The quick answer
Go to the Palace of Annals beside Sage’s Knoll in Qinghe. Cross the guarded bridge, climb the first stairs and look below the right-hand ledge for a nest. Interact with it and complete the bird-observation timing trial to learn Talon Strike.
On this page
Reach the nest below the ledge
- Travel to the Palace of Annals in western Qinghe, beside Sage’s Knoll.
- Clear the archers covering the long bridge, then cross to the far side.
- Climb the first flight of stairs and turn towards the right-hand ledge.
- Look down for the nest with eggs, drop onto its ledge and interact.
Clear the bridge before approaching its exposed edges. Being knocked off adds a climb back to the route; this unlock does not require winning a fight while balancing on the rail.
Finish the bird-observation trial
The nest starts a Skill Theft-style timing sequence. Watch the diving bird and the on-screen input ring. Press the prompted control at the indicated moment and repeat until the learning meter completes within the trial timer.
This is observation in the world, not a Dragon Key dojo. If you fail, retry the nest interaction and focus on the ring’s timing rather than attacking the bird. After success, open Mystic Skills, find Talon Strike and equip it in an available combat slot.
Use it to challenge defense
Talon Strike begins with a defense-breaking swipe and continues with three hits. Its upgrades extend the dash and add a conditional reduction to the target’s defense and Endurance recovery. Those tier effects are not all present on the newly learned skill.
The July balance update specifically allows its defense break against Tenacity targets that are actively defending or deflecting.
Our suggested practice is to try it against a defending opponent after establishing range. Watch whether the opening swipe connects before committing your next attack. A dash reaching the target is not proof that every follow-up landed, and this interaction does not make every boss attack interruptible.
What to read next
Common questions
Do I need a Dragon Key for Talon Strike?
No. Interact with the nest at the Palace of Annals and complete its bird-observation trial.
Where is the nest after crossing the bridge?
Climb the first stairs, turn right and look below the ledge for the nest and eggs.
Sources & verification
Source research is separate from in-game testing. Recommendations are identified as editorial advice.
- Official: Version 2.0 adjustments
Balance review.