- demon fall flame breathing is learned from Rengoku at the top of White Peak.
- First task: Gather 20 Demon Horns and return them to the Flame Trainer.
- Second task: Defeat the Axe Demon and collect his collar.
- Combat identity: Flame focuses on fast offense, counters, mobility, and guard breaks.
- Main limitation: Its moves are powerful but generally less suited to long M1 combo extensions.
demon fall flame breathing Unlock Requirements
To unlock demon fall flame breathing, travel to the top of White Peak and find Flame Trainer Rengoku. The trainer requires two tasks before teaching the first technique. Once both objectives are completed, you receive First Form: Unknowing Fire and can access additional techniques through the Slayer Skill Tree.
The unlock path is straightforward, but the two objectives require different preparation. Demon Horns are collected from demon encounters, while the Axe Demon objective requires a specific boss fight and item pickup. Plan your route so you are not carrying out unrelated errands between tasks.
| Unlock Stage | Objective | Required Action | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trainer location | Find Rengoku | Reach the top of White Peak | Starts the Flame quest |
| First task | Collect Demon Horns | Gather 20 Demon Horns | Progresses the trainer quest |
| Second task | Defeat Axe Demon | Win the fight and take his collar | Completes the requirements |
| Training reward | Learn the first technique | Return to Rengoku | Unlocks First Form |
| Further progression | Use Slayer Skill Tree | Spend progression resources on skills | Unlocks additional forms |
Collect the Demon Horns before returning to White Peak whenever possible. This reduces backtracking and lets you focus on the Axe Demon encounter afterward.
White Peak
- Trainer area
- Reach the summit
- Look for Rengoku
Demon Horns
- First objective
- Collect 20
- Return them to Rengoku
Axe Demon
- Second objective
- Defeat the boss
- Collect the collar
For additional reference, consult the Flame Breathing page on the Demonfall Wiki for the trainer location and task requirements.
Step-by-Step Flame Breathing Setup
Follow this sequence to unlock the style with fewer wasted trips. The process begins with preparation, then moves through the trainer objectives, and ends with skill-tree investment.
Prepare for the Horn Hunt
Defeat demons and gather 20 Demon Horns. Keep track of your total before traveling to White Peak, because the first task cannot be completed until all 20 are ready.
Reach Rengoku at White Peak
Travel to the top of White Peak and speak with Flame Trainer Rengoku. Turn in the Demon Horn requirement to begin the next objective.
Challenge the Axe Demon
Locate and defeat the Axe Demon. Treat the encounter as a boss fight rather than a normal demon battle, and avoid spending every resource before the final exchange.
Collect the Collar
After defeating the Axe Demon, pick up his collar. The item is required to finish the second task, so confirm that it has been collected before leaving the area.
Return and Build the Style
Return to Rengoku to learn First Form: Unknowing Fire. Continue through the Slayer Skill Tree to obtain the remaining Flame techniques.
| Task | Preparation | Completion Check |
|---|---|---|
| Demon Horn collection | Fight demon enemies and track the count | Inventory contains 20 Demon Horns |
| Rengoku visit | Reach White Peak summit | Trainer dialogue advances |
| Axe Demon battle | Bring a reliable combat setup | Axe Demon is defeated |
| Collar pickup | Search the defeated boss area | Collar is in your inventory |
| Skill progression | Open the Slayer Skill Tree | First Form and later skills become available |
Defeating the Axe Demon is only half of the second task. Make sure you collect the collar before returning to Rengoku or changing activities.
Flame Breathing Unlock Checklist:
- Reach the top of White Peak
- Gather 20 Demon Horns
- Return to Flame Trainer Rengoku
- Defeat the Axe Demon
- Collect the Axe Demon collar
- Learn First Form through Rengoku and continue in the Slayer Skill Tree
Flame Breathing Forms and Skill Roles
Flame Breathing is built around direct pressure rather than extended combo routes. Its toolkit includes a mobility slash, a guard-breaking attack, a ranged flame wave, a counter stance, and a high-cost finisher. Most techniques cast quickly, making the style useful when you want to punish openings or force an opponent to react.
