WEAPON
MASTERY

The starting weapon and the easiest mastery. Sword challenges cover basic combo attacks, defeating enemies with specific skills, and timed kills.

• Artifact 1: Road north of Hernand Castle — Defeat 3 enemies in 30 sec with a sword
• Artifact 2: Near Three Saints' Falls fast travel point — Defeat 3 enemies within 30 sec
• Artifact 3: Near Kilnden Workshop — Defeat 3 enemies using Turning Slash
• Artifact 4+: Demeniss / Pailune roads — various combo requirements

Shield challenges emphasize blocking, parrying, and counter-attacking. Equip a shield and focus on defensive play. The counter-attack window is generous.

• Artifact 1: 2nd intersection N of Hernand Royal Trading Post — Defeat 3 enemies with a shield
• Artifact 2: Near Kharonso village — Block 10 arrows with a shield
• Artifact 3: East Hernand ruins area — Hit 3 enemies at once with a shield

Bow challenges work best on flat ground with clean sightlines. Don't panic-shoot — aim from elevated positions or open fields. Many tasks require hitting multiple enemies in sequence.

• Artifact 1: Eastern road out of Hernand toward Howling Hill — Defeat 7 enemies in a row with normal arrows
• Artifact 2: Very north of Hernand, above the "A" on the map — Various bow skills
• More in Demeniss (south of Beighen, Demeniss region) and Pailune

Two-handed weapon challenges reward aggression. Focus on Overwhelming Slash and Ground Shaking Impact skills. These take longer but AOE hits count for group requirements.

• Overwhelming Slash I: West of Drakesfall Watchtower (Hernand)
• Overwhelming Slash III: South of Hernandian Ruins, between N and A on map
• Ground Shaking Impact I: Southeast of Fort Perwin
• Artifact near Fort Perwin — Land 30 hits in 30 sec with a 2H axe

Spear challenges often require movement and reach. The banner pike pole vault challenge is a fan favourite — find it on the westbound road in Duskwood's twin river area.

• Artifact 1: Road to Sunset Valley, west of Vellua — ride/travel challenge
• Artifact 2: Duskwood twin river area — Use banner pike to pole vault 5 times in 30 sec
• More spear artifacts in Pailune (south of Skoghorn)

Rapier challenges reward speed and precision — avoid taking hits during challenge windows. Dual wield challenges lean into combo potential; chain R1 and R2 patterns rapidly.

• Rapier 1: Near Phoniel Ranch, Witchwoods area — various finisher requirements
• Dual Wield 1: East Hernand road, close to Howling Hill junction
• Both weapon types have additional artifacts in Demeniss and Delysia regions

Horse challenges cover mounted combat, horse bonding, and travel. The longest single horse challenge requires riding from Sunset Valley to Varnia — across a massive stretch of the map. Stay on the road the entire way.

• Artifact on road above CRIMSON DESERT text on map (near a small pond)
• Challenge: Ride from Sunset Valley to Varnia on horseback — stay on road the whole time
• Additional horse challenges involve selling animals and taming wild horses

Earned by completing all 64 Mastery Challenges across every weapon category and the horse mastery category. This is the hardest missable trophy — it requires engaging with systems the game rarely explains.

• Find ALL weapon-type Sealed Abyss Artifacts across all 5 regions
• Complete every challenge before liberating associated camps
• Do not sell or break Special Weapons — keep all 10
• Some challenges require specific combo skills — unlock them before attempting