Leon

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Leon Bask 124
Alias(es)	“Lion” Leon; Mysterious Hooded Man; member of the Hood Three 148 164
Species/Race	Human 250
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Strategy Team / Bede City Strategy Team 307 354
Occupation/Role	Adventurer, dungeon strategist, and strategy-guide creator 159 308
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 34

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Swift Slash wielder	76	Receives the Swift Slash Ash of War after the party’s victory over its avatar; the skill provides rapid movement, brief invincibility, and suppressive sword energy. 76
Gapar-trained swordsman	105	Endures seven days and nights of Sword Saint Gapar’s training, emerging with a tougher body and more refined swordsmanship. 105
Avatar of Soul Five victor	105	Uses Swift Slash on a Backhand Sword, Dung Pies, and Beast Bone Hypnotic Arrows to defeat the Avatar of Soul Five; gains the Cancel skill from its equipment. 105
Negative Harvest bearer	140–141	Accepts the Negative Harvest blessing, increasing his spirit and combat power against enemies suffering negative status effects. 140 141
Hound Step invader	164	Combines Hound Step with the Ringed City Set while invading the New Strategy Team, earning a Sun Emblem after three victories. 164
Dual Backhand Sword user	331	Carries separate Backhand Sword pairs bearing Swift Slash and Blind Spot Strike, allowing high-speed charges or attacks from difficult angles. 331
Godrick’s Crown holder	570	Obtains Godrick’s Crown from the Reminiscence; it improves his “Storm” power and learning speed and can release Crucible Aspect Incantations. 570
High-growth Strategy Team fighter	705	Has grown strong enough that he rarely relies on the Ringed City Set; Swift Slash is ordinarily sufficient against the team’s former major threats. 705

Background

Leon grew up in a hostile family environment. His sister’s attendant Zanka, formerly his childhood playmate, repeatedly humiliated him at her instruction, while Leon’s father ignored the abuse. The experience became one of Leon’s childhood traumas and fueled his resentment toward his sister. 57

His secret solo grinding in Zane Dungeon was exposed, damaging his reputation and forcing him to confront the consequences of lying for status. Gong Qiying advised him to pursue real strength instead of relying on deception. 56

After Gapar’s training and his victory over the Avatar of Soul Five, Leon returned home alone to settle his family affairs. At his sister’s birthday banquet, he kicked down and defeated his father; he later used the Ringed City Set against his father and Swift Slash against his sister. 106 138

Appearance

Leon is a golden-haired human man whose appearance becomes more mature as his strength and confidence grow. After returning from home, he replaces his youthful side-parted hairstyle with a slicked-back pompadour and a prominent lock of hair over his forehead. 99 137

• Golden hair, often compared to a lion’s mane in battle. 158
• Previously wore a youthful side-part hairstyle resembling Leon Kennedy’s. 137
• Later adopts a slicked-back pompadour that gives him a more adult, forceful presence. 137
• Becomes taller and more robust after his experiences and special training. 99
• Is frequently associated with a Backhand Sword, straight swords, a repeating crossbow, and the Ringed City Set. 124 138

Personality

Leon is outwardly sunny, approachable, and well-connected among adventurers. He can take command of a room, earn information through composed questioning, and mobilize other teams through the relationships he has built in Zane Dungeon. 34 354 580

His central motivation is victory. Gapar’s teachings push him to abandon rigid notions of swordsman’s honor in favor of whatever works: sleep bolts, bait items, ambushes, environmental hazards, and specialized equipment are all acceptable tools. 105 148 363 This pragmatism can make his fighting style appear “dirty” or unsettling to more traditional swordsmen such as Da Er. 148 149

Swift Slash and the Ringed City Set also tempt him toward excess. Leon recognizes that relying on them too easily could turn him into a ruthless “Swift Slash launcher,” so he temporarily seals away the Ringed City Set and resolves not to draw the Backhand Sword casually. 140 Even so, he can become intensely competitive and visibly exhilarated when confronting his father, invaders, or powerful dungeon enemies. 138 308 363

Despite this aggression, Leon is protective of his companions and sympathetic toward vulnerable Afterimages. He punches Bei Er Tuo for challenging Malu, assists the stranded little boy in Irithyll, and shares anti-invader tactics so other adventurers can defend themselves. 157 324 159

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Gapar’s training greatly improves Leon’s physical durability and technical swordsmanship. He fights effectively with ordinary straight swords when deliberately avoiding dependence on his strongest equipment. 105 140

