Death Step
Death Step is the upgrade of Dark Step: a leg-based fighting style with a faster moveset, bigger hits and a V skill, Maximum Overheat, that makes every attack burn. Phoeyu teaches it in the Second and Third Seas, and its extra requirement, a Library Key, is easier to meet than the ones the other upgraded styles ask for. It is a strong PvP style, and one of the five styles Godhuman asks for.
Death Step
What moves does Death Step have, and what are their cooldowns?
The M1 is the basic click attack. Mastery is the number that rises as you fight with the style and unlocks its skills. Instinct is the ability that lets you dodge attacks. Maximum Overheat is the V skill that powers up the other moves, so switch it on before a combo. Open Moves for what each move does with a clip, Stats for mastery, cooldown and energy, and Break for Instinct.
Death Step moves, stats and Instinct
- Tap
- Four hard kicks.
- Maximum Overheat adds damage to them.
- Z
- You take a stance with a whirlwind around you, then let go and rush at speed towards the cursor, kicking away anyone in your path.
- Hitting a surface leaves a dent that damages everyone inside it. Hold it for up to 1 second for a longer, faster dash.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the dash is slightly faster and hits harder, and it leaves flames that burn.
- X
- You pull one leg back and kick the air to fire a very fast bullet of wind. It bursts into a wind blast on a solid surface or at its maximum distance, with damage and knockback.
- The blast hits 25% harder than the bullet. Compared with the Godhuman X, it is faster, shorter and dodgeable with Instinct.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the bullet burns, hits harder and leaves a trail of fire close to the ground.
- C
- A drill of kicks towards the cursor that stuns everyone caught, ending in a strong downward axe kick if someone is in it. Hold the key (up to 3 seconds) to make it last longer, and from the ground you jump up as it starts.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the kicks burn and the axe kick sets the ground on fire for extra burn damage.
- V
- Your legs ignite with a small explosion that hurts everyone near you.
- For about 60 seconds all Death Step damage rises by about 15%, and every attack leaves fire on the ground that burns enemies standing in it for 4 seconds.
- With Ghoul V3 you can keep it running forever: each time it runs out, trigger Heightened Senses so your moves cool down at 40% of the time, then cast it again. Let the old buff end completely before you recast it.
- Tap
- Four hard kicks.
- Maximum Overheat adds damage to them.
- Z
- You take a stance with a whirlwind around you, then let go and rush at speed towards the cursor, kicking away anyone in your path.
- Hitting a surface leaves a dent that damages everyone inside it. Hold it for up to 1 second for a longer, faster dash.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the dash is slightly faster and hits harder, and it leaves flames that burn.
- X
- You pull one leg back and kick the air to fire a very fast bullet of wind. It bursts into a wind blast on a solid surface or at its maximum distance, with damage and knockback.
- The blast hits 25% harder than the bullet. Compared with the Godhuman X, it is faster, shorter and dodgeable with Instinct.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the bullet burns, hits harder and leaves a trail of fire close to the ground.
- C
- A drill of kicks towards the cursor that stuns everyone caught, ending in a strong downward axe kick if someone is in it. Hold the key (up to 3 seconds) to make it last longer, and from the ground you jump up as it starts.
- With Maximum Overheat on, the kicks burn and the axe kick sets the ground on fire for extra burn damage.
- V
- Your legs ignite with a small explosion that hurts everyone near you.
- For about 60 seconds all Death Step damage rises by about 15%, and every attack leaves fire on the ground that burns enemies standing in it for 4 seconds.
- With Ghoul V3 you can keep it running forever: each time it runs out, trigger Heightened Senses so your moves cool down at 40% of the time, then cast it again. Let the old buff end completely before you recast it.
How do you get Death Step?
Death Step is the upgrade of Dark Step. Unlock the library door in the Ice Castle with a Library Key, then pay 2,500,000 Beli and 5,000 Fragments to Phoeyu. Learning it grants the Burning Leg title (number 129).
What you need to learn Death Step
- 400 mastery in Dark Step.
- A Library Key, used on the library door in the Ice Castle. The Awakened Ice Admiral drops it far more often than the Ice Castle enemies do. Phoeyu will not teach you until the door is unlocked, even in the Third Sea.
- 2,500,000 Beli and
5,000 Fragments.
- 400 mastery in Dark Step.
- A Library Key, used on the library door in the Ice Castle. The Awakened Ice Admiral drops it far more often than the Ice Castle enemies do. Phoeyu will not teach you until the door is unlocked, even in the Third Sea.
- 2,500,000 Beli and 5,000 Fragments.
