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When you first dive into Dynasty Warriors: Origins, you can choose from nine different weapon types to take down your foes. After completing the game, you unlock a hidden tenth option: halberds. These weapons bring back a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic gameplay with powerful sweeping strikes and spinning moves, particularly in the aggressive style of Lu Bu.
While halberds might lack the speed of similar weapons like crescent blades, they compensate with immense power. Using these powerful weapons makes clearing a base or taking out a large number of enemies incredibly simple.
How to Unlock Halberds
After you finish any storyline in the game, load up your post-game save file. You’ll notice a new marker on the file that reflects the faction you supported. This will transport you back to the World Map just before the final battle, where you now have new options at the Inn for replaying previous battles and events.
In post-game mode, head to a Weapon Shop in any town to find the Soul Crusher halberd for 400,000 coins. If you’ve been saving, you might still need to engage in a few additional battles to earn enough cash, as that’s quite a hefty amount.
Upon acquiring the Soul Crusher, you’ll start to see halberds dropping from defeated enemies alongside other epic weapons. Epic weapons are more likely to drop when playing on Ultimate Warrior difficulty or when engaging in battles of a higher Rank than your current level, both of which present significant challenges, so be prepared!
Halberd Moveset in Dynasty Warriors: Origins
Halberds provide options for both Heavy Attack combos and Normal Attack combos, making them versatile compared to other weapon types. There are many moves to remember for mastery, but the halberd’s strength often allows players to rely on simple button-mashing to succeed.
Combo |
Attack |
---|---|
Up to 6x Normal Attacks. |
Normal attack combo. |
1x Heavy Attack. |
AoE Shockwave; sends enemies flying. Hold the button for a larger area. |
Block + Heavy Attack. |
Thrust and sweep combo. |
Block + Hold Heavy Attack. |
Low sweep that launches enemies. |
Left Stick + Heavy Attack while Dodging. |
Jump and drill dive in the direction of the left stick. Hold the button to throw the halberd after the jump; this has a longer animation but deals damage earlier. |
1x Normal Attack + 1x Heavy Attack OR 2x Heavy Attack |
Sweep and ground slam combo. |
2x Normal Attack + 1x Heavy Attack OR 3x Heavy Attack |
Flurry combo. |
3x Normal Attack + 1x Heavy Attack OR 4x Heavy Attack |
Ends with an extra-wide sweep. |
4x Normal Attack + 1x Heavy Attack OR 5x Heavy Attack |
Pulls enemies toward you in a wide area. |
5x Normal Attack + 1x Heavy Attack OR 6x Heavy Attack |
Flurry and ground slam combo. |
Normal Attack in midair. |
Sweep attack. |
Heavy Attack in midair or on horseback. |
Ground slam; dismounts if used from horseback. |
Halberd Musou Rage
Using a halberd in Musou Rage changes the gameplay significantly. Instead of consuming Bravery to enhance Battle Arts, halberds boost their standard attacks. While in this state, you can only walk slowly, but Heavy Attacks enable you to quickly lunge towards your target.
Musou Rage with a halberd is particularly effective against officers, as you become nearly immune to damage while you relentlessly attack until your meter depletes. It’s wise to reserve your Musou for critical moments against enemy leaders or large groups.
Best Halberd Build
Halberds are powerful on their own, but if you’re gearing up for battles on Ultimate Warrior difficulty, it’s beneficial to enhance your build.
Recommended Gems
Halberds have the longest range in the game, making a high-level Oblivion Gem an excellent choice. Adding an extra thirty to forty percent to that range ensures that enemies in your vicinity will have a hard time escaping your reach.
Recommended Battle Arts
Halberds uniquely do not rely heavily on Battle Arts, as continuous slashing often suffices. However, there are a few essential Arts worth having.
It’s always smart to equip Palm Strike for countering enemy Special Arts. Still, you should try to use Boundless Launch whenever possible. This Art costs three Bravery but can interrupt Special Arts with a substantial radius. It’s one of the most useful Arts for halberds.
Sky Crusher is a short-range jump attack with good coverage, ideal for multi-officer fights. Although it costs four Bravery, it can help you regain composure or initiate a combo.
Once you reach Proficiency 6, consider adding Sky Blaze for aerial coverage during charge-up attacks. Keep in mind that it’s not a Special Art, so it doesn’t interrupt every action.