Melee Weapons

Master melee combat in Death Howl. Learn about each weapon type, from brutal axes to swift daggers, and find your favored close-quarters approach.

While Death Howl is primarily a deckbuilding RPG where your cards serve as your offensive tools, the concept of "melee" can be understood through the types of attacks your cards represent. Your character, Ro, will engage in combat by playing cards that mimic the actions of various weapon types. These cards are crafted from scavenged resources found throughout the thirteen realms of the spirit world. The effectiveness of these card-based "melee" attacks depends on their damage output, mana cost, and any associated effects. Mastering the timing and positioning of these card plays is essential, as you have limited Mana action points per turn. Learning enemy attack patterns and ranges is crucial to effectively utilize your card-based melee strikes and minimize the damage you receive from counterattacks.

The "souls" currency, known as dea, plays a significant role in enhancing your combat capabilities, which would indirectly affect the power of your card-based melee attacks. As you explore locations like The Howling Mountain or the Realm of Piercing Winds, you'll encounter various flora and fauna that can be used to craft more potent cards. The goal is to build decks that serve as your weapons of survival against the baleful denizens. The shamanic totems you unlock can also provide bonuses that amplify the effectiveness of your offensive cards, including those that represent melee strikes. The soulslike nature of the game means that preparation and understanding your offensive capabilities, even if card-based, are paramount to success.

The tactical RPG gameplay emphasizes positioning and resource management. When an enemy is within range for a melee-style card attack, you must decide if the mana cost and potential damage are worth the action point expenditure, especially considering the need for movement and defense. The Great Spirits, such as Cantharsis, may present challenges that require specific types of card-based attacks to overcome. Therefore, while there might not be traditional equipable melee weapons in the inventory sense, the cards you craft and play are the direct conduits for Ro's offensive actions, effectively acting as her arsenal of melee and ranged capabilities within the spirit world.