• Uses Caria Straight Swords and other straight swords in conventional combat. 99 331
• Can adapt quickly to unfamiliar enemy movesets, including the Aaron Knight Captain’s Eastern-style swordsmanship. 148
• Defeated the Gold-Rank Adventurer Fingel in a direct battle. 331
• Is capable of handling the greatsword-wielding Cleric Exile alone, though heavier variants require team coordination. 307

Swift Slash

Swift Slash is Leon’s signature Ash of War, attached to a pair of Backhand Swords. It lets him cross distance almost instantly while leaving destructive sword energy along his route. 76 105 331

• Provides high-speed movement, brief invincibility, and strong suppression. 76
• Was decisive in defeating the Avatar of Soul Five. 105
• Countered his sister’s ranger footwork and helped defeat invading Hollows. 138 158
• His original Swift Slash Backhand Sword was corroded and destroyed by Rust Monster carapace armor. 158 159
• Leon later acquires another Swift Slash pair. 331

Blind Spot Strike

Leon possesses a second pair of Backhand Swords imbued with Blind Spot Strike. 331

• Attacks opponents through hard-to-guard angles and blind spots. 331
• Used alongside Swift Slash during his fight with Fingel. 331

Ringed City Set

The Ringed City Set is Leon’s most dangerous equipment set and a major source of his reputation. He considers it dangerously addictive because of the overwhelming advantage it gives him. 138 140

• Overwhelmed his swordmaster father so completely that Te Pi could not counterattack. 138
• Its special skill delivers extreme attack speed and enough force to cut through the rock limbs of Te Pi’s Boulder Golem. 363
• Can force stagger effects, though this is less effective against very large targets. 363
• Paired with Hound Step, it enabled Leon to repeatedly defeat the New Strategy Team as the Mysterious Hooded Man. 164
• Leon once sealed the set in his home’s secret room to avoid becoming dependent on it. 140

Hound Step and Cancel

Leon employs mobility and action-canceling techniques acquired through dungeon combat. 105 164

• Learns the Cancel skill from the Avatar of Soul Five’s equipment. 105
• Uses Hound Step to evade attacks while invading as the Mysterious Hooded Man. 164
• Pairs mobility skills with the Ringed City Set for evasive, difficult-to-punish combat. 164

Improvised Combat

Leon regularly rejects conventional dueling etiquette in favor of efficient solutions. 105 148

• Uses Dung Pies to draw enemy aggression. 105 307
• Uses Beast Bone Hypnotic Arrows and sleeping bolts to incapacitate enemies. 105 148
• Carries a scatter crossbow specifically because it is highly effective against humanoid opponents. 148
• Uses terrain, rooftops, narrow alleys, monster aggro, and cliffs to control stronger enemies and invaders. 166 325 304

Negative Harvest

Negative Harvest is a blessing Leon accepts in the Tomb Area’s roguelike system. 140 141

• Raises his spirit and combat power when enemies are affected by negative statuses. 141
• Leon values the blessing enough to repeatedly re-enter the roguelike area and save resources for stronger rewards. 145 146

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Backhand Swords — Separate pairs bearing Swift Slash and Blind Spot Strike. 331
• Ringed City Set — Leon’s most powerful and most temptation-prone equipment set. 140 363
• Ringed Knight Straight Sword — Used alongside a Caria Straight Sword against Te Pi’s Boulder Golem. 363
• Caria Straight Sword — A straight sword Leon uses for standard combat and stealth attacks. 326 331
• Great Carian Ash of War — Attached to one of his straight swords after Gapar’s training. 99
• Scatter crossbow and sleeping bolts — Leon’s preferred answer to humanoid enemies. 148
• Godrick’s Crown — Enhances Storm power and learning speed and grants access to Crucible Aspect Incantations. 570
• Wolnir Holy Sword — Tested against the Farron Undead Legion; instead of weakening them, it enraged them. 304
• Painting Fragment “Wolf Knight” · Part One — A special roguelike reward Leon treasures for its connection to Artorias’s story. 145

