Skewer

Skewer is the second upgrade in the Stab ability chain, a penetrating thrust that drives deeper into a Bleeding target to amplify the Bleed status effect's damage output and significantly extend its duration. Where Stab applies Bleed initially and Swift Stab adds a rapid follow-up, Skewer is the dedicated Bleed-enhancement tool: the ability that turns a short Bleed window into a sustained damage phase lasting 8-12 seconds.

Skewer's primary application is against single, high-health targets: major bosses, Black Bear Captains, and world boss encounters. Against these targets, the Bleed-from-Stab + Skewer-amplification combination creates a damage-over-time pressure that continues contributing even during phases when landing direct hits is difficult or dangerous. The Bleed tick from a properly amplified Skewer can account for 15-20% of total boss damage across a fight.

In the broader Stab build, Skewer pairs with the Spirit Gauge Restore potion: use the potion to restore Green tree resources for Parry-Counter, then re-apply Bleed via Stab into Skewer while the boss is recovering from the Counter. This creates a cycle where each 'safe' window applies or refreshes Bleed, ensuring persistent damage even during defensive phases.

Skewer's Bleed amplification scales with successive applications on the same target — each Skewer within an active Bleed window stacks the damage multiplier, up to three stacks, at which point the Bleed alone can out-damage many direct attacks. Advanced players time their Stab-Swift Stab-Skewer rotation to refresh Bleed just before it expires, maintaining maximum stacks throughout extended boss fights. Skewer also synergizes with Counter: landing a Counter during an active Bleed phase triggers a bonus 'hemorrhage' burst that consumes one Bleed stack for a large burst of immediate damage, giving defensive players a way to convert their Bleed investment into on-demand burst when an opening presents itself.

Skewer is the Spear's signature damage ability, delivering a powerful forward thrust that pierces through enemy defenses for massive single-target damage. It has excellent range thanks to the Spear's natural reach, allowing you to strike from a safe distance. Skewer is particularly effective when used after Nature's Snare immobilizes a target, guaranteeing a clean hit. Upgrade it to add a bleeding effect that deals damage over time, further enhancing its already impressive damage potential.