorcery, and its chargeable property makes it compatible with the Godfrey Icon.

Experiment with various sorcery and weapon combos to achieve the best results in any situation. This is the heart and soul of this build.