Valor Mortis Saber Guide – Stats, Upgrades, and How to Use It

The Saber is the first weapon you get in Valor Mortis, and for many players, it ends up being the last one standing too. It is the most forgiving sword in the game. It blocks, it parries, it deals solid damage — and unlike the other swords, it never asks you to give anything up to use it well.

This guide covers everything about the Saber: its base stats, how to upgrade it, the best upgrade perks to pick, the builds it fits into, and how to use it properly in combat.

TL;DR – Saber Quick Summary

• The Saber is William’s starting sword, found at the beginning of Chapter 1.
• It starts at 20 Damage and can be upgraded to Level 10.
• It is the only sword that lets you both block and parry freely.
• Best upgrade perks are Pursuit and Careful Preparations for most builds.
• For fire builds, go Pursuit and Adrenaline Flourish instead.
• Upgrading requires Blade Materials — bought or found across the world.
• It pairs well with almost every gun and Transmutation in the game.
• Most players recommend the Saber as the go-to sword for beginners and mixed builds.

What Is the Saber in Valor Mortis?

Valor Mortis is a first-person soulslike set in a dark alternate version of Napoleonic Europe. You play as William Dowsett, a soldier who wakes up on a battlefield and must fight his way through corrupted enemies and monstrous bosses.

The Saber is William’s default melee weapon. You have it from the moment the game begins, and it never leaves your arsenal. It is a one-handed curved military sword that sits in your right hand. Your left hand holds a firearm or a Transmutation ability.

According to the game’s Arsenal tab, the Saber is described as “a universal blade with 20 Damage and a balance of offence and defence.” That description is pretty much the whole picture — it is a sword built for balance, not extremes.

For a full breakdown of every weapon in the game, see our Valor Mortis All Swords and Guns Weapons List.

Saber Stats

The Saber starts at Level 1 when you pick it up in Chapter 1. Here is what is confirmed about its base stats:

• Damage: 20 (at Level 1)
• Type: One-handed melee sword
• Attacks: Light attacks and heavy attacks
• Defense: Can block and parry
• Max Level: 10
• Upgrade Currency: Blade Materials (Crude, Pure, Distilled, Quintessential)

Damage scales up with each upgrade level. The Saber’s fifth and third attacks in a combo sequence notably regenerate Endurance and Health respectively, which is a big deal for staying alive in longer fights.

How to Upgrade the Saber

All weapon upgrades in Valor Mortis happen at the Abandoned Church, specifically at James’s Iron Bench. You cannot upgrade your weapons at Lanterns — only your character stats can be improved there. You need to physically visit the Church between runs to apply upgrades.

Upgrading the Saber (and every other melee sword) requires Blade Materials. These come in four grades, each covering a different level range. Here is the full upgrade path:

Weapon Level	Material Needed	Amount Required
Level 2	Crude Blade Material	1
Level 3	Crude Blade Material	2
Level 4	Crude Blade Material	3
Level 5	Pure Blade Material	1
Level 6	Pure Blade Material	2
Level 7	Pure Blade Material	3
Level 8	Distilled Blade Material	1
Level 9	Distilled Blade Material	2
Level 10	Quintessential Blade Material	1

The lower three grades — Crude, Pure, and Distilled — can be purchased from James at the Abandoned Church. Crude costs 1,500 Catalysts each, Pure costs 3,000, and Distilled costs 6,000. Quintessential Blade Material cannot be bought at all. There are only three copies in the entire game, found in The Outskirts and the Fortress.

Maxing any one blade to Level 10 unlocks the Bladesmith achievement or trophy. Check out the Valor Mortis All Achievements and Trophy List if you are working toward 100% completion.

Where to Find Blade Materials for the Saber

Beyond buying them from James, Blade Materials are scattered throughout the world in chests and as drops from enemies. Here is a quick breakdown of where to look:

Crude Blade Material (Levels 2–4)

Crude is the most common grade and starts appearing from Chapter 1. The first one is in an ornate chest inside the altar tent right at the start. After that, they appear regularly across the Battlefield, Fallen Village, Cursed Hollow, Valley of Ashes, Caverns, and Vale of Wrath regions — both in chests and loose in the world.

