- Slayer 2 how to get Breathing: Find a trainer NPC, meet the level requirement, and pay the unlock fee in Wen.
- Five confirmed styles: Water, Thunder, Wind, Mist, and Insect, each from its own trainer.
- Thunder is the PvP meta pick: Fast burst combos and dash cancels make it S-tier.
- Water is best for beginners: Balanced moveset with reliable finishers and dash attacks.
- Demons can't learn Breathing: They use Blood Demon Arts instead, from demon NPCs.
How Breathing Styles Work in Slayer 2
In Slayer 2, your Breathing Style defines your entire combat identity as a Slayer. Each style is learned from a specific trainer NPC scattered across the map — usually after hitting a required level, completing a short quest, and paying a fee in Wen (the in-game currency). Once unlocked, your style grants a set of skills bound to your number keys, each with distinct damage, mobility, and combo properties.
Choosing a style is a major commitment. Switching later requires significant investment, so it's worth understanding each option before you spend your Wen.
Breathing Styles are exclusive to the human Slayer path. If you become a Demon, you gain Blood Demon Arts instead — there is no way to use both systems on one character.
All Breathing Styles & Trainers
Here's every confirmed Breathing Style in Slayer 2, where to find its trainer, and how to unlock it.
| Style | Trainer Location | Unlock Requirement | Best Weapon | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | Water Trainer (Urokodaki-style area) | Required level + Wen fee | Standard Katana | Easy |
| Thunder | Thunder Trainer (Jigoro-inspired NPC) | Trainer quest + unlock cost | Standard Katana | Medium |
| Wind | Wind Trainer (Sanemi-inspired location) | Level requirement + questline | Standard Katana | Medium |
| Mist | Mist Trainer (Muichiro-inspired NPC) | Prerequisite quests + Wen fee | Standard Katana | Hard |
| Insect | Insect Trainer (Shinobu-inspired NPC) | Special treated blade + quest | Stinger Katana | Medium |
Water Breathing
- Beginner-friendly and well-rounded
- Water Surface Slash, Water Wheel, Striking Tide, Constant Flux
- Reliable dash attacks and strong finishers
Thunder Breathing
- S-tier PvP pick
- Thunderclap and Flash, Sixfold, Rice Spirit, Thunder Swarm
- Burst mobility and one-shot combos
Wind Breathing
- Best for farming groups
- Dust Whirlwind Cutter, Black Wind Mountain Mist, Gale Sudden Gusts, Idaten Typhoon
- Great area coverage and chip damage
Mist Breathing
- Tricky repositioning tech
- Low Clouds Distant Haze, Eight-Layered Mist, Obscuring Clouds
- Confuses opponents in PvP; low raw damage
Insect Breathing
- Poison damage-over-time
- Butterfly Dance: Caprice, Dance of the Bee Sting, Dance of the Dragonfly
- Requires the Stinger Katana; unique playstyle
Trainers cluster near the starting village (Kiribating), which doubles as the safe-zone hub with fast travel. Unlock fast travel points early so you can revisit trainers without long runs across the map.
Step-by-Step: Getting Your First Breathing Style
Follow this route to unlock your first style as quickly as possible on a fresh character.
Spin Your Clan at Character Creation
Your clan rolls passive bonuses — health, stamina, damage multipliers. Common clans are fine to start; re-roll later with spins earned in-game or via codes.
Farm Low-Level Enemies Near the Starting Village
Accept every quest from the NPCs in Kiribating before farming. Quest rewards stack on top of kill XP, making them the fastest early leveling method.
Hit the Level Requirement
Grind bandits and starter demons until you meet the minimum level for your chosen trainer. Low-level enemies respawn quickly for consistent XP.
Complete the Trainer's Quest
Each trainer has a short questline before they'll teach you. Bring a friend if a quest asks you to defeat mid-tier enemies.
Pay the Wen Fee and Learn the Style
Hand over the unlock cost, learn the style, then assign your new skills to number keys 1-4. Remember to sit in a safe area (G) to regenerate your breathing bar.
Water Breathing is the smoothest first unlock: it's beginner-friendly, pairs with the standard Katana you already own, and carries you comfortably into mid-game boss farming.
Which Style Should You Pick?
Each style serves a different purpose. This comparison weighs PvP strength, farming speed, and ease of use.
| Style | PvP Rating | Farming Rating | Beginner Fit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunder | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | Fastest burst combos, dash cancels |
| Water | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | Balanced with dependable finishers |
| Wind | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | Area damage, punishable wind-ups |
| Mist | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | Rewards skilled movement, low damage |
| Insect | ★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | Poison DoT is fun but slow in PvP |
Rankings shift between balance patches. Thunder has consistently topped community tier lists for PvP mobility, while Wind leads for NPC farming thanks to multi-target coverage. Check the official Project Slayers Trello roadmap for upcoming balance changes.
Preparation Checklist
Before you commit to a trainer, run through this checklist.
Before Unlocking Your Style:
- Reach the trainer's minimum level requirement
- Save enough Wen for the unlock fee
- Complete the trainer's prerequisite quest
- Equip the correct weapon (Stinger Katana for Insect)
- Assign unlocked skills to number key slots
Avoid re-rolling for cosmetic-perfect clans before unlocking your first Breathing Style. Spare spins are far more valuable once you know which build you're committing to.
FAQ
Q: How do I get Breathing in Slayer 2?
Find the trainer NPC for your chosen style (most are near the starting village), reach the required level, complete their quest, and pay the unlock fee in Wen. Humans only — Demons receive Blood Demon Arts from demon NPCs instead.
Q: Can I switch Breathing Styles later?
Yes, but switching requires significant investment in both time and currency. It's best to commit to one style unless you have resources to spare.
Q: Which Breathing Style is best for PvP?
Thunder Breathing is the community's top PvP pick thanks to Thunderclap and Flash dash cancels and one-shot combo potential. Mist Breathing is a strong alternative for players who master its repositioning moves.
Q: Do I need a special weapon for any style?
Insect Breathing requires a specially treated Stinger Katana before the trainer will teach you. The other styles work with a standard Katana.