diff --git a/Characters/Character.cs b/Characters/Character.cs
index 357ee7b..7a067ea 100644
--- a/Characters/Character.cs
+++ b/Characters/Character.cs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public partial class Character : CharacterBody2D, IFaction
     }
 
     [Export]
-    public CharacterStats Stats { get; private set; }
+    public CharacterStats Stats { get; protected set; }
 
     [Signal]
     public delegate void HealthChangedEventHandler(Events.HealthChangedArgs args);
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public partial class Character : CharacterBody2D, IFaction
 
         if (Stats is not null)
         {
-            Stats.Stagger += (double time) =>
+            Stats.Stagger += (double time, float staggerDamage) =>
             {
                 Stun(time);
             };
diff --git a/Characters/Player.cs b/Characters/Player.cs
index 91a2150..cc1d21e 100644
--- a/Characters/Player.cs
+++ b/Characters/Player.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,6 @@ public sealed partial class Player : Character
     [Export]
     public AnimationTree AnimationTree { get; private set; }
 
-    [Export]
     public new PlayerStats Stats { get; private set; }
 
     public InteractionRay InteractionRay { get; private set; }
@@ -54,8 +53,10 @@ public sealed partial class Player : Character
         _characterEffects = GetNode<Node2D>("%CharacterEffects");
         _targetTracer = GetNode<TargetTracer>("%TargetTracer");
 
+        base.Stats = GetNode<PlayerStats>("Stats");
+        Stats = (PlayerStats)base.Stats;
+
         base._Ready();
-        Stats = GetNode<PlayerStats>("Stats");
 
         Inventory.UsedItem += (Items.Item item) =>
         {
diff --git a/Items/Weapons/IParryable.cs b/Items/Weapons/IParryable.cs
index 4d77ee9..3bf5e3d 100644
--- a/Items/Weapons/IParryable.cs
+++ b/Items/Weapons/IParryable.cs
@@ -10,5 +10,7 @@ public interface IParryable
 
     public ulong ParryTimeOrigin { get; }
 
-    public void Stun();
+    public float BlockForce { get; }
+
+    public void Stun(float blockForce);
 }
diff --git a/Items/Weapons/Sword.cs b/Items/Weapons/Sword.cs
index e768302..5f05551 100644
--- a/Items/Weapons/Sword.cs
+++ b/Items/Weapons/Sword.cs
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@ public partial class Sword : Weapon, IParryable
 
     public ulong ParryTimeOrigin { get; protected set; }
 
+    [Export]
+    public float BlockForce { get; set; } = 1;
+
     private Tween _currentTween;
 
     private AnimationNodeStateMachinePlayback _playback;
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@ public partial class Sword : Weapon, IParryable
             {
                 // our character was parried
                 ParryParticles.CloneOnWorld<GpuParticles2D>().EmitOneShot();
-                Stun();
+                Stun(otherParryable.BlockForce);
 
                 if (otherParryable is Sword sword)
                 {
@@ -235,12 +238,13 @@ public partial class Sword : Weapon, IParryable
     /// Stuns the wepaon holder. This is unique to swords and melee weapons
     /// if they can parry.
     /// </summary>
-    public void Stun()
+    public void Stun(float blockForce)
     {
         IsParried = true;
-        AnimationPlayer.SpeedScale = 0.25f;
-        Character.Stun(2);
-        GetNode<AudioStreamPlayer2D>("ParrySound")
+        Character.Stats.AddStaggerDamage(Damage * blockForce);
+
+        // optionally play parry sound
+        GetNode<AudioStreamPlayer2D>("ParrySound")?
             .OnWorld()
             .WithPitchDeviation(0.125f)
             .PlayOneShot();
diff --git a/State/Weapon/SwordBlockState.cs b/State/Weapon/SwordBlockState.cs
index 4f01ef7..0f9eab0 100644
--- a/State/Weapon/SwordBlockState.cs
+++ b/State/Weapon/SwordBlockState.cs
@@ -25,9 +25,13 @@ public partial class SwordBlockState : WeaponState
 
     private bool _isAlternate = false;
 
+    private float _oldBlockForce;
+
     public override WeaponState Enter(IState<WeaponState> prevState)
     {
         Sword.EnableParry(ulong.MaxValue);
+        _oldBlockForce = Sword.BlockForce;
+        Sword.BlockForce *= 4;
 
         _useDuration = Sword.UseAltTime;
         _attackDuration = Sword.AttackAltTime;
@@ -55,6 +59,12 @@ public partial class SwordBlockState : WeaponState
 
     public override void Exit(IState<WeaponState> nextState)
     {
+        if (nextState == IdleState)
+        {
+            Sword.AnimationPlayer.Play("RESET");
+        }
+
+        Sword.BlockForce = _oldBlockForce;
         Deattack();
         HasBlocked = false;
     }
@@ -71,7 +81,6 @@ public partial class SwordBlockState : WeaponState
 
         if ((_useDuration -= delta) <= 0)
         {
-            Sword.AnimationPlayer.Play("RESET");
             return IdleState;
         }
 
diff --git a/UI/PostProcessing/StunEffect.cs b/UI/PostProcessing/StunEffect.cs
index 6fbef8a..be35d75 100644
--- a/UI/PostProcessing/StunEffect.cs
+++ b/UI/PostProcessing/StunEffect.cs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ public partial class StunEffect : ColorRect
     {
         Events.EventBus.Instance.PlayerStun += () =>
         {
-            GD.Print("PLAYER STUNNED!!!");
             GetNode<AnimationPlayer>("AnimationPlayer").Play("tighten");
         };
     }
diff --git a/Utils/CharacterStats.cs b/Utils/CharacterStats.cs
index 3e2c4c2..3cc30e0 100644
--- a/Utils/CharacterStats.cs
+++ b/Utils/CharacterStats.cs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ public partial class CharacterStats : Node
     public double MaxStagger { get; set; } = 25;
 
     [Signal]
-    public delegate void StaggerEventHandler(double time);
+    public delegate void StaggerEventHandler(double time, float damage);
 
     public bool ShouldStagger => StaggerDamage.Value >= MaxStagger;
 
@@ -42,10 +42,12 @@ public partial class CharacterStats : Node
 
     public void AddStaggerDamage(float damage)
     {
-        StaggerDamage.Value += damage * StaggerCoefficient;
+        float delta = damage * (float)StaggerCoefficient; 
+        StaggerDamage.Value += delta;
         if (StaggerDamage.Value >= MaxStagger)
         {
-            EmitSignal(SignalName.Stagger, 1);
+            EmitSignal(SignalName.Stagger, 1, delta);
+            StaggerDamage.Value = 0;
         }
         else
         {