Core Slayer Stats and Skills

Invest early points into your breathing tree's damage skills and dash upgrades. Kendo Mastery no longer consumes stamina after Patch 5.6 — prioritize it for combo extension. Secondary stats depend on style: Sun users emphasize raw attack and breathe duration; Water users balance posture and block efficiency.

Unlock trainers in order of breathing ambition. Sun requires the longest quest chain — start early from trainer locations. Water and Flame offer faster mid-game power spikes for yen farming.

Family and Breathing Synergy

Kamado family reduces Sun health drain and amplifies damage — the canonical pairing on our breathing tier list. Without Kamado, Sun remains strong but less efficient. Tomioka boosts Water breathing into A-tier territory. Match family to breathing before using Wipe Potions — consult family reroll guide.

Nichirin and Equipment

Slayer Nichirin crafting no longer requires a rusty Nichirin after Patch 5.6, simplifying gear progression. Upgrade through corps blacksmiths and world events. Pair sword tier with trinkets that boost your main stat — see Nichirin swords and trinkets for item details.

Slayer Mark and Prestige

Slayer Mark unlocks late-game power for eligible families and styles. Prestige extends level caps — coordinate prestige pushes with Combat Potions and group raids. Full walkthrough on prestige guide. For Final Selection newcomers, start with beginner guide before min-maxing.

Related Pages

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best Slayer build?
Kamado family with Sun Breathing is the top Slayer build for ranked and PvE.
Do I need rusty Nichirin for Slayer sword?
No. Patch 5.6 removed the rusty Nichirin crafting requirement.
How many skill points for breathing?
Prioritize main breathing damage tree first — roughly 60-70% of early points before utility passives.
Is Water Slayer viable?
Yes with Tomioka family. Water sits A/B-tier depending on matchup and skill.
When do I unlock Slayer Mark?
Late game after prestige and specific quest chains — see prestige guide.
What potions help Slayer builds?
Breath Indict resets breathing; Wipe Potions reroll family; Combat Potions boost leveling sessions.