Lead And Steel

Lead And Steel
Class	Reflexes Perk
Attribute	Reflexes
Tier	Pro (9)
Levels	2
Requires	Slippery
Affects	Only affects Blades

Lead And Steel makes blade attacks cheaper and then lets V block bullets with one. The first level cuts the stamina cost of swinging, and the second turns a katana into something that can be held up against gunfire. The whole blade branch of the Reflexes tree is bought through it. Sword builds start here.

Effect

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Stamina is what limits a blade. The swings are quick but constant, and a build that runs the bar dry in front of an enemy has no answer, so the cut to the cost is felt in every exchange.

The second level is the one that changes the game. Incoming projectiles can be blocked, at the cost of stamina, which means a blade build can cross open ground that would otherwise be impassable. Holding the block is a drain, so it is a way through a room rather than a way to stand in one.

Level	Effect
1	-15% Stamina cost attacks with Blades.
2	Unlocks ability to block incoming projectiles with Blades. This consumes Stamina.

How to Unlock Lead And Steel

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It sits behind the Pro gate of the Reflexes tree, so a solid run of points goes into Reflexes first. Slippery is bought before it, and both levels are needed before the block appears.

Perk Tree

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Lead And Steel is bought from Slippery in the Reflexes tree.

Name	Image	Tier	Effect
Slippery		Rookie (4)	The faster you move, the more difficult for enemies to shoot you. Effect increases when Dashing, dodging, sliding, sprinting and vaulting.

Buying Lead And Steel opens the perks below.

Name	Image	Tier	Effect
Bullet Deflect		Pro (9)	When your Stamina is above 33%, blocking projectiles will Deflect them to wherever your reticle is aimed. Well-timed blocking just before being hit increases the damage you deal with deflected bullets.
Finisher: Bladerunner		Phenom (15)	-15% Stamina cost attacks with Blades.
Seeing Double		Pro (9)	Increased damage and Stun chance with counterattacks.

Character Builds

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The build is the blade Reflexes build. A katana is the weapon, the movement perks below should already be bought, and a Sandevistan or a Kerenzikov is the implant that makes the whole thing work.

Buy both levels as the Pro gate opens, then Bullet Deflect, then Seeing Double. Finisher: Bladerunner at the Phenom gate is the branch's real destination. A build that stops at the first level has cheaper swings and none of the blocking that lets it cross a room.

Notes

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Bullet Deflect turns that block into a counterattack, sending the rounds back where V is aiming.

Seeing Double and the tree's blade finisher are also bought from it, so this one pick opens the entire branch.

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