The following values and properties reflect the available reference data. Breath costs are shown as ranges where the source lists a range. The Fifth Form includes separate standard and Rengoku Family-exclusive entries.
| Form | Breath Cost | Damage | Cooldown | Combat Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passive: Flame Blade | Not listed | Burn damage over time | Not listed | Ignites targets; Rengoku clan boosts burn damage by 20% |
| First Form: Unknowing Fire | 30–40% | 15 | 35 seconds | Blockable charge and slash |
| Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun | 20–30% | 25 | 15 seconds | Guard break and hyperarmor |
| Third Form: Flame Bend | 30–40% | 25 | 35 seconds | Blockable horizontal flame wave |
| Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation | 40–50% | 20 | 25 seconds | Counter stance with a short stun |
| Fifth Form: Flame Tiger | 60–70% | 60 | 80 seconds | Hyperarmor, small area effect, guard break against demons |
| Fifth Form: Rengoku Family version | 80% | 80 | 270 seconds | Guard break, auto-execute, longer ragdoll |
Passive: Flame Blade
The passive coats the blade in fire. Targets hit by the weapon burn and take damage over time. This effect supplies pressure between ability cooldowns and can help offset enemy regeneration. Players with the Rengoku family receive a listed 20% increase to burn damage.
First Form: Unknowing Fire
Unknowing Fire sends the user charging toward a target before delivering a slash. It is blockable, but its movement utility makes it valuable for closing distance or extending the range of an approach. The move is especially useful when launched from a jump, since vertical positioning can improve reach.
Second Form: Rising Scorching Sun
Rising Scorching Sun releases an upward arcing slash. It has a shorter cooldown than most Flame skills and carries both guard break and hyperarmor properties. Use it when an opponent is relying on blocking or when you need a durable attack during a close-range exchange.
Third Form: Flame Bend
Flame Bend creates a horizontal wave of fire that travels at medium speed. It provides space control and can pressure an opponent who is attempting to disengage. Because it is blockable, pair it with movement, timing changes, or a guard-breaking option instead of using it predictably.
Fourth Form: Blooming Flame Undulation
This technique places the user in a stance for roughly two seconds. If the user is struck during the stance, the counter triggers a circular blade attack that briefly stuns the opponent. A successful counter can create a small opening for an M1 punish when the enemy remains nearby.
Fifth Form: Flame Tiger
Flame Tiger is a high-cost flaming lunge with significant damage and hyperarmor. The regular version is listed at 60 damage with an 80-second cooldown. The Rengoku Family-exclusive entry uses 80% of the breath bar, deals 80 damage, and has a much longer 270-second cooldown, but it adds guard break, auto-execute, and longer ragdoll properties.
Build around the skills that match your role: First Form for mobility, Second Form for guard pressure, Fourth Form for counters, and Fifth Form for committed burst damage.
Combat Strategy, Combos, and Matchups
Flame Breathing performs best when you alternate quick pressure with defensive timing. It is not primarily a combo-extension style; the listed moves are better suited to short damage bursts, knockback, counters, and repositioning. Avoid spending the entire breath bar at once unless the exchange is likely to decide the fight.
| Combat Situation | Recommended Tool | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Closing distance | First Form | Fast charge with mobility value |
| Opponent blocks often | Rising Scorching Sun | Guard break and hyperarmor |
| Enemy retreats | Flame Bend | Medium-speed ranged flame wave |
| Enemy attacks aggressively | Blooming Flame Undulation | Counter stance punishes contact |
| Confirmed opening | Flame Tiger | High damage and strong commitment |
| Multiple nearby enemies | Flame Tiger | Small area effect can reach grouped targets |
| Need sustained pressure | Flame Blade passive | Burn damage continues after a hit |
The reference material lists several practical starter routes:
| Combo Route | Input Pattern | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility punish | M1 x3, First Form | Short burst after a basic string |
| Guard-pressure route | M1 x3, Second Form | Converts pressure into a guard break attempt |
| Heavy finisher route | M1 x2, Fifth Form | Commits to burst damage after fewer basic attacks |
| Kendo Mastery variation | Add one additional click | Extends the listed M1 routes when available |
Neutral Game
Use First Form to threaten distance without immediately committing to the most expensive technique. Flame Bend can discourage a straight retreat, while the passive burn effect makes successful blade contact more valuable than a single damage number suggests.
Defensive Timing
Blooming Flame Undulation is the style’s primary counter tool. Activate it when the opponent is likely to attack rather than using it randomly at long range. A mistimed stance can waste breath and leave you without an answer for the next exchange.
