Stone Stance

**Stone Stance** is the first stance that becomes available to Jin Sakai in *Ghost of Tsushima*. A straightforward stance with fierce diagonal slashes and stabbing attacks, it specializes in dealing consistent damage through its Heavy attack combo or deal high damage to Staggered enemies with its held Heavy Attack.

As the first stance available, it is effective against all sword-wielding enemies, such as Mongolian or Bandit Swordsmen, who are the most common enemy type Jin will encounter.

## Acquisition

Stone Stance is the first available to the player, from the very start of the game during the Prologue. As a result, it is also the Stance used when the player is being taught the combat tutorial during a flashback in the Prologue.

Once Jin has access to his second Stance, Water Stance, the player can switch back to Stone Stance by holding  then pressing .

## Basic Moveset

During Stone Stance, Jin will hold his katana vertically with both hands, with the handle of it held at chest level.

The Stone Stance's Heavy Attack chain, **Swordbreaker**, consists of two powerful downwards strikes, with the third strike being a fierce upwards slash.

The Stone Stance's held Heavy Attack, **Piercing Strike**, involves Jin holding his katana horizontally at around chin level before he thrusts forward for a piercing strike. While it is a very focused attack due to being a thrusting attack, if Piercing Striking lands, it deals high amounts of damage especially to staggered enemies.

## Upgrades

Upgrades to Stone Stance focus on improving Piercing Strike by increasing how many times Jin can perform it in a chain, together with increasing the speed of the Stance's Heavy Attack Chain for more consistent damage overtime.

### Puncture

Puncture allows the player to perform an additional thrust during Piercing Strike, modifying the combo to become  (hold) . This allows players a second chance to perform a thrust if the first didn't kill their target or missed completely.

Puncture requires 1 Technique point.

### Strength of Mountains

Strength of the Mountains increases how much Stagger damage Jin deals to swordsmen with any of the Stone Stance's Heavy Attack moves.

Strength of Mountains requires 1 Technique point and Puncture to be unlocked.

### Full Puncture

Full Puncture allows the player to perform a third thrust during Piercing Strike, modifying the combo to become  (hold)  . This allows players a third chance to perform a thrust if the first two didn't kill their target or missed completely.

Full Puncture requires 1 Technique point and the previous abilities to be unlocked.

### Momentum

Momentum increases the speed at which Jin strikes during Swordbreaker and Piercing Strike, attacking roughly 50% faster. This allows Jin to Stagger enemies faster and catch sooner enemies he had missed.

Momentum requires 2 Technique points and the previous abilities to be unlocked.

## Trivia

* The stance that Jin assumes during Stone Stance is the Hasso-no-Kamae (八相の構え; *hassou no kamae*; lit. "eight direction stance"), also known as In-no-Kamae (陰の構え; lit. "Yin stance"). It is one of the five stances of Japanese traditional martial arts (mostly for Kenjutsu and Naginatajutsu), which has been passed down to Kendo.
	+ Piercing Strike has Jin assume a stance that is called Kasumi-no-Kamae (霞の構え; lit. "haze stance") before thrusting. This stance's main focus is to keep the katana's blade point towards the opponent. This stance also serves as a transitional stance when attempting a thrust with the katana. It is a popular stance seen in both pop media and kendo matches, being one of the more popular stances outside the standard five stances.
* Each of the four main stance symbols are meant to represent the button they are mapped to.
	+ The Stone Stance is mapped to the  button, and is represented by two swords forming an "X" shape.