Unique animations that come from chained attacks work in a similar way to Master Strikes; There's a narrow window where we can try to land a free hit afterwards,which means doing a combo on top of another is possible. From my tests,finishing those which require 4 moves are rare occurrences,you'll have way more fun with the 3-hit selections.
Have you tried Zeeb's better combat? It makes AI much less likely to master strike and makes Henry's timing much smaller, which makes them MUCH less spammable and a smaller part of combat.
It is worth noting that Henry's weapon will automatically follow through to the opposite angle you attacked from. For example, if you attack the high left and do not use the analog, Henrys next attack angle will always be low right and vice versa. This is useful because it happens to line up with the ending of many combos. Look at blinding strike. It can be executed by only using the analog twice, first to attack high left and then to switch to attack high right, after that simply hit R2 twice at the right timing and the combo will be completed. Same goes for False edge.
agreed. if you think about it, the first two strikes are the only times that you need to touch the analog stick because the third and/or the fourth strike will just follow through by spamming the slashes.
@@Eliii023 DONT spam. Slash, wait for the blow to be blocked, slash again. Sometimes when I spam Henry will just not do the last attack for some reason.
it seems much harder on pc as you never normally let go of the mouse so the aim reticle is always moving if you don't keep your hand steady. so far I've found it impossible to do any combo or feign attack
@@manlu_gaming I have a decent but worn $15 mouse pad that helps my mouse not move too much when I'm just resting my hand on it (though any mouse button click will move the mouse a little, of course). That's context. Just as TOG says in the video, I've found that 3-action combos are much easier to pull off. Though mostly that's b/c enemies can always interrupt a combo with blocks. For longsword, my favorite is the fehler because thrusts don't require controlling the angle of attack (not true IRL in my training experience, but tolerable and even helpful in game). I think the zorn ort could also apply esp with the default attack followthrough direction (left to low right for the first two attacks), then an easy thrust. I initially didn't bother practicing this zorn ort b/c I expected later opponents would have breastplates that soak a lot of damage (the game says you can aim thrusts high and low, but the combo thrust seems to have a fixed target to the chest), so I focused on the fehler for its attack to the head. So far in my first full playthrough, haven't had much luck with combos using axes or maces, but that may be b/c I've always used shields. Per video, I'll have to play around more with the attack angling to see if I can make it work.
Very thoughtful and thorough. I feel though, You should always be using run through if nothing else in a group fight but I find half sword always makes a bleed(with stinger late game) so I hit every one with a half sword as well.
It would be nice for other platforms if you had the inputs like “swing”, “thrust”, “block” and highlighted them to show input because the input devices are not the same.
@TheOtherGamer: Could you do a video about optimizing controls using mouse and keyboard? I'm struggling with combat and i think this is because i haven't got the right controlling scheme. I don't have a controller, could never got used to handling it right.
I've been playing with trading parries and blows, making sure to feint and strike from various angles.. And once I got a hit in that starts a combo either from perfect block or just snuck in, I switch to full offense to try and get as many combinations and other pressure hits in. Seems like NPCs fighters are less likely to perfect block or master strike when they're winded AND when you are not repeating an attack pattern. So with decent vitality and stamina management you can just downright bully even black peter. (Though for him I recommend way above 10+ relevant combat skills) A three hit combination can quite well open up a chance for four hit combo
I bullied black Peter by clinching him to hell and back then draining his stamina by pushing him to the corner and do pocket stabs at his face when a chance presents itself
It's very helpful, but most of the time you're going to be in combat with multiple opponents and trying to do even a 3 hit combo is virtually impossible at least for me. The game has made master strikes the meta because it's the easiest way most effective way without a lot of effort. But as you said that gets boring after awhile. I'm really hoping the combat in KCD 2 gives us the opportunity to vary up combat better than in the original.
