Chambara is a combat sport in Nintendo Switch Sports in which two players strike each other with swords until one of them falls off the platform. Read on to learn Chambara's controls and mechanics, including tips on how to win!

How to Play Chambara

Chambara General Information

Chambara Overview
Difficulty	★★★★
Objective	Win rounds by knocking your opponent off the platform. The first to get two rounds wins the match.
Round Times	45 seconds per round
Number of Players	Local Multiplayer: 2 (1v1) Online Multiplayer: 2 (1v1) Random Matchmaking: 2 (1v1)

All Chambara Bonus Multipliers

Bonus	Points/Multiplier	How to Get
Play Bonus	30 Points	Finish the match.
Victory Bonus	x1.2	Win the match.
Attack Tactician	x1.1	Land consective attacks on your opponent without being blocked.
Block Doctor	x1.1	Successfully block several attacks from your opponent.
Comeback Kid	x1.1	Win the round after being one hit away from falling down.

You can earn point bonuses after chambara matches depending on your performance during the game. You can also earn more points if you manage to reach sudden death with your opponent!

Attack and Guard with Your Sword

Perform attacks by swinging the Joy-Con controller and guard yourself from your opponent's strikes by pressing the ZL/ZR button.

Successful attacks will push your opponent near the edge, while successful guards will stun them, giving you time to launch a counterattack!

How to Strike Your Opponent
Opponent is Blocking:	Vertically	Horizontally	Diagonally
Attack:	Vertically	Horizontally	Parallel to direction of the block
How to Block Against Your Opponent
Opponent is Attacking:	Vertically	Horizontally	Diagonally
Block:	Horizontally	Vertically	Perpendicular to direction of the attack

Waving your sword around randomly results in weak attacks

Button-mashing and randomly waving sword your around is highly discouraged in Chambara, and it will result in weaker attacks. Time your attacks strategically to maintain the proper attack power.

Choose Between Three Sword Types

Weapon	Characteristics
Sword	・ Simple to use ・ Strike attack is strongest of all swords
Charge Sword	・ Can charge up energy by blocking attacks ・ Can use Charge Strikes and Charge Thrusts
Twin Sword	・ Fight with two sword in each hand ・ Can use Spinning Strike that charges over time

You have three sword options to choose from when playing Chambara.

Charge Sword and Twin Sword may have their own gimmicks, but the simplistic nature of the Sword cannot be underestimated as it has the strongest attacks of all three swords.

Best Chambara Sword Guide

Tiebreakers Through Sudden Death

If there is no winner after three rounds due to ties, the game will be decided in a sudden death, where the platform will be significantly smaller.

During sudden death, a player will fall down if they are hit twice.

How to Win in Chambara

How to Win in Chambara
Calmly Guard Against Your Opponent
Strike When Opponent is Not Blocking
Attack Parallel to Block Direction
Use a Sword that Suits Your Playstyle

Calmly Guard Against Your Opponent

A round in chambara can be ultimately decided on who is the better blocker between the two swordfighters. Hold you guard at all times and constantly adjust your block by watching how your opponent is holding their sword.

Keep adjusting your block

Try to always hold the guard button and keep adjusting its stance, as your opponent will always try to adjust their attack to the direction of your guard.

Remember that in order to successfully block an attack, your sword must be perpendicular to the direction of your opponent's attack.

Avoid spamming attacks

Avoid spamming attacks, as this will make you predictable and your opponent can easily block your next attack, leaving you stunned and vulnerable.

If you have the tendecy to dish out slashes all the time, hold back, keep your guard on, and watch your opponent's movements.

Strike When Opponent is Not Blocking

It is easy to determine if your opponent is blocking or not by looking at their sword. If it is glowing in blue, they are currently blocking.

Watch carefully and take advantage of moments when your opponent drops their guard!

