Mastering Duels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins
While Dynasty Warriors: Origins focuses on large-scale battles against hordes of enemies, strategic duels offer a compelling gameplay element, returning from previous installments. Here's a breakdown of how they work.
Understanding Duels
Duels, a feature introduced in Dynasty Warriors 4, reappear in Dynasty Warriors: Origins after a two-decade hiatus. Accessible from Chapter 2 onwards, duels aren't available against every enemy. You can only challenge high-ranking enemy officers. A prompt appears briefly upon encountering these officers; press R1 and L1 simultaneously to initiate a duel.
The duel takes place in a designated arena surrounded by soldiers. It's a one-on-one encounter with a unique mechanic: a progress bar at the top of the screen tracks both your and your opponent's success. Each successful hit advances your bar; conversely, your opponent's hits fill theirs.
The objective is to fill your progress bar completely by landing enough hits. Your starting health doesn't influence the duel; instead, your current morale level determines your initial progress bar position. A winning streak gives you a head start, while trailing behind results in a disadvantage. Evenly matched opponents begin with equal progress. Tactical awareness is key; observe your opponent's moves, utilizing dodges and parries to avoid damage and maintaining distance when facing Battle Arts. Time is limited, but reckless aggression is to be avoided.
Consequences of Victory and Defeat
A successful duel inflicts significant damage on your opponent and provides a substantial morale boost. Conversely, defeat results in heavy damage and a significant morale drop for your army, potentially jeopardizing the battle's outcome. However, inconclusive duels (neither side fills their bar completely) have no negative consequences. The battle continues as normal.
Note that some duels are unavoidable. Losing these inescapable duels results in immediate mission failure, while victory guarantees victory in the battle. Therefore, while duels offer a powerful tactical advantage, underestimating an opponent can lead to disastrous consequences.
Dynasty Warriors: Origins is currently available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
