Lies of P is a Soulslike set in a Belle Epoque city overrun by murderous puppets, reimagining Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio as a dark action RPG. The perfect guard system rewards aggressive parrying — successfully timing blocks chips away at enemy weapon durability, eventually breaking their weapon and leaving them open for a Fatal Attack. The weapon assembly system lets you mix and match blades and handles from any two weapons, creating hybrid combinations with mixed movesets and scaling. The lie/truth moral choice system across dozens of NPC encounters determines which of three endings you receive. Lies of P stands alongside Elden Ring and Bloodborne as one of the best non-FromSoftware Soulslikes.
Combat in Lies of P rewards knowledge over reflexes. Understanding how each mechanic works — and how they interact — is what turns a struggling player into a dominant one. New here? Start with our beginner's guide for the basics.
Core Combat Mechanics
1. perfect guard
Pressing block at the exact moment an attack connects triggers a Perfect Guard — absorbing the hit with zero stamina loss and chipping the enemy's weapon durability. When enemy weapon durability depletes, their weapon breaks and they stagger for a Fatal Attack (massive damage riposte). Perfect Guard is more important than dodging in Lies of P, especially against bosses whose multi-hit combos are designed for parry timing.
Why it matters: This is the foundation of all combat. Everything else builds on this.
2. weapon assembly
Every weapon separates into a Blade (determines damage type and base moves) and Handle (determines scaling stats and charged attack). You can combine any blade with any handle. A Greatsword blade on a rapier handle creates a heavy weapon with technique scaling. This system enables hundreds of weapon combinations, each with unique properties.
Why it matters: The most underrated mechanic. Players who master this early have a massive advantage.
3. legion arm abilities
Your left arm is a prosthetic Legion Arm with interchangeable modules. Puppet String (grappling hook), Flamberge (fire blade), Aegis (shield), Deus Ex Machina (explosive projectile), and others each provide unique combat tools. Legion Arms have limited charges that regenerate from a resource, adding resource management to combat.
Why it matters: Unlocks a new layer of gameplay depth once understood.
4. P-Organ upgrades
The P-Organ system (available at Hotel Krat) uses Quartz (found throughout the game) to unlock permanent passive abilities. Abilities are arranged in a tree with branches for combat, survival, and utility. Key upgrades include extra dodge rolls, increased stamina recovery, and Perfect Guard windows. Quartz is limited, so planning your upgrade path matters.
Why it matters: The tactical edge that separates average players from advanced ones.
5. lie/truth system
Throughout the game, NPCs ask questions where you can choose to Lie or Tell the Truth. Lies make you more human (Pinocchio's dream), while truths keep you puppet-like. The cumulative lie/truth balance determines your ending: Lie-heavy gives the 'real boy' ending, Truth-heavy gives the puppet ending, and balanced gives a third option. Records (music boxes) also influence humanity.
Why it matters: The endgame optimization mechanic. Small improvements here compound into massive gains.
Mechanic Synergies
Understanding how mechanics interact is where real optimization happens:
perfect guard + weapon assembly
Pressing block at the exact moment an attack connects triggers a Perfect Guard — absorbing the hit with zero stamina loss and chipping the enemy's weapon durability. When combined with weapon assembly, every weapon separates into a blade (determines damage type and base moves) and handle (determines scaling stats and charged attack). This combination is the core of every effective build.
legion arm abilities + P-Organ upgrades
Your left arm is a prosthetic Legion Arm with interchangeable modules. Paired with P-Organ upgrades, the p-organ system (available at hotel krat) uses quartz (found throughout the game) to unlock permanent passive abilities. This is why the tier list favors builds that leverage both.
lie/truth system as a Multiplier
Throughout the game, NPCs ask questions where you can choose to Lie or Tell the Truth. Lies make you more human (Pinocchio's dream), while truths keep you puppet-like. The cumulative lie/truth balance determines your ending: Lie-heavy gives the 'real boy' ending, Truth-heavy gives the puppet ending, and balanced gives a third option. Records (music boxes) also influence humanity. This system amplifies everything else — the better your lie/truth system optimization, the more your other mechanics pay off.
