Dawnwalker: How to Bring Out Your Sword or Claws

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DIRECT ANSWER

What the player needs to know

At night, press the Swap Weapon action to change between Coen’s equipped sword and claws: F on the default PC keyboard layout, X on the default Xbox layout or Square on the default PlayStation layout. Do not use Draw/Sheathe Weapon for this switch—the default PC key for that separate action is Y. If the listed button does nothing, open Settings and check the current Swap Weapon binding or controller scheme because PC keys can be rebound and controllers have an alternative layout.

PC defaultF

Xbox defaultX

PlayStation defaultSquare

Two armed characters fight at night in an official The Blood of Dawnwalker screenshot — A night battle is the context in which Coen can swap his equipped sword and vampire claws; the active Controls menu remains the final authority after rebinding.

Use Swap Weapon during a night fight

Coen can still use his equipped sword after dark. The game gives night combat access to vampire claws, but it does not permanently replace the blade. Press the action labeled Swap Weapon while fighting at night to toggle between the two. Independent launch guides agree on F for the default PC keyboard layout, X for the default Xbox layout and Square for the default PlayStation layout.

This is a combat-context input. On the default PC layout, F is also Interact in general play, so the result depends on what Coen is doing. If an interact prompt is active or combat has not engaged, step away from the object, enter combat and try the current Swap Weapon binding again.

Default night-combat inputs for switching sword and claws
Platform	Swap Weapon
PC keyboard and mouse	F
Xbox controller	X
PlayStation controller	Square

Do not confuse swap with draw or sheathe

Dawnwalker has two different weapon actions. Draw/Sheathe Weapon changes whether Coen has a combat stance active; Swap Weapon changes which available weapon set he is using. On the default PC keyboard layout, VULKK records Y for Draw/Sheathe and F for Swap Weapon. Pressing only Y can therefore put the current weapon away without changing claws to the sword.

If Coen is left bare-handed or immediately returns to the wrong set, draw the weapon first and then use Swap Weapon. The exact prompts can differ after a rebind or when the alternative controller scheme is active, which is why the action names matter more than memorizing one button from another player’s setup.

The two commands solve different problems
Action	What it changes
Draw/Sheathe Weapon	Combat stance on or off
Swap Weapon	Sword or claws during night combat

Fix the input when the default button does nothing

Pause the game, open Settings and move to Controls for keyboard and mouse or Controller for a gamepad. PC actions can be rebound, while controller users can choose between the Default and Alternative schemes. Find the current Swap Weapon line and use the button shown there rather than assuming the factory default is still active.

Then test the command in a simple night encounter with an equipped sword. Confirm that Coen is in combat, use Draw/Sheathe if no weapon stance is active and press Swap Weapon once. If the prompt still fails after confirming the binding, restore only the relevant control setting before changing broader combat or accessibility options.

The default bindings are corroborated by two independent launch guides and current player reports. The page separates Draw/Sheathe Weapon from Swap Weapon because confusing those actions is the reason players become stuck with claws or bare hands. PC keys can be rebound and controllers offer an alternative layout, so the action label in the current Controls menu remains authoritative when a displayed prompt differs from the defaults listed here.

Equip a sword before starting the test.
Enter combat at night so claws are available.
Confirm the action labeled Swap Weapon in Settings.
Treat Draw/Sheathe Weapon as a separate input.

Return to the full combat guideLearn Perfect Blocks, weapon arts and nighttime healing after the input works.Practice directional combatSeparate weapon selection from attack direction and block timing.

Frequently asked questions

How do I bring my sword out at night in Dawnwalker?

Use Swap Weapon during night combat: F on default PC controls, X on default Xbox controls or Square on default PlayStation controls. If the weapon is sheathed, draw it first with the separate Draw/Sheathe action.

Why does the sword button leave Coen unarmed?

You are probably using Draw/Sheathe Weapon instead of Swap Weapon. On the default PC layout they are Y and F respectively. Check the action labels in Settings after any rebind.

Can I use a sword at night?

Yes. Coen can switch between his equipped sword and vampire claws at night, so a Swordmastery-focused build is not forced to use claws after dark.

REFERENCE RECORD

Sources used for this page

Independent gameplay guideMethod launch combat guide, published August 31, 2026Independent launch-build guide confirming that the night-combat action switches between the equipped sword and claws, with default PC, Xbox and PlayStation inputs.Independent controls guideVULKK launch controls guide, published September 3, 2026Independent transcription of the launch control menus, used to distinguish Draw/Sheathe Weapon from Swap Weapon and explain rebinding and controller schemes.Community discussionPlayer discussion about switching to claws, observed September 5, 2026Current player reports corroborating the launch-guide inputs and showing that alternative control schemes are a common source of confusion; not used as the sole mechanics source.

Learn Dawnwalker combat with the orange Perfect Block cue, Perfect Riposte, weapon arts, Voracious Bite healing and the three skill paths.

How to Switch Sword and Claws in Dawnwalker