Special Attacks in Claymore

Claymore use few named attacks compared to fighters in other shonen manga, although those they do possess are normally unique, and often very powerful. Claymore do not normally seem to pass their techniques to younger recruits, with several notable exceptions, meaning that most techniques are developed by training and/or release of yoma. Unusual techniques without a name are named after their user here, but those which are simply notable qualities like Deneve's fast regeneration and Sophia's exceptional strength are not noted.

Double Sword Attack

 * User: Undine, Deneve
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: Chapter 53 (manga)

The use of two swords together. This technique originates with Undine, whose friend was killed protecting her.

Undine, blaming her own weakness, took her friend's sword and continuously released her yoki to gain huge muscles, thinking they would help her use two swords. But Deneve realizes that Undine's muscles are a facade and unnecessary for any skillful Claymore who can control yoki. After Undine's death in the Northern Campaign, grieving Deneve takes Undine's sword, leaving Undine's friend's sword to mark Undine's grave.

Drill Sword

 * User: Jean, Helen
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: Chapter 47 (manga)

Jean's unique attack in which she twists her arm, screw-like, with 19 to 21 turns. As she attacks, her arm unwinds, spinning a sword blade that can drill through any Awakened Being.

Galatea describes Jean as having the most powerful thrust of any Claymore. Her attack pierces Dauf's armor. In Pieta, Jean severs the legs of the insectoid Awakened One in a varient where the unwinding arm whirls the sword in a circle.

Although Helen and Jean were initally hostile to each other (Jean did save Helen from having to euthanize Clare), Helen uses the Drill Sword after the seven-year time-skip. Perhaps due to her extendable arms, or reckless personality, she uses it without restraint.

Phantom Move

 * User: Miria
 * Nature: Offensive/Defensive
 * First Seen: Chapter 28 (manga)

Miria's iconic signature move involves the release of an exceptionally brief and intense burst of yoki, letting her move so fast that afterimages remain in her adversary's vision. Thus the origin of her "Phantom" nickname.

The Phantom Move is limited to 20-30 uses in a fight, due to intense strain on mind and body. After the Northern Campaign, Miria displays a new version which does not rely on yoki release, trading speed for a slight increase in controlled movements and, above all else, near limitless use.

Quicksword (Flash Sword)

 * User: Irene, Clare
 * Nature: Offensive13ClaymoreFlashSword.jpg
 * First seen: Chapter 36 (manga)

One of the most powerful attacks used by Claymores, the Quicksword is a barrage of strikes too fast to follow, which can take down the most skilled opponent.

While it failed to penetrate Dauf's hide, and Teresa followed Irene's Quicksword easily, Ophelia, Rigaldo and two other Pieta Awakened have all fallen victim to this attack.

As seen against Ophelia, it also provides a nearly impentrable defense. Irene, the originator of this technique, teaches it to Clare, explaining that Clare must releases all her yoki within her sword arm, while preventing it from taking over the rest of her body. Naturally, the Quicksword takes great strength and a calm mind, as Irene possesses.

To speed up Clare's skill with Quicksword, Irene severs her own arm and orders Clare to reattatch it to her own body. After this, the Quicksword becomes Clare's strongest attack, as she controls her former wild lashings to tightly controlled strikes.

Rippling Sword

 * User: Ophelia
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: manga Scene 35, anima Scene 13

Ophelia claimed to have developed this technique just to accquire the nickname "Rippling Ophelia." But adds that "most of the people who've seen it are dead" (manga). In the anima Ophelia says "no one who's see it has lived to tell anyone else".

Ophelia uses the flexible quaity of her body, similar to Jean and Helen, to vibrate and undulate her sword, resembling a rippling snake. This illusion makes her blows almost impossible to anticipate or block, though Ilena/Irene can stop them easily with the Quicksword.

Shadow Hunter
A technique in which Nina's blade tracks a target by shadowing its yoki and continue to move and slash, till the yoki is extinguished. The full power of this move is not seen, however, as Nina was directly attacked at the time, interfering the technique and preventing her from killing her target.
 * User: Nina
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: Chapter 65 (manga)

Soul Link
Two Claymores align their energies so that one contains the other's "soul," allowing the other to fight as an Awakened Being without losing her humanity (i.e. she can revert to being human after the battle when the "soul" is released back into her body.) Also, it should be noted that holding and releasing a soul puts considerable strain on the non-Awakened Claymore.
 * User: Luciela and Rafaela (failed attempt), Alicia and Beth15095.jpeg
 * Nature: Offensive or Defensive
 * First seen: Chapter 62 (manga)

Soul Link has only worked with identical twins, as the Organization failed with non-identical sisters Luciela and Rafaela. The younger sister, Rafaela, breaks her link with Luciela, who awakens and becomes an Abyssal One.

Strong Sword

 * User: Rachel
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: Chapter 69 (Manga)

This style of attack involves Rachel digging her sword into the ground, building up potential energy, and releasing with greater power than a normal strike. She uses this attack to cut through Riful. For added versatility, she can use Audrey's sword to brace against. Riful criticizes this technique as being too obvious and long to set up.

Windcutter
Lightning-fast attack first shown by Flora, allowing her to draw, slash and re-sheath her sword in an instant. While slower than Quicksword, it is more accurate and needs no yoki, allowing the user to perform continuously without tiring. Deserting the Organization after the Northern Campaign, Clare use this technique to avoid detection by other Claymores.
 * User: Flora, Clare
 * Nature: Offensive
 * First seen: Chapter 51 (Manga)

Yoki Manipulation
Claymores can detect, control and align their yoki with their targets, making possible altering trajectories of attacks (Galatea), assisting healing and regeneration (Cynthia), and prevent or reverse a Claymore's awakening (Galatea, Clare, Jean).
 * User: Galatea, Clare, Cynthia, Jean
 * Nature: Defensive
 * First seen: Chapter 44 (manga)

Yoki Sensing
Yoki sensing beyond reading yoma auras: one sees the specific flows and movements within the yoma. Thus giving the Claymore the ability to predict attacks and defend accordingly.
 * User: Clare, Teresa, Galatea, Tabitha and Renee
 * Nature; Defensive
 * First seen: Chapter 28 (Manga)

First seen used by Teresa, and later adopted by Clare, who practiced the move at length in order to battle an Awakened Being, and eventually Priscilla.

Other Claymores, such as Galatea, Tabitha, and Renee, have also demonstrated similar abilities either for reconnaissance (as in the case of Galatea and Renee, both serving as the Organization's "Eyes"), or for directing fellow comrades in battle (in the case of Tabitha against Agatha's true form).