diff --git a/main.tscn b/main.tscn
index 18115bd..b28bcd2 100644
--- a/main.tscn
+++ b/main.tscn
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-[gd_scene load_steps=16 format=3 uid="uid://cxo6bq26huau7"]
+[gd_scene load_steps=18 format=3 uid="uid://cxo6bq26huau7"]
 
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cmaovvr15b3qk" path="res://player/player.tscn" id="2_1bvp3"]
 [ext_resource type="Texture2D" uid="uid://d3fpq76anm4t7" path="res://world/Background Prototype/Background prototype.png" id="3_kek77"]
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cqn67nwyrtq3k" path="res://ui/journal/journal.tscn" id="10_w48qg"]
 [ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://cpe4s6vsn0ujd" path="res://enemies/boss/boss.tscn" id="11_efxa6"]
 [ext_resource type="Script" uid="uid://gul4u5tw1vxk" path="res://bg_image.gd" id="13_vivmo"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://bwtdls58ajair" path="res://items/unique_items/upslash/upslash.tscn" id="16_yaehf"]
+[ext_resource type="PackedScene" uid="uid://bbpf28ohayd8n" path="res://items/unique_items/backslash/backslash.tscn" id="17_074og"]
 
 [node name="main" type="Node2D"]
 
@@ -104,6 +106,12 @@ colors = Array[Color]([Color(0, 0.6441987, 0.6693053, 1), Color(0.90588236, 0.15
 script = ExtResource("10_efxa6")
 boss = ExtResource("11_efxa6")
 
+[node name="Upslash" parent="." instance=ExtResource("16_yaehf")]
+position = Vector2(264, -3143)
+
+[node name="Backslash" parent="." instance=ExtResource("17_074og")]
+position = Vector2(-48, -3137)
+
 [connection signal="active_item_changed" from="Player" to="UIOverlay/ItemUI" method="_on_player_active_item_changed"]
 [connection signal="health_changed" from="Player" to="UIOverlay/Healthbar" method="_on_player_health_changed"]
 [connection signal="max_hp_changed" from="Player" to="UIOverlay/Healthbar" method="_on_player_max_hp_changed"]
diff --git a/player/sword.gd b/player/sword.gd
index 5e84be4..f7ea12b 100644
--- a/player/sword.gd
+++ b/player/sword.gd
@@ -1,7 +1,4 @@
 extends Area2D
-var anim_sprite: AnimatedSprite2D
-var slash_duration = 0.1
-var slash_timer = 0
 var damage = 20
 var facing = -1
 var facing_mult = 1
@@ -10,36 +7,44 @@ var swing_knockback = 1000
 var apply_swing_knockback = true
 
 func _ready() -> void:
-	anim_sprite = $AnimatedSprite2D
 	get_parent().attack.connect(swing)
 
 func swing(dir_str) -> void:
+	# Each swing is a new damage instance
 	dmg_id = Global.next_dmg_id
-	facing = - get_parent().facing * facing_mult
+	facing = get_parent().facing * facing_mult
+	# Adjust the orientation depending on direction of the player,
+	# direction of the sword and whether it was an upward strike
 	if dir_str == "up":
 		scale.x = abs(scale.x)
-		scale.y = abs(scale.y) * facing
+		scale.y = abs(scale.y) * -facing
 		rotation = PI/2 * facing_mult
 	else:
-		scale.x = abs(scale.x) * facing
+		scale.x = abs(scale.x) * -facing
 		scale.y = abs(scale.y)
 		rotation = 0
-	anim_sprite.visible = true
+	
+	# Sprite is visible during swing
+	$Sprite.visible = true
+	
+	# Wait for the physics to register the new orientation of the sword before starting the swing
 	await get_tree().physics_frame
 	await get_tree().physics_frame
+	# Upslashes do not knockback you when you hit
 	if dir_str == "up":
 		apply_swing_knockback = false
-	slash_timer = slash_duration
+	$SlashTimer.start()
 
-func _process(delta: float) -> void:
-	if slash_timer > 0:
-		slash_timer = max(0, slash_timer-delta)
-		if(slash_timer == 0):
-			anim_sprite.visible = false
+func end_slash():
+	# Reset swing-specific values to default
+	$Sprite.visible = false
+	apply_swing_knockback = true
+
+func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
+	if $SlashTimer.time_left > 0:
+		# Hurt all overlapping enemies
 		for area in get_overlapping_areas():
-			var hurt_dir = -get_parent().get_node("EarthAligner").global_from_local(Vector2(-facing, 0)).rotated(facing*rotation)
+			var hurt_dir = -get_parent().get_node("EarthAligner").global_from_local(Vector2(facing, 0)).rotated(-facing*rotation)
 			if area.hurt(damage, hurt_dir, dmg_id) and apply_swing_knockback:
-				get_parent().reset_to_velocity += Vector2(swing_knockback * facing, 0)
+				get_parent().reset_to_velocity += Vector2(swing_knockback * -facing, 0)
 				apply_swing_knockback = false
-	else:
-		apply_swing_knockback = true
diff --git a/player/sword.tscn b/player/sword.tscn
index d1a8c5f..27219db 100644
--- a/player/sword.tscn
+++ b/player/sword.tscn
@@ -28,9 +28,15 @@ rotation = 1.5708
 scale = Vector2(-0.635, -1.1)
 shape = SubResource("CapsuleShape2D_e4ynd")
 
-[node name="AnimatedSprite2D" type="AnimatedSprite2D" parent="."]
+[node name="Sprite" type="AnimatedSprite2D" parent="."]
 visible = false
 modulate = Color(1, 1, 1, 0.6862745)
 position = Vector2(-25.644447, 0.61333346)
 scale = Vector2(-0.385, 0.231)
 sprite_frames = SubResource("SpriteFrames_fahsa")
+
+[node name="SlashTimer" type="Timer" parent="."]
+wait_time = 0.1
+one_shot = true
+
+[connection signal="timeout" from="SlashTimer" to="." method="end_slash"]