Mastering Duels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Dynasty Warriors: Origins, while famed for its massive battles against hordes of enemies, also features a compelling duel system, a returning gameplay element from earlier titles. This guide explains how duels work.

Unlocking and Initiating Duels

Duels become available in Chapter 2. You can't duel any enemy; only high-ranking officers are eligible. When a duel is possible, a prompt appears briefly, requiring the simultaneous press of R1 and L1 buttons to initiate the challenge.

Duel Mechanics

The duel takes place in a small arena surrounded by soldiers. A progress bar at the top of the screen tracks the progress of both you and your opponent. Successful hits fill your meter; conversely, your opponent's successful attacks fill theirs. The objective is to completely fill your meter by landing enough hits.

Your starting position in the duel is determined by your overall morale, not your health. A winning streak grants you a head start, while losing puts you behind. A close match results in an even start. Strategic dodging, parrying, and maintaining distance (especially against opponents using Battle Arts) are crucial for victory. While there's a time limit, reckless attacks are ill-advised.

Consequences of Victory and Defeat

Winning a duel inflicts significant damage on your opponent and provides a substantial morale boost to your army. Losing, however, results in heavy damage to your character and a severe drop in army morale, potentially jeopardizing your battle progress. However, if neither combatant wins, there are no penalties. The duel simply concludes, and the battle resumes.

There are, however, unavoidable duels. Losing these results in immediate mission failure, while winning guarantees victory. Therefore, while duels offer the potential for a significant battlefield advantage, underestimating an opponent can lead to disastrous consequences.

Availability

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.