Combat by Role
Each role approaches combat differently:
Dexterity Build (S-Tier)
Combat approach: Stay aggressive with fast weapon combos, dodge rather than Perfect Guard, and use electric damage to exploit puppet enemies' weakness. Key weapons: Puppet Ripper Primary mechanic: perfect guard
Technique scaling builds use fast weapons with rapid combos. Full setup in our builds guide.
Strength Build (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Commit to heavy charged attacks during openings, Perfect Guard multi-hit combos to create stagger, and use the Aegis arm for extra blocking in emergencies. Key weapons: Electric Coil Stick Primary mechanic: weapon assembly
Motivity scaling builds use heavy weapons that deal massive per-hit damage. Full setup in our builds guide.
Motivity/Technique Hybrid (S-Tier)
Combat approach: Use the mixed weapon to adapt between fast pokes and heavy charged attacks based on enemy openings. The hybrid scaling keeps damage competitive with pure builds. Key weapons: Etiquette Primary mechanic: legion arm abilities
Hybrid builds use weapon assembly to create weapons that scale with both stats. Full setup in our builds guide.
Legion Arm Focus (B-Tier)
Combat approach: Use Legion Arms to open fights (Puppet String pull, Flamberge fire) then follow up with weapon combos. Swap arms based on enemy type. Key weapons: Two Dragons Sword Primary mechanic: P-Organ upgrades
Legion Arm builds invest in Capacity stat to increase Legion Arm charges and damage. Full setup in our builds guide.
Balanced Build (A-Tier)
Combat approach: Use the rapier's fast thrusts for safe poke damage, Perfect Guard everything, and rely on consistent damage rather than burst. Key weapons: Proof of Humanity Primary mechanic: lie/truth system
Balanced builds invest evenly across stats, using weapons with quality scaling (C/C in both Motivity and Technique). Full setup in our builds guide.
Advanced Combat Techniques
Damage Optimization
- Match your weapons to your role's stat priorities
- Exploit perfect guard for maximum damage windows
- Chain weapon assembly and legion arm abilities for combo damage
- Use P-Organ upgrades to create openings
Survivability
- Learn enemy patterns before committing to attacks
- Perfect Guard is more important than dodging. Most boss combos have 3-5 hit chains designed for parry timing. Each successful Perfect Guard chips weapon durability, eventually breaking it for a massive Fatal Attack opening.
- Position using perfect guard to control spacing
- Save defensive options for guaranteed survival, not comfort
Boss Combat
Bosses test your understanding of every mechanic. See our boss guide for fight-specific strategies.
- Phase awareness — Most bosses change behavior at health thresholds
- Patience over aggression — One extra hit per opening beats dying to greed
- Build preparation — Swap gear and weapons for specific fights when needed
Common Combat Mistakes
- Button mashing — Committed attacks have recovery frames. Mashing locks you into animations.
- Ignoring weapon assembly — This mechanic exists for a reason. Players who use it take significantly less damage.
- Wrong weapons for the situation — Check our weapons guide for situational picks.
- Not learning from deaths — Every death teaches something. If you don't know why you died, you'll die the same way again.
- Overcommitting — Trading hits works in Krat Central Station but will get you killed in Arche Abbey.
More Lies of P Guides
- Lies of P Lies of P Overview
- Lies of P Best Builds
- Lies of P Tier List
- Lies of P Walkthrough
- Lies of P Beginner's Guide
- Lies of P Tips & Tricks
- Lies of P Weapons Guide
- Lies of P Boss Guide
- Lies of P Maps & Locations
- Lies of P Crafting Guide
- Lies of P Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Lies of P, check out these related guides:
- Helldivers 2 Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Black Myth: Wukong Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
- Monster Hunter Wilds Combat Guide — action game with similar mechanics
