Dynasty Warriors: Origins: Conquering Zhang Jiao

Conquering Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turbans, is one of the first major hurdles in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This guide will walk you through defeating him.

Zhang Jiao: Phase 1

This initial battle takes place in a large, open wasteland. Zhang Jiao utilizes sorcery, launching stones at you. His attacks vary depending on your distance: up close, he hurls four stones; from afar, he unleashes eight in pairs. Dodge the closer attacks by quickly evading, and the longer-range attacks by circling him. If you're caught close during his larger stone attacks, quickly put distance between you to avoid heavy damage.

While his attacks primarily keep you at bay, he also employs close-range combos that can be parried, and an area-of-effect (AOE) attack that pushes you back. A glowing white aura signals his impending AOE; retreat to avoid damage. He also has red-aura attacks that cannot be interrupted. These involve summoning a large rockfall and creating clones. The best strategy is to maintain distance and wait for these attacks to conclude before resuming your offense. Remember to equip a sword for optimal damage output against Zhang Jiao.

Conserve your health. Depending on your skill upgrades, you likely only have four heals. Near the arena entrance, you'll find meat buns for replenishing health. Use these whenever you need to retreat and heal.

Zhang Jiao: Phase 2

Activating Musou Rage triggers Phase 2, bringing Yellow Turban reinforcements. Fortunately, your own army arrives to assist. Use this opportunity to heal using the meat buns if needed. Zhang Jiao will summon tornadoes; be mindful of the wind to avoid being thrown off balance while you fight his soldiers.

After defeating enough soldiers, Zhang Jiao attempts a Grand Tactic, requiring you to eliminate 300 soldiers within a short timeframe. Failure results in a devastating attack. He'll also summon lightning strikes. Watch for the closing ring on the ground and evade when it flashes. Musou Mode is highly effective for clearing out the Yellow Turbans quickly, though basic Musou mode might be more efficient given the time constraint.

Foiling Zhang Jiao's Grand Tactic twice forces him back onto the battlefield with the same tactics from Phase 1. With your army's support, defeating him should be relatively straightforward, concluding Chapter 1.

That's how to conquer Zhang Jiao in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. The game is available now on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.