Dynasty Warriors: Origins – How To Defeat Lu Bu

TL;DR

  • Lu Bu appears in multiple campaign missions with escalating difficulty requiring different strategies
  • Effective combat combines mounted charges with precise ground attacks while managing stamina carefully
  • Faction choice (Cao Cao/Liu Bei) determines which Lu Bu battles you’ll encounter in later chapters
  • The Battle of Xiapi provides the definitive boss fight where proper preparation is essential for victory
  • Post-campaign unlocks include recruiting Lu Bu as companion and obtaining his legendary Halberd weapon


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The legendary proverb “Among men, Lu Bu; among horses, Red Hare” perfectly captures the formidable challenge awaiting players in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This notorious warrior represents one of the game’s most demanding encounters, combining devastating offensive capabilities with exceptional defensive resilience. His arrival on any battlefield is typically heralded by intense musical cues that signal imminent danger. While confronting him presents significant risk, strategic preparation and execution can turn this daunting foe into a manageable obstacle.

Our comprehensive Lu Bu strategy guide examines multiple aspects of this iconic antagonist. We detail critical campaign appearances, analyze effective combat methodologies, and reveal valuable post-game content unlocks. Be advised that this material includes minor narrative spoilers regarding key story moments.

Understanding Lu Bu’s combat mechanics is crucial for success. He employs wide-arcing attacks that can decimate multiple units simultaneously while maintaining impressive mobility both mounted and on foot. His signature Halberd weapon grants extended reach and powerful crowd control capabilities that demand careful spacing and timing to counter effectively.

Lu Bu makes several strategically significant appearances throughout the main campaign, each requiring adapted approaches based on mission objectives and battlefield conditions.

  • Chapter 2: Battle of Sishui Gate (demo) – Demo participants will encounter Lu Bu as an unexpected late-game surprise, though this specific confrontation is exclusive to the trial version and doesn’t occur in the complete game.
  • Chapter 2: Assassination of Dong Zhuo – This protection mission tasks you with safeguarding Cao Cao during his capital escape. Beyond dealing with Dong Zhuo’s forces, you must contend with Lu Bu’s relentless pursuit, requiring balanced offensive and defensive maneuvers.
  • Chapter 2: Battle of Hulao Gate – This historic engagement cemented Lu Bu’s legendary status. Mounted on Red Hare, he charges through coalition forces, eliminating numerous commanders before the Three Brothers—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—intervene to halt his advance toward Yuan Shao.
  • Chapter 3: First and Second Battle of Puyang – These conflicts depict Cao Cao’s territorial displacement and his subsequent campaign to reclaim conquered lands.
  • Chapter 4: Battle of Xiapi – This temporary Cao-Liu alliance represents the culmination of their collective efforts to eliminate the Lu Bu threat, leading directly to the climactic boss confrontation detailed later in this guide.
  • Critical strategic consideration: chapter 3 onward presents branching narrative paths based on your faction allegiance decision. Choosing between Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Jian determines which Lu Bu engagements you’ll experience. Both Cao and Liu factions confront Lu Bu during this period, while the Sun family engages southern warlords distant from these central conflicts.

    For players seeking comprehensive mastery of game mechanics, our Class Guide provides essential foundation knowledge for optimizing character performance in challenging encounters.

    Success against Lu Bu requires mastering both mounted and dismounted combat techniques while managing critical resources effectively.

    Mounted Combat Strategy: When Lu Bu is astride Red Hare, his mobility and charging attacks become significantly more dangerous. Employ hit-and-run tactics, striking during his recovery animations while maintaining safe distance during his aggressive phases. Cavalry units provide temporary distraction but should not be relied upon for significant damage output.

    Ground Fighting Techniques: Once dismounted, Lu Bu’s attack patterns shift to more deliberate, powerful strikes with his Halberd. Perfect dodging becomes essential, as successful evasion creates openings for counterattacks. His defensive capabilities mean sustained assault without proper openings will yield minimal results while exposing you to retaliatory strikes.

    Stamina Management: Carefully monitor your stamina gauge during extended engagements. Lu Bu’s combos can quickly deplete your resources if improperly managed, leaving you vulnerable to his most devastating attacks. Conservative stamina usage ensures you maintain emergency evasion capabilities throughout the fight.

    Common Strategic Errors: Many players underestimate Lu Bu’s reach and attack speed, attempting to trade blows directly rather than exploiting tactical openings. Another frequent mistake involves overcommitting to extended combos, leaving insufficient stamina for defensive maneuvers. Proper ability sequencing and resource conservation separate successful strategies from repeated failures.

    For weapon optimization strategies applicable to this and other challenging encounters, consult our Weapons Unlock guide for detailed enhancement recommendations.

    Victory against Lu Bu unlocks significant post-game content that enhances your strategic options and character capabilities.

    Lu Bu as Companion: After completing specific campaign requirements, you can recruit Lu Bu as a battlefield ally. This process typically requires achieving high performance ratings in relevant missions and may involve additional specific objectives. As a companion, Lu Bu provides exceptional combat support with his aggressive playstyle and high damage output.

    Halberd Weapon Acquisition: Lu Bu’s signature weapon becomes available through dedicated unlock criteria. This powerful polearm offers superior range and area control capabilities, though it requires adjustment to its distinctive timing and movement patterns.

    Advanced Optimization: For players pursuing maximum combat efficiency, understanding ability synergies and equipment optimization becomes crucial. The Halberd’s unique move set includes sweeping attacks ideal for crowd control and precise thrusts effective against single targets. Mastery requires understanding both its strengths and limitations in various combat scenarios.

    These post-campaign rewards significantly expand your strategic repertoire, providing powerful tools for tackling the game’s most demanding content and achievement hunting.

    For comprehensive gameplay guidance covering all aspects of Dynasty Warriors: Origins, our Complete Guide offers detailed explanations of core mechanics and advanced techniques.

    Action Checklist

    • Study Lu Bu’s attack patterns in early encounters to identify safe engagement windows
    • Upgrade character abilities focusing on evasion, stamina management, and counterattack damage
    • Practice perfect dodging against high-level officers to build muscle memory for Lu Bu’s faster attacks
    • Execute Battle of Xiapi with fully upgraded character and appropriate equipment loadout
    • Complete post-campaign objectives to unlock Lu Bu as companion and obtain his Halberd weapon

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