Podao

Unlock the full potential of the Podao in Dynasty Warriors Origins with our comprehensive guide. Learn essential combos, battle arts, and weapon attributes for maximum damage.

The Podao is a powerful end-game weapon in Dynasty Warriors Origins, capable of immense damage when paired with specific skills and items. To truly shine, it requires the Battle Art (BA) Fierce Focus, the Disc of Huanglong (DoH), and a farmed weapon with the -33% charge time attribute. Without these, its fluidity is limited.

With the DoH equipped, using the Podao's combo with the Fierce Focus battle art allows you to gain more bravery than you expend, enabling continuous combos. This means you can perform your combo, max out your bravery, and deal insane charge attack damage simultaneously.

The Podao also boasts one of the best battle arts, Sea of Flames, which further increases damage dealt. This BA has a low cost, deals decent Fortitude damage, and is an off-hand AoE (Area of Effect) battle art. It damages enemies in a line on its own, allowing you to attack with other moves concurrently.

Combo: There is one primary combo that must be mastered.

1. Nx1 (if not parry or counter) -> Evade + Strong to launch or Tempest Dance (both optional) -> Fierce Focus (FF): after FF, you have 2 ways to continue the charge combo.
   • After FF's animation with Ziluan’s hand fully extended, wait 0.5 seconds, hold Strong, and press Evade. As soon as the charge attack hits, cancel it with FF and repeat the combo as many times as possible, even if the enemy has recovered, as you will still deal significant health damage.
   • As soon as you activate FF, evade (canceling the animation), hold Strong -> Evade.

You can follow up with Sea of Flames even after the enemy has recovered for additional Fortitude damage. After the enemy is downed with 0 Fortitude, the attack sequence should be Sea of Flames (x1/x2 if enough bravery), and then combo 1b. The first evade in the combo should ideally position you away from the downed enemy, allowing you to perform a hold Strong charge attack without triggering the Assault attack. After your charge attack hits, you can do 1-2 normal hits (optional) and finish with an Assault attack, or another charge attack if you are fast enough.

If you are skilled and can press buttons rapidly, combo 1b is faster, allows for more charge attacks, and deals more damage. This is where personal skill and the weapon's high ceiling come into play. The quicker you can execute Evade -> Strong (hold) -> Evade, the more damage you can inflict. Some players may find combo 1a more manageable for general use, while combo 1b is still recommended against downed enemies to maintain distance for charge attacks.

Video demonstrations:

• Podao Combos showcase: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Podao Combos - YouTube
• Duels: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Podao duels - YouTube
• VS large Armies: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Podao vs Cao Cao army at Changban - YouTube

Most useful battle arts:

• (Sp.) Sea of Flames: One of the most useful battle arts. It's a ground fire AoE that continuously damages enemies within its area. You can use it while dodging, parrying, and attacking, as it damages enemies independently. It's also a Sp. Attack, usable as a counter.
• Fierce Focus (FF): The core battle art for the Po Dao. It shortens charge time, and combined with the rank 6 skill "Additional special attack," allows for the core combo FF -> Strong (hold) -> Evade for high-damage charge attacks.
• Ardent Aura Slash: Decent for Fortitude damage but requires charging. While two FF uses can reduce charge time, it increases the overall BA cost. Situational usefulness.
• Tempest Dance (universal): Can launch enemies and deals more Fortitude damage in a combo.
• Sp. Ice Luan (universal): Fast and doesn't require charging, useful for quickly dealing Fortitude damage, especially against enemies like Lu Bu in rage mode or large armies.

Other battle arts are generally not essential.

Final setup:

• Fierce Focus (FF)
• Sp. Sea of Flames (SoF)
• Tempest Dance/Power Shot
• Ardent Aura Slash/Sp. Ice Luan

FF and Sea of Flames are mandatory. Power Shot can be useful against distant orange attacks from characters like Lu Bu. The choice between Ardent Aura Slash and Sp. Ice Luan depends on personal preference.

Weapon attributes:

• -33% charge time (must-have)
• +10% damage
• +10% officer damage
• +15% charge attack damage
• +10% Bravery gain
• + Increase Parry window (personal choice)
• -5% defense

Accessories: Disc of Huanglong + Chimera Shell

The Disc of Huanglong is essential for the Po Dao. Other accessory options include Lion Fang (vs. Lu Bu) or Red Dragon (vs. large armies). Chimera Shell is a safe general choice.

Rank 8 weapon: Soaring Luan

• Location: Battle Of Bowangpo (Chapter 5, Liu Bei)
• Objective: Defeat both Li Dian and Yu Jin in the Battle of Bowangpo Main Battle

This weapon is not a high priority. The task requires charging into a large army with a strict timer, so a weapon effective against armies is recommended. Engage the two officers directly and use items if necessary.

Ultimate Challenge Battle art: Immortal Blade

• Location: Chapter 4: Battle of Baima & Yanjin (Wei Side)
• Objective: Provide aid to Baima Castle within 15 minutes.

This battle art is not very useful.