The Duskbloods Network Test is an early taste of what FromSoftware’s full PvPvE will feel like. It’s a look behind the veil at something that could shift and change before an official launch. That said, there’s one thing that struck me after going hands on at FromSoftware’s offices. I feel like Layla comes across as a possible standout character in The Duskbloods, even at this early stage, due to her unique approach and moveset.
Layla is referred to as a sniper in The Duskbloods, and from my experience that shaped her entire moveset in the Network Test build. As a result, it got me playing in ways that made me appreciate how different she can feel compared to other Bloodsworn. Like all of them, she is equipped with Twin Katars as her melee weapon and a Sniper Rifle as her ranged equipment. The former is an incredibly fast attack that almost felt more reactionary and designed to quickly strike, while the gun is more methodical.
The key here is that ranged weapon can be used like other Bloodsworns’ guns in The Duskbloods, but at the same time you can actually bring up the sights and look down the barrel for increased accuracy or even headshots. During this in-progress build, I found the auto-target feature helpful for picking off the smaller NPC enemies, but that ability to zoom in felt extremely satisfying against a powerful enemy or a Trespasser. It’s like a could be thoughtful and methodical, which is something I didn’t expect to be an option.
I also love how the Layla we’re using in this build of The Duskbloods offers an incredibly useful special build as her default one available when a match begins. Without leveling up, we gain access to the Neb-Ra Vanishing. If triggered, she essentially turns into a cloud of bugs and can dash away briefly, leaving behind a doppleganger of sorts that briefly draws aggro from NPC opponents. It felt so practical and useful, given I did enjoy the burst of speed as I’d slip away. It even felt educational! Like okay, this game is completely new to me. I’m learning how to handle combat. This scenario I got myself into is a bit too much. What do I do? Oh, I Neb-Ra Vanish my way out of here and think about things at a reasonable distance.
Layla proved educational in another way in The Duskbloods Network Test thanks to the Sigil feature. During the hands-on period, it’s possible to enable a Sigil that adds another objective to consider during early Phases of a match. Any player can use the Alliance feature in the game to team up with someone else also playing. So even though you’d be enemies in the final part, you could assist each other prior to that. When I played, the one that could be toggled on for her was Sigil of an Old Friend. The goal is to find the other player who is randomly determined to be a “former ally” and once again form an alliance, getting points for doing so. It not only perfectly illustrated how that mechanic could work, but also ensured I would consider Alliances an option in other matches or when using other characters since I was rewarded for it during trials with her.
Layla comes across as an example of how unusual a Bloodsworn character in The Duskbloods can be. Her moveset is really focused on her ranged capabilities, with her base skill letting her dart away from enemies to recover and a player able to zoom in using her sniper rifle’s sights for more precise hits. Her Sigil helps encourage a person to learn to use the Alliance feature. She also feels solid for solo play and picking off NPCs. All of it put together means she’s someone folks should try out in The Duskbloods Network Test beta.
تاقیکردنەوەی تۆڕی Duskbloods لە ٢١ی ئابی ٢٠٢٦ لەسەر سویچ ٢ دەست پێدەکات و پێشبینی دەکرێت یارییەکە لە ساڵی ٢٠٢٦دا بێتە سەر سیستەمەکە.
ڕەتکردنەوەی بەرپرسیاریەتی: نینتێندۆ بانگهێشتی سیلیکۆنێرای کرد و گەشتی نووسەرەکەی ڕووماڵ کرد.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.siliconera.com/preview-sniper-layla-is-a-the-duskbloods-network-test-standout/