Enemy drops are also reliable at this tier. The Eternal Guardsman has the best drop rate at 3 percent. Volunteers drop at 2 percent, and Risen Duellists, Lancers, Sapeurs, Soldiers, and Shambling Civilians each drop at 1 percent.

Pure Blade Material (Levels 5–7)

Pure starts appearing in the Valley of Ashes and continues through mid-game areas. The Outskirts has four loose in the world, and Vale of Wrath and Cursed Hollow each have several in chests. Eternal Guardsmen and Volunteers also drop Pure at a 2 percent rate. James stocks one Pure from Chapter 5, rising to two per restock from Chapter 9.

Distilled Blade Material (Levels 8–9)

Distilled is focused in the late-game areas. The University has the most chest pickups, followed by Cursed Hollow and City of Orphans. A few require specific unlocks — one in the Abandoned Church is only reachable after beating the Sphinx, and one in Vale of Wrath requires Nephtoglobin formation abilities. James stocks one Distilled from Chapter 9.

Quintessential Blade Material (Level 10)

There are only three in the game. One is in a chest beneath the lighthouse in The Outskirts after the Experiment 83 boss fight. The second is in a green room in the Fortress Ramparts sewers. The third is in a secret room near the Fortress Courtyard Lantern — but you need to collect all 7 Mysterious Stone Pyramids from Eternal Guard mini-bosses first to open it.

Best Saber Upgrade Perks

As you upgrade the Saber’s level, you unlock perk choices at certain milestones. At Level 5, you face a branching choice between two upgrade paths. The second and late-game upgrades also offer options. Here is what the top builds recommend:

For Beginner and General Builds

• Pursuit (Level 5 branch) — Increases melee damage output. This is the go-to pick for most situations.
• Careful Preparations — Extends the duration of Whetstone infusion effects, which is great if you use Flaming Whetstones or other infusions. Also adds five more hits before the infusion wears off.

For Fire Builds (Saber + Fire Transmutation)

• Pursuit — Increases melee damage, which is core when you are slashing burning enemies to extend Ignite.
• Adrenaline Flourish — Improves Endurance restoration, which helps you stay aggressive during close-range fire combos.

For Pistol + Saber Builds

• Careful Preparations — Extends infusion hits so you can use melee attacks more often to build status on enemies.
• Adrenaline Flourish — Keeps your Endurance topped up for fluid switching between shooting and slashing.

In short: Pursuit + Careful Preparations is the standard combo for most players. If you are running a fire build, swap Careful Preparations for Adrenaline Flourish.

saber in valor mortis

Best Builds Using the Saber

The Saber is the most versatile sword in Valor Mortis. It fits comfortably into multiple playstyles. Here are the main builds that use it:

Pistol and Saber Build

This is the most recommended build for new players. Pair the Saber with the Pistol for flexible combat. The trick is to shoot enemies once with the Pistol, then slash with the Saber — if your Pistol is upgraded with the right perks, you can get that bullet back from the melee hit. Use the Saber to recover HP and Endurance during fights. Upgrade the Pistol with Tactical Reload and Ingenious Engineering to amplify damage.

Fire and Saber Build

This build pairs the Fire Transmutation with the Saber. You use Fire to burn enemies and apply the Ignite effect, then stay close and slash with the Saber to extend the burn duration. The Saber’s Endurance recovery on hit keeps you alive while you stay in melee range of burning enemies. Use a Flaming Whetstone on the Saber to contribute to Ignite buildup from your melee attacks too.

The key stat to invest in for this build is Nephtoglobin Extraction, which improves how much Nephtoglobin you recover when hitting enemies. That keeps your Fire Transmutation available more often.

Saber-Only Beginner Build

For players just learning the game, sticking to the Saber and the Pistol through the first three chapters is the smartest call. The Saber covers your defense with both blocking and parrying. The Pistol handles weak points and barriers. Prioritize Endurance upgrades at Lanterns first — almost every action you take in combat costs Endurance, and more of it makes every fight more forgiving. Check out our Valor Mortis Tips and Tricks Getting Started Guide for more early-game advice.

