Withered Knight guide
Plan a Withered Knight build around Greatsword and Polearm and Shield, legal skills, talent prerequisites, and reachable equipment and affix targets.
Withered Knight overview
The Withered Knight marks enemies with Wither and detonates it through heavy attacks and selected skills. Each detonation deals damage, restores Energy, and reduces cooldowns, creating a steady rhythm of applying marks, finding an opening, and extending the assault with attacks, parries, and guidance-based abilities.
Withered Knight can build around Greatsword or Polearm and Shield. Choose one weapon and learn its compatible skills before committing to equipment targets. If the finished plan uses a secondary weapon, document what it contributes so both halves of the loadout remain coherent.
The skill and talent reference below uses the catalog imported on August 5, 2026. Starter recommendations are a foundation for testing, not a permanent tier ranking; balance and player discoveries can change.
Withered Knight visual guide
Review the class identity and a recommended beginner setup. Open either image to inspect it at full size.
Withered Knight weapons and skills
Review the skill pool for each supported weapon, then open the builder with that choice preselected.
Greatsword
Breakthrough ChargeCan perform a two-stage dash attack. Stage 1: Thrust forward with your sword. During the recovery, press or to perform a branch attack (second stage). Stage 2: Branch - Dash in a leftward arc, sweeping enemies. Branch - Dash in a rightward arc, sweeping enemies.
ParryAssume a defensive stance to parry frontal attacks (negating damage), recovering Energy with each successful parry. This stance lasts up to 5s or until you parry 5 attacks, whichever comes first. Shortly after a successful parry, press or to perform different branch attacks: is a sweeping strike against enemies in front, while is a long-distance dash slash. Both branch attacks apply Wither on hit. Parry has a shorter base cooldown in trio mode.
Radiant RetributionRapidly swing your greatsword, performing three wide slashes in quick succession. Each attack counts as a Light Strike, and hitting enemies charges your weapon. When fully charged, it applies Judgment to the target. The final strike has a brief Super Armor effect.
Thorn GuideShoot thorns forward with your left hand, pulling the first enemy hit toward you. If the target is too large or in a special state (e.g., Super Armor, Blocking), you will instead dash along the thorns toward them.
Withering MarkSwing your weapon to unleash Judgment energy that attacks enemies, immediately applying Wither to the target.Polearm and Shield
Breaker Shield BashStrikes the back of the shield with a fist to deal damage to targets within a wide frontal area, immediately applying Wither. Possesses a Block property while the shield is raised.
InterveneDash forward a set distance (or directly to a ally's side if targeted). You then raise your shield to unleash an energy pulse that knocks back nearby enemies and grants a Shield to allies within range. Gain a brief Super Armor effect after dashing forward.
Javelin ThrustHurl your spear forward, immediately applying Wither to the target. Upon impact, rapidly leap to the target and pull out the spear with a sweeping strike to deal damage.
Rainbow PiercerRaise your shield and charge forward, followed by a violent spear thrust. You can hold the skill to prolong the forward charge, during which turning capacity is significantly reduced. Possesses a Block property while the shield is raised. Successful hits charge your weapon with Judgment energy.
Sacred BulwarkInfuse the shield with sacred energy to erect a massive energy barrier, during which you cannot move or turn. This barrier completely blocks frontal attacks and prevents enemies from passing through. The skill can be cast again to thrust the shield forward, dealing damage and knocking enemies back. The energy barrier shatters after blocking attacks with impact a certain number of times.
Spear BarrageRapidly thrust your spear forward, following up with a powerful thrust that knocks the enemy down. Successful hits charge your weapon with Judgment energy.Withered Knight talent trees
Follow prerequisites and mutually exclusive choices; the planner validates both when a build is published.
Core Archetype
6 talents in the current catalog
- Crime
- Bad Karma
- Legacy
- Reprieve
- Collective Punishment
- Auto Execution
Core Archetype
5 talents in the current catalog
- Rising Morale
- Momentum Shift
- Shield Wall Slam
- Counter-Impact
- Brute Force
Radiant Retribution Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Long Range
- Whiplash
Breaker Shield Bash Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Off-Balance
- Focus
Parry Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Tactical Prep
- Unstoppable
Rainbow Piercer Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Crushing Force
- Fight to the Death
Weapon Specialization
3 talents in the current catalog
- Greatsword Specialization
- Endless Flow
- Polearm and Shield Specialization
Javelin Thrust Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Javelin: Heavy Kick
- Javelin: Stun
Breakthrough Charge Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Dominance
- Cataclysm
Spear Barrage Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Endless Flow
- Buildup
Withering Mark Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Instant Wither
- Impalement
Sacred Bulwark Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Defensive Shift
- Unbreakable
Martial Arts 2
2 talents in the current catalog
- Seize Opportunity
- Sacred Body
Martial Arts 1
3 talents in the current catalog
- Lasting Judgment
- Momentum
- Righteous Creed
Thorn Guide Enhancement
2 talents in the current catalog
- Joint Pierce
- Grappling Hook
Intervene Enhancement
3 talents in the current catalog
- Guardian
- Swift Vanguard
- Succor
Woodling Expert
3 talents in the current catalog
- Regular
- Woodling Bane
- Swift Exit
Way of Gylden Hunt
4 talents in the current catalog
- Greed is Good
- Monster Hunter
- Death Sense
- Gyldenmist Tolerance
How to turn the class into a complete build
- Choose between Greatsword and Polearm and Shield and select only compatible skills.
- Create a legal talent path within the current point limit, including every required earlier talent.
- Define the playstyle and select a small set of essential affix levels.
- Use the builder to match those targets to recorded innate rolls, sockets, gems, and rarity limits.
- Test the result in game, record the version or test date, and publish the explanation with the recipe.
For the equipment calculation, continue with the affix and gem guide. If this is your first loadout, follow the complete beginner checklist.