Yes,they're for 1v1 only. I do suspect combos will play a bigger role in the sequel,I'm just not sure why we haven't seen them in any of the demos yet.
you should note that if you want to do combos, you should be well armored. As you can only guarantee the first and final hit of a combo, there's always a chance that you be hit by a master strike while attemping one, and some master strikes can be lethal if they hit an unprotected area. That said, I have an idea for a video: document the safest combos to do. I am pretty sure that the master strike animation depends on the angle of attack, for example, IIRC, an overhead attack from a mace or axe you will be countered by master strike to the head which can instantly cause bleeding, especially with a certain Hardcore perk.
id love the combat in this game if it wasnt for master strike. I get that its a tool to help you take out multiple opponents, but even low level bandits use it extensively. It trivialises combat too, because the optimal solution to every combat encounter becomes master strike into attack, and then repeat until finished. If youre going to go down the route of exploring combos, i'd highly suggest playing on PC and downloading a mod to turn master strike off for both henry and enemies, or at last a mod to finetune the percentage chance the enemy can activate one. At least with just the perfect parry system, it comes more down to player skill and repeated ability to perfect block, rather than just master striking and resetting. thats not even counting that some master strike animations can cause bleeding or significantly larger windows for follow up damage than others.
My first playtgrough was on console, where I had no issues to perform backstrikes, but I had massiv issues to fight without them. On PC it was the other way arround, on PC I learned how to controll directions, slashes and combos, but I can't get the backstrike, it's weird
It took me a long time get Chain Strikes down. It gets boring winning a fight by only master striking. What I say to people as long as you are able to Master strike large groups and survive taking on 5+ enemies. Use underpower weapons so you get more hits in. If you use a strong weapon, you will kill most opponents before you get to practice your combat. Just follow thru the flow of the Chain strikes and not wait for a perfect parry or stun every time. If you have the perk that your blocked attacks remove more of the opponents stamina thats helps a lot too but when you when stamina is gone they take a lot more damage so they die too fast as well.
Sensei, i have a question about the Perfect Block. Sometimes when an enemy Perfectly Blocks my attack and performs a counter attack (not a master strike, a regular attack), sometimes i cannot perform not only Perfect Block, but a normal block as well to defend from a such attack. Why is that?
I tested it just now. Try pressing the block button as your opponent's weapon starts moving forward(towards Henry). Also,if the attack is immediately after a PB,then that's a Riposte; Normal blocks don't work on them.
@@ThatOtherGamer i know that, but it still happens to miss the window somehow. Could level and skill discrepancy be a reason for that? Cause i do not remember it to be a problem in the late game when i was playing KCD for the first time, but now while im replaying it it is getting a bit annoying not to be able to defend against some of Hans Capon's attacks which he performs after a Perfect Block.
Perhaps. I mean,the window for Master Strikes expand according to weapon skill level,maybe the same is true for PBs as well.🤔 Edit: It's the Defence stat which determines PB window.
@@ThatOtherGamer i guess so too. Ive got my defense all to the lvl20 while leveling weapon skills to lvl7 while training with Bernard and no longer had problems with blocking his counter attacks.
SERIOUSLY? I have NEVER heard that sound! I can barely hear it in the video, I have to crank my volume up! tf are they doing!? That really steams me up!
I just don't understand how the controls work. Do i push my controller stick in the direction of the arrow? Or just mash buttons? I That is what i don't understand
Yes those little pointy things with the dot in the middle is supposed to represent the body. Flick or hold in any direction to strike the body part you chose. Follow thru with the Slash button.
im good at tekken and thus have frame and spacing knowledge but these combos feel like just frame inputs lmao. No reason for them to be this hard to pull off.
Awesome! Im an absolute master of this game, and i love this kind of video cause i dont like that people ruin their own experience by focusing on master strikes. I even lowered the timing for master strikes in my game to make them really hard to perform.
I never use combos and that's a waste. I clinch n then poke (you can get a free hit in) sometimes haha sometimes just to avoid ruining armor health. Master strikes with sword n shield aren't nearly as good. It does a few different animations. I can't peg exactly which it will do, so it's RNG haha that's a bummer.
Great video mate! Nice use of the PS controller to highlight & illustrate what your talking about 👍 What really annoys me about the combat is the locked in animations after you've initiated the first attack & henry moving back...ADVANCE YOU IDIOT!!! ADVANCE!! Those drawn out locked animations piss me off. & if your against multiple opponents your F*cked. I also dont like how bandits & highwaymen fight like guards/ knights. They shouldn't be able to fight like that not unless they were previously some kind of fighter. Also whats with literally every bandit in the game being faster than Henry? He runs, their up to him like they've ran marathons their enitre life. Thanks for explaining! I still dont think Ive got combos down yet. When I swivel the analog stick left or right etc it doesn't look like Henry is swinging in the direction I want..I dont think Ive been able to pull off a proper combo. Nevertheless I'll keep trying.
