Pole/Staff

Unlock the full potential of the Pole/Staff weapon in Dynasty Warriors: Origins with our in-depth guide to combos, battle arts, and weapon attributes. Dominate the battlefield!

The Pole/Staff weapon in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, initially underestimated, has become a favorite after recent updates due to its effective combos and less strenuous controls compared to the Sword. Its primary weakness is a lack of strong non-battle arts AoEs, requiring careful engagement against large armies with multiple officers.

Combos:

1. Nx1 -> B+S launch: Hold Strong (S) for about 9 hits, then release to land. This is a go-to combo when low on bravery or avoiding skill use. If an officer has low Fortitude, release early to break it and proceed to Combo 4. This can also follow Sp. Chaotic Flurry for air combos.
2. (Sp.) Chaotic Flurry -> Evade + forward -> Hold Strong: After unlocking Chaotic Flurry, this is your main combo. Crucially, release directional input before holding Strong. This is highly effective for breaking enemy Fortitude, allowing continuous pole head smashing.
3. 2a. Normal Encounters: After the weapon flashes white, release Strong and perform the final attack. Continue with Thrashing Inferno Sweep and hold Battle Arts (BA) to break Fortitude.
4. B+S launch -> Soaring Sky Dance -> Nx2 -> Strong: Hold Strong for 5-6 hits, release, then use Soaring Sky Dance followed by Nx2 and Strong. This deals significant Fortitude damage and is a good alternative before unlocking Sp. Chaotic Flurry.
5. Combo 4 (Fortitude Broken): After an enemy's Fortitude is broken and they enter an animation, evade towards them to cancel current actions. Release directional input and hold Strong for massive damage while they are on the ground. After they recover, spam Strong for an Assault attack. This is a crucial follow-up to master.

Note: You can initiate combos with Shadow Step to close distance or for chase-downs after Assault attacks.

Most Useful Battle Arts:

• (Sp.) Chaotic Flurry: Essential for the Pole's most effective combo.
• Shadow Step: Excellent for chase-downs and destroying the last bit of Fortitude, especially after using Disc of Huanglong.
• Soaring Sky Dance: A low-cost combo extender, very useful before Chaotic Flurry.
• Thrashing Inferno Sweep: A crucial combo ender and AoE clearing skill.
• Sp. Ice Luan: Safer with a larger AoE, generally recommended for the staff.
• Furious Tiger Dance: Considered situational with high cost and close-range damage taken during execution.

Proficiency 8 with Thrashing Inferno Sweep and Disc of Huanglong is recommended for serious Pole/Staff play.

Final Setup Recommendation:

• Chaotic Flurry
• Thrashing Inferno Sweep
• Soaring Sky Dance (optional Power Shot vs. Lu Bu)
• Shadow Step (especially with Disc of Huanglong)
• SP Ice Luan (or Furious Tiger Dance for duels)

Weapon Attributes:

• Dmg to officers +10%
• Dmg +10%, Defense –5%
• Strong attack damage +10%
• Bravery gain +10%
• Boost damage to Wushu vs. officers by 10% (10% extra Fortitude damage)
• Assault dmg +10%, boost evade/parry window, weapon drop rate increase (personal preference)

Prioritizing Assault Damage is recommended for quicker kills. The Pole/Staff benefits more from damage boosts than other weapons.

Rank 8 Weapon: Thrashing Luan (Obtained during Chapter 5: Battle of Chibi - Wei Side, Objective: Win within 21 minutes. Clear officers on the east and middle sides, then rush northwest to engage Zhou Yu and others when Cao Cao retreats north during the fire attack.)