The Dash Slash is a special mobility action and attack of Specter Knight introduced for the first time in Specter of Torment. A blindingly fast attack, Specter Knight morphs his scythe in order to propel himself up to different areas in a Stage, or as a quick way to lunge at and defeat an enemy.
Gameplay[]
Specter Knight can do a Dash Slash by jumping and pressing the [ATTACK] button; if an enemy or suitable object display a flaming diagonal gash when the attack is delivered, instead of a regular Scythe Slash, Specter Knight will perform the Dash Slash. The gash can either point upwards or downwards depending on the target or Specter Knight's position, indicating where Specter Knight will slash forwards.
Specter Knight can Dash Slash multiple things, such as enemies in general, the Lanterns, or certain types of projectiles, like cannonballs or Dark Wizzem's orbs.
If used on a projectile, the projectile will deflect in the opposite direction of Specter Knight and will damage any enemy it hits. If performed on an enemy or obstacle that still has life left after the attack, instead of dashing past it, Specter Knight will slightly bounce back into a midair crouching rotating position, from which another Dash Slash can be delivered.
Combined with Specter Knight's natural ability to climb and jump off certain surfaces, the Dash Slash make it possible to perform tricky and unpredictable movements that wouldn't be possible otherwise. Furthermore with a little practice, multiple Dash Slashes can be chained together on the same target, which can rapidly decimate opponents.
Should Specter Knight equip the Striker's Shawl, he will be able to charge a scythe attack in order to deliver double the damage, including the Dash Slashes.
In Shovel Knight Showdown, the Dash Slash is once again one of the abilities for Specter Knight to use at his advantage.
While initially absent from the base game, one of the Pocket Dungeon Puzzler's Pack's Quandary challenges at Castle Quandary for Specter Knight, aptly named Dash Slash, marks the return of the Dash Slash ability for the undead reaper. Furthermore, equipping the Dash Slash Cap hat, will enable any playable knight to perform a passive version of Specter Knight's move. However, unlike the passive hat's version, Specter Knight's Dash Slash can go through multiple obstacles at once as long as there is an empty space to the other side; the Feat Reaper Row asks to do exactly that, by Dash Slashing through 5 enemies.
Trivia[]
- The target gash of the Dash Slash changes colors depending on which Cloak Specter Knight has equipped.
- The Dash Slash, combined with Specter Knight's natural wall climbing abilities, are one of the four core movement mechanics around which the level design specific for the campaign it appears in is build upon, in this case Specter of Torment. The others are the Shovel Drop, the Bomb Burst, and the Shoulder Bash.
Gallery[]