Tilting the stick and pressing the attack button simultaneously at the right moment should work. I would also advise to not rely on the combat star when doing combos. Thanks for watching,Bluenova.👍
Unique animations that come from chained attacks work in a similar way to Master Strikes; There's a narrow window where we can try to land a free hit afterwards,which means doing a combo on top of another is possible.
From my tests,finishing those which require 4 moves are rare occurrences,you'll have way more fun with the 3-hit selections.
Have you tried Zeeb's better combat? It makes AI much less likely to master strike and makes Henry's timing much smaller, which makes them MUCH less spammable and a smaller part of combat.
It is worth noting that Henry's weapon will automatically follow through to the opposite angle you attacked from. For example, if you attack the high left and do not use the analog, Henrys next attack angle will always be low right and vice versa. This is useful because it happens to line up with the ending of many combos. Look at blinding strike. It can be executed by only using the analog twice, first to attack high left and then to switch to attack high right, after that simply hit R2 twice at the right timing and the combo will be completed. Same goes for False edge.
agreed. if you think about it, the first two strikes are the only times that you need to touch the analog stick because the third and/or the fourth strike will just follow through by spamming the slashes.
@@Eliii023 DONT spam. Slash, wait for the blow to be blocked, slash again. Sometimes when I spam Henry will just not do the last attack for some reason.
it seems much harder on pc as you never normally let go of the mouse so the aim reticle is always moving if you don't keep your hand steady. so far I've found it impossible to do any combo or feign attack
@@manlu_gaming I have a decent but worn $15 mouse pad that helps my mouse not move too much when I'm just resting my hand on it (though any mouse button click will move the mouse a little, of course). That's context.
Just as TOG says in the video, I've found that 3-action combos are much easier to pull off. Though mostly that's b/c enemies can always interrupt a combo with blocks.
For longsword, my favorite is the fehler because thrusts don't require controlling the angle of attack (not true IRL in my training experience, but tolerable and even helpful in game). I think the zorn ort could also apply esp with the default attack followthrough direction (left to low right for the first two attacks), then an easy thrust. I initially didn't bother practicing this zorn ort b/c I expected later opponents would have breastplates that soak a lot of damage (the game says you can aim thrusts high and low, but the combo thrust seems to have a fixed target to the chest), so I focused on the fehler for its attack to the head.
So far in my first full playthrough, haven't had much luck with combos using axes or maces, but that may be b/c I've always used shields. Per video, I'll have to play around more with the attack angling to see if I can make it work.
I love how you show the controler it helps out a tone. Thank you for that.
Thank you for watching,Ian.👍
Most informative, sir knight! Thank you kindly!
Thanks for watching,Yvinn.👍
Very thoughtful and thorough. I feel though, You should always be using run through if nothing else in a group fight but I find half sword always makes a bleed(with stinger late game) so I hit every one with a half sword as well.
It would be nice for other platforms if you had the inputs like “swing”, “thrust”, “block” and highlighted them to show input because the input devices are not the same.
@TheOtherGamer: Could you do a video about optimizing controls using mouse and keyboard? I'm struggling with combat and i think this is because i haven't got the right controlling scheme. I don't have a controller, could never got used to handling it right.
Same here
Beautiful well explained video. Great job sir
Thanks for watching,Sal.👍
I've been playing with trading parries and blows, making sure to feint and strike from various angles.. And once I got a hit in that starts a combo either from perfect block or just snuck in, I switch to full offense to try and get as many combinations and other pressure hits in. Seems like NPCs fighters are less likely to perfect block or master strike when they're winded AND when you are not repeating an attack pattern. So with decent vitality and stamina management you can just downright bully even black peter. (Though for him I recommend way above 10+ relevant combat skills)
A three hit combination can quite well open up a chance for four hit combo
I bullied black Peter by clinching him to hell and back then draining his stamina by pushing him to the corner and do pocket stabs at his face when a chance presents itself
It's very helpful, but most of the time you're going to be in combat with multiple opponents and trying to do even a 3 hit combo is virtually impossible at least for me. The game has made master strikes the meta because it's the easiest way most effective way without a lot of effort. But as you said that gets boring after awhile. I'm really hoping the combat in KCD 2 gives us the opportunity to vary up combat better than in the original.
