Dynasty Warriors: Origins Walkthrough & Campaign Guide

Complete Dynasty Warriors: Origins Walkthrough

The campaign in Dynasty Warriors: Origins differs significantly from previous titles like Dynasty Warriors 9. Instead of an open world, you navigate a tactical map that focuses on the density of the Three Kingdoms era conflicts. Your journey begins with the Yellow Turban Rebellion and spans through the chaotic establishment of the three major powers. This Dynasty Warriors: Origins story guide will help you navigate the critical path.

Mastering the Nameless Hero’s Journey

Unlike previous games where you select a historical figure, you play as a “Nameless Hero,” an amnesiac martial artist. This gives you flexibility. You aren’t locked into a specific weapon type or allegiance initially. Early on, prioritize unlocking the Sword and Spear mastery trees. The Sword offers balanced crowd control, while the Spear is essential for piercing the guard of shielded enemy officers.

Chapter Guide: Surviving the Early Game

Chapter 1: The Yellow Turban Rebellion serves as your tutorial, but it can be deceptive. The boss fight against Zhang Jiao introduces magic attacks that cover wide areas. To survive, you must stay mobile. Do not commit to long combo strings when the ground beneath you glows yellow. Instead, use your “Dash” to flank him. Completing the side mission to rescue the peasants in the eastern village is vital here—it rewards you with your first Healing Ointment upgrade, which you will desperately need for the next chapter.

Chapter 2: The Anti-Dong Zhuo Coalition is where the game truly begins. The Battle of Hulao Gate is the first major hurdle. When you encounter Lu Bu, do not fight him immediately. The game warns you to retreat, and you should listen. Lure him toward the ballistae traps set by your allies. Only after he is debuffed by the traps should you engage. Trying to chip away his health bar without the debuff is a recipe for disaster, as his Musou attack can one-shot you even at full health.

Key Decision Points in the Campaign

Throughout the story, you will encounter dialogue choices that align you with specific ideals—typically categorized as Bravery (Chaos/Martial Might) or Benevolence (Order/Protection). These aren’t just flavor text; they determine which sub-missions unlock. For example, siding with Cao Cao‘s pragmatic views often opens up “Assassination” or “Raid” type missions, while agreeing with Liu Bei unlocks “Rescue” or “Defense” scenarios.

Navigating the Dynasty Warriors: Origins Map

The Continental Map is your hub. Do not rush straight to the main battle markers (red flags). Look for smaller skirmishes (blue flags) first. These side battles reduce the enemy’s overall morale level for the main chapter battle, making bosses like Zhang Jiao or Dong Zhuo significantly easier to manage. If you skip these, you’ll face enemies with high morale who can one-shot you on higher difficulties.

How to Unlock All Dynasty Warriors: Origins Endings?

Requirements for the True Ending

To see the definitive conclusion to the Nameless Hero’s story, you must maintain a balanced Karma rating. Extremes in either Bravery or Benevolence will lock you into the “Warlord” or “Guardian” endings respectively. Additionally, you must complete all “Memory” side quests that reveal the protagonist’s past before the final chapter.

Triggering Secret Events in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Secret events, often called “IF” scenarios, change the course of history. The most famous one involves saving Lu Bu at Xiapi. To trigger this, you must ignore the objective to flood the castle and instead defeat the engineers guarding the sluice gates. Watch for dialogue from Chen Gong hinting at “another way”—this is your cue to deviate from the main objective marker.

Understanding the Karma System

Your Karma affects who joins your cause. High Benevolence attracts virtuous officers like Zhao Yun, while high Bravery attracts power-seekers like Zhang Liao. You can check your alignment in the pause menu. If you need to shift your alignment quickly, replay early skirmishes and choose the opposite dialogue options. Note that some legendary weapons are also locked behind specific Karma thresholds, so it is worth doing a New Game+ run to experience the other side of the spectrum.

Battle Objectives Tips for Tactical Victory

Managing Morale and Troop Movements

Morale is a tangible mechanic in Origins. A blue bar above an enemy unit indicates their morale. If it’s flashing, they are buffed and will block most attacks. You must defeat the “Unit Captains” or “Standard Bearers” first to break their morale. Fighting a high-morale Lu Bu head-on is a guaranteed game over; destroy his support units first to weaken him.

Mid-Game Strategy: The Battle of Chibi

The Battle of Chibi represents a massive spike in complexity. The fire attack is your primary win condition, but executing it requires protecting Huang Gai. The enemy AI will aggressively target him. Equip the “Swift Horse” skill to move rapidly between the front lines and Huang Gai’s escort unit. You should also equip a weapon with the “Ice” element for this battle; freezing enemy officers is the most effective way to stop them from interrupting the fire attack preparation. Once the ships are ablaze, the enemy morale collapses, allowing you to mop up the remaining forces easily.

Defeating Officers Efficiently in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

Enemy officers now have a “Resilience Gauge” (the white bar below health). You cannot deal significant damage until this is broken. Use “Charge Attacks” (Triangle/Y) to deplete this gauge. Perfect Parries are also lethal—timed blocks will instantly stagger an officer, exposing them to a critical strike.

Completing Optional Objectives for Rewards

Secondary objectives appear as green markers. Always prioritize these. They reward you with rare crafting materials like “Cold Iron” or “Vermilion Bird Orbs,” which are necessary for upgrading high-tier weapons. They also often result in ally reinforcements arriving, which relieves pressure on your main camp.

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What Are the Best Builds for the Nameless Hero?

Top Weapon Choices for Campaign Progression

Choosing the right weapon affects your ability to clear crowds versus dueling officers. Here is a breakdown of the primary weapon types you should invest in:

Essential Arts and Accessories

For high-difficulty chapters, equip the Red Hare Saddle (speed) and Tiger Amulet (attack power). For Arts, prioritize “Vacuum Wave” or similar AoE (Area of Effect) skills that can clear space when you are surrounded. The “Musou Rage” art is also critical for boss fights, as it grants temporary invincibility. Don’t forget to slot gems into your weapons. A “Lightning Gem” is universally useful as it stuns enemies, preventing them from blocking your follow-up combos.

Why Do Secret Events Fail to Trigger?

Missing Time-Sensitive Objectives

Many secret events have invisible timers. For example, saving Sun Jian requires you to reach his location within 3 minutes of the ambush notification. If you stop to fight generic soldiers along the way, you will arrive too late. Use your horse to bypass non-essential combat.

Ignoring Dialogue Cues in Dynasty Warriors: Origins

The game does not always put a marker on secret objectives. Listen to your strategist. If Zhuge Liang or Zhou Yu mentions a “suspicious unit” or a “weak point,” check the map immediately. These voice lines are often the only hint you get for unlocking an IF scenario.

Failing to Protect Key NPCs

Some events require an ally to survive until a specific point. If you rush ahead to kill the boss but leave your ally surrounded by enemy captains, they may retreat before the event triggers. Always clear the immediate area around key NPCs before moving forward.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Walkthrough FAQ