One of the first significant challenges players will encounter in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* is the battle against the leader of the Yellow Turbans, Zhang Jiao. Here's a detailed guide on how to defeat him.
How to Fight Zhang Jiao’s First Phase
The initial confrontation with Zhang Jiao takes place in a vast wasteland, setting the stage for a one-on-one duel. During this phase, Zhang Jiao employs sorcery to hurl stones at you across the arena. If you're close to him, he'll summon four stones, demanding quick evasion to avoid damage. When you keep your distance, he'll increase the number of stones to eight, launching them in pairs. Your best strategy here is to maneuver around him to dodge these projectiles.
While Zhang Jiao primarily focuses on keeping you at bay, he also uses close-range attacks. These include straightforward combos that you can parry and an Area of Effect (AOE) attack that pushes you away. Watch for him glowing white, signaling the charge for his AOE attack; retreat to avoid taking damage.
As the fight progresses, Zhang Jiao will employ attacks marked by a red aura, indicating they can't be interrupted. These involve summoning a large number of rocks to drop around him and creating multiple clones. The best approach is to step back and wait for these attacks to conclude before resuming your assault. Ensure you're equipped with a sword to deal effective damage, as opposed to using spears or gauntlets.
Keep a close eye on your health throughout the battle. You'll likely have the opportunity to heal four times, depending on your upgraded skills. Remember, there are jars near the arena's entrance containing meat buns, which you can use to replenish your health. Whenever you need to heal, retreat to the entrance and grab some buns.
How to Fight Zhang Jiao’s Second Phase
Once you unlock Musou Rage, the second phase begins, with Yellow Turban reinforcements arriving to aid Zhang Jiao. Fortunately, your army will also join the fray, providing you with some support. This is the ideal time to heal by dashing to the entrance and collecting those essential meat buns. Be cautious of the tornados Zhang Jiao summons, which can disrupt your position as you engage his soldiers.
After defeating a sufficient number of his troops, Zhang Jiao will initiate a Grand Tactic, challenging you to eliminate 300 soldiers within a tight timeframe to prevent a devastating attack. To complicate matters, he'll summon lightning to strike the arena. Keep an eye on the ground for closing rings that signal incoming lightning strikes, and evade when they flash. The most effective way to clear the Yellow Turbans quickly is by utilizing Musou Mode, which can dispatch dozens of enemies at once. Although you may have unlocked Musou Rage Mode, given the time constraints, sticking to the basic Musou Mode is advisable.
After thwarting Zhang Jiao’s Grand Tactic twice, he'll return to the battlefield employing tactics similar to those in Phase 1. With your army's continued support, finishing off his remaining health should be manageable, bringing Chapter 1 to a close.
And that's how you can successfully defeat Zhang Jiao in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins.*
*Dynasty Warriors: Origins* is now available on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.
