Law: The Iron Fist

Law is a whirlwind of destruction on the battlefield, a master of rapid-fire strikes and relentless pressure. As a dedicated close-combat specialist, he excels at building long combos, staggering enemies, and shattering their defenses. His unique fighting style makes him an indispensable asset for players who enjoy an aggressive, high-octane approach to combat. This guide will delve into Law's strengths, optimal Artes, recommended equipment, and strategies to maximize his potential as "The Iron Fist."

Law's Combat Philosophy: Speed, Pressure, and Penetration

Law's core gameplay loop revolves around overwhelming opponents with a barrage of quick attacks. He's not about single, devastating blows, but rather about maintaining constant offensive pressure that prevents enemies from retaliating. His Artes are designed for speed and chaining, allowing him to build significant hit counts and stagger gauges quickly.

Combo Generation: Law's Artes are inherently fast and often have short recovery times, making them ideal for stringing together long and damaging combos.
Defense Breaking: His attacks are effective at chipping away at enemy defense and breaking their guard, opening them up for even more damage.
Boost Attack Utility: Law's Boost Attack, "Iron Blitz," is crucial for dealing with heavily armored enemies. It allows him to bypass their defenses and inflict significant damage, often staggering them and interrupting their powerful attacks.

Key Artes for Law

Law's arsenal is packed with Artes that facilitate his aggressive playstyle. Prioritizing Artes that allow for quick successive hits and have good range for their speed is key. Here are some of his most impactful Artes:

Rising Phoenix: A swift upward strike that launches enemies into the air, setting up for aerial combos. This is a fundamental Art for extending combos.
Crushing Blow: A powerful, forward-moving strike that deals significant damage and can stagger enemies. It's excellent for closing gaps and initiating aggressive sequences.
Gale Claw: A rapid series of slashes that hits multiple times, excellent for building hit counts and staggering.
Rapid Fang: A quick jab that can be spammed to maintain pressure and interrupt enemy actions.
Twin Tiger: A two-hit combo that deals good damage and can be chained into other Artes.
Iron Dragon: A powerful, charging attack that deals heavy damage and can break through guards. This is a great Art for punishing openings.
Explosive Fist: A close-range, explosive punch that deals area-of-effect damage. Useful for clearing out groups of weaker enemies.

Recommended Weapons for Law

Law's effectiveness is significantly boosted by weapons that enhance his core strengths: Attack and Agility. Weapons that offer a good balance of these stats, or lean heavily into one, will serve him well.

Steel Fists: An early-game weapon that provides a solid boost to Attack.
Dragon Claws: Offers a good balance of Attack and Agility, making it a versatile choice.
Thunder Fists: These weapons often come with elemental properties (like Lightning) which can exploit enemy weaknesses, alongside good Attack and Agility. Look for these as you progress.
Ancient Claws: Found later in the game, these often boast high Attack and Agility, making them top-tier choices.
Weapons with Agility/Attack Boosts: Always keep an eye out for weapons that have passive skills or inherent stats that increase his Attack or Agility. These can be game-changers.

Where to find good weapons:

Shops: The weapon shops in major cities like Calaglia's Arte Orbus, Nironia's shop in Cyslodia, and Eizenburg's shop in Lenegis will offer progressively better weapons as you advance the story.
Crafting: Many of Law's best weapons can be crafted. Ensure you are gathering materials from defeated enemies and mining spots throughout your journey. For example, crafting materials like "Iron Ore" and "Wolf Fur" are common early on and can lead to improved weapons.
Treasure Chests: Keep an eye on your minimap for treasure chest icons. Many contain powerful weapons or crafting materials.

Essential Skills for Law

Beyond his Artes, Law's passive skills play a vital role in his combat effectiveness. Prioritizing skills that enhance his combo potential, penetration, and survivability will make him a truly formidable force.

Combo Plus: This fundamental skill increases the maximum number of hits in a combo. Essential for maximizing Law's damage output.
Penetration: Increases the chance of your attacks bypassing enemy defense. Crucial for dealing consistent damage, especially against tougher foes.
Agility Boost: Increases Law's Agility stat, leading to faster attack animations and better evasion.
Attack Boost: Directly increases Law's Attack power, leading to higher damage per hit.
Breakthrough: Increases the damage dealt to staggered enemies. Synergizes perfectly with Law's ability to quickly stagger foes.
HP Boost: While Law is fast, he can still take hits. Increasing his HP can improve his survivability in prolonged engagements.

How to acquire Skills:

Skill Points (SP): Skills are unlocked and leveled up using Skill Points (SP), which are earned by defeating enemies, completing quests, and finding SP items.
Equip Accessories: Some accessories provide passive skills directly. For example, the "Agility Ring" might grant an Agility Boost.
Weapon Skills: Many weapons come with inherent skills that are unlocked when the weapon is equipped.

Combat Strategy with Law

Law thrives in situations where he can dictate the pace of combat. His strategy should focus on:

Initiating with Boost Attack: Use Law's Boost Attack early in a fight against armored or tough enemies to stagger them and create an opening.
Maintaining Pressure: Once an enemy is staggered or vulnerable, unleash a rapid sequence of Artes. Don't let them recover. Use Artes like Rising Phoenix to keep them airborne and Crushing Blow to close distance and deal damage.
Exploiting Weaknesses: If an enemy is weak to a certain element (e.g., Lightning), ensure Law is using a weapon or Arte with that element.
Targeting Defense: Law's inherent ability to break defenses means he's excellent at softening up enemies for the rest of the party.
Aerial Combos: Master the art of launching enemies with Rising Phoenix and continuing the assault in the air. This can prevent enemies from attacking and rack up damage.

Common Pitfalls and Tips

Overextending: While Law is fast, he can still be vulnerable if he commits to an Arte with a long recovery animation and the enemy dodges or counters. Learn the recovery times of his key Artes.
Ignoring Defense: Don't get so caught up in offense that you forget about Law's own defense. Equip HP-boosting accessories or skills if you find yourself struggling with survivability.
Not Utilizing Boost Attack: Law's Boost Attack is one of the best in the game for dealing with specific enemy types. use it frequently.
Underestimating Skill Progression: Law's effectiveness scales dramatically with his skills. Prioritize unlocking and leveling up his core combo and penetration skills.

By focusing on speed, relentless pressure, and smart skill and equipment choices, Law can become an unstoppable force, living up to his title as "The Iron Fist" and ensuring victory for the party.