Half Sword is physics-based chaos at first glance, but behind the madness lies a beautifully deep combat system that rewards precision, timing, and smart decision-making.
This Half Sword Demo Beginner Guide & Walkthrough is made specifically for new players—those who booted up the game, laughed at their goofy sword swings, and then realized, “Wait… there’s actually something special here.”
Let’s break it down step-by-step so you stop swinging like a drunk knight and start fighting like a skilled swordsman.
Half Sword Demo Beginner Guide
Sensitivity
Before doing anything else, go into your settings and turn down your mouse sensitivity—way down. If you’re on 800 DPI, lower the in-game sensitivity almost all the way.
Why? Because in Half Sword, your mouse directly controls your weapon’s movement. High sensitivity turns your sword into a wild, uncontrollable mess. Lower sensitivity gives you subtle, smooth control—which is crucial for both attacking and blocking effectively.
Basic Offense: Learn to Swing with Purpose
Combat in Half Sword is all about how you move your mouse. You aren’t clicking buttons to attack—your physical mouse movements are the attacks. Let’s break down the core types of strikes:
Light Slash (Quick Jab)
- From your stance, flick the mouse in a direction without winding up.
- Fast, snappy, and great for keeping up pressure.
- Think of it like a jab in boxing—quick and hard to predict.
Heavy Slash (Full Wind-Up)
- Move your mouse in the opposite direction first to build momentum, then swing hard.
- Slower and easier to read, but deals more damage and can knock enemies off balance.
- Ideal against armored foes or enemies you’ve already baited into a miss.
Overhead Strike
- Pull the mouse straight up, then slam it down.
- High damage, especially to the head or unarmored parts.
- Risky if you telegraph it—holding your sword above your head for too long leaves you wide open.
Stab
- Hold ALT and move your mouse up then down.
- Great for hitting gaps in armor like the neck, armpits, or face (if the helmet is open).
- Stabs often result in one-hit kills if placed right.
3. The Core Mechanic: Half Swording
Here’s where the game gets its name—and where things get really interesting.
How to Half Sword:
Hold the Right Mouse Button to grab the blade with your off-hand.
This reduces your range slightly but gives you tight control for both offense and defense.
Why It’s Powerful:
Perfect for close-quarters combat—you can overwhelm enemies with fast slashes.
Great for targeting weak points (neck, gaps in armor).
Surprisingly effective for parrying and defense (more on that next).
Pro tip: A well-timed half-sword slash across the neck can end a fight instantly. Try swinging your mouse right then left quickly at head level to land a deadly blow.
Defense: Don’t Just Swing—Survive
Blocking and parrying can feel confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s the most satisfying part of the game.
Footwork and Dodging
- Tap Shift + a direction to dodge.
- This quick step helps you evade wide swings or get out of range from short weapons.
- Don’t hold shift the whole time—you’ll burn stamina (even though there’s no visible bar, it exists!).
Passive Parry (Auto Assist)
- Stand with your weapon angled toward the incoming attack.
- If timed well, the game gives you a slight assist to deflect incoming blows.
- Lower sensitivity helps here—you need tiny, precise adjustments to stay in parry range.
Active Parry (Manual Block)
- See a slash coming? Swing your blade at it.
- If your weapon hits the opponent’s mid-attack, you’ll clash blades and can counter.
- This feels amazing when timed right and adds a lot of tactical depth.
Want a solid defense? Combine half-sword stance with active parries—especially useful against overhead attacks where you can meet them head-on and retaliate fast.