Yes,they're for 1v1 only. I do suspect combos will play a bigger role in the sequel,I'm just not sure why we haven't seen them in any of the demos yet.
you should note that if you want to do combos, you should be well armored. As you can only guarantee the first and final hit of a combo, there's always a chance that you be hit by a master strike while attemping one, and some master strikes can be lethal if they hit an unprotected area.
That said, I have an idea for a video: document the safest combos to do. I am pretty sure that the master strike animation depends on the angle of attack, for example, IIRC, an overhead attack from a mace or axe you will be countered by master strike to the head which can instantly cause bleeding, especially with a certain Hardcore perk.
I have difficulties doing them in combat
Really tough for me on PC
id love the combat in this game if it wasnt for master strike. I get that its a tool to help you take out multiple opponents, but even low level bandits use it extensively. It trivialises combat too, because the optimal solution to every combat encounter becomes master strike into attack, and then repeat until finished. If youre going to go down the route of exploring combos, i'd highly suggest playing on PC and downloading a mod to turn master strike off for both henry and enemies, or at last a mod to finetune the percentage chance the enemy can activate one.
At least with just the perfect parry system, it comes more down to player skill and repeated ability to perfect block, rather than just master striking and resetting. thats not even counting that some master strike animations can cause bleeding or significantly larger windows for follow up damage than others.
My first playtgrough was on console, where I had no issues to perform backstrikes, but I had massiv issues to fight without them. On PC it was the other way arround, on PC I learned how to controll directions, slashes and combos, but I can't get the backstrike, it's weird
It took me a long time get Chain Strikes down. It gets boring winning a fight by only master striking. What I say to people as long as you are able to Master strike large groups and survive taking on 5+ enemies. Use underpower weapons so you get more hits in. If you use a strong weapon, you will kill most opponents before you get to practice your combat. Just follow thru the flow of the Chain strikes and not wait for a perfect parry or stun every time. If you have the perk that your blocked attacks remove more of the opponents stamina thats helps a lot too but when you when stamina is gone they take a lot more damage so they die too fast as well.
That's a good point about powerful weapons,I had to stash my St.George's sword for a weaker one just to extend fights.😂
Envoys aide de camp sword with its 21 damage is my favorite for this exact reason, it extends fights
Sensei, i have a question about the Perfect Block. Sometimes when an enemy Perfectly Blocks my attack and performs a counter attack (not a master strike, a regular attack), sometimes i cannot perform not only Perfect Block, but a normal block as well to defend from a such attack. Why is that?
I tested it just now. Try pressing the block button as your opponent's weapon starts moving forward(towards Henry). Also,if the attack is immediately after a PB,then that's a Riposte; Normal blocks don't work on them.
@@ThatOtherGamer i know that, but it still happens to miss the window somehow. Could level and skill discrepancy be a reason for that? Cause i do not remember it to be a problem in the late game when i was playing KCD for the first time, but now while im replaying it it is getting a bit annoying not to be able to defend against some of Hans Capon's attacks which he performs after a Perfect Block.
Perhaps. I mean,the window for Master Strikes expand according to weapon skill level,maybe the same is true for PBs as well.🤔
Edit: It's the Defence stat which determines PB window.
@@ThatOtherGamer i guess so too. Ive got my defense all to the lvl20 while leveling weapon skills to lvl7 while training with Bernard and no longer had problems with blocking his counter attacks.
SERIOUSLY? I have NEVER heard that sound! I can barely hear it in the video, I have to crank my volume up! tf are they doing!? That really steams me up!
I just don't understand how the controls work. Do i push my controller stick in the direction of the arrow? Or just mash buttons? I
That is what i don't understand
Yes those little pointy things with the dot in the middle is supposed to represent the body. Flick or hold in any direction to strike the body part you chose. Follow thru with the Slash button.
Why do I already get the feeling that playing kcd 1 and 2 back to back will be as good as watching rogue one then episode 4....
im good at tekken and thus have frame and spacing knowledge but these combos feel like just frame inputs lmao. No reason for them to be this hard to pull off.
I don't understand anything, but it sounds good 😁.
Awesome! Im an absolute master of this game, and i love this kind of video cause i