Swords Out

"Based in the stacks of Blade Heart, unsheathe multiple flying swords forward, each dealing normal DMG."

Swords Out is Tao's Primary Skill. Using it summons a barrage of flying swords forward, each dealing 200 normal damage.

The number of flying swords that are summoned is related to the number of Blade Heart stacks at the time, summoning 3 swords for each stack, between 6 and 18 by default.

Swords Out can be used while performing a variety of actions, including firing your weapon, casting Fatal Bloom or reviving a teammate. It cannot however be used after being knocked down.

Blade Heart stacks are gained every time 15 ammo is consumed, as long as the skill is not on cooldown. When using the skill, stacks are drained rapidly until it reaches the minimum number of stacks, which is 2 without upgrades.

Weapons and scrolls that consume more than 1 ammo will gain Blade Heart stacks faster, such as Scalpel's Two Shot ^? mode. Effects that prevent ammo consumption such as Warlike Blade and Bloody Ammo also count as if ammo was still being consumed.

Frequent Use[]

The base cooldown is 5.2s. The cooldown starts as soon as it is activated rather than when it ends, which can make the cooldown seem shorter than it is.

Efficient Casting decreases the cooldown to 3.9s at max level.
Luminous Heart increases the minimum number of Blade Heart stacks by up to +3 (5 total), making frequent use more practical. Level 3 reduces ammo consumption required from 15 to 10.
Terminal Lucidity resets the cooldown after taking 20% Health^? + Shield^?/ Armor^? damage in one hit.
Against the Flow (unenhanced) gradually consumes ammo and refills Blade Heart stacks, even from ammo pools Tao doesn't have a weapon for.
Magic Watch grants a 33% chance to reset the cooldown immediately on use.
Terrific Crossfire reduces the cooldown by -1s upon using Fatal Bloom.
Ancient Timer reduces the cooldown by -50%.
Flowing Time reduces the cooldown by -1s (once every 2s) upon hitting an enemy.
Energy Storage grants +1 capacity, at the cost of +30% cooldown. The extra capacity allows Swords Out to never be on cooldown if used carefully, allowing Blade Heart stacks to be gained constantly.
Field Proficiency decreases its cooldown by -6% for every elite enemy and boss killed, up to -60%.
Copycat decreases its cooldown by -50% for 60 seconds after killing an Aggressive Enhanced enemy.
Overconsumption decreases its cooldown by up to -50%.
Sword Mastery allows Blade Heart stacks to be gained even when the skill is on cooldown.
Unsheathed Blade grants +1 capacity.
Unlimited Blade reduces the cooldown by -1s.
Chrono Magazine decreases the cooldown by -3s every time you reload.
Extra Shot resets the cooldown every second time it is used.
Vibrative Timer grants a 20% chance to reset the cooldown when killing an enemy.
Rapid Cast decreases the cooldown by -80%.
Be Right Back resets the cooldown after killing an enemy with a flying sword.

Offensive Use[]

Without upgrades, each sword created by Swords Out deals 200 damage. Every stack of Blade Heart summons 3 flying swords, summoning up to 18 flying swords and dealing 3600 damage total.

Swords Out will only create a certain number of flying swords each second. Higher Blade Heart stacks at the time of activation and ascensions that increase flying sword amount will cause Swords Out to stay active for longer.

Skill Enhancement increases skill damage by up to +50%.
Blade in Heart increases damage by +5% for every stack of Blade Heart.
No Escape causes flying swords to home in on marked enemies while making them take +20% damage.
Sword Enthusiast increases weapon and skill damage by up to +4% for a short time for each flying sword summoned. Level 3 also increase Lucky Shot Chance by +2%.
Swordsman increases weapon and skill damage by +8% for each Blade Heart stack.
Sword Shadow increases the number of flying swords summoned for each Blade Heart stack by up to +3 (6 total).
Epic Swordcraft increases the base damage of flying swords by up to +300%.
Amplified Sword increases the damage of flying swords by up to +10% each time an enemy is hit by a flying sword within a brief time.
Furious Wave grants a 40% chance to double flying sword damage, and an extra 20% chance to triple damage against enemies marked by Fatal Bloom.
Luminous Heart increases minimum and maximum Blade Heart stacks by up to +3 (5 and 9 total).
Brutal Gloves increases damage dealt by +35%.
Energy Sandals increases damage for every dash since the last primary/secondary skill use or trigger.
Skill Booster increases damage for every Critical Hit since the last primary/secondary skill use or trigger.
Sucker Punch increases skill damage by +45% if the enemy has at least 70% Health.
Enduring Caster increases skill damage by +1% for every 5 Health and Shield/Armor you have.
Vindictive Nature increases skill damage by +40% for some time after taking damage.
Surprise Bonus grants a 15% chance to double the damage of any skill.
Rational Consumption increases skill damage by +80%, but lowers it by 5% for every item purchased from a Peddler.
Dual-edge increases damage by +1% for every enemy killed.
Deadly Curse increases skill damage by +75%.
Spirit Bible increases skill damage by +120%.
Rich's Privileges deals extra damage after hitting with skill damage based on how much copper you currently have.
Overconsumption increases damage dealt by up to +300%.
Armed Caster increases skill damage by +50% for every 1x CritX your held weapon has.
Ice Blade causes flying swords to deal 10% of the enemy's current Health^? (up to 5000 against elites/bosses) as True^? damage.
Swordplay grants no ammo consumption while Swords Out is active, and for 3 seconds afterwards.
Shadow Broom causes Ice Blade to deal 10% of the enemy's maximum Health, instead of current.
Skill Enhancement increases skill damage by +6% for every level up.
Golden Touch increases skill damage by +10% for every occult scroll recycled, up to +100%.
Skill Specialist increases total skill damage by +100%.
Elemental Prohibition increases total damage by +125%.
Be Right Back grants full Blade Heart stacks after killing an enemy with a flying sword.
Blooming Blade causes every flying sword to deal damage equivalent to Fatal Bloom.

Defensive Use[]

Swords Out has no defensive functionality by default.

Sword Guard increases max Shields^? by up to +4 for a short time and instantly recovers the same amount of Shield for each flying sword summoned. Level 3 increases Shield recharge speed by +50% when at 20 stacks or more.
Sword Defense reduces damage taken by up to -70% while casting Swords Out. Level 3 also prevents Health^? falling below 1.
Gold Medal restores 15%^? or 15%^? on use.
Cardiac Pacing instantly revives all downed teammates within 25 meters upon primary skill use. (Cooldown: 15s)