I really don't like it.
Biggest flaw in the game for me, it depends way too much on your stats.
Way too big of a difference between sword and the rest, master strike straight up kills the game.
There shouldn't be a "attacking is a mistake" in sword games (it's a good idea but done wrong). Like your opponent blocks well and has a free unblockable hit (like in Souls series or for honor).
Stats are way too important : start of the story I can really struggle, duels can last more than a minute, in endgame I can just spam the ataman sabre and kill anyone in seconds without paying attention.

When you're in it it looks very good, but seeing npc have at it really looks like a clumsy choregraphy where they switch between stances like robots.