Support styles are supplementary martial styles designed to help gain advantage in combat through various disabling effects, such as slow or paralysis. While the use of such abilities might be seen as less than honorable, they are certainly very effective and, properly utilized, can turn the tide of battle in the user's favor. They work much the same as regular martial styles and require no Chi or Focus to use. Spirits and demons are immune to support styles, but all of the game's most challenging enemies are humans and thus vulnerable to the potent disabling effects. Support styles deal no damage unless enhanced with Chi Strikes, but even then, the result pales in comparison to martial styles.
Another important use for support styles are harmonic combinations. In order to perform one of those, the user must first hit an enemy with a power or area attack of a support style, whichever is correct depends on the support style in question, and quickly follow up with a power attack of a martial style. The result is instant death for the unlucky recipient and a Health, Chi or Focus Orb for the assailant (once again, it depends). Keep in mind, however, that certain stronger enemies must first be significantly weakened for such a combination to work, whereas others are entirely immune.
Heavenly Wave[]
The first support style available in the game, already known at the time of character creation. It slows enemies, drastically reducing their attack and movement speed. While certainly not useless, it is generally seen as the least useful support style. That, however, can be seen as an advantage, if the player wishes to make the game more challenging by avoiding the use of more overpowered styles.
+ available from the start
+ slow, but long-ranged power attack
- less meaningful effect than the other support styles and made largely obsolete later in the game
- very slow area attack
Spirit Thief[]
Described in the game as a unique style, it works very much as a support style, however, and can be upgraded in the same way. Instead of applying a direct disabling effect, it steals small amounts of the target's Chi and transfers it to the user. It is always learned at the beginning of Chapter 2 as a part of the main storyline.
+ potentially life-saving, enabling the user to continuously steal Chi to heal
+ learned early and completely free
+ slow, but long-ranged power attack that immobilizes the target
+ fast area attack
- very slow basic attacks
- the amount of Chi stolen is minimal, requiring the use of multiple attacks to achieve any meaningful effect
Storm Dragon[]
Easily the best support style and one of the most powerful styles in general, Storm Dragon incapacitates enemies by shocking them with electricity. This effect is essentially identical to that of Paralyzing Palm, differing only visually, but the electricity also deals a small amount of damage over time. The duration is long even without any upgrades. Another advantage of Storm Dragon is the easy access to it, as it can be learned in Chapter 2, either from Merchant Cheung in Tien's Landing after completing The Great Dam, or, more lore-appropriately, from Spear Catches Leaf in the Great Southern Forest. If you're looking for a challenging gameplay, avoid Storm Dragon.
+ extremely powerful, makes difficult fights trivial
+ obtainable early
+ fast area attack
- short reach
- slow power attack
Paralyzing Palm[]
One of the two support styles that can be learned in the Black Leopard School in the Imperial City in Chapter 3. As the name might imply, Paralyzing Palm is associated with the Way of the Open Palm and is a reward for siding with Master Radiant. Affected enemies are rendered completely helpless for a few seconds, giving the user more than enough time to prepare a power attack. It is a strong style on its own, but its usefulness is diminished by Storm Dragon, which serves the same purpose, but does everything better. As such, choosing Paralyzing Palm will most likely be a matter of aesthetical preference.
+ potent effect
- available fairly late
- short reach
- very slow area attack
- requires following the Way of the Open Palm at least during the quest
- made largely obsolete by Storm Dragon
Hidden Fist[]
One of the two support styles that can be learned in the Black Leopard School in the Imperial City in Chapter 3. As the name might imply, Hidden Fist is associated with the Way of the Closed Fist and is a reward for siding with Master Smiling Hawk. The style's underhanded techniques disorient enemies, causing them to wander aimlessly, which allows the user to attack with impunity. An arguably better choice than Paralyzing Palm due its powerful area attack that allows the user to incapacitate an entire group of enemies in the front.
+ potent effect
+ fast and powerful area attack
- available fairly late
- slow basic and power attacks
- requires following the Way of the Closed Fist at least during the quest
Performance[]
Whichever style works best depends on the player's preference, but as a general rule, the order from the most to least effective support style is as follows:
Storm Dragon > Hidden Fist > Paralyzing Palm > Heavenly Wave