Power Stance

The Power Stance is a player ability in Dark Souls II. When dual wielding two weapons of similar classes, attempting to two-hand the left-hand weapon (hold Y/Triangle by default), the player instead activates Power Stance, which makes left-hand attacks swing with both weapons instead. Most light weapons swing in sequence with one another, while most heavy weapons strike simultaneously with both weapons.

Basic Mechanics[]

In order to activate Power Stance, the player must have 1.5 times the Strength and Dexterity requirements of the equipped weapons, rounded down. For instance, power stancing two Caestuses, normally requiring 10 STR and 7 DEX, requires 15 STR and 10 DEX. When power stancing two weapons with different requirements, the higher stat of either weapon is used. For weapons that require Intelligence or Faith, only the normal requirement must be met.

This mechanic is only found in Dark Souls II and Scholar of the First Sin, but is spiritually succeeded in Dark Souls III by Paired Weapons. The mechanic would make a return later in Elden Ring.

Not all weapons are compatible with each other. However, except for bows, crossbows, shields, and casting tools, all weapons can be power stanced freely with any weapon of the same type. Crossbows can be power stanced, but will suffer a damage reduction for both single and double shots, and the Avelyn and the Sanctum Repeating Crossbow cannot be power stanced with normal crossbows. In addition, the Vanquisher's Seal allows the player to power stance with their bare fists. Reeve's and Orma's Greatshields, when wielded in the right and left hands respectively, also allow power stancing, uniquely for any shields.

Compatibility Chart[]

The following chart represents all powerstancing categories the game accepts as usable. These are placed in order of Preference given to them for the mechanic. The closer the weapon class is to the top left corner, the less Preference they are given. The 3 categories are represented thus:

- : Non Compatible. These pairings cannot be powerstanced.
1: Same Types: These pairings have equal Preference and thus which attacks are used is determined by the right hand weapon.
2: Different Types: These pairings have different Preference, thus the weapon with more Preference will always determine the attacks used.

These Categories are generally determined by moveset, not the weapon class displayed in the menu. For example, Crypt Blacksword is considered a Greataxe despite saying Ultra Greatsword in the menu. Lists of each category are found on this page.

L\R Hands	Claws And Fist Weapons	Daggers	Thrusting Swords	Light Swords (Non-Thrusting)	Bewitched Alonne Sword	Twinblades	Hammers	Greatswords	Majestic Greatsword Left	Axes	Ultra / Curved Greatswords	Greataxes	Greathammers	Reapers	Polearms	Spears	Lances	Whips	Crossbows	Repeating Crossbows	Reeves Greatshield	Orma Greatshield	Work Hook
Claws And Fist Weapons	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Daggers	-	1	2	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Thrusting Swords	-	2	1	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Light Swords (Non-Thrusting)	-	2	2	1	2	-	2	2	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Bewitched Alonne Sword	-	2	2	2	1	-	2	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Twinblades	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Hammers	-	-	-	2	2	-	1	-	-	2	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Greatswords	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	1	-	-	2	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Majestic Greatsword Left	-	-	-	2	2	-	-	2	-	-	2	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Axes	-	-	-	2	2	-	2	-	-	1	-	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Ultra / Curved Greatswords	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	1	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Greataxes	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	2	2	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Greathammers	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	2	-	2	2	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Reapers	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Polearms	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Spears	-	2	2	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	2	-	-	-	-	-	-
Lances	-	2	2	2	2	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	1	-	-	-	-	-	-
Whips	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-
Crossbows	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
Repeating Crossbows	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-
Reeves Greatshield	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
Orma Greatshield	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-
Work Hook	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1

Advanced Mechanics[]

Stamina costs are determined by the moveset. This means that a low stamina cost weapon can combine with a high stamina cost weapon for a low cost power stance. This is quality gives more use to Broken Straight Sword as it can power stance with most swords to make a low cost combination.

Each weapon uses their own attack's damage values. This means that if a weapon's own powerstance attack would deal thrust damage, even if the power stance attack used would be another damage type like slash, the each weapon uses the damage type it would otherwise use.

Each weapon uses their own attack's hitboxes. The hitboxes do appear where they look to be on the weapon, however some special powerstance attacks have more hitboxes than standard ones. This means that attacks that apply multiple hits, like Warped Sword's power stanced L2 does not have a second hit to apply on most weapons it can pair with.

Power Stance

Contents

Basic Mechanics[]

Compatibility Chart[]

Advanced Mechanics[]

Weapons Lists[]

Claws And Fist Weapons[]

Daggers[]

Thrusting Swords[]

Light Swords (Non-Thrusting)[]

Bewitched Alonne Sword[]

Twinblades[]

Hammers[]

Greatswords[]

Majestic Greatsword Left[]

Axes[]

Ultra / Curved Greatswords[]

Greataxes[]

Greathammers[]

Reapers[]

Polearms[]

Spears[]

Lances[]

Whips[]

Crossbows[]

Repeating Crossbows[]

Reeves Greatshield[]

Orma Greatshield[]

Work Hook[]

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