The Nightstar is one of Mina’s five main weapons and the one she starts the game holding by default. It’s a crushing mace affixed to a flexible chain — part whip, part blunt instrument — so you press the attack button to strike from a distance, giving you more reach than any of the other starting options.
Why pick the Nightstar?
The Nightstar is the crowd favorite. When Yacht Club Games asked players to vote for their favorite weapon, the Nightstar won decisively with 55% of the vote — far ahead of the Blaststrike Maul (29%) and Whisper & Vesper (16%). Its reach lets you poke enemies before they reach you, which makes it the most forgiving weapon to learn the game with.
Upgrades
When you upgrade the Nightstar, it first receives the Dread Mace upgrade, which increases damage output when enemies are struck with the tip of the mace — so spacing matters. The second upgrade, Afterstrike, lets you hold the attack button to release a damaging pulse. The exact effects are in the upgrade table below.
You can buy the upgraded version of your chosen weapon from Legovich’s smithy in the red building in Ossex City Center. The first upgrade purchase starts at 2,000 Bones, then settles at 2,500 Bones for every other purchase. Upgrades can also be found at the game’s eight field upgrade locations spread across Tenebrous Isle.
| Move | Input | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Whip Strike | [Attack] | Swings the mace on its chain to strike from a distance, giving Mina more reach than the daggers or maul. |
| Afterstrike Pulse | Hold [Attack] (after upgrade) | Holding the attack button releases a damaging pulse — a follow-up that punishes enemies who close in. |
| Tip Hit (Dread Mace) | [Attack] at max range (after upgrade) | Connecting with the very tip of the mace deals extra damage, rewarding precise spacing. |
| Upgrade | Effect | Where Found |
|---|---|---|
| Upgrade 1Dread Mace | Increases damage output when enemies are struck with the tip of the mace, rewarding max-range spacing. | Legovich's smithy in Ossex City Center, or found at one of the eight field upgrade locations. |
| Upgrade 2Afterstrike | Lets you hold the attack button to release a damaging pulse as a follow-up. | Legovich's smithy in Ossex City Center, or found at one of the eight field upgrade locations. |
Verdict
The Nightstar is the all-rounder and the community's favorite — it crushed the official poll with 55% of the vote. Reach without committing, then lean on Dread Mace tip-hits and the Afterstrike pulse to control space.
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