Holy Cross (Holy Sword)
The Holy Cross is a phenomenally powerful mid-range weapon that creates a spinning perimeter of damage around the player. It serves a dual purpose: erasing trash mobs and acting as the required catalyst for the game's most famous weapon evolution.
Mechanics: The Orbital Grinder
Rather than firing in a straight line or exploding on contact, the Holy Cross operates on Orbital Mechanics similar to the Axe, but with significantly wider reach.
- Rotational Coverage: The Crosses fly out and circle the player like boomerangs or satellites. This effectively creates an "Area of Denial" zone that shreds low-health swarms before they can close into melee range.
- High DPS Ceiling: Because a single Cross can pass through the same enemy multiple times during its orbit, its actual DPS output regularly tops the damage charts if you position yourself correctly.
Evolution Synergy: The Holy Sword
The Ultimate Fusion: The most important reason to draft the Holy Cross is its fusion potential. When you combine a max-level Short Sword (Steel Sword) with the Holy Cross, it mutates into the legendary Holy Sword. This evolved blade drops explosive projectiles from the sky on critical strikes, trivializing late-game content.
How to Build the Holy Cross
If you intend to rely on the Crosses for their base orbital damage rather than just treating them as a fusion material, you must scale their duration and size.
Vital Stat Priorities
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1. Area of Effect (Size) Increases both the physical size of the Crosses and their orbital radius. This pushes the "death zone" further away from your character, keeping you safer from fast-moving ranged enemies.
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2. Amount (Extra Projectiles) Spawns additional Crosses per volley. Having 4 or 5 Crosses spinning simultaneously leaves zero gaps for monsters to squeeze through.
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3. Duration Keeps the Crosses spinning on screen longer before they despawn. When combined with high Cooldown Reduction, you can have two sets of Crosses orbiting at the same time.
Caution: The Inner Blind Spot
Because the Crosses orbit at a set distance, there is a small "blind spot" directly next to your character's hitbox. If an elite enemy with high knockback resistance manages to step inside the orbit ring, the Crosses will pass harmlessly around them. Always keep moving!
Meta Version Note: This guide reflects the current evolution paths for the Holy Cross in Monster Survivors. Evolution recipes are core to the game's identity and rarely change, but base damage modifiers for the unevolved Cross may fluctuate in balance patches. Verify current stats in-game.