The unlock route
Stone Breathing requires level 25, five Beast Cores in the September 2026 build, and the Axe and Mace tied to the Stone Trainee. Find Gyorei outside the temple on the lower mountain path, meet every requirement, finish his training, and defeat the trainee. Read the current prompt before farming because Stone has more equipment gates than the usual horn route.
From the bear area, take the early Thunder path past the Torii gate. Choose the lower branch instead of climbing to the summit. Gyorei stands outside the temple-like building, with the Stone Trainee nearby.
Get the Axe and Mace
Stone uses a chained axe and flail, so its weapon is part of the build rather than a cosmetic. Farm the nearby Stone Trainee for the Axe and Mace. The drop rate is in the low single digits in the September 2026 build.
Set a nearby spawn, block the trainee’s heavy sequence, and punish its recovery. Do not trade through every hit before gaining Stone’s armor tools. Keep the weapon when it drops, since a normal katana cannot perform the style’s intended attacks.
| Requirement | Practical action |
|---|---|
| Level 25 | Finish normal early progression |
| Beast Cores | Farm the appropriate beast-type demons near Mistfall |
| Axe and Mace | Farm the Stone Trainee near the temple |
| Trainer | Speak to Gyorei on the lower mountain branch |
| Unlock | Complete training and the final trainee duel |
Understand the moveset
Stone controls close range with broad, deliberate chained-weapon attacks. Several moves reward holding your ground instead of chasing.
| Technique behavior | Best use |
|---|---|
| Volcanic Rock four-hit chain | Sustained close pressure with different ground and air endings |
| Charged slash stance | Make the opponent respect your space |
| Upper Smash | Stunning shockwave followed by an explosive launch |
| Demolishing Blow second function | Counter window or close grab and slam |
| Cinematic finisher | Confirmed boss or PvP punish |
Upper Smash sends the target away, so decide whether it ends the combo or sets up a move that can reach the landing point. Holding Demolishing Blow opens a counter window that catches and slams an attacker. Releasing near a target can serve as a grab check.
Why Stone works in PvP
Several Stone attacks resist interruption. This hyper armor lets you challenge someone who expects a single hit to stop every animation. Alongside the counter, it forces the enemy to choose between attacking, waiting, and retreating.
Armor is not invulnerability. Taking a complete combo to land one attack can still lose the trade. Use armor against a light challenge you have read, and use the counter against a repeated entry.
Hold space, invite contact, answer one choice with armor or a counter, then end cleanly. Faster styles can win the reset, so leave when your confirmed window closes.
PvE limitations and workarounds
Heavy animations and knockback make Stone slower for farming than a quick area style. Group enemies against a wall, use the widest part of the chain while they remain close, and save Upper Smash for the end.
Against a boss, stop trying to trade. Move outside a large attack and answer with one heavy sequence during recovery. Keep your counter for a pattern you recognize.
Practice before a real duel
Use Volcanic Rock on the ground and in the air because its ending changes your position. Trigger Demolishing Blow’s counter against a predictable normal enemy. Then miss Upper Smash deliberately and learn how long you remain open. Understanding a failed move makes the kit safer.
Common Stone mistakes
- Farming Beast Cores but forgetting the Axe and Mace.
- Treating hyper armor as permission to ignore damage.
- Launching a target without a follow-up that reaches.
- Opening with the cinematic finisher instead of confirming first.
- Expecting the heavy kit to farm at Thunder’s pace.
Read before holding the counter
Show normal pressure before using Demolishing Blow’s counter. Holding it at the start of every exchange lets the opponent wait and punish recovery. Watch whether they immediately challenge, block, or retreat.
Leave a small gap after M1 pressure against an aggressive player, then open the counter. Use spacing and the grab threat against a blocker. If someone retreats, control the center and walk them toward terrain rather than chasing with your slowest move.
Armor creates the same kind of decision. After an opponent learns that a light hit will not interrupt you, you gain time to reposition or charge. Alternate your answers so they cannot wait for one repeated armored attack.
Position heavy knockback
Fight with the target between you and useful terrain. Near a wall, Upper Smash creates a predictable landing point instead of throwing the enemy across an open field.
| Position | Stone plan |
|---|---|
| Target near a wall | Launch without losing follow-up range |
| Open field | Use knockback as an ender and reset |
| Several enemies grouped | Use the widest chain before the launch |
| Boss in recovery | Commit one heavy sequence, then leave |
| Enemy circling at range | Control the center and wait |
Build for the weapon’s pace
Health and stamina help because Stone takes deliberate positions and sometimes accepts a small trade. They do not justify absorbing a full combo. Buy enough movement to reach the correct range, then use survivability for the occasional calculated armor exchange.
Save skill points for the Stone branch. The weapon drop opens the equipment gate, but mastery still controls later moves. Use the first breathing technique during trainee or boss farming so unsuccessful item runs still advance the build.
Team and boss role
Stone can occupy the boss’s attention while faster allies attack from the side. Hold a safe front angle and punish committed swings. Avoid launching the boss during a teammate’s long animation unless it stays inside their hitbox.
When solo, keep each punish short. One clean chain followed by a reset is safer than armoring through the boss’s next phase.
FAQ
Where is Gyorei, the Stone trainer?
He stands outside a temple on the lower mountain path beyond the bear-side Torii gate.
What weapon does Stone Breathing use?
It uses the Axe and Mace chained-weapon set associated with the Stone Trainee.
How do I get the Axe and Mace?
Farm the nearby Stone Trainee and check its current reward panel for the drop.
Is Stone Breathing good for PvP?
Yes. Hyper armor, close control, and a counter make it a strong brawling style when you manage health trades.
Is Stone Breathing good for leveling?
It is usable, but slower attacks and enemy displacement make Thunder, Flame, or Insect more convenient for fast farming.