Boss fights aren’t exactly the first thing that come to mind when you bring up Dynasty Warriors, but the newest title in the series, Origins, has a few encounters that eschew the usual one-versus-a-thousand combat for battles that wouldn’t be out of place in a soulslike.
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Though few and far between, these clashes with the mightiest heroes of the Three Kingdoms Period are some of the game’s most memorable (and challenging) moments. We’ve ranked all four of them in terms of difficulty and excitement, and even included some tips for overcoming these legendary warriors.
4
Bailuan
Bailuan might not be a proper boss fight in the same way that the other characters on this list are, but he appears in all three story routes, and his decision to step out of the shadows and finally face you head-on after years of hounding your steps is an important moment in the game.
The fight against Bailuan, which happens during the later missions of Chapter 5, depending on which faction you’re playing, is one of the game’s few inescapable duels. With no way to run down the clock, your only choice is to defeat Bailuan before he does the same to you.
Since duels are all about keeping momentum and maintaining control of the fight, rather than managing health, you’ll probably need to adapt your strategy when the time comes to settle the score with Bailuan. On the one hand, it’s very possible to quickly end the fight with a fast, aggressive combo; on the other, all it takes is for Bailuan to get one good shot in to take away all your momentum, and a combo of his own can take you out if you aren’t careful.
Tips For Beating Bailuan
Parries are your best friend in any fight, but against Bailuan that’s especially true. With no other officers to gang up on you, and no time limit to worry about, you can afford to play defensively and wear Bailuan down with counterattacks if that’s what it takes.
The Spear Battle Art Piercing Vengeance doesn’t give you a lot of momentum, but it makes it very easy to counterattack; consider swapping it in if you’re having trouble keeping up with Bailuan’s fast sword combos.
Bailuan uses standard sword moves, with one exception; when his aura glows red, back off and be ready for him to summon an area of ice on the ground. It’s very easy to avoid as long as you’re prepared for it; once it’s in place, just walk around it and keep attacking Bailuan.
3
Guan Yu
The final challenge of Cao Cao’s storyline sees the humbled conqueror and Ziluan face off against Guan Yu, a warrior so fearsome he was later declared a god. This battle is especially poetic, since Guan Yu was Ziluan’s first ally, when they fought against corrupt Han officers in Ji Province fifteen years prior. Cao Cao and Guan Yu also have a deep respect for one another despite having different visions for the future of China, so this fight really hammers home the message; it didn’t have to be this way.
The fight itself, though, isn’t that much different from previous battles with Guan Yu. Sure, the big man with the beard has turbocharged stats and uses his full arsenal of moves, but that’s about it. As long as you’ve managed your heals effectively in the preceding battle and don’t take any unnecessary risks, you should be fine.
Tips For Beating Guan Yu
Guan Yu uses a Crescent Blade; as such, his attacks have a slightly longer windup than others, especially compared to the characters you just finished fighting in Liu Bei’s army at Huarong Pass. If you’re having trouble with the timing of your parries, try waiting just a fraction of a second longer than feels comfortable; chances are, you’re pressing the button just a little too early.
The main attacks to watch out for are Guan Yu’s unblockable red-aura strikes. The first is a pair of energy blasts in succession; they’re easy enough to dodge, just remember to only evade left or right, and be ready for the second blast after dodging the first.
Guan Yu’s other unblockable is a ground slam followed by a high jump that ends in a shockwave. This attack will probably wipe out any remaining Guards you have the first time he uses it, so deploy Tactics early before you lose access to them.
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2
Zhang Jiao
The leader of the Yellow Turban Rebellion is the first boss in the game, and you’ll confront him at the end of Chapter One. After routing his army, having to fight the charismatic mystic is a surprise… especially when it turns out that his magic isn’t just parlor tricks and hallucinogenic incense.
The inclusion of Zhang Jiao’s unique boulder attacks make him a one-of-a-kind boss fight in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Not only are they an imposing threat unlike anything you encounter before or after, but they also break up the flow of the fight by forcing you to back off when you could be pressing the attack for more damage.
Tips For Beating Zhang Jiao
Zhang Jiao uses a standard moveset, but his boulder-throwing antics make this anything but a normal officer fight. The big thing to remember is that it’s better to run in a straight line when the boulders are flying than to try and dodge them; evading them this way means they’ll hit the spot where you were when they launched, and you won’t have to worry about the stationary frames at the end of the dodge animation getting you stuck under a rock.
1
Lu Bu
Lu Bu’s ferocity is matched only by his utter disdain for those he considers beneath him… which is pretty much everyone. His boss fight was always going to be one of the game’s centerpieces, and what a battle it is.
Lu Bu is portrayed as an unstoppable juggernaut, who even the combined efforts of the realm’s greatest heroes struggle to contain. The boss fight against him showcases this, as he picks off your allies one by one until it’s just you and him in a battle to the death.
Between his unmatched stats, one-of-a-kind moveset, and arsenal of dirty tricks including countering your parries and a final Ultimate Musou Attack when you have him on the ropes, Lu Bu is the game’s best – and hardest – boss fight by miles.
Tips For Beating Lu Bu
Do your best to take as little damage as possible before forcing Lu Bu off his horse. Dismounting Lu Bu starts the second phase of the fight and serves as a Restart Checkpoint, so if you can get there with no damage and a full stock of healing items, you’ll be in a much better place when you need to restart.
If Lu Bu shrugs off a parry, don’t try to counter his counterattack. Just dodge out of the way; you’re too close to take any big risks, and you need to get hit as few times as possible.
Do your best to keep your allies alive for as long as possible; they will eventually all fall, but the longer they’re in the fight the more Lu Bu will direct his attacks against them instead of you. The best way to accomplish this is to stay on Lu Bu and stagger him as much as possible, and don’t withdraw to restock meat buns unless you absolutely have to.
- Released
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January 17, 2025
- Developer(s)
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Omega Force
- Engine
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Omega Force
- Number of Players
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1
- OpenCritic Rating
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Strong