Buddy Sword
Buddy Sword is a Legendary sword from the Third Sea, known for its range. It fights with two fast ranged moves, a flaming slash (Z) and a lightning beam (X). You get it by beating the Cake Queen in the Sea of Treats.
It pays off for players who aim well and can predict where a target will be. Its knockback is heavy, so it works best as a finisher in a combo built around a fruit or fighting style.
Buddy Sword
What moves does Buddy Sword have?
Open Moves for what each key does with a clip, Stats for the mastery you need to unlock each move, plus cooldown and energy, and Break for Instinct.
Instinct is the dodge ability. A move that breaks it hits through the dodge and switches Instinct off for about 5 seconds.
Buddy Sword moves, mastery and Instinct
Four plain slashes, with no dash in the string.
Throws one flaming slash toward your cursor. On a hit the target is wrapped in a fire sphere that rapidly damages it and holds it for roughly a second, then bursts, knocking it back and leaving a burn that ticks damage over time. It hits a single target and cannot hit Sea Beasts.
Fires a fast purple lightning beam toward your cursor that damages enemies and knocks them back. The farther away the target is when it lands, the more damage it takes. It has a very long range but a small hitbox, so aim matters.
Four plain slashes, with no dash in the string.
Throws one flaming slash toward your cursor. On a hit the target is wrapped in a fire sphere that rapidly damages it and holds it for roughly a second, then bursts, knocking it back and leaving a burn that ticks damage over time. It hits a single target and cannot hit Sea Beasts.
Fires a fast purple lightning beam toward your cursor that damages enemies and knocks them back. The farther away the target is when it lands, the more damage it takes. It has a very long range but a small hitbox, so aim matters.
How do you get Buddy Sword?
Buddy Sword is a boss drop, not a shop item. The Cake Queen drops it.
- Where: Ice Cream Land, the second island of the Sea of Treats in the Third Sea. The Cake Queen waits inside the giant chocolate ice cream dome.
- The boss: level 2175 with 260,875 HP, respawning every 30 minutes. The Ice Cream Quest Giver offers her quest, which pays 30,000 Beli and 112,500,000 EXP.
- Her attacks: she uses the Buddy Sword's own Heat Slash and Lightning Wave. She uses Lightning Wave when you are far away, so dash around her instead of walking straight at her, and do not stand in front of the door, since the beam can blast you out of the dome.
- What helps: her HP and damage are high, so a tanky or damage-over-time fruit such as Buddha or Magma helps, as do a few helpers. Low-damage fruits make the fight much longer.
- The drop: the sword is a possible drop, so plan on repeat kills. Server hopping her also farms mastery and money.
The Cake Queen, who drops the Buddy Sword.
How do you upgrade Buddy Sword, and what does it give?
Take the materials to a Blacksmith in Pirate Village, Kingdom of Rose or Port Town. A weapon can only be upgraded once, and you must upgrade it before you can enchant it. Full details are in the Upgrading guide. The upgrade gives +8% damage.
Buddy Sword upgrade cost
The Blacksmith screen for the Buddy Sword.
What are the best Buddy Sword combos?
Easiest first. All four chains use both Heat Slash and Lightning Wave.
Easy: Godhuman after a stun
- Keys: Stun > Godhuman Z > Godhuman X > Godhuman C > Buddy Sword Z > Buddy Sword X
- Needs: Godhuman and any stun move.
- Tip: The stun holds the target for Godhuman. Heat Slash needs aim to land.
Easy: Sanguine Art, one-shot chain
- Keys: Stun > Buddy Sword Z > Sanguine Art Z > Sanguine Art C > Sanguine Art X > Buddy Sword X
- Needs: Sanguine Art and any stun move.
- Tip: Heat Slash comes right after the stun and Lightning Wave closes the chain.
Easy: Sharkman Karate, one-shot chain
- Keys: Stun > Buddy Sword Z > Sharkman Karate X > Sharkman Karate Z > Sharkman Karate C > Buddy Sword X
- Needs: Sharkman Karate and any stun move.
- Tip: Same shape: Heat Slash right after the stun, the Sharkman Karate moves, then Lightning Wave to finish.
Easy to medium: Rumble stun and Dragon Talon
- Keys: Rumble X (or any stun) > Buddy Sword Z > Dragon Talon X > Dragon Talon Z > Buddy Sword X
- Needs: Dragon Talon and a stun such as Rumble X.
- Tip: A short chain that sandwiches Dragon Talon between the two Buddy Sword moves.
Buddy Sword strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
General
- Very fast moves that are hard to dodge.
- High damage, and a fast click speed for sword attacks.
- No dash on the fourth M1, which suits AFK grinding with M1s alone.
Heat Slash (Z)
- Decent range and hitbox, a fast projectile, and a hold of roughly a second on hit.
Lightning Wave (X)
- Very long range, damage that grows with distance, and heavy knockback that also helps you escape.
Weaknesses
General
- Needs strong prediction and aim: both moves are easy to miss.
- Cannot damage players using the Blade fruit.
- No movement move.
- The heavy knockback of both moves makes them hard to chain and a poor fit for grinding with skills.
Heat Slash (Z)
- Hits one target and cannot hit Sea Beasts.
Lightning Wave (X)
- Small hitbox. If you switch weapons right after pressing X, it can go on cooldown without firing.
Verdict
Pick Buddy Sword if you aim well, like fighting from range and want a finisher that breaks Instinct. Skip it if you want a sword that moves you around.
Buddy Sword tips and tricks
- Face downward when you chain: X launches the target far away, and aiming it downward keeps them stuck near the ground so the combo can go on.
- Start from a stun: it holds the target in place, which makes Heat Slash easier to land.
- Press X, then stay on the sword: switching weapons just after pressing X can make it miss while still on cooldown.
Buddy Sword showcase video
Buddy Sword showcase video
Video by Axiore on YouTube.
What changed in the Buddy Sword updates?
Older guides may show the start-up animations from before Update 24.
- The start-up animations of Z and X were changed.
- Buddy Sword was added to the game.
