The Duskbloods Sigils, Rivals, and Alliances Explained

The social layer of a competitive match

The Duskbloods has plenty of combat systems, but Sigils are what make its multiplayer structure feel less predictable than a standard free-for-all. Before entering a test match, a player could choose whether to use one. Each Sigil set a goal involving another player and offered Virtue for completing it.

The important part is that these were not simply side quests. They could change who you looked for, whether you risked an alliance, and when it made sense to fight.

Sigils seen in the Network Test

Sigil	Objective in the test build
Rival Sigil	Find and defeat a designated rival.
Eye of Mural Sigil	Pursue targets that appeared across phases.
Old Friend Sigil	Find a marked player, form an alliance, and reach the final phase together.
Fleeting Love Sigil	Use a courtship emote with a marked player and reach the final phase as a pair.

The names and exact conditions are Network Test information. The larger idea—roleplay-style goals that create unexpected player stories—is also part of Miyazaki’s description of the planned customization system.

Alliances were useful, not permanent safety

Players could apply to form an alliance with a nearby Bloodsworn. Once accepted, their attacks did not hit each other, which made joint fights and travel safer. The alliance could be ended at the close of a phase, but ending it carried a cost: the player who dissolved it lost maximum health, transferred to the former ally.

That is a much more interesting decision than a simple team toggle. An alliance can help you survive, but it can also bind you to someone who may become your final obstacle. If two allies reached the final phase, the alliance ended automatically.

How to use this information

The test version rewarded attention. Read the Sigil objective before charging into a fight; an encounter that looks optional may be the fastest route to Virtue. At the same time, avoid treating every marked target as a guaranteed win. Some objectives required trust, timing, or a cooperative response from another real player.

Sources

• V Jump Network Test hands-on
• Dengeki Online Network Test preview
• Famitsu interview with Hidetaka Miyazaki