Unique battle skills

Each of the five Clans have their own unique battle skills. Generally, each tactic is used only by the Clan that created it, though some skills are known to all five Clans. Each of these tactics are shown in-depth in the book Battles of the Clans, while the mutual Clan attacks are shown in Secrets of the Clans.

ThunderClan

Forest Attack

1. Move quietly and communicate with signals. Cracking twigs, startled birds, and rustling bracken will tell the enemy exactly where you are.
2. Keep downwind of the trespassers so that your scent doesn't give you away.
3. Look for freshly broken twigs, overturned leaves on the forest floor, remains of prey, or a clump of fur caught on a bramble. Any animal that moves through the forest leaves behind signs that its passed by-and signs like this could lead you straight to the invaders.
4. Keep your mouth open to search for unfamiliar scents. Be careful: if there is scent when there is no breeze to carry it through the forest, it could mean that your enemy is very close by.
5. Light-colored pelts are easily seen against brown and green foliage, so stay in the thickest cover. Keep low- the enemy will be looking for movement at normal head height, not close to the ground.
6. Never miss an opportunity to perfect your tracking ability. In the nursery, kits sneak up on their mothers and pounce with their moss-soft paws. Apprentices leap out on one another from behind bushes and tree stumps. These are more than just games. One day, these skills could save your life and defend your Clan.

Lightning Strike

1. Crouch behind the enemy with your patrol unseen.
2. Wait for the leader of the patrol to give the Attack Tail Signal.
3. Spring squarely on top of the enemy, aiming for the ears, as they will bleed easily; caught by surprise, they should be easy targets.
4. As fast as you attack, retreat back into the undergrowth.
5. As the enemy lets its guard down, attack from an opposite angle; do this over and over until the enemy, thinking they are outnumbered, retreats.

ShadowClan

Night Ambush

1. Hide in the shadows of the night with your patrol and your enemy spotted.
2. Make sure your scent isn't drifting toward the attackers.
3. Wait for the leader of the patrol to give the Attack Tail Signal.
4. Strike your enemy fast and hard; the enemy will be caught off-guard with a battle at night.
5. Cut off all your enemy's escape routes, encircling them with your patrol.
6. If they try to attack, battle again. If they do not, let them through with a warning.

RiverClan

Water Combat

Water Combat Battle Moves

Double-Front-Paw Slap-Down

1. Splash water into the enemy's face with your front paws, temporarily blinding them.

Underwater Leg Sweep (Front or Hind)

1. Crouch under water, holding your breath.
2. Sweep the legs from under your enemy as their head is raised above water-level; they struggle for breath, as other Clan cats naturally panic underwater.

Push-Down and Release

1. Wrestle your enemy under water.
2. Keep their head below water-level until they surrender, as other Clan cats don't know to hold their breath underwater.

Underwater Clinch

1. Use your enemy's weight to hold them underwater.
2. With a firm grip, raise them to the air so they can breathe, then send them under again. Do this repeatedly until the enemy gives up.

Tail Splash

1. Similar to the Double Front-Paw Slap-Down, splash the water into your opponent's eyes with your tail, temporarily blinding them.

Underwater Push-Off

1. Holding your breath, crouch below the water's surface.
2. Aim an accurate pounce to the warrior on the water's edge, knocking them off-balance; the element of surprise should win you this battle.

Rushpaw Splash

1. Flick a splash of water at a distance to create a decoy for the enemy, leaving room for a surprise attack.

WindClan

Speed and Agility

Speed and Agility Battle Moves

Gray Wing created many battle techniques especially for WindClan. He came up with these tactics using small stones and marks on the floor of his den.

Approach from Above Your Enemy

1. Gain high-ground.
2. Wait for the leader of the patrol to give the Attack Tail Signal.
3. Charge down your high ground; your enemy will be weakened by having to fight uphill.

Use the Light from the Sun

1. Attack your enemy with the sun behind you, which should dazzle the enemy and block their view.

Know Where the Wind is Coming From

1. If there is a strong wind, it should blow from behind you; that should hold them back and blur their vision with dust. However, if stalking, make sure the wind is blowing toward you, as it could give away your scent if blowing toward your enemy.

Conceal the Size of Your Force

1. Have your attackers in sight from a distance.
2. There are two options: either you can group your warriors together tightly, making you seem like a small attacking force. Your enemy may become overconfident, which is likely to lead to them making poor strategic decisions. Or, if your warriors spread out single-file, it will seem impossible to pass to advancing enemy warriors and may intimidate them.
3. Attack the enemy.

Attack Both Ends of the Enemy Line First

1. Attack both ends of your enemy's line, leaving the middle cats to fend on two fronts; this will leave them outflanked, vulnerable, and in disarray.
2. Attack the rest of the enemies until they run.

Keep Fresh Warriors in Reserve

1. Always keep strong, fit warriors to replace injured ones.

Feigned Retreat and Ambush

1. A group of strong cats screech and attack the enemy line.
2. The group of fit cats retreat; repeat this until the enemy line breaks.
3. Other warriors, usually tunnelers, jump out of rabbit holes and dips in the ground on the other side of the attackers.
4. Attack from both fronts until the enemy surrenders.

SkyClan

Aboveground Combat

Aboveground Battle Moves

The Sky-Crusher

1. Balance on a thin branch; make no sound.
2. Land squarely on the enemy, claws unsheathed.

The Flick-Over

1. Balance on a thin branch; make no sound.
2. Land with all four paws outstretched on your enemy.
3. Knock the opponent's feet from under him.
4. Flip the enemy over to their belly; pin them to the ground until they surrender.

The Kick

1. Balance on a thin branch; make no sound.
2. Kick the enemy as you near the ground.
3. Use the momentum of the fall to spring backward before the enemy has time to attack.

The Slice

1. Balance on a thin branch; make no sound.
2. Drop with claws unsheathed for maximum injury.

The Branch Swing

1. Hold on to a branch with front claws as your back paws rake your enemy's face.

The Reverse Branch Swing

1. Hold on to a branch with back claws as your front paws rake your enemy's face.

The Trunk Spring

1. Balance on a thin branch; make no sound.
2. Slide down the trunk of your tree.
3. Spring off the trunk with your back legs at head height to clear an enemy (good if tree is surrounded).

The Reverse Climb

1. Pace backward as the enemy advances.
2. Climb backward up the trunk to escape enemy; often followed by the Trunk Spring.

Mutual Battle Skills

• See Fighting techniques