Attack Parallel to Block Direction

Always aim your attack to be parallel to the direction of your opponent's block to get past through their defenses. If they tend to always block vertically, attack vertically and vice versa.

Observe how your opponent is changing the direction of their block and try to anticipate the perfect chance to launch an attack.

Use a Sword that Suits Your Playstyle

With three different sword to choose from, play against CPUs and determine which sword best fits your playstyle.

Once you're set, take your swordfighting skills online!

Chambara Controls

Specific Sword Controls
Sword	Charge Sword	Twin Swords

General Controls

Tilt Joy-Con to Move Left or Right

You can move sideways by tilting the Joy-Con controllers towards the left or right. This is useful for getting around your opponent or to distance yourself from the edge of the platform.

Reset Gyro Controls with X Button

Point the Joy-Con controller towards the Nintendo Switch and press the X Button to reset the gyro controls. This can be useful if your attacks are not slashing in the direction intended.

Keep this in mind if ever the controls are all jumbled, as the gyro controls of the Joy-Con controller will not be fully reliable especially in a sport where you need to wave it all around the air.

Sword

Actions	How to Execute
Strike	Swing the Joy-Con in a single direction Slash your opponent to push them near the edge of the platform by swinging the Joy-Cons vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Thrust	Thrust the Joy-Con forward quickly Push your opponent further by thrusting them with the Sword by doing the same motion with the Joy-Con.
Guard	Hold down the ZL/ZR button and adjust the direction of the block Guard from your opponent's attacks by holding the ZL/ZR button. You can adjust the direction of your guard by moving the Joy-Con with your wrist.

Charge Sword

Actions	How to Execute
Strike	Swing the Joy-Con in a single direction Slash your opponent to push them near the edge of the platform by swinging the Joy-Cons vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Thrust	Thrust the Joy-Con forward quickly Push your opponent further by thrusting them with the Charge Sword by doing the same motion with the Joy-Con.
Guard	Hold down the ZL/ZR button and adjust the direction of the block Guard from your opponent's attacks by holding the ZL/ZR button. You can adjust the direction of your guard by moving the Joy-Con with your wrist. Build up energy for your Charge Sword by successfully guarding against attacks!
Charge Strike	Hold down the L/R button and gently swing the Joy-Con Unleash the Charge Sword's energy by holding down the L/R button and swinging the Joy-Con. This attack will push your opponent farther than normal attacks.
Charge Thrust	Hold down the L/R button and quickly thrust the Joy-Con forward With a fully-energized Charge Sword, hold down the L/R button and thrust the Joy-Con controller quickly. This will knock back your opponent far away, which can be useful for getting space to recover and apply pressure to your enemy.

Twin Swords

Actions	How to Execute
Strike	Swing either Joy-Con in a single direction Attack with either sword in your hand by swinging the Joy-Con controllers.
Thrust	Thrust either Joy-Con forward quickly Push your opponent further by thrusting them with the Charge Sword by doing the same motion with the Joy-Con. You can do this with either Sword.
Guard	Hold down the ZL/ZR button and adjust the direction of the block Guard from your opponent's attacks by holding the ZL/ZR button. You can adjust the direction of your guard by moving the Joy-Con with your wrist.
Spinning Strike	Swing both Joy-Con controllers at the same time Finish off your opponent and throw them off the platform with a flashy Spinning Strike by swinging both Joy-Cons in any direction. Spinning Strikes will charge automatically, and can be used once the gauge is full.
Twin Thrust	Quickly thrust both Joy-Con controllers forward With your Twin Swords fully-charged, thrust both Joy-Con controllers quickly. This will knock back your opponent far away, which can be useful for getting space to recover and apply pressure to your enemy.

Chambara Online Play

Online Single Player

If you play chambara online, you can enjoy online matchmaking against random people or battle friends from far away.

Online Two Player

It is possible to enter and find chambara matches when playing online in two player mode.

However, only one player will be allowed to participate in the match even if both players queued up for a game.

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