Dynasty Warriors: Origins Introduces Duel System

Dynasty Warriors: Origins' Duel System: A High-Stakes Showdown

While Dynasty Warriors: Origins focuses on large-scale battles against hordes of enemies, a compelling feature returning from previous installments is the duel system. Here's a breakdown of how it works.

Duels, initially introduced in Dynasty Warriors 4, make a comeback in Origins, though not immediately. The ability to initiate duels unlocks in Chapter 2. These aren't open to any opponent; you can only challenge high-ranking enemy officers. A prompt appears briefly when an eligible officer is present, requiring a simultaneous press of R1 and L1 to initiate the duel.

The duel takes place in a designated arena surrounded by soldiers. It's a one-on-one fight with a unique progression meter at the top of the screen, tracking both your and your opponent's progress. Each successful hit advances your meter; conversely, your opponent's hits fill theirs.

Victory requires completely filling your meter by inflicting sufficient damage on your opponent. Your starting health doesn't influence the duel; instead, your current morale determines your initial meter position. A winning streak gives you a head start, while a losing one puts you behind. Evenly matched opponents begin with equal progress. Strategic play is crucial: observe your opponent's attacks, utilize dodges and parries, and maintain a safe distance when they use Battle Arts. Time is limited, but reckless aggression is unwise.

Winning a duel delivers a substantial damage boost to your opponent and a significant morale increase for your forces. Conversely, defeat results in heavy damage and a considerable morale drop for your army, potentially jeopardizing your battle progress. However, if neither combatant wins, there are no penalties. The duel simply ends, and the battle resumes. Only in unavoidable duels—where losing results in mission failure and winning guarantees victory—are the stakes truly unyielding. While duels offer the potential to dramatically alter the tide of battle, underestimating an opponent can lead to disastrous consequences.

This concludes our guide to duels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

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