Mastering Enemy Duels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

While *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* may immerse you in the chaos of battling countless foes, one of the most compelling gameplay mechanics returning from its predecessors is duels. Here's a detailed look at how they work in this latest installment.

What Are Duels in Dynasty Warriors: Origins?

Duels, a feature that first debuted in *Dynasty Warriors 4*, make a triumphant return in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* after more than two decades. You won't encounter duels right away; you'll unlock this feature in Chapter 2. But don't expect to challenge just any enemy—duels are reserved for high-ranking and prominent enemy officers. When one of these key figures appears, you'll have a brief window to initiate a duel by pressing both the R1 and L1 buttons simultaneously.

Once a duel begins, an arena forms around you, isolating you and your opponent for a one-on-one showdown. Unlike regular combat, duels feature a unique mechanic: a meter at the top of the screen that tracks the progress of both fighters. Each successful hit you land on your opponent advances your portion of the meter, while their hits push theirs forward. The objective is to fill the meter completely by inflicting enough damage on your adversary.

Your starting position on the meter isn't influenced by your health but by your overall morale. If you're on a winning streak, your bar will start with more fill. Conversely, if you're struggling, your opponent's bar will have the advantage. In a closely contested duel, both bars will start equally. To emerge victorious, you must carefully observe your opponent's attacks, dodge and parry effectively to minimize damage, and maintain a strategic distance, especially if they employ Battle Arts. Remember, duels have a time limit, but haste can lead to mistakes, so proceed with caution.

Winning a duel in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* grants you the ability to deal significant damage to your opponent and boosts your morale considerably. However, losing can be costly, causing you to take heavy damage and your army to suffer a morale hit, which can be disastrous late in a battle. If neither side wins, the duel ends without penalties, and you both retreat to resume the larger conflict. Yet, there are certain unavoidable duels where losing means mission failure, while winning guarantees victory in the entire battle. Initiating a duel can dramatically alter the course of a battle, but underestimating your opponent can lead to your downfall.

And that's the essence of dueling in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins*.

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