Starting the year with yet another major update, NARAKA: BLADEPOINT welcomes the imposing Pole Sword to its arsenal of martial arts weaponry. Following on from the recent addition of NARAKA’s Shaolin-inspired Staff, there are now more ways than ever to defeat your opponents out on the battlefield, with increasingly diverse character load outs and combat techniques.

Arriving on February 16, the iconic Pole Sword is commonly depicted as a weapon favored by the feared Three Kingdoms general and Chinese God of War, Guan Yu. The Pole Sword offers superior reach and mighty damage, though its heavier form makes it hard to master. With a special Souljade equipped, warriors can even summon the spirit of Red Hare — Guan Yu’s mythic steed — to initiate combat or run down fleeing enemies.

Much like the Staff, NARAKA’s new Pole Sword is a congeneric weapon that shares the same base moves and mechanics as the game’s Great Sword. Slow but powerful, these two weapons allow those who wield them to enter Stone Form, which can then be followed by a punishing heavy attack.

The team at 24 Entertainment are looking forward to seeing the Pole Sword in action when it drops on February 16. Like all weapons in NARAKA: BLADEPOINT, its martial arts techniques have been studied carefully by combat designers and animators for a fun yet authentic feel.

Of course, that’s not all NARAKA has to offer in 2023. Having celebrated the recent launch of its latest hero, Feria Shen, and the expansion of its SHOWDOWN campaign mode, there is plenty more to come throughout the year, including an exciting crossover with Yoko Taro’s NieR franchise.