Taking on strong foes in Dynasty Warriors: Origins turns into a real test of how well you plan and how patient you are.
The enemy’s Fortitude is one of the tricky parts you’ll have to face.
That extra layer of defense might make foes look nearly invincible, but if you play it right, you can get past it and come out on top.
This article will guide you through the best strategies to break down the enemy’s Fortitude and take control of the battle.
How To Deplete Enemy’s Fortitude
In Dynasty Warriors: Origins, some enemies have Fortitude, an extra layer of armor that stops you from landing heavy hits off the bat.
Fortitude shows up as small orange icons above an enemy’s health bar, and you’ll often see it in stronger enemies like bosses and named characters.
You’ll have to shatter their Fortitude before defeating these mighty opponents. Here’s how to break through and make your attacks count.
1. Spam Those Combos to Wear Down Their Defense
If you chain combos, you can quickly start chipping away at an enemy's Fortitude. Each strike you land weakens their guard.
If they keep attacking without letting up, their Fortitude will drop over time. This requires some patience since Fortitude isn't wiped out in one hit.
The longer you keep the pressure on, the quicker the Fortitude gauge drops.
This works exceptionally well against named enemies and bosses, who are stronger than the usual foes on the battlefield.
If you keep up with the combos, you’ll have the upper hand and slowly chip away at their defense.
2. Catch Their Attack & Counter It
Perfect timing is essential when up against foes with Fortitude.
One of the best ways to lower their defenses is by blocking their attacks with a well-timed parry.
When you perfectly time a parry, the enemy’s offense is interrupted, and you’re left with an opening to land a counterattack.
Not only do these counterattacks inflict damage, but they also weaken Fortitude.
The more you practice, the easier it will be to whittle Fortitude down without going all-in on offense.
3. Let Battle Arts Do the Trick
Battle Arts are moves that need Bravery and are especially strong at cutting down Fortitude.
When facing stronger enemies with more Fortitude, these Arts come in handy.
Battle Arts use up part of your Bravery, but it does more damage and burns through the enemy’s Fortitude quicker than regular moves.
For example, some Battle Arts are meant to block attacks so you can deal with damage and lower your Fortitude at the same time.
Watch your Bravery points closely and use these Arts wisely to get the most out of them.
4. Time to Drop the Musou & End It
After depleting an enemy's Fortitude, you can use a Musou attack to smash through their last defenses.
Musou attacks are wild, cutting through defenses like Fortitude without a problem.
These moves are key to taking down tough enemies or bosses, especially once their Fortitude is low enough.
Musou attacks need a full Musou Gauge, so use them at the right time for massive damage. If used at the right moment, Musou attacks can cut down or completely wipe out an enemy's remaining Fortitude, making for an easy finish.
5. Dodge & Keep the Pressure On
Dodging is mostly defensive, but in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, it lets you keep attacking.
Pulling off a perfect dodge at the last second lets you avoid hits and regain Bravery Points.
This gives you more chances to use Battle Arts or other powerful moves to keep wearing down your enemy’s Fortitude.
While dodging doesn’t fill the Fortitude gauge, it keeps you mobile, allowing you to attack and avoid damage while boosting Bravery for bigger hits.
6. Special Arts Are Clutch When They’re Wide Open
Some Special Arts target weak spots on enemies, usually shown by an orange glow or a special animation.
If you time them well, these arts can quickly tear down an enemy’s Fortitude.
Target the weak points or vulnerable times to knock down their defenses quickly, especially when fighting bosses or high-fortitude enemies.
Figuring out the best times to use these Special Arts and how they affect enemies helps you bring down Fortitude and do more damage.