In *Dynasty Warriors: Origins*, one of the earliest formidable challenges you'll encounter is the battle against Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turbans. Here's a detailed guide on how to defeat him effectively.
How To Fight Zhang Jiao's First Phase
The initial encounter with Zhang Jiao takes place in a vast wasteland, setting the stage for a one-on-one showdown. During this phase, Zhang Jiao employs sorcery to hurl stones at you across the arena. When you're close, he summons four stones, necessitating quick evasion to avoid damage. If you keep your distance, he'll conjure twice as many stones, releasing them in pairs. You can dodge these by circling around him. It's crucial to maintain distance when he summons a large number of stones to prevent being overwhelmed by the barrage.
While Zhang Jiao's strategy is primarily geared towards keeping you at bay, he does possess a few close-range attacks. He can execute simple combos that you can parry, along with an Area of Effect (AOE) attack meant to push you back. Watch for him glowing white, signaling his AOE charge; retreat to avoid taking damage.
As the fight progresses, Zhang Jiao will start using uninterruptible moves marked by a red aura. These involve summoning a massive number of rocks to fall around him and creating multiple clones. The best approach is to retreat and wait out these attacks before resuming your offensive. Ensure you're equipped with a sword for optimal damage output compared to spears or gauntlets.
Monitoring your health is key; you might only be able to heal four times, depending on your upgraded skills. Remember, there are jars near the arena's entrance containing meat buns. Use these opportunities to heal when you need to back off from Zhang Jiao's onslaught.
How To Fight Zhang Jiao's Second Phase
Once you activate Musou Rage, the second phase begins, with the Yellow Turbans joining Zhang Jiao's side. Fortunately, your own army will also appear, providing some much-needed support. This is an ideal time to heal by grabbing those meat buns at the entrance. Be cautious of Zhang Jiao's new tactic of summoning tornadoes, which can disrupt your positioning as you battle his forces.
After thinning out his soldiers, Zhang Jiao will attempt a Grand Tactic, requiring you to defeat 300 soldiers within a tight timeframe to avoid a devastating attack. Additionally, he'll summon lightning to strike the arena. Keep an eye on the ground for closing rings that signal an incoming lightning strike and dodge when they flash. To efficiently clear the Yellow Turbans, utilize Musou Mode, which can eliminate dozens of enemies at once if timed correctly. Despite having access to Musou Rage Mode, sticking with the basic Musou Mode is advisable under these time constraints.
After thwarting Zhang Jiao's Grand Tactic twice, he'll return to the battlefield using the same tactics from the first phase. With your army's assistance, finishing him off should be manageable, thus concluding Chapter 1.
That's the strategy to conquer Zhang Jiao in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins*. The game is now available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
