Defeating Zhang Jiao in Dynasty Warriors: Origins: Strategies Revealed

One of the first real challenges that players will encounter in *Dynasty Warriors: Origins* is the battle against Zhang Jiao, the head 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 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. When you're close to him, he summons four stones, which you must quickly evade. If you keep your distance, he'll summon twice as many stones, launching them in sets of two. You can dodge these by simply running around him. It's crucial to maintain a safe distance when he summons a large number of stones to avoid taking significant damage from the barrage.

While Zhang Jiao's primary strategy is to keep you at bay, he also has a few close-range attacks up his sleeve. These include simple combos that you can parry and an Area of Effect (AOE) attack meant to push you away. Watch for him glowing white, which signals he's charging for his AOE attack; back off to avoid damage.

As the fight progresses, Zhang Jiao will start using moves that give him a red aura, indicating uncancelable attacks. These involve summoning a massive amount of rocks to drop around him and creating several clones. The best approach is to retreat and wait for his attack to end before resuming your assault. Equip a sword during this fight, as it will allow you to deal substantial damage compared to using spears or gauntlets.

Keep a close eye on your health throughout the battle. You'll likely have the opportunity to heal up to four times, depending on your upgraded skills. Remember, there are jars near the arena's entrance containing meat buns, which you can use to heal. Whenever you need to recover, 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 the Yellow Turbans joining Zhang Jiao. Fortunately, your army will also appear to support you, giving you some much-needed breathing room. This is an ideal time to heal by running to the entrance and grabbing those meat buns. Be cautious of the tornados Zhang Jiao summons, as they can throw you off course while you're dealing with his soldiers.

After defeating a sufficient number of his soldiers, Zhang Jiao will initiate a Grand Tactic. You'll need to take down 300 soldiers within a tight timeframe to prevent a devastating attack that could end your run. To complicate matters, Zhang Jiao will start summoning 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 using Musou Mode, which, if timed correctly, can eliminate dozens of enemies at once. Although you may have unlocked Musou Rage Mode, sticking to the basic Musou Mode is advisable given the time constraints.

After thwarting Zhang Jiao's Grand Tactic twice, he'll return to the battlefield with the same tactics from Phase 1. With your army's assistance, it should be relatively straightforward to deplete his remaining health, concluding Chapter 1.

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.