Suggestion
I would like more attack inputs and combo branches added to the Sword & Shield.
[Requests for Standard Style]
Allow an upward swipe during sword combos and shield combos to perform a Lateral Slash.
[Requests for Drill Slash Style]
Allow an upward swipe during a combo to perform a Shield Attack (first hit), which then connects into a Thrust (and a Drill Slash branched from this Thrust will branch into a Chop).
Increase the power of Plunging Thrust.
[Improvement Requests Common to Both Styles Above]
Change it so that if you do not hold down after a Backstep, it branches into an Advancing Slash.
Allow a downward swipe after a Charged Slash to perform a Return Stroke.
Change the counterattack after reeling from a guard so that it branches into an Advancing Slash instead of a Charged Slash.
(Make it the same as Perfect Rush Style)
Reduce recovery lag on small guards.
Current Status
Sword & Shield received balance adjustments at the start of Season 11. While the playstyle for Perfect Rush Style improved thanks to the addition of Guard Slash, the other styles merely received simple damage buffs and increased forward travel distance, still lacking versatility.
[What Would Improve]
Making the Backstep behave similarly to mainline World would make it easier to stay glued to monsters, and being able to perform sword attacks on demand would allow players to keep attacking without interrupting combos.
[Motivation Behind the Request]
With the Sword & Shield balance adjustments, Standard Style and Drill Slash Style basically just got increased damage, so the overall gameplay feels unchanged and lacks freshness. I submitted this request because I believe weapon buffs—not just for Sword & Shield—make the game more enjoyable when they add new inputs and combo branches.
I understand asking for complex controls in a game meant to be played with one hand might be questionable, but please consider this.