Empress/Attacks & Abilities

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## Enemies

This page demonstrates **Empress's Attacks and Abilities** in Dragon Marked For Death.

If you are looking for other details about Empress, please see the following subpages:

* Empress Overview
* Empress/Elemental Contracts
* Empress/Basic Tech
* Empress/Advanced Tech
* Empress/Recommended Builds

## Button Inputs

***Note:** This page follows the Default Controls for the Nintendo Switch controller:*

* Slash or Thrust = Y
* Jump = B
* Dash = L
* Dragon Shot = A
* Dragon Sword = R
* Running Thrust = X (Small-sword only)

Empress Button Inputs
 Running Thrust (Small-sword only)
 Dragon Sword Neo (Small-sword only)
R

## Physical Attacks & Evasive Maneuvers

Empress's **Slash** and **Thrust** attacks deal **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties. Empress's combat style changes the most when swapping between Weapons, as opposed to switching between Elemental Contracts. Due to the major changes in combat style between the two Weapons, it is recommended to take advantage of *both* Weapon types in the middle of a Quest.

### Swords VS. Small-swords

Empress can equip either Swords—which are great for grounded enemies—or Small-swords—which are specialized for fighting aerial enemies.

#### Swords

**Swords** are available starting from **Level 1**. Swords focus on ground fighting, allowing Empress to perform a grounded 3-slash combo, which can be chained into Dragon Sword.

* With Swords, Empress's Dragon Shot is stable, so it can be activated just by standing or by jumping and shooting.
* Swords have higher attack power, but less hits than Small-swords.
* There is a wide variety of differences between Swords, and some Swords even have regenerative healing effects.
* No Sword attacks have invincibility frames ("I-frames").
* Swords do not have as many evasive maneuvers compared to Small-swords.

#### Small-swords

**Small-swords** are available starting from **Level 20**. Small-swords focus on aerial combat, allowing Empress to perform grounded Thrust attacks, which will do 3 sword jabs per Thrust.

* With Small-swords, Empress's Dragon Shot launches her into the air (even when shot either grounded or in midair), so it is more difficult to aim than the Sword's Dragon Shot, but can be helpful for mobility and evasion.
* Small-sword basic attacks have more hits, but lower attack power compared to Swords. However, the attack power is great when chaining together Dragon Sword Neo attacks.
* Abilities such as the Running Thrust and Dragon Shot can be used as evasive maneuvers. After activating the Dragon Sphere, Empress can use Small-sword Dragon Shots to fly around Boss arenas.

#### Slash (Sword Only)

Empress's **Slash** attack, exclusive to Swords, can be performed as a 3-slash combo on the ground or as a single slash in midair. It deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* The 3-slash combo can chain into Dragon Sword.
* Her aerial slash is quick and can also chain into her Dragon Sword or a 3-slash combo when she lands on the ground.
* She can also slash while walking or running.
* The 3rd Slash in the 3-slash combo generates a lot of DP, so it is critical to land this attack.

#### Thrust (Small-sword Only)

Empress's **Thrust** attack, exclusive to Small-swords, can be performed as a consecutive jabbing attack on the ground or as a rolling slash in midair. It deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* The damage of her Thrust slightly increases with each chained Thrust attack (max. limit is **3**).
	+ She must chain these attacks in rapid succession, otherwise the damage scaling will be reset.
	+ By holding a direction, she can move slightly forward during her Thrust animation.
	+ Compared to all other attacks, the grounded Thrust attack generates the most DP, especially when used consecutively.
	+ Doing 3+ Thrust attacks consecutively allows you to cancel it into Running Thrust.
* When doing aerial slashes with Small-swords, Empress will perform a rolling slash that will hit all enemies within her hitbox.
	+ It can combo into Dragon Sword.
	+ This move generates less DP than her Thrust attack, but deals slightly more damage.

### Dragon Sword

Empress can slam her **Dragon Sword** to deal damage and **knockback** to enemies in front of her. This attack deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* When performing the Dragon Sword on the ground by itself, it has start-up frames before actually slamming down her Dragon Sword.
* When activated in midair, Empress can immediately perform Dragon Sword with no start-up frames in a downward crash.
	+ Because it swings in a wide arc, it is easy to hit opponents positioned above you.
	+ However, its aerial power is slightly reduced compared to activating it on the ground.
* **(Sword only)** Dragon Sword can be performed at the end of a grounded 3-Slash combo, which will cancel the start-up frames of Dragon Sword.
* **(Small-sword only)** Dragon Sword can be performed after Running Thrust without its start-up frames.
* **(Small-sword only)** The animation of the aerial Dragon Sword can be canceled into a Rebound Slash or Dragon Shot.

### Swing

Empress's **Swing** ability (AKA "Dragon Tail", "Dragon Whip", or "Dragon Hook") outstretches her dragon arm in a chain shape, hooks it onto a specific object or target, and dangles her in an arc to move. This move does not deal any damage.

* Empress can use this ability on certain objects to launch herself.
* In some stages, there are objects and enemies that Empress can grapple onto with her Dragon Scar, which swings her toward the direction she is facing.
* Throughout the Swing animation, Empress is vulnerable to attacks.

## Dragon Shot & Related Skills

### Dragon Shot

Empress can fire a **Dragon Shot** in front of her while she is on the ground or in midair. This attack **costs DP** and deals **Holy Damage**.

