- Slayer 2 BDA tier list: String BDA currently sits in S-Tier for damage and combos.
- Best ranged pick: Temari Ball BDA (A-Tier) dominates spacing in PVP.
- Farming choice: Shockwave BDA (B-Tier) clears mob groups with knockback bursts.
- Race note: Demon race pairs BDA access with passive health regeneration.
- Meta warning: Balance patches shift rankings, so recheck after every update.
Slayer 2 BDA Tier List Overview
In Slayer 2, choosing the Demon path replaces Breathing Styles entirely with Blood Demon Arts (BDAs). Your BDA defines your combat identity: how you open fights, extend combos, and control spacing. This Slayer 2 BDA tier list ranks every confirmed Blood Demon Art using three weighted criteria — raw damage and combo potential, PVP effectiveness (mobility, hitboxes, punish ability), and farming speed against NPC mobs.
Because the game receives frequent balance updates, treat these rankings as a snapshot of the current patch rather than a permanent verdict.
| Criterion | Weight | What We Measure |
|---|---|---|
| Damage & Combos | 40% | Burst potential, multi-hit skills, combo starters and finishers |
| PVP Effectiveness | 35% | Mobility, hitbox reliability, punish and disengage tools |
| Farming Speed | 25% | Area coverage, cooldown efficiency, mob clear rate |
Project Slayers 2 is updated frequently, and balance patches can move a BDA up or down overnight. Always test an art yourself before committing to a full build.
Full BDA Tier Rankings
Here is the current tier spread for all four confirmed Blood Demon Arts in Slayer 2.
| Tier | Blood Demon Art | Category | Why It Ranks Here |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | String BDA | Blood Demon Art | High sustained damage and reliable combo starters dominate PVP and boss fights |
| A | Temari Ball BDA | Blood Demon Art | Excellent spacing and projectile pressure; slightly weaker at close range |
| B | Shockwave BDA | Blood Demon Art | Great knockback and mob farming; struggles against mobile PVP opponents |
| B | Arrow BDA | Blood Demon Art | Strong ranged poking that punishes disengages, but lower burst ceiling |
String BDA — S-Tier
- Best combo starter in the demon kit
- Blood Slash strings cut at range
- Thread barrage multi-hit pressure
- String cage denies escape routes
- Boss-fight damage is outstanding
Temari Ball BDA — A-Tier
- Bouncing temari projectiles
- Rapid-fire multi-ball volley
- Best keep-away art in the game
- Controls spacing in PVP duels
- Weaker when opponents close the gap
Shockwave BDA — B-Tier
- Ground slam and explosive burst
- Knockback disrupts enemy combos
- Charged area blast for mob waves
- Brawler-style play pattern
- Whiffs against dash-heavy players
Arrow BDA — B-Tier
- Directional arrow strikes
- Multi-arrow barrage pressure
- Tracking arrow finisher
- Punishes players who try to disengage
- Demands stamina investment for sustain
String BDA is the safest pick for most players, but Temari Ball rewards patient players who prefer to win the neutral game from range. Skill expression matters more than a single tier position.
BDA Skill Breakdown & Builds
Each BDA comes with its own skill set and stat priorities. The table below summarizes what each art offers and where to spend your points.
| BDA | Key Skills | Obtained From | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|
| String BDA | Blood Slash, Thread Barrage, String Cage | Demon trainer NPC after becoming a Demon | Heavy attack + health for aggressive close-range pressure |
| Arrow BDA | Directional Strike, Multi-Arrow Barrage, Tracking Finisher | Demon trainer NPC (Hantengu-inspired) | Balance attack + stamina for constant arrow pressure |
| Shockwave BDA | Ground Slam, Explosive Burst, Charged Blast | Demon progression quests | Stack health + attack for brawler-style fights |
| Temari Ball BDA | Bouncing Temari, Rapid Volley, Combined Finisher | Demon trainer NPC (sibling demon-inspired) | Prioritize stamina + attack for sustained ranged damage |
Demon players should also remember the racial package that comes with the path:
- Health regeneration — a passive Slayers lack
- Blood Demon Art access — exclusive to the Demon race
- Sunlight weakness — daylight exposure burns you
- Hunger mechanics — manage your demon appetite
In the overall race tier list, Demon race sits in S-Tier for early and mid-game power spikes, while Slayer race scales better late with weapon upgrades and breathing mastery. Choose based on where you want your power curve to peak.
