Withered Knight
The heavy frontline pick, and the most popular class of the Steam Next Fest playtest. The developers called its killing power excellent but said heavy weapons felt sluggish — and its Polearm & Shield stance is the only one in the game documented as able to rescue downed teammates from a distance.
How the Withered Knight plays
This is the class that holds ground. The developers describe the Greatsword as having excellent killing power but a sluggish feel — heavy swings commit you, so positioning matters more than reaction speed.
The Greatsword stance is built around Parry, which unlocks at an early level and had its counter window extended, plus Breakthrough Charge and the Thorn Guide pull. The core talent Legacy grants increased health recovery when you knock down a rival Gyldhunter, which rewards pushing PvP fights rather than avoiding them.
Polearm & Shield changes the role
The second stance is the more interesting one for squad play. It brings six new skills and — uniquely in the roster — the ability to rescue downed teammates from a distance. That turns the Withered Knight from a damage pick into the class that decides whether a wipe becomes an extraction.
In the 30 July patch the developers reduced the energy drain during the shield-raising charge phase, improved Tier-1 charged dash turning, increased Spear Barrage’s damage multiplier, and cut both the energy cost and cooldown of Rainbow Piercer. Block’s energy cost came down as well. Read together, that is a stance being made cheaper to hold open.
What the balance notes imply
Nothing in the launch-window notes describes the Withered Knight as overperforming. It received buffs, not restraints — which puts it below the classes the developers actively reined in, but it is not a weak pick, and it carries no learning-curve warning.
Other classes
Compare all →Frequently asked questions
Is the Withered Knight good for beginners in Mistfall Hunter?
It is the safest first pick. It was the most played class during the Steam Next Fest playtest, the developers described its killing power as excellent, and it is not one of the two classes they flagged for a steep learning curve.
What weapons does the Withered Knight use?
Two stances — Greatsword, and Polearm & Shield. The Polearm & Shield stance received balance adjustments in the 30 July 2026 patch.
Can the Withered Knight revive teammates?
Yes. The developers describe the Polearm & Shield stance as having a unique ability to rescue downed teammates from a distance, which no other stance is documented as having.