"Defeating Zhang Jiao: Strategy Guide for Dynasty Warriors: Origins"

One of the first real challenges that players will encounter in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* is the battle against Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turbans. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to defeat him effectively.

How To Fight Zhang Jiao’s First Phase

The initial phase of the battle takes place in a vast wasteland, where you'll face Zhang Jiao in a one-on-one confrontation. He utilizes sorcery to hurl stones across the arena. When you're close to him, he summons four stones that you must evade quickly. If you keep your distance, he'll throw twice as many stones in sets of two, which you can dodge by circling him. To avoid heavy damage, maintain a safe distance when he summons a large number of stones.

While Zhang Jiao primarily uses ranged attacks to keep you at bay, he also has some melee capabilities. He can execute simple combos that you can parry, and he has an Area of Effect (AOE) attack that repels you. Watch for a white glow around him; this signals that he's charging for his AOE, so retreat to avoid taking damage.

As the fight progresses, Zhang Jiao will employ moves with a red aura, indicating uncancelable attacks. These include summoning a massive amount of rocks to drop around him and creating several clones. The best strategy here is to retreat and wait for his attack to end before resuming your assault. Equip a sword for this phase as it delivers more damage compared to spears or gauntlets.

Keep an eye on your health throughout the fight. You'll likely have only four healing opportunities, depending on your upgraded skills. Remember, there are jars near the arena's entrance containing meat buns, which you can use to heal when you need to retreat from Zhang Jiao's onslaught.

How To Fight Zhang Jiao’s Second Phase

Once you unlock Musou Rage, the second phase begins, with Yellow Turban soldiers joining Zhang Jiao. Fortunately, your army will also appear to assist you, providing some relief. This is an ideal time to heal by grabbing meat buns from the entrance. Be cautious of the tornados Zhang Jiao summons, which can throw you off balance while you're dealing with his troops.

After defeating a significant number of his soldiers, Zhang Jiao will initiate a Grand Tactic, requiring you to eliminate 300 soldiers within a tight timeframe to prevent a devastating attack. Additionally, 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. To efficiently defeat the Yellow Turbans within the time limit, use Musou Mode, which can take down several dozen enemies at once. Although you may have unlocked 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 with tactics similar to those from the first phase. With your army's support, it should be relatively straightforward to deplete his remaining health, concluding Chapter 1.

And that's how to effectively defeat Zhang Jiao in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins*.

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