How To Beat Guan Yu in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

If you decide to go the Cao Cao route in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, you'll quickly make an enemy of the great warlord Guan Yu. Later in the campaign, you'll have to escape his clutches by Cao Cao's side in order to complete the Battle of Chibi, finish Chapter Five, and see the ending you've chosen. Guan Yu is far from the hardest boss in the Dynasty Warriors series, but he is a tough foe, and he stands in your way during a pivotal story moment in which you have no other way out.

You'll need ample preparation and a little luck to get past Guan Yu and complete Cao Cao's story. By equipping the right weapons, Arts, and gems in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, you can turn an ordinarily difficult battle into an easy victory. Here's everything you need to know to beat Guan Yu.

How To Prepare For Guan Yu

Battle Preparation

Since you won't necessarily know you'll be facing Guan Yu going into battle, it may be difficult to prepare fully. However, just use the battle preparation screen as if you're getting ready for any tough, late-game fight. Equip the best available weapon for your preferred weapon type in Dynasty Warriors: Origins - we recommend a crescent blade or sword for their versatility, since they do well against both individual officers and large enemy forces. But the ultimate choice is up to you and your weapon proficiency.

Equip the best Arts for your weapon of choice. But as always, make sure you have at least one Sp. Art equipped so you can interrupt Guan Yu's moves. Double-check your accessories and squad tactics, then set off when you're ready to go.

Getting To Guan Yu

Eventually, Guan Yu appears on the map, and the battle's win condition suddenly changes from escaping with Cao Cao to defeating Guan Yu. Head to his location as marked on the map, and eliminate any footsoldiers surrounding him. Then, turn your attention to Guan Yu directly.

How To Beat Guan Yu

Basic Strategy

Guan Yu surrounded by fire, with an arm outstretched in a screenshot from Dynasty Warriors Origins.-1

For the most part, you can fight Guan Yu like any other officer, although he has a couple of special moves you'll need to watch out for (see below). Guan Yu's defense is nowhere near as high as, say Lu Bu's, so it's much easier to stagger him and open up an opportunity to use the Assault command. As always, use your Sp. Arts, parry, and Musou Attack to break his shields and open him up to powerful attacks. Employ squad tactics when available to distract him, fend off his army, or gain an extra bit of damage.

Guan Yu's signature move is an aerial spin with his crescent blade, in which he cuts three circles in the air above his head. This is well telegraphed and easy to parry; as always, look for the white light, and you'll get the timing down pretty quickly. If you manage to block a single strike, you'll interrupt his combo, opening up an opportunity for both a counterattack and an extended parry combo if you so desire. Just keep an eye out for a few of his special attacks.

Moves To Watch Out For

Like most officers, Guan Yu frequently uses an interruptable attack. These are always indicated by gold flashes and button commands on screen. He may precede these attacks by emanating rings of red light, but ignore those; immediately afterward, he'll begin glowing golden, and you can interrupt him as usual by activating one of your Sp. Arts.

Guan Yu has two unblockable attacks you need to watch out for. The first has him rearing back and glowing red; immediately after, he'll perform a short-distance charge, impaling anything and everything in his path. This attack is easy to dodge, but it does unfold quickly, and Guan Yu may chain together several of them in sequence. He may also follow them up with further unblockable attacks. The moment you see him flash red, be prepared to dodge.

Guan Yu's other unblockable attack is a two-part aerial slam: he'll begin by performing an upwards slash with his weapon, then use the momentum to propel himself into the air. A moment later, he'll come crashing down, emitting a small shockwave and knocking you back if you're caught within the blast. Make sure you dodge twice: once for the upward slash, and once again for the ground pound. This attack takes a little longer to charge, so you can interrupt it with a Musou Attack if you time it well. Don't risk it unless you're confident, though.

Cao Cao won't be much help with Guan Yu, but he may chip away at his forces. But in time, you'll manage to whittle the great warlord down, and you'll get an emotional cutscene in which Guan Yu expresses respect for Ziluan and Cao Cao, but promises that Liu Bei will return. And just like that, you've defeated Guan Yu in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, and can go on to enjoy Cao Cao's ending.