Guard Break Pressure
Rising Scorching Sun is one of the clearest ways to challenge defensive play. Flame Tiger also carries strong properties, although its high breath cost and long cooldown make it a poor choice for casual testing. Save the finisher for a reliable opening or a situation where the target cannot easily escape.
PvE Use
Against groups of demons, Flame’s fast attacks and area coverage can help create efficient damage windows. Flame Tiger is particularly valuable when several enemies are close together, but positioning matters because the lunge commits your character to a forward attack.
PvP Use
In PvP, the counter and hyperarmor attacks give Flame tools against aggressive opponents. However, many techniques create knockback, and the style has fewer natural M1 extensions than some alternatives. Focus on controlled punishes instead of forcing long strings.
Flame skills consume substantial portions of the breath bar, especially Fifth Form. Keep enough resource available for a defensive response when the fight is still undecided.
Mobility
First Form closes distance and can gain extra range from elevated positioning.
Pressure
Second Form challenges blocking with guard break and hyperarmor.
Defense
Fourth Form rewards patience against aggressive attacks.
Burst
Fifth Form delivers the largest listed standard damage at a major resource cost.
Strengths, Weaknesses, and Build Advice
Flame Breathing is a flexible offensive style with tools for movement, defense, and burst damage. Its main tradeoff is consistency: the moves are individually useful, but they do not naturally produce the longest combo sequences. Players who prefer quick engagements and reactive punishes will usually gain more from Flame than players who want uninterrupted M1 chaining.
| Category | Strength | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | Burn passive and high-impact Fifth Form | Large attacks consume much of the breath bar |
| Defense | Counter stance and two hyperarmor moves | Counter requires accurate timing |
| Mobility | First Form improves approach options | First Form is blockable |
| Guard pressure | Second Form and selected Fifth Form properties | The style has limited guard-break coverage |
| Combos | Reliable short M1 routes | Most forms do not extend M1 strings |
| PvE | Strong against grouped enemies | Large commitments can be punished |
| PvP | Effective against aggressive players | Knockback may interrupt follow-up pressure |
Recommended Playstyle
Use a measured rotation:
- Open with basic attacks to test the opponent’s response.
- Use First Form to punish distance or reposition.
- Choose Second Form when a block is likely.
- Hold Fourth Form for a predictable attack.
- Reserve Fifth Form for a confirmed opening, a group of enemies, or a decisive punish.
Rengoku Family Consideration
The Rengoku family improves the Flame passive by increasing burn damage by 20%, according to the available reference material. It also provides an exclusive Fifth Form entry with higher listed damage and additional properties. This makes the family especially relevant for players who want to maximize Flame’s identity, but the standard style remains functional without relying on the exclusive version.
Common Mistakes
- Spending Fifth Form immediately without confirming the target.
- Using the counter from too far away to threaten contact.
- Treating Flame Bend as an unavoidable attack.
- Expecting every form to continue an M1 string.
- Ignoring the passive burn when evaluating total damage.
- Leaving the Axe Demon area without collecting the collar.
Treat Flame as a punish-and-pressure style. Win short exchanges, preserve breath, and use the counter to turn an opponent’s aggression into your opening.
Flame Breathing FAQ
Q: How do you unlock demon fall flame breathing?
Find Flame Trainer Rengoku at the top of White Peak, gather 20 Demon Horns, defeat the Axe Demon, collect his collar, and return to Rengoku. First Form becomes available after the requirements are completed, while later forms are learned through the Slayer Skill Tree.
Q: Is Flame Breathing good for combos?
Flame is better for short punish sequences than extended combos. The listed routes include M1 strings followed by First Form, Second Form, or Fifth Form, but many Flame moves do not naturally extend M1 chains.
Q: What is Flame Breathing’s strongest move?
The standard Fifth Form: Flame Tiger has the highest listed regular damage at 60 and includes hyperarmor with a small area effect. The Rengoku Family-exclusive entry is listed at 80 damage with additional properties, but it uses 80% breath and has a 270-second cooldown.
Q: What does the Flame Blade passive do?
The passive coats the blade in fire. Enemies hit by the blade are ignited and take burn damage over time. The Rengoku family is listed as increasing burn damage by 20%.
Skill properties, task requirements, and listed combat values should be checked against the current in-game behavior if a future balance update changes them.