How to Unlock Your BDA: Step-by-Step
Unlocking a Blood Demon Art requires committing to the Demon path first. Follow this sequence to get your art online as early as possible.
Level Through the Early Game as Human
Complete quest NPCs near the starting village and farm low-level bandits and demons. Always accept a quest before farming so kill XP stacks with quest rewards.
Find Muzan or the Demon Path NPC
Seek out Muzan or the demon-related progression NPC. Becoming a Demon is a major commitment — switching back later requires significant investment.
Accept the Demon Transformation
Once transformed, you gain Blood Demon Art access, passive health regeneration, and demon clan buffs, but you burn in sunlight and must manage hunger.
Visit the Demon Trainer NPC
Each BDA is learned from a specific demon trainer. Shockwave unlocks through progression quests rather than a single trainer purchase.
Invest Stats to Match Your Art
Allocate points per the build table above — String and Shockwave favor attack and health, Temari and Arrow reward stamina for sustained pressure.
Switching between the Slayer and Demon paths later requires significant investment. Test your target BDA's playstyle in low-stakes fights before spending spins or currency on a full build.
BDA vs Breathing Styles: How Demons Compare
Demon players often wonder how their arts stack up against Slayer Breathing Styles. The comparison matters because the two paths peak at different points in progression.
| Factor | Blood Demon Arts | Breathing Styles |
|---|---|---|
| Early Power | Strong spikes from regeneration + BDA access | Slower start, trainer quests required |
| Late Scaling | Plateaus without advanced skills | Scales well with mastery + weapon upgrades |
| Top Option | String BDA (S-Tier) | Thunder Breathing (S-Tier) |
| Best Niche | Sustain, ranged pressure | Burst mobility, dash-cancel combos |
| Weakness | Sunlight, hunger mechanics | No passive regeneration |
For PVP specifically, Thunder Breathing's dash cancels are the strongest mobility tool in the game, but String BDA's combo starters make it the most reliable demon answer. Cross-path matchups often come down to whether the Slayer can burst the Demon before regeneration and string pressure grind them down.
Demon Path Milestones:
- Reach the required level to meet the demon path NPC
- Transform and confirm your demon clan buffs
- Unlock your chosen Blood Demon Art from its trainer
- Assign all BDA skills to number slots 1-4
- Allocate stats to match your art's build priority
Exhausted players cannot block or dash. Manage your stamina bar in extended fights — Temari and Arrow builds win by forcing opponents to burn stamina closing distance.
FAQ
Q: What is the best BDA in Slayer 2 right now?
String BDA currently holds S-Tier in the Slayer 2 BDA tier list. Its high sustained damage and reliable combo starters make it dominant in both PVP and boss fights, with string cage providing area denial on top.
Q: Can I use a Blood Demon Art as a Slayer?
No. Blood Demon Arts replace Breathing Styles entirely and are exclusive to the Demon race. Slayers learn Breathing Styles from trainers instead, and the two paths have separate progression systems.
Q: Which BDA is best for farming mobs?
Shockwave BDA is the strongest farming pick thanks to its ground slam, explosive burst knockback, and charged area blast, which clear grouped enemies efficiently. It drops to B-Tier only against mobile PVP opponents.
Q: Do BDA tier rankings change with updates?
Yes. Project Slayers 2 receives frequent balance patches, and rankings shift between them. Demons currently enjoy strong early and mid-game power spikes, while Slayers scale better late game with weapon upgrades and breathing mastery.