what is the best combat style in lies of p

June 28, 2026

The best combat style in Lies of P is usually considered either Path of the Sweeper (Strength / Motivity) or Path of the Bastard (Dexterity / Technique) , depending on your skill level and what you enjoy.

I’ll break it down in a quick, slightly opinionated “forum-style” guide.

What Is the Best Combat Style in Lies of P?

Quick Scoop

If you want easy power and stagger : go Path of the Sweeper (Strength / Motivity).

If you want speed, agility, and high skill ceiling : go Path of the Bastard (Dexterity / Technique).

If you want a balanced, beginner-friendly start : go Path of the Cricket (all‑rounder).

In other words, the “best ” combat style is really “best for how you like to suffer.”

The Three Combat Styles (Explained Like a Forum Thread)

“Help, which combat style should I start with?”
— every new Lies of P player, ever

You pick from three starting combat styles:

Path of the Cricket (Balance / All‑rounder)
- Medium damage, medium speed, simple moveset.

* Starts with the **Puppet’s Saber** , a straightforward slashing weapon.

* Often considered the **most beginner‑friendly** because its stats are well rounded and forgiving.

Path of the Bastard (Dexterity / Technique)
- Focuses on speed, movement, and quick pokes instead of raw damage.

* Starts with the **Wintry Rapier** , built around fast thrusts and agile positioning.

* Many outlets and players call it the **best all‑round starting style** once you learn the game’s timings, because agility and escape tools are very strong in Lies of P.

Path of the Sweeper (Strength / Motivity)
- Uses big, heavy weapons with huge stagger and damage.

* Starts with the **Greatsword of Fate** , with large, slow sweeping attacks.

* Some guides rank this as the **strongest / easiest to “abuse” style** once you understand spacing: low stamina cost per hit, big posture damage, consistent stagger on weaker enemies.

So… Which One Is “Best”?

1. Path of the Sweeper – “Easy Mode” Power Fantasy (Motivity)

Many players and some guides argue that Path of the Sweeper is the overall strongest combat style , especially for people who like strength builds.

Why it feels so strong:

Huge stagger and damage on most hits, so regular enemies often get locked down.

Lower stamina cost per swing than you’d expect for a greatsword, making it easier to attack, then block or dodge immediately afterward.

Pairs extremely well with blocking and perfect parries , letting you punish hard with big counterattacks.

The catch:

Slow swings mean bad timing gets you punished , so you must learn boss patterns and commit to attacks wisely.

Early on, low stamina and slow animations can feel clunky if you’re used to very fast action games.

If you like heavy weapons in Souls games (greatswords, hammers, ultra greatswords), this is probably the best combat style in Lies of P for you.

2. Path of the Bastard – Best for Skilled Dodgers & Parries (Technique)

Several big guides and reviewers pick Path of the Bastard as the best combat style for most players, especially once you’re comfortable with Souls‑likes.

Why it’s considered “best” by many:

High agility and mobility matter a lot in Lies of P; being able to reposition quickly reduces how often you get trapped or cornered.

The Wintry Rapier lets you pepper enemies with fast jabs , so even if each hit is weaker, your effective DPS is high.

Works extremely well for players with good reflexes who like to dance around attacks, punish small openings, and rely on precise parries or quick steps.

The catch:

It’s more technical : relying on finesse, spacing, and reaction speed.

If you struggle with timing and reading attack patterns, you may feel squishy and underpowered early on.

If you love dex builds, rapiers, and “anime fencing” playstyles, Path of the Bastard will feel like the best combat style in Lies of P.

3. Path of the Cricket – Safest First‑Timer Pick (Balance)

Cricket is the middle child : not the flashiest, but solid.

Why you might pick it:

Balanced stats : it doesn’t lock you into heavy or light weapons early; it lets you feel out the game before committing.

The Puppet’s Saber is extremely straightforward and easy to learn, with basic slashes and decent damage.

Many players call it the most beginner‑friendly style, even if it’s not the absolute best at any one thing.

Why you might skip it:

Once you know what you like, Sweeper or Bastard will outshine it in their specialties (damage vs agility).

If this is your first Souls‑like , Cricket is a totally valid and comfy starting point.

Side‑by‑Side: Which Combat Style Fits You?

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:

[6][1] [1][5] [9][1] [9][1] [3][5] [3][5] [7][3] [3][5] [8][5] [5] [8][5] [6][5]

Combat Style	Stat Identity	Playstyle	Best For	Common Opinion
Path of the Sweeper	Motivity / Strength, high Vitality & Capacity	Slow, heavy hits, huge stagger, strong blocks & parries	Players who like big weapons, trading blows, and bullying mobs	Often called the most effective or “strongest” style overall
Path of the Bastard	Technique / Dexterity focused	Fast, agile, quick pokes and evasive movement	Experienced Souls players, good reflexes, aggressive parry/dodge users	Frequently recommended as the best starting style for many players
Path of the Cricket	Balanced stats, all‑rounder	Medium speed and damage, very straightforward moveset	Absolute beginners, people unsure of their preferred playstyle	Most beginner‑friendly, but not the strongest at high level

Forum‑Style Takes & “Latest” Vibes

Over time, the community discussion has circled around a few recurring points:

Many players now feel Motivity / heavy weapon builds are extremely strong because they can stunlock mobs and punish imperfect parries without dying instantly.

Reviewers and guides often crown Path of the Bastard as the “best combat style” on paper due to its agility and stat spread, especially for players used to Souls‑likes.

Others prefer Path of the Sweeper because it feels like a power build that’s easier to leverage , especially once you get comfortable with parrying and spacing.

So the modern “forum consensus” looks roughly like:

Best for power and ease once learned: Path of the Sweeper

Best for skilled, nimble players: Path of the Bastard

Best for total beginners: Path of the Cricket

TL;DR

Want the “strongest feeling” build with huge stagger and big damage?
Pick Path of the Sweeper.

Want the most agile, skill‑expressive build and you’re used to Souls‑likes?
Pick Path of the Bastard.

New to the genre and just want something safe to learn the game with?
Pick Path of the Cricket.

Bottom line: the best combat style in Lies of P is the one that matches how you like to fight, but Sweeper (power) and Bastard (agility) are the two standout top picks in most discussions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.