Safety

Being a defensive side, you won’t be able to “kill” anyone with it, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t safety concerns. Cloaks are usually made from weighted fabric like upholstery or moleskin. Be aware of rips and tears in the cloak in the event the cloak becomes snagged or entangled with your opponent’s weapons.

Cloak

A cloak is a weighted sheet of fabric that is used as a defensive side to trap and entangle your opponent’s blade. It is also puncture resistant to block incoming shots.

Fighting with a Cloak

The Cloak is a very difficult defensive side to use effectively. The cloak relies on your ability to spin and flick the fabric at the right time to block or wrap around an incoming blade. It is held in your hand at arms length with the fabric draping down. If held too closely, incoming shots could be considered a staple if shot through the cloak. Using your hand, you’ll spin bottom edge of the fabric into either a fan or drape. The fan of a cloak can provide the most defensive area of any side, while the combined drape of the cloak has the most weight of any side without risking damaging your opponent’s sword.

Fighting against a Cloak

When fighting against a cloak, your main goal is to keep your sword free from their cloak. Attack the hand holding the cloak or watch for blindspots created by a twirling cloak. You can also time your shots to the movement of the cloak to maximize your attack. If your blade gets trapped within a cloak, retreat and reset at a safe distance. A cloak is also very distracting, but don’t forget the sword which is your primary threat.

Journal Prompt

After experiencing the Cloak, how do you feel fighting with a Cloak or against it? Were you able to control the Cloak effectively or did you struggle? Why?