Yama
Yama is a Legendary sword from the Third Sea. You earn it through the Yama Puzzle on Hydra Island rather than buying or farming it, and equipping it grants the Demon Mode title. It has two moves: a spinning dash (Z) and a charged tornado that drags enemies (X).
Players use it to move around and to link combos, not for raw damage. It is also a step toward the Cursed Dual Katana, so many players earn it even if they use another sword.
Yama
Quick questions about Yama
What moves does Yama have?
Yama moves, mastery and Instinct
Three slashes, then a lunge stab on the fourth.
Spins the sword while moving toward your cursor, with heavy knockback and decent damage. When both the spin and the air slash that follows connect, the hit lands for slightly more.
Hold to charge in a stance while black and red slashes flash, then release to dash forward in a tornado of slashes. It deals decent damage and drags the enemy along with you in a stun.
Three slashes, then a lunge stab on the fourth.
Spins the sword while moving toward your cursor, with heavy knockback and decent damage. When both the spin and the air slash that follows connect, the hit lands for slightly more.
Hold to charge in a stance while black and red slashes flash, then release to dash forward in a tornado of slashes. It deals decent damage and drags the enemy along with you in a stun.
How do you get Yama?
Yama is a puzzle reward, not a shop item or a boss drop. Do the Elite Hunter quests below, then pull Yama out in the Yama Puzzle.
- Where: the Yama Puzzle takes place on Hydra Island in the Third Sea, at the Secret Temple.
- Quests: do at least 20 Elite Hunter or Player Hunter quests, then try to pull Yama out. At 30 quests the pull is a sure thing, so the Elite Pirates they send you after are the real work.
- No level check: the Elite Pirate quests have no minimum level, so any player who has reached the Third Sea (level 1500 or higher) can do them.
- Failing is safe: you keep your Elite Hunter progress if you fail to pull Yama out.
- Faster hunting: Elite Pirates are easy to lose to other players in a public server, so a private server or server hopping saves time.
The Yama puzzle.
How do you upgrade Yama, and what does it give?
One Blacksmith upgrade gives +8% damage (see the Upgrading guide).
Yama upgrade cost
What are the best Yama combos?
Easiest first. Yama moves you in and links, and in most chains a fruit or fighting style supplies the damage.
Super easy: Z into X
- Keys: Yama Z > Yama X
- Needs: Sword-main stats (most of your points in Sword).
- Tip: Dash to your opponent after Z. The easiest chain, but not good for PvP.
Easy: Godhuman after the tornado
- Keys: Yama X > Godhuman C > Godhuman Z > Yama Z > Godhuman X
- Needs: Godhuman; sword-main stats.
- Tip: Yama X goes first because its tornado drags the target along in a stun, which gives Godhuman time to connect.
Easy: Yama and Dragon Talon
- Keys: Yama Z > Yama X > Dragon Talon X > Dragon Talon Z
- Needs: Dragon Talon; sword-main stats.
- Tip: A short chain: both Yama moves, then Dragon Talon takes over.
Easy: Electric Claw, look up then down
- Keys: Electric Claw C > Yama X (look up) > Yama Z (look down) > Electric Claw Z > Electric Claw X
- Needs: Electric Claw; sword-main stats.
- Tip: Aim up while you use X and down when you use Z, as marked in the keys.
Medium: Portal, Skull Guitar and Godhuman
- Keys: Portal X (optional) > Yama X > Skull Guitar X > Portal Z > Godhuman Z > Yama Z > Godhuman C > Godhuman X > Skull Guitar Z
- Needs: Portal, Skull Guitar and Godhuman; sword-main stats recommended (sword or gun main both work).
- Tip: Needs good aim and good timing.
Yama strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
General
- Both moves carry you forward: Z spins toward your cursor and X dashes ahead.
- Both moves hit several targets at once.
- Open to any player who has reached the Third Sea, since the Elite Pirate quests have no level requirement.
Hellish Slash (Z)
- Long range, with heavy knockback.
Infernal Hurricane (X)
- Drags the target in a stun and has good range, so it opens combos and extends them.
Weaknesses
General
- Cannot damage players using the Blade fruit.
- Damage is below average next to other Second and Third Sea swords.
- The fourth M1 is a lunge, which moves you forward.
- A long unlock, since you must grind Elite Hunter or Player Hunter quests first.
Hellish Slash (Z)
- Small hitbox, so it is harder to land on a player transformed with Buddha.
Infernal Hurricane (X)
- A slight start-up and end lag.
Verdict
Get Yama if you want a movement sword for PvP combos and can spend the time on Elite Hunter quests. Skip it if you want damage, since it hits softer than other Second and Third Sea swords.
Yama tips and tricks
- Use X to start a chain: it stuns and drags the target, so open with it and let the fighting style or fruit do the damage afterward.
- Land both halves of Z: the spin and the air slash after it each need to connect for the slightly higher damage.
- Do not trust Z against a dodger: it cannot break Instinct, so pair it with something that does.
Yama showcase video
Yama showcase video
Video by SilentAsura on YouTube.
What changed in the Yama updates?
Older guides may describe the moveset from before the Update 20 rework, or X from before it stopped breaking Instinct.
- Infernal Hurricane (X) no longer breaks Instinct.
- Yama received a new model.
- Yama's moves were reworked.
- Added to the game.
