Fighting Arts
Fighting arts (
) are powerful battle techniques that can be gained through in game events. Fighting arts can have additional costs or prerequisites to use, but usually have exciting effects. Each fighting art has a corresponding fighting art card in the fighting art deck that describes the rules for using it. When a survivor gains a fighting art, record it on the survivor record sheet.[1]
Survivors can have up to 3 fighting arts. Any further fighting arts gained must replace an existing fighting art of your choice. If a survivor would gain a fighting art that they already have, nothing happens. If you lose the use of your fighting arts, fill the corresponding box. If you regain their use, erase this box.[1]
Arc Survivors & Fighting Arts
Main Article: Arc Survivor
Fighting arts are impulses that arc survivors do not have. Attempting to learn them puts their minds under immense stress. When fighting arts would be gained, arc survivors trigger 
Vaultless instead. Through this story event, arc survivors may gain fighting arts. Arc survivors may only possess one fighting art and one secret fighting art.[2]
List of Fighting Arts
Core Game Fighting Arts
- Ambidextrous
- Berserker
- Clutch Fighter
- Combo Master
- Crazed
- Crossarm Block
- Double Dash
- Extra Sense
- Last Man Standing
- Leader
- Mighty Strike
- Monster Claw Style
- Orator of Death
- Rhythm Chaser
- Strategist
- Thrill Seeker
- Timeless Eye
- Tough
- Tumble
- Unconscious Fighter
Black Knight Expansion Fighting Arts
Dragon King Expansion Fighting Arts
Dung Beetle Knight Fighting Arts
Flower Knight Expansion Fighting Arts
Frogdog Expansion Fighting Arts
Gambler's Chest Expansion Fighting Arts
- Bloodzerker
- First Step
- Glass Mask
- Invigorator
- Monster Empathy
- Regicide
- Relentless (Fighting Art)
- Virtuoso
Gorm Expansion Fighting Arts
Lion God Expansion Fighting Arts
Lion Knight Expansion Fighting Arts
Manhunter Expansion Fighting Arts
Slenderman Expansion Fighting Arts
Spidicules Expansion Fighting Arts
Sunstalker Expansion Fighting Arts
Secret Fighting Arts
Secret fighting arts (
) are unique techniques that cannot be gained randomly. Each secret fighting art has a corresponding card in the secret fighting art deck that describes the rules for using it. Secret fighting arts count towards your fighting art maximum of 3 (or 1 for arc survivors).[1]
List of Secret Fighting Arts
Core Game Secret Fighting Arts
- Beast of Caratosis
- Bone Whisperer
- Grace of Dormenatus
- King of a Thousand Battles
- King's Step
- Legendary Lungs
- Lucernae's Lantern
- Red Fist
- Scholar of Death
- Swordsman's Promise
- Synchronized Strike
- Zero Presence
Black Knight Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Dragon King Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Dung Beetle Knight Secret Fighting Arts
Flower Knight Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Frogdog Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Gambler's Chest Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Gorm Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Lion God Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Lion Knight Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Manhunter Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Slenderman Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Spidicules Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
Sunstalker Expansion Secret Fighting Arts
White Box & Beta Content Secret Fighting Arts
Strain Fighting Arts
Main Article: Strains
Strain fighting arts are special fighting arts that can only be added to the fighting art deck after a specific strain milestone is reached. After the milestone is reached, the strain fighting arts can be drawn normally from the fighting art deck. Each strain fighting art has a corresponding card that describes the rules for using it. These count towards your fighting art maximum of 3.[3]
A campaign can have a maximum of 5 strain fighting arts in the fighting art deck. If you would add a 6th strain fighting art, replace an old strain fighting art (remove it from the deck) with the new one instead. If any survivors have the removed fighting art, they still keep it. When you start a new campaign, if you have earned more than 5 strain fighting arts, you must randomly determine which 5 to add to your fighting arts deck. Any other earned strain fighting arts should be stored in your game box for later campaigns.[3]
Story of Blood
The Story of Blood strain fighting art evolves, represented by 4 separate cards. Each level of the fighting art reveals new aspects of the powers bestowed by the White Speakers. When the settlement first gains the Story of Blood strain fighting art through the permanent effects of the Plot Twist strain milestone, add Story of Blood 1 to your fighting art deck as one of your 5 strain fighting arts.[4]
Gaining Story of Blood
When a survivor gains any level of Story of Blood, record the following on the survivor record sheet: fighting art name (including the level), and the number of observations (indicated as unfilled boxes on the bottom of the card, copy this number of unfilled boxes onto the survivor record sheet). If a survivor is specifically instructed to gain Story of Blood, gain the level currently in your fighting art deck. A single survivor cannot have two separate levels of Story of Blood.[4]
Observations and Fighting Art Levels
A survivor with Story of Blood may observe conditions that refine their understanding of this fighting art. The conditions for a successful observation are listed on the fighting art card. When a survivor gathers enough observations they experience a revelation that transforms their understanding of the Story of Blood. Each level of Story of Blood requires the survivor to observe different conditions. They also differ in the number of observations required for a revelation. Keep your current observation conditions in mind as you play. When a survivor makes a successful observation, fill an unfilled observation box on the survivor record sheet. When all observation boxes are filled, the survivor experiences a revelation that increases the level of Story of Blood, or has other effects.[4]
Fighting Art Revelations
When a survivor's revelation increases the level of Story of Blood, erase the current version, including the observation boxes, from their survivor record sheet. Replace Story of Blood with the next level indicated on the fighting art card, or the level currently in the fighting art deck (whichever is highest).[4]
Story of Blood 4 has a revelation that does not advance the fighting art further. When you complete all 7 observations, perform the revelation listed on the bottom of the card.[4]
Revelations & the Fighting Art Deck
If a survivors' level of Story of Blood ever surpasses the level found in the fighting art deck, the whole settlement benefits. Replace the Story of Blood in the fighting art deck with its next level.[4]