This article contains spoilers!
Thanks to Reddit user DRayX17, with access to the strategy guide, we have some insight into how Sword of Crota will be used. This mission will be first available early on, around level 7, but will also be playable later on higher difficulties. [divider] Update: GameSpot posted a video of this mission:
You can in fact use a sword, but only for a portion of one story mission – The Sword of Crota. Near the end, you pick up said Sword of Crota, and (according to the guide) “picking up the Sword of Crota replaces your gun and super ability. It is an extremely powerful melee weapon that can tear through weaker enemies.”
The guide also mentions that “If available, use the Sword of Crota’s super attack on the boss and use the weaker Hive units to build it back up.” After the mission (the first time), you get the item Blade Shards which you can trade for an armor upgrade.
Sword controls:
| Button Press | Move |
|---|---|
| R1 | Quick Attack |
| R2 | Hard Attack |
| R1, R1 | 2-hit combo |
| R1, R1, R1 | 3-hit combo |
| R1, R2 | 2-hit hard combo |
| R1, R1, R2 | 3-hit hard combo |
| R1 (in air), R2 (in air) | 2-hit air combo |
| R1 + R2 (with full super meter) | Super (can be cancelled and linked into any combo) |
Only one person in your fireteam can pick up the sword.
As far as we know, this is the only instance in the game that you’ll be able to use a melee weapon. It’s certainly possible that there’s more missions that allow it though, either now or in the future with expansions.