For players diving into Fatekeeper, a game that places melee combat at the center of its design, the promise of unique weapons is a major draw. The world is dangerous, the enemies are unforgiving, and having the right blade can mean the difference between pushing deeper into the Underworld and getting cut down in the dark. Fortunately, the game does not make you wait long for your first distinctive armament. Shortly after entering The Ancient Haulways, a hidden sword known as the Darkguard Blade becomes available — a two-handed weapon that delivers both slash and poison damage while also boosting your stamina pool. Finding it, however, requires a sharp eye and a willingness to climb.
Where to Find the Darkguard Blade in The Ancient Haulways
The Ancient Haulways serve as one of the earlier areas in Fatekeeper, and the path to the Darkguard Blade begins almost as soon as you arrive. After making your way through the initial rocky ledges and entering a tunnel, you will emerge into the first proper chamber of the zone. The moment you step out of that tunnel, look up. You will see a blood-drenched body on a ledge above, with a sword driven through its back. That corpse holds the weapon you are after.
Reaching it is not immediately obvious. From the entrance of the chamber, turn your attention to the right, toward the northeast. You will notice a small rock formation near the entrance. Climb onto that rock, then make a jump to a slightly larger rock that hangs directly over the entrance itself. The jump requires a bit of precision, so be deliberate with your positioning. From that larger rock, you will need to leap across to a ledge that appears to be grabbable. The game’s climbing mechanics are forgiving here, and if you aim for the handhold, you should connect.
Once you have made that leap, simply climb upward until you reach the ledge where the body lies. Approach the corpse, pull the sword free, and the Darkguard Blade is yours. It is a straightforward sequence once you know the route, but the vertical path is easy to miss if you are focused on the ground-level threats.
Darkguard Blade Stats and What They Mean for Your Build
The Darkguard Blade is classified as an Uncommon Sword — Two-Handed, and its stat line makes it a compelling option for early- to mid-game characters who favor heavy, damaging strikes. The full breakdown is as follows:
- 5 Attack Costs
- 5 Dash Costs
- +10 Stamina
- 14 Slash Damage
- 14 Poison Damage
The attack and dash cost values indicate the stamina expenditure for each swing and evasive maneuver, and at five points each, the Darkguard Blade is reasonably efficient for a two-handed weapon. The +10 stamina bonus effectively increases your total stamina pool, giving you more room to chain attacks and dodges before needing to recover. This is particularly valuable early on, when stamina management can be a limiting factor in prolonged fights.
The damage split is where the blade truly shines. With 14 points of both slash and poison damage, the Darkguard Blade offers dual-threat capability. The slash component handles standard physical damage, while the poison damage applies a stacking toxin effect to enemies over time. Against foes that are resistant to pure physical damage, the poison element provides consistent pressure. Against enemies that are vulnerable to toxins, the blade can rapidly accelerate fights that would otherwise drag on.
The poison damage also has implications for certain enemy types in the Underworld. Many of the creatures you encounter in the early zones are organic and lack immunity to poison, meaning the Darkguard Blade can outperform weapons with higher raw physical numbers in practice, simply because the poison continues to tick after the hit lands.
The Lore Behind the Darkguard Blade
The game provides a brief but evocative description of the Darkguard tradition through an in-game pullquote. The Darkguards are described as the custodians of Underdweller settlements, serving as the first line of defense against the many dangers that lurk in the Underworld. Because they frequently face foes that are larger and stronger than themselves, the Darkguards have developed a tactical solution: they coat their weapons with potent toxins to offset the size and strength disadvantage.
This lore is not merely flavor text. It directly informs the weapon’s design. The poison damage on the Darkguard Blade is not an arbitrary stat; it is a deliberate reflection of the Darkguard combat philosophy. The blade itself is a practical tool born of necessity, and using it in the game echoes that same tactical logic. When you wield the Darkguard Blade, you are playing the same game of attrition that the Darkguards themselves relied on — hit hard, poison, and let the toxins do the rest.
This kind of diegetic consistency is one of Fatekeeper’s strengths. The weapons are not just stat sticks; they carry the narrative weight of the factions and cultures that produced them. The Darkguard Blade tells a story about the people of the Underdweller settlements, their struggles, and their resourcefulness under pressure.