* **(Sword only)** The Dragon Shot shoots **forward**.
	+ If you use it on the ground, you will stop moving and be still.
	+ However, if you use it in midair, you can shoot while moving and maintain your momentum.
	+ Ice Contract Dragon Shot can be shot *forward* or *diagonally upward*.
	+ Thunder Contract Dragon Shot can be shot *only diagonally upward*. The projectile automatically targets a nearby enemy.
* **(Small-sword only)** The Dragon Shot shoots **downward** and launches Empress diagonally upward to the *opposite side* that she shoots her Dragon Shot.
	+ If she shoots any Dragon Shots while in midair, she will consume **double** the amount of DP of the previous Dragon Shot.
	+ It can be used to fly around in the air as long as the DP gauge is not empty.
	+ Dragon Shot can cancel the animation of the aerial Dragon Sword.
* For either Weapon type, the Dragon Shot can cancel the ending animation of the grounded Dragon Sword.
* The damages and projectile properties of the Dragon Shot depend on the Elemental Contract.

### Dragon Cannon

Dragon Shot can be *charged* on the ground to fire a **Dragon Cannon**. When firing the Dragon Cannon, there will be start-up frames before Empress shoots out a barrage of projectiles towards the direction she is facing. This attack **constantly drains DP** and deals **Holy Damage**.

* You can fire the Dragon Cannon instantly by pressing ↓ + Hold A, which avoids shooting an extra Dragon Shot.
* While in the Dragon Cannon animation, Empress will be stationary and vulnerable to attacks.
* Empress will stop firing the Dragon Cannon when she gets hit, runs out of DP, or you let go of the Dragon Shot button.
	+ When exiting the Dragon Cannon, there will be recovery frames in which Empress cannot move nor attack before she can do any action again.
* Ice Contract Dragon Cannon can be shot *forward* or *upward*.
* Poison Contract can *rotate* the Dragon Cannon's projectile trajectory *diagonally up and down* while shooting Dragon Cannon.
* Thunder Contract can shoot the Dragon Cannon *only upward*. The projectiles automatically target nearby enemies.
* The damages and the projectile properties of the Dragon Cannon depend on the Elemental Contract.

## Small-Swords & Related Skills

### Running Thrust

> You can reduce the start-up time of Running Thrust by using it in a combo.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DragonMarkedForDeath?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DragonMarkedForDeath</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DragonMFD?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DragonMFD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DMFD?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DMFD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoSwitch?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoSwitch</a> <a href="https://t.co/7Q3rTIz2aB">pic.twitter.com/7Q3rTIz2aB</a>
>
> — MiKenyan (@TheMiKenyan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiKenyan/status/1253733945889325058?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2020</a>
>
>

**Running Thrust** is a move that can be performed only on the ground. When performing it, Empress will have start-up frames before lunging forward and piercing through enemies in front of her. This move has I-frames while lunging forward, and it deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* When you Thrust an enemy, Empress's start-up frames for Running Thrust will be reduced the more jabs you perform consecutively.
	+ After she uses the Thrust attack into an enemy **3 times**, she can immediately cancel into Running Thrust with no start-up frames.
	+ You need to hit each Thrust jab in rapid succession, otherwise the frame reduction scaling for her Running Thrust will be reset.
* After the lunging animation, Empress will gain I-frames while she is not moving.
	+ It can be used as a safe, grounded evasive maneuver, effectively mitigating potential hazards of contact damage.

### Rebound Slash

Y

If Empress successfully hits an enemy with her aerial Dragon Slash, she can cancel the Dragon Slash animation into a **Rebound Slash** by pressing the attack button. This attack deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* The Rebound Slash animation and damage properties are identical to the Small-sword's aerial slash.
* Since it has the same properties as the aerial slash, it can combo into Dragon Shot or Dragon Sword.
* **Rebound Slash cannot be used *after* Dragon Sword Neo.** In those cases, you must fire a Dragon Shot to cancel the Dragon Sword Neo attack.

### Dragon Sword Neo

> Dragon Sword Neo gets a huge damage boost
> if used twice or more in succession.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DragonMarkedForDeath?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DragonMarkedForDeath</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DragonMFD?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DragonMFD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DMFD?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DMFD</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NintendoSwitch?src=hash&amp;amp;ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NintendoSwitch</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrGHzaVE0s">pic.twitter.com/FrGHzaVE0s</a>
>
> — MiKenyan (@TheMiKenyan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheMiKenyan/status/1253732003268096006?ref\_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2020</a>
>
>

R

When performing a second Dragon Sword in midair after a Rebound Slash or a Dragon Shot, the attack will automatically turn into **Dragon Sword Neo**. This attack deals **Physical or Magical damage** depending on the Weapon properties.

* The damage scaling of Dragon Sword Neo increases the more times it is performed in midair (max. limit = **3**).
	+ Jump → Dragon Sword → Rebound Slash → Dragon Sword Neo → Dragon Shot → Dragon Sword Neo → Dragon Shot → Dragon Sword Neo, etc.
* Performing consecutive Dragon Sword Neo attacks is easier if your back is against a wall or barrier.
* Dragon Sword Neo descends faster than Dragon Sword.
* Dragon Sword Neo is Empress's strongest DPS attack.