Relationships

• Malu — Core Strategy Team companion. Leon protects her from challengers, teaches her to write strategy guides, and relies on her support during exploration. 157 308
• Delu — Core Strategy Team companion and support magician. Delu provides healing, buffs, and practical advice during Leon’s dungeon runs. 61 155
• Te Er — Core Strategy Team companion and frontline fighter. Leon regularly coordinates with Te Er in the party’s combat formations. 155 322
• Sword Saint Gapar / Jia Paer — Leon’s teacher. Gapar’s brutal seven-day training strengthens Leon’s body and swordsmanship, while his philosophy shapes Leon’s victory-at-any-cost combat style. 105 363
• Gong Qiying — Advisor and Zane Dungeon’s City Lord. Gong Qiying counsels Leon after his lie is exposed and later helps him develop a response to invaders. 56 159
• Da Er — Fellow adventurer and occasional partner. Leon introduces him to the Wolf Knight legend, encourages his confidence, and challenges his strict ideals of swordsman’s honor. 146 148
• Fingel — Friendly rival and fellow adventurer. Leon recognizes Fingel’s strength, later defeats him in battle, and works with him to investigate the little boy’s fate in Irithyll. 307 331 334
• Lu Lu Wo — Rival adventurer and frequent invasion target. Leon repeatedly defeats her as the Mysterious Hooded Man but also aids her after finding her incapacitated during an invasion. 164 166
• Te Pi Bask — Leon’s father and a renowned swordmaster. Their relationship is antagonistic and intensely competitive; Leon defeats Te Pi both at home and in their public Lake Liurnia rematch. 138 363
• Mei Gen — Leon’s sister. Their estrangement stems from childhood mistreatment, and Leon later defeats her with Swift Slash. 57 138 308

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Zane Dungeon Exploration

Leon emerges as a prominent member of the early exploration group, gaining a reputation for decisive leadership and an increasingly unconventional approach to dungeon combat. His secret grinding scandal becomes a turning point, replacing his concern for appearances with a drive for genuine power. 34 56

Avatar of Soul Five

After receiving training from Gapar, Leon defeats the Avatar of Soul Five through teamwork, deception, sleep arrows, Dung Pies, and Swift Slash. The battle confirms his belief that survival in Sain requires using Sain’s own tools. 105

Family Reckoning

Leon leaves the Strategy Team to confront his family alone. He defeats his father at his sister’s birthday banquet, then later explains that he also defeated his sister through Swift Slash. 106 138

Tomb Area and Roguelike Exploration

Leon leads the Strategy Team into the Tomb Area, identifies the dungeon’s Strength Balance behavior, accepts Negative Harvest, and becomes invested in collecting Wolf Knight painting fragments. 137 140 145 148

Invasion Conflict

After his Backhand Sword is destroyed by organized Hollow invaders, Leon publicizes anti-invasion methods rather than keeping them private. As the Mysterious Hooded Man, he uses the Ringed City Set and Hound Step to repeatedly invade and defeat the New Strategy Team. 158 159 164

Irithyll of the Boreal Valley

Leon helps explore Irithyll, fights Dorupo through rooftop and alley tactics, assists an Afterimage child searching for his brother, and investigates whether faction armor can save the boy from becoming an Undead. 325 324 334

Father-Son Competition

Leon’s rivalry with Te Pi escalates during the dungeon competition and their later public battle in Lake Liurnia. With the support of multiple Zane Dungeon teams, Leon wins first place in the event; he subsequently defeats Te Pi’s Boulder Golem using the Ringed City Set. 354 363

Elden Lord Reminiscence and Nokron

After Stormveil Castle’s exploration, Leon enters the Roundtable Hold’s remembrance system, witnesses the Elden Lord’s battle with Godrick, receives Godrick’s Crown, and chooses Radahn’s path. He later explores the Land of Falling Stars and discovers the submerged Eternal City of Nokron. 568 569 570 705

Notable Quotes

“To survive in Sain, you have to use the things of Sain.” 105

“Victory is everything, what swordsman’s honor?” 148

“You have to use every means available to achieve victory.” 363

“Who should I kill next?” 570

Trivia

• Leon’s Heart-Aligned One simulation has a Bond Value of 45 and the talent Beating Frenzy, which greatly enhances allied unarmed combat power at the cost of sending them into frenzy. 124
• His Heart-Aligned One portrait depicts him stepping on an older man resembling his father and holding a woman resembling his sister by the collar. 124
• Leon is described as the strongest adventurer in Lake Liurnia during his battle with Te Pi. 363
• A stone tablet in Irithyll lists Leon as the first clearer of several bosses, leaving him both proud and uncomfortable about his fame. 322