Ascendant Sword

Ascendant Sword is a Relic used in Crota's End, The Sword of Crota and Fist of Crota.

Quick Melee Attack

Console	Control
Action-based	Melee & Jump, then Melee
Default Playstation	R1 & X, then R1
Default xBox	RB & A, then RB

The "Quick Melee Attack" is a lower-damage melee quick attack that looks like a sword swing. You can activate it mid-air or on the ground. When used, it pulls you forward several meters. Three quick swings on the ground while moving forward makes a super fast combo that lunges you forward and does a lot of damage, but its tough to pull off, especially against a kneeled Crota.

When used mid air, the lunge forward adds a movement dynamic the community calls Relic Skating. Because a swipe lunges you forward, you can quickly and easily traverse space without losing much altitude when the melee is spammed mid-air. It works like the legendary and exotic swords and the Aegis. Relic skating is very useful for quick movement, and especially helpful for moving quickly across the bridge and getting to Crota quickly from the rocks. Sometimes, a melee lunge will also do damage to Crota before you are in range for Heavy Slam Attacks.

This attack shouldn't be used if you like to survive the raid, however. The raid encounters are about DPS, and there are better options for that below, but many of the "one-sword" strategies require a mix of Quick, Heavy, and Super attacks.

Heavy Melee/Slam Attack

Console	Control
Action-based	Fire Weapon
Default Playstation	R2
Default xBox	RT

The "Heavy Melee Attack" also referred to, in my team, as a "Slam Attack" is the high-damage melee attack that is unique to this relic. Its a high DPS attack and easiest to pull off. You activate it on the ground.

Two to three Heavy Slam attacks kills a Gatekeeper and the typical Crota strategy uses heavy slams exclusively to kill Crota as they can easily be executed three times per kneel; so it is the easiest method for new/inexperienced Swordbearers.

Charged Slam Attack

Console	Control
Action-based	Activate Super
Default Playstation	L1 + R1
Default xBox	LB + RB

The "Charged Slam Attack" is the highest-damage attack for this relic and does a ton of damage while also creating an energy wave like a Psion Wave Attack or Titan's Fist of Havoc with Shockwave. This energy wave does area of affect damage while also pushing enemies away like Warlock's Solar Wind melee. Its a very high DPS attack but requires a charged super bar. You activate it while on the ground.

This attack has the added benefit of cancelling the recovery animation/delay of the Heavy Melee/Slam, so when used in a combination like Heavy Slam + Charged Slam + Heavy Slam + Heavy Slam you can do a lot of damage to Crota in a little amount of time.

This attack is best to use during the final phase of the updated bridge encounter when you're being mobbed by enemies, as it will push them away from you while also doing lots of damage. Used in a combo like suggested above for extra effectiveness.

Creating a combo with Charged Slams, Quick Melee Attacks, and Heavy Melee Attacks can one-sword Crota on three kneels. Look up a CE Raid guide for tips on that.

Lore

This is the world the Hive craves: a universe creased by the edge of the sharpest sword.- Toland, the Shattered

The Cleaver is a Hive melee weapon that is normally carried by Knights. Ordinary cleavers are made of bone and metal and are of little value, but special swords exist that can be wielded by Guardians under specific circumstances.

Usage

Picking up the Cleaver will change the camera perspective to third-person. Pressing the melee button will do a quick swing, which can be tapped rapidly to do a combo. Pressing the fire button will do a more powerful swing. It's possible to string together two quick swings followed by one powerful swing to get a very fast yet powerful combo. Finally, if a player's Supercharge meter is full, activating one's super will make the blade release a shockwave. Switching weapons will drop the sword, though grenades can still be used with the sword.

Sword of Crota

During the story mission the Sword of Crota, the player picks up a cleaver that belonged to Crota. This weapon is said to consume the light of Guardians, but does not adversely affect the player during the mission. The player then has to use it to defeat the three Swarm Princes, after which the sword disintegrates and the mission ends.

Ascendant Sword

As part of the Dark Below, a special knight called the Blade of Crota will sometimes appear on Earth or on the Moon. Killing this knight will drop an Ascendant sword, which functions very much like the Sword of Crota, except that it will break after about 30 seconds. Four swords also appear in the Quest Ritual of Sacrifice. In Crota's End, the Ascendant sword is dropped by Swordbearers, and is the only way to kill Gatekeepers and Crota.