Weapon Arts are special abilities attached to weapons and shields in Crimson Moon. They give you more options in combat beyond your normal Light and Heavy Attacks, with abilities ranging from powerful melee attacks to projectiles, elemental effects, defensive zones, buffs, and status effects.
What makes Weapon Arts especially useful is that different pieces of equipment can share the same Weapon Art. This means you are not always locked into one weapon just because you like its ability. You can look for equipment that fits your preferred playstyle while also giving you the Weapon Art you want.
Below, I’ve listed all of the currently documented Weapon Arts in Crimson Moon and what each one does.
Crimson Moon Weapon Arts Guide – All Arts and Effects
Angelic Bulwark
Angelic Bulwark creates a defensive zone on the ground for you and your allies.
This makes it a useful defensive option when you need to hold an area or protect yourself and teammates during a fight.
Aura of the Burning Heart
Aura of the Burning Heart creates an Aura of Fire around you, giving you an area-based offensive effect.
Avenging Pestilence
Avenging Pestilence creates an Aura of Poison around you.
This Weapon Art is particularly suited to builds that focus on Poison and close-range combat.
Bleed Projectiles
Bleed Projectiles sends a homing projectile toward your enemies that applies Bleed.
It gives you a way to pressure enemies from a distance while also building the Bleed effect.
Cardinal’s Staff
Cardinal’s Staff fires projectiles in every direction around you.
The projectiles deal Magic damage and knock enemies away, making this a useful option when you are surrounded.
Earthen Strike
Earthen Strike summons a wave of stalagmites from the ground.
The wave travels through its path and deals Crushing damage to enemies caught by it.
Egregore Explosion
Egregore Explosion causes a circle of egregore hellgrowth to erupt from the ground.
All enemies caught within the area take damage.
Empower
Empower increases your Defenses and Damage of all types.
Unlike Weapon Arts that focus on a single attack or status effect, this one works as a general boost to your character.
Fire Burst
Fire Burst throws a burst of flames at your enemies and applies one stack of Burning.
It is a straightforward option for adding Fire damage and Burning to your build.
Fire Trail
Fire Trail leaves a trail of Fire behind you as you move.
This lets you damage enemies through the area you travel through rather than only attacking the enemies directly in front of you.
Fireball
Fireball allows you to invoke a fireball that fires forward from your shield.
It gives shield users a ranged offensive option.
Gouging Throw
Gouging Throw lets you throw your weapon at an enemy while applying Bleed.
You can then attack again to recall the weapon whenever you choose.
Homing Projectiles
Homing Projectiles casts homing orbs toward your enemies.
The projectiles deal Fire Damage, giving you a ranged Fire-based option that can track your foes.
Ice Trail
Ice Trail leaves a trail of Frost behind you while moving.
It works similarly to Fire Trail, but focuses on Frost instead.
Impaling Throw
Impaling Throw lets you hurl your weapon at an enemy before recalling it with another attack.
Unlike Gouging Throw, the listed effect does not include a Bleed application.
Phoenix Flare
Phoenix Flare causes you to burst into flames.
The effect deals damage and Burning to all enemies within 4 meters, but it also damages yourself.
Because it affects you as well as nearby enemies, you need to be careful about when you use it.
Pillars of Light
Pillars of Light summons pillars of blinding light around a target enemy.
The pillars deal Magic damage to enemies in the area.
Poison Caltrops
Poison Caltrops activates when you Dodge, leaving a zone of Poison at your previous location.
This makes it useful for players who like to stay mobile while leaving hazards behind for enemies.
Poison Trail
Poison Trail leaves a trail of Poison behind you while moving.
Purifying Blast
Purifying Blast consumes all status effects on a targeted enemy and turns them into a burst of damage.
This makes it a particularly interesting option for builds that can stack status effects before using the Weapon Art.
Reaper Whirlwind
Reaper Whirlwind has you spin with your weapon while spawning Frost projectiles.
At the same time, nearby enemies are struck with a Frost Attack.
Rupturing Slash
Rupturing Slash is a melee attack that slashes across an enemy while dealing damage and applying Bleed.
Shield Bash
Shield Bash blasts you forward with your shield and deals Crushing damage.
It gives shield-focused builds an aggressive way to close distance and attack.
Sword of Rot
Sword of Rot raises thorns in a wave in front of you.
Enemies caught in the wave take damage and receive Poison.
Valak Slam
Valak Slam slams your weapon into the ground and releases a spray of magic flames.
Whirlwind
Whirlwind makes you spin with your weapon, striking all nearby enemies with increased Attack.
It is a straightforward area-of-effect Weapon Art for dealing with groups of enemies around you.
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice summons a wedge of ice from the ground and deals Frost.
Winter Sun
Winter Sun encases nearby enemies with Frost.
It provides another Frost-focused option for controlling enemies around you.
Weapon Arts and Equipment
Weapon Arts are directly connected to your weapons and shields. Some abilities can appear on multiple pieces of equipment, while others are associated with specific weapons.
This is important when putting together a build because your equipment choice can affect more than your basic attack moves. You can look for weapons or shields that provide a Weapon Art that works well with your Boons, Trinkets, and preferred combat style.
For example, a build focused on Burning can benefit from Weapon Arts such as Fire Burst, Fire Trail, Aura of the Burning Heart, Phoenix Flare, or Valak Slam. A Frost-focused build has options such as Ice Trail, Reaper Whirlwind, Winter Solstice, and Winter Sun.
Likewise, Bleed and Poison builds have their own options, including Bleed Projectiles, Gouging Throw, Rupturing Slash, Avenging Pestilence, Poison Caltrops, and Sword of Rot.
Using Weapon Arts With Boons
Weapon Arts become even more interesting when you combine them with the right Boons.
Several Boons specifically interact with Weapon Arts. For example, Aftershock Technique causes Weapon Art attacks that create ground damage zones to fire twice, while Ascendant Auras doubles the size of Weapon Art Auras.
Other Boons can make Weapon Arts apply or interact with status effects. Pyromancer causes Weapon Art hits to inflict Burning, while other effects can improve Fire, Frost, Poison, or Bleed-based setups.
This means it is worth looking at your entire build instead of choosing a Weapon Art on its own. A Weapon Art that seems average by itself can become much more useful when paired with the right Boons and equipment.
Final Thoughts
Weapon Arts give Crimson Moon another layer of combat customization. They can change how you approach groups of enemies, provide ranged attacks, create defensive zones, apply status effects, or simply give you a powerful way to deal damage.
Since some Weapon Arts can appear on multiple pieces of equipment, you also have more freedom when building your loadout. You can look for the Weapon Art that fits your playstyle and then combine it with the weapons, shields, Trinkets, and Boons that support it.
If you are building around a specific effect such as Burning, Frost, Poison, or Bleed, I would start by choosing a Weapon Art that supports that effect and then build the rest of your setup around it. This can make your abilities feel much more consistent during a run.