Pros- [i]Insane[/i] damage, amazing move set, good for baiting parries, [b]4. Hit. Combo.[/b], and roll attack is faster than estoc. Cons-[i][b]VERY[/b][/i] easy to parry, roll attack is just begging for a parry. Great shields stop you in your tracks, slow startup for first 2H light attack. Estoc will interrupt in 1 hit. Tips for using. 1.) Delay your roll attack. This will save your ass from getting parried multiple times. 2.) If you see a parry happy player, when you roll, either don't attack at all, or roll into the weapon art combo. [b][i]THIS IS UN-PARRYABLE.[/i][/b] 3.) Try to use the first L1 to see if you can bait a parry. Tips to counter. 1.) Punish that rolling L1 with a parry. Small shield? As soon as you see the windup tap that parry button and 85-90% of the time, you will get it. 2.) Out range it. Long weapons like fugs or Dragonslayer Great Axe can punish extremely hard. FUGS is great for this. 3.)Great Shields completely stop the swords in its tracks. 4.) Estoc/rapier 2 hand weapon art lunging stab hurts and easily out ranges it. Hope this helped anybody having issues with this sword!