How to Get Durandal Early in Dawnwalker: Cursed Chasm & Stats Guide

Full guide to acquiring the legendary sword Durandal early in The Blood of Dawnwalker. The Cursed Chasm quest, Shadow Step stealth skip, and +10 stats.

9/18/2026 v1.0.5 Stewart LI Last updated: 9/18/2026 5 min read

FAQ

Where is the legendary sword Durandal located?

Durandal is found in The Cursed Chasm, an abyssal fissure located in the southwestern corner of Laslea Glen. The blade rests inside a shattered iron reliquary wagon at the lowest level of the canyon.

Can you get Durandal right after the prologue?

Yes. Although the chasm is guarded by Level 22 Corrupted Wretches, you can use the Shadow Step Skip at night in vampire form to phase across the crag ridges without entering combat.

What are the unique perks of Durandal?

Durandal reduces attack and dodge stamina consumption by 20%, deals +25% bonus damage against supernatural and vampiric entities, and reduces all active Swordmastery skill cooldowns by 15%.

How does Durandal compare to the Imbued Sword of St. Mihai?

Durandal excels at rapid stamina sustain and mob clearing, while the Imbued Sword of St. Mihai delivers superior burst holy damage specifically against high-poise vampire bosses like Brencis.

What refinement materials does Durandal require?

Upgrading Durandal from +1 to +10 requires Refined Silver ingots and Sanzhani Silk Thread, refined at any outpost forge with a master blacksmith.

Quick Answer: How to Get Durandal Early

In The Blood of Dawnwalker, Durandal is obtained within The Cursed Chasm located southwest of Laslea Glen. While intended as a mid-game zone guarded by Level 22 Corrupted Wretches, players can claim the blade immediately after the prologue by entering the chasm at night and chaining Shadow Step or Mist Stride across the upper stone arches, looting the reliquary chest without triggering combat.

The Blood of Dawnwalker - Official Gameplay Overview

Durandal Base Stats & Scaling Matrix

Durandal is a legendary-tier bastard sword forged from meteoric steel and coated in ancient warding silver. Its unique enchantments benefit both daylight sword duels and nocturnal hunter skirmishes.

Attribute Metric	Base Tier (+0)	Refined Silver (+5)	Flawless Masterwork (+10)
Base Physical Damage	84	148	232
Supernatural / Vrakhir Bonus	+15%	+20%	+25%
Stamina Cost Reduction	-10%	-15%	-20%
Swordmastery Skill Cooldown	-5%	-10%	-15%
Poise Damage per Heavy Hit	35	55	80
Primary Stat Scaling	Strength (C) / Agility (C)	Strength (B) / Agility (B)	Strength (A) / Agility (S)

Unlike standard steel blades that shatter against armored Boyar retainers, Durandal’s inherent silver balance prevents deflection when striking Governor Ambrus the Iron Vanguard’s shield.

Step-by-Step Route: The Cursed Chasm “Shadow Step Skip”

The traditional path through The Cursed Chasm requires clearing three waves of high-level thralls, expending precious healing draughts and hours. The community-discovered Shadow Step Skip bypasses all combat.

Phase 1: Wait for Sunset (Nighttime Form Required)

Rest at the Laslea Foothills Shrine until 8:00 PM. Coen’s transformation into a Dawnwalker grants access to the Vrakhir mobility abilities:

Ensure Shadow Step (or Mist Stride) is equipped in your Ability Wheel.
Travel south along the ravine until the fog turns a deep crimson tint, indicating you have entered The Cursed Chasm boundary.

Phase 2: The Upper Ridge Traverse

Do not take the wooden scaffolding down into the chasm floor where the Level 22 Corrupted Wretches patrol.
Look up to the left wall: you will see two protruding limestone shelves overlooking the wreckage below.
Sprint-jump from the wooden overlook, then cast Shadow Step at the peak of your arc to phase across the 12-meter chasm gap directly onto the second limestone ledge.

Phase 3: Looting the Reliquary Wagon

Drop silently onto the roof of the overturned iron carriage below.
Coen’s nocturnal footsteps produce zero sound detection while crouching.
Open the reinforced lockbox inside the carriage to retrieve Durandal, 250x Silver Thalers, and 2x Sanzhani Silk Thread.
Cast Mist Stride back toward the canyon wall crevice to exit without alerting the elite gargoyles.

Weapon Synergy & Best Build Pairings

To maximize Durandal’s output, pair the weapon with specific gear and talent nodes:

[Durandal Longsword] + [Ring of Quick Strikes]
         │
         ├──> Talent: Artery Strike (Inflicts 4-second arterial bleed)
         └──> Talent: Perfect Block (Refills 20 stamina on 150ms parry)

Ring of Quick Strikes:
- Acquired from the merchant in Svartrau Outskirts.
- Increases attack speed by 12% and boosts Activation Charge gain by 25%.
Artery Strike Synergies:
- Because Durandal reduces attack stamina consumption, Coen can chain three consecutive heavy thrusts, triggering instantaneous blood hemorrhage on Boyar lieutenants like Bakir the Mad Khan.
Silver Refinement Priority:
- Take Durandal to the blacksmith in Laslea Glen. Utilizing equipment crafting and silver refinement elevates its scaling to rank S, making it viable through the final battle against Vampire Lord Brencis.

Durandal vs. Imbued Sword of St. Mihai

Players often deliberate between Durandal and the holy relic retrieved from St. Sangora Cathedral:

Choose Durandal if: You prefer high mobility, relentless offensive pressure, and zero stamina exhaustion during prolonged multi-target group fights.
Choose the Imbued Sword of St. Mihai if: You are preparing for the cathedral confrontation against Prior Mihai or want concentrated holy burst damage against shielded vampires.

For a broader evaluation of all weapons in Vale Sangora, consult our authoritative Weapon Tier List and Directional Combat Guide.