How to Use Soul Flaying in Lords of the Fallen

As you progress through Lords of the Fallen, one of the earliest abilities/items you'll gain access to is the Umbral Lamp. This device serves several purposes, with its primary function being a key to peer into and access the realm of the deceased, known as Umbral. However, it also possesses combat and puzzle-solving utility through its Soul Flaying ability.

Mastering this ability can be challenging, as it can be employed both amid battle. When used correctly, it can significantly shift the balance in a precarious fight in your favor. However, if you're unfamiliar with its proper usage, it can also lead to more dire situations. In this guide, we will delve into the mechanics of the Soul Flaying ability in Lords of the Fallen and provide insights on how to effectively utilize it in the game to overcome enemies and obstacles.

How Soul Flaying works in Lords of the Fallen

Soul Flaying in Lords of the Fallen is a unique ability that draws out the Soul of whatever you use it on. With the Umbral Lamp in hand, you can use this power by raising the lamp with L2/LT/L-CTRL and holding down R2/RT or R-Click while locked on to an enemy or object (more on that below). This unique ability serves two vital roles: combat and puzzle-solving.

Let's start with its combat potential and its ability to change the tide of battle. Once you've targeted an enemy, invoking Soul Flay allows you to extract their very Soul from their physical form. This spectral extraction slows down your adversary, and if you strike the soul that has been extracted, it accumulates Withered Health, eventually staggering the real/physical enemy. 

This stagger grants you the opportunity for a remarkable Grievous Strike, forcing the enemy to relinquish exclusive currencies and precious items. But here's the kicker: you have control over the direction in which the disembodied soul drifts. You can pull it toward another enemy, dishing out dual damage, or push it away to isolate formidable adversaries while leaving the bothersome ones in a slowed state.

Now, let's talk about the other side of Soul Flaying – its potential for traversing the enigmatic world, specifically within Umbral. Here, your ability to interact with the surroundings takes on a new dimension. With Soul Flay, you can manipulate various interactive objects, such as the intriguing Umbral Platforms, as illustrated in the image below. 

Moreover, you'll encounter formidable Umbral doors and obstructions, all of which can be cleared away by using your Soul Flaying skill. However, remember that this power comes at a cost – Soul Flay charges, symbolized by the blue fire icon beneath your health and stamina stats. These charges deplete only when you use Soul Flay on enemies and can only be recharged by resting at a Vestige or using the Soul Siphon ability, so ensure that you exercise the ability with some caution.

In the realm of Lords of the Fallen, Soul Flaying is not just a power but a true game-changer. It transforms combat encounters into a ballet of strategy and unleashes your intellect in puzzling moments. So, embrace the ethereal with your Umbral Lamp, and master the art of Soul Flaying to conquer the challenges that await you. In the end, it's not just your enemies who will be left in awe, but you as you harness this remarkable ability to shape your destiny.