Defeating Zhang Jiao in Dynasty Warriors: Origins: Strategies Revealed

In Dynasty Warriors: Origins, one of the earliest and most significant challenges players will encounter is the battle against Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turbans. Here’s a detailed guide on how to defeat him.

How To Fight Zhang Jiao’s First Phase

During the initial phase of the battle, you'll find yourself in a one-on-one confrontation with Zhang Jiao in a vast wasteland. Zhang Jiao primarily employs sorcery, hurling stones across the arena. When you're close, he summons four stones, which you must quickly evade. If you maintain a distance, he'll summon eight stones, launching them in sets of two, which you can dodge by circling around him. It's crucial to keep your distance when he summons a large number of stones to avoid significant damage.

Zhang Jiao also has a repertoire of close-range attacks, including simple combos that can be parried and an Area of Effect (AOE) attack intended to repel you. Watch for him glowing white, signaling the AOE attack, and retreat to avoid taking damage.

As the battle progresses, Zhang Jiao may enter a state with a red aura, indicating unblockable attacks. These include summoning a barrage of rocks and creating clones. The best strategy here is to retreat and wait for the attack to subside before resuming your offensive. Equip a sword for this phase, as it deals more damage than spears or gauntlets.

Keep an eye on your health, as you'll likely have only four healing opportunities, depending on your skill upgrades. Remember, there are jars near the arena entrance containing meat buns for healing. Use these strategically when retreating from Zhang Jiao's attacks.

How To Fight Zhang Jiao’s Second Phase

Upon unlocking Musou Rage, the battle transitions into its second phase, where Zhang Jiao is joined by Yellow Turban reinforcements. Fortunately, your own army arrives to support you, providing a crucial advantage. This is an ideal time to heal by grabbing meat buns from the entrance.

In this phase, Zhang Jiao will summon tornados to disrupt your movements. Stay vigilant about the wind while engaging his soldiers to avoid being thrown off course.

After thinning out his forces, Zhang Jiao will initiate a Grand Tactic, requiring you to defeat 300 soldiers within a tight timeframe to prevent a devastating attack. Complicating matters, Zhang Jiao will also summon lightning strikes, signaled by a closing ring on the ground. Evade these by watching for the flashing ring.

The most effective way to clear the Yellow Turbans quickly is by using Musou Mode, which can eliminate multiple enemies at once if timed correctly. Despite having access to Musou Rage Mode, sticking to the basic Musou Mode is advisable given the time constraints.

Successfully thwarting Zhang Jiao’s Grand Tactic twice will bring him back to the battlefield, employing tactics similar to those in Phase 1. With your army's assistance, it should be straightforward to deplete his remaining health and conclude Chapter 1.

This comprehensive strategy will help you triumph over Zhang Jiao in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, which is now available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.