Where to find Phoeyu, the Reformed
The library in the Ice Castle, behind the locked door. Once you unlock it, the door vanishes and Phoeyu stands by the bookshelf.
The library in the Ice Castle, behind the locked door. Once you unlock it, the door vanishes and Phoeyu stands by the bookshelf.
What are the best Death Step combos?
Every combo below uses Death Step moves. They are listed from the easiest to the hardest, and the last column says what else you need. Sword main means most of your stat points are in Sword.
Death Step combos, easiest first
DTS C (hold), Z, Rengoku X, Z, DTS X
Needs Rengoku; sword main. Switch Maximum Overheat on before you start.
Needs the Shadow fruit and Yama. It can one-shot a target.
Gravity Blade Z, Serpent Bow X, DTS C, Z, Gravity Blade X, DTS X
Needs the Gravity Blade and Serpent Bow; sword stats.
Ice V, C, Cursed Dual Katana Z, X, DTS C, Z, X
Needs Ice and the Cursed Dual Katana; sword main.
DTS C (hold), Z, Rengoku X, Z, DTS X
Needs Rengoku; sword main. Switch Maximum Overheat on before you start.
Ice V, C, DTS C, Z, Gravity Blade X, Z, DTS X
Needs Ice and the Gravity Blade.
DTS C (hold), Tushita Z (hold), DTS Z, Tushita X (hold), DTS X
Needs Tushita.
Needs the Shadow fruit and Yama. It can one-shot a target.
Gravity Blade Z, Serpent Bow X, DTS C, Z, Gravity Blade X, DTS X
Needs the Gravity Blade and Serpent Bow; sword stats.
Ice V, C, Cursed Dual Katana Z, X, DTS C, Z, X
Needs Ice and the Cursed Dual Katana; sword main.
DTS C, Z, X, Spikey Trident Z, X
Needs good aim and a quick reaction.
Death Step strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
General
- Good combo potential, mostly thanks to Vermillion Drill, whose stun is among the longest of any style.
- Excellent in PvP and for bounty hunting, and fair for grinding.
- Fixes what held Dark Step back: bigger range and area, and a faster moveset. Every move starts quickly.
Rocket Kick (Z)
- A short cooldown, great mobility and decent knockback.
- Its speed makes it very hard to dodge without Instinct.
Wind Bullet (X)
- Very fast, with a decent range, and its small explosion has a good area.
Vermillion Drill (C)
- Great stuns and high damage.
Maximum Overheat (V)
- Extremely high damage once the fire damage adds up, and the fire can break Instinct.
Weaknesses
General
- A slow M1, and enemies far away or up in the air are hard to hit.
- The hitboxes are semi-broken with Buddha, which makes the moves hard to land.
Rocket Kick (Z)
- An indirect hit can be dodged by an Instinct user.
Wind Bullet (X)
- Hard to hit, and its range is shorter than Godhuman X.
Vermillion Drill (C)
- A bit hard to land on a moving opponent in PvP: you must be in the same spot as the enemy.
- Instinct users can dodge it.
Maximum Overheat (V)
- Has the highest mastery requirement of any fighting style move, 400, and a long cooldown.
- It can be interrupted.
Verdict
Death Step is the natural next step after Dark Step: pick it for PvP, bounties and Sea Beasts, and level it to 400 mastery on the way to Godhuman. Turn Maximum Overheat on before you start a combo.
What do you unlock with Death Step?
One fighting style asks for Death Step mastery, and the table says what it needs.
The fighting style that needs Death Step
- 400 mastery in Death Step, Superhuman, Sharkman Karate, Electric Claw and Dragon Talon.
- 5,000,000 Beli, 5,000 Fragments and four materials. The Godhuman page lists them.
- Learn it from the Ancient Monk on the Floating Turtle (Third Sea).
- 400 mastery in Death Step, Superhuman, Sharkman Karate, Electric Claw and Dragon Talon.
- 5,000,000 Beli, 5,000 Fragments and four materials. The Godhuman page lists them.
- Learn it from the Ancient Monk on the Floating Turtle (Third Sea).
Death Step showcase video
Death Step showcase
Death Step showcase by Mikey on YouTube.
What changed in the Death Step updates?
- Death Step was heavily buffed: Rocket Kick range +50% and hitbox +20%, Wind Bullet range and hitbox +20%, Vermillion Drill damage over time +20%, no more end lag and hitbox +15%, and Maximum Overheat duration +50%.
- Death Step was reworked and its fire effects greatly improved. Devil Flames was renamed Maximum Overheat.
- The wind effects of Death Step were improved.
- The mastery requirement of Maximum Overheat dropped from 450 to 400.
- Death Step launched as a new fighting style.
Other Blox Fruits fighting styles