Is the Darkguard Blade Worth Using?
For any player who has just entered The Ancient Haulways, the Darkguard Blade represents a significant power spike. It is the first unique weapon most players will encounter, and its stat profile compares favorably to the generic weapons available at that stage of the game. The combination of two damage types and a stamina bonus makes it versatile enough to carry you through several zones before you find a replacement.
The stamina bonus is especially impactful. In Fatekeeper, stamina governs not only your ability to attack and dodge but also your capacity to block and perform special maneuvers. An extra 10 points effectively increases your combat endurance by a noticeable margin. For melee-focused builds, this can translate into an extra swing or two in a critical exchange, or an additional dodge to avoid a telegraphed heavy attack.
The poison damage also opens up a tactical layer. Enemies that survive an initial engagement will continue to take damage, which means you can break off combat and let the poison finish the job. This is particularly useful against groups, where you can spread poison across multiple enemies and then focus on evasion while the damage accumulates.
That said, the Darkguard Blade is not without limitations. As an Uncommon two-handed sword, it is outclassed by rare and epic weapons found later in the game. Its attack and dash costs, while reasonable, are not the best in class. Players who prefer faster one-handed weapons or ranged options may find the blade’s two-handed commitment too slow for their playstyle. But for what it is — a weapon that can be acquired within the first hour of play — the Darkguard Blade is a standout piece of equipment.
How the Darkguard Blade Fits Into Early-Game Progression
Acquiring the Darkguard Blade early gives players a clear advantage in the opening hours of Fatekeeper. The Ancient Haulways are designed to teach players the basics of exploration, combat, and vertical navigation. The path to the blade reinforces all three of these skills. You must observe your environment, identify a non-obvious route, execute a series of jumps and climbs, and then claim your reward. It is a microcosm of the game’s broader design philosophy: exploration is rewarded, and careful observation is as important as combat prowess.
Once you have the blade, the early-game combat encounters become noticeably more manageable. The poison damage helps against the chaff enemies that populate the Haulways, and the stamina bonus provides a cushion for learning boss patterns. The weapon essentially acts as a force multiplier, allowing you to progress faster and with fewer deaths, which in turn lets you accumulate resources and experience more efficiently.
For players who intend to build around two-handed weapons, the Darkguard Blade is a natural starting point. Its stat spread encourages a playstyle that balances aggression with tactical retreat — you can afford to take risks because the poison damage is working in the background. For players who eventually switch to other weapon types, the blade remains a solid backup option for situations where the extra reach and poison effect are advantageous.
A Note on the Climbing Path and Common Mistakes
The route to the Darkguard Blade is not heavily signposted, and it is easy to miss the initial rock climb. Many players will enter the chamber, look up, see the body, and then spend time trying to find a ground-level path to reach it. There is no such path. The only way up is through the rock sequence described above.
A common error is attempting to jump directly from the entrance rock without first climbing onto the intermediate rock that hangs over the entrance. That intermediate step is essential for building enough height and distance to reach the grabbable ledge. If you find yourself falling short, go back to the small rock northeast of the entrance and re-examine your positioning. The angle of the jump matters more than the timing.
Once you have made the leap and grabbed the ledge, the climb to the top is straightforward. There is no combat required on the way up, so you can take your time and ensure you have the stamina to complete the ascent. The body itself is unguarded, which is a welcome break from the usual Fatekeeper pattern of placing valuable items behind difficult enemies.
For players who want to see the exact path in motion, the embedded video guide above provides a visual walkthrough of the route. Watching the jump sequence can clarify the positioning in a way that text alone cannot fully capture.
The Darkguard Blade is a fitting introduction to Fatekeeper’s approach to unique weapons. It is hidden but not impossible to find, powerful but not game-breaking, and grounded in the game’s lore. For anyone starting their journey through the Underworld, taking the time to retrieve this blade is one of the smartest early investments you can make. The poison will keep working long after the swing is over, and that extra stamina might be exactly what you need to survive the next dark corridor.
