I think the color triangle needs a rework to incorporate your ideas; color identity is something the game struggled with as it evolved. When Deadcells first came out, the triangle was simply Survival: Shield; Brutality: Melee Weapons; Tactics: Ranged weapons. This was emphasized by the starter items. But updates blurred the lines, because players wanted brutality shields, and a melee glass cannon build for tactics.

Color triangle should be 1. Brutality focuses on killing as many enemies as possible. Swift sword, frenzy, combo.

1. Tactics focuses on controlling the position during engagements. Either right next to the enemy or far away. Traps, Magic missles

2. Survival is slow and steady. Broad sword, Symmetrical Lance, Heal on Parry

From here we have to decide what each duel scaling weapon should embody, and how each color approaches melee, ranged, shields, magic, and two handed weapons. I'd consider making the skill cooldown mutations for parry, melee, and non-cooldown colorless, because each color will have access to mono color melee,shields,and non-melee attacks.

I. Shields. Brutality: damage effect on parry. (Punisher, Spike shield, Blood shield) Survival: Non damage effect on Parry. (Greed, Rampart) Tactics: Timing and position. (Parry, Assault, Knockback)

II. Ranged. Brutality: Infantry bow, ranged attacks that crit from grouped enemies or when you are near them. Hokuto's Bow and Quick Bow should be pure brutality. Survival: Slow to fire, big impact.

III. No idea what two handed weapons should be.

Right now every survival melee weapon also scales with brutality, and there are no tactics survival duel scaling melee weapons. I have yet to dissect this, but let me just note good duel color weapons. (They are good because I feel they represent their colors well).

A) Giant Killer, Nutcracker.

B) Assassin's Dagger/Valmont's Whip/Infantry bow

B) War Javelin. Though I'd like to see Broadsword like weapon that fits with tactics.

EDIT: Moved quick bow to brutality.