How to Use the Saber Effectively in Combat

The Saber rewards smart defensive play. Here is how to get the most out of it:

Understand Light and Heavy Attacks

The Saber has both light attacks for quick, lower-cost hits and heavy attacks for more damage at the cost of more stamina. In most fights, mix them. Use light attacks to pressure and build combos, then land a heavy attack when the enemy is staggered or off-balance.

Block Before You Learn to Parry

If you are new to the game, use the Saber’s block more than you might think you need to. Blocking reduces the Endurance cost of eating an attack and also increases how much HP you can recover by attacking right after you take the hit. This makes the Saber much more forgiving than the Rapier for players who have not yet mastered parry timing.

The Blocking skill at Rank 2 in the upgrade tree specifically reduces the Endurance cost of blocking and increases that HP recovery window. Buy it early.

Master the Parry for Finishers

A perfect parry builds stagger on the enemy. Land enough perfect parries and you trigger a bloody finisher move — a powerful, cinematic attack that deals massive damage. This is the Saber’s most powerful tool in serious fights.

The key is to watch the weapon’s movement, not the enemy’s wind-up animation. Timing the parry to the weapon coming at you — not to when the enemy starts their swing — is how you get consistent perfect parries. Stamina management is critical here. Never overcommit to attack strings before a parry opportunity, or you will not have the Endurance to parry when you need to.

Use Whetstones for Extra Damage

Flaming Whetstones and other infusion items temporarily buff your Saber with elemental properties. If you have the Careful Preparations upgrade, those infusions last longer and give you more hits before wearing off. This is especially effective in fire builds, where your Saber swings contribute to the Ignite buildup.

Match the Weapon to the Enemy

The Saber is the safest all-around choice, but there are situations where switching matters. Against fast enemies in one-on-one fights, the Saber is excellent. Against heavily armored enemies, consider swapping to the Claymore for a fight or two. Knowing when to switch is part of the combat system. The Saber is best against Risen Soldiers, Risen Musketeers, and any enemy you are still learning — because the block option gives you a safety net that the Rapier does not offer.

Saber vs Rapier – Which Should You Use?

This is the main weapon debate in Valor Mortis. Both are one-handed swords. Here is the honest comparison:

• The Saber can block and parry. The Rapier can only parry, with weak blocking.
• The Saber is more forgiving. The Rapier has a higher skill ceiling.
• The Rapier deals more damage when you play it perfectly. The Saber deals more consistent damage.
• The Saber fits every build. The Rapier shines in parry-focused and critical hit builds.

For most players — especially those new to soulslike games — the Saber is the right choice. The ability to block gives you a backup when your parry timing is off. As you get deeper into the game and more comfortable with parrying, you can decide whether to stick with the Saber or switch to the Rapier for its higher damage ceiling.

The overall consensus among players is that the Saber is what the combat is balanced around. If you are losing a fight and cannot figure out why, switching back to the Saber is always the right move.

Key Stats to Upgrade Alongside the Saber

The Saber is only one part of the equation. These character stat upgrades at Lanterns pair best with a Saber-focused playstyle:

• Maximum Endurance — Priority number one. Almost everything costs Endurance. More of it makes every fight more manageable.
• Blocking or Parrying Impact (Rank 2) — Reduces the Endurance cost of blocking and increases HP recovery after a block. Essential for Saber users.
• Melee Damage (Rank 3) — Straightforward damage increase across all melee attacks. Always worth taking.
• Melee Endurance Cost (Rank 5) — Reduces how much Endurance each swing costs. Lets you attack more before you need to back off.
• Nephtoglobin Extraction — Add this once you are regularly combining the Saber with fire or a Transmutation to recover Nephtoglobin through melee hits.

You can respec your character skills at any Lantern for a small Catalyst fee, so do not stress too much about early choices. Experiment and adjust as you go.

For a broader look at the game’s world and chapters, check out our Valor Mortis All Chapters List.

Where to Play Valor Mortis

Valor Mortis is available now on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. Visit the official Valor Mortis website or grab it on Steam, PlayStation Store, or the Xbox Store.

Before you jump in, check our Valor Mortis PC System Requirements and our Valor Mortis Review to know what you are getting into.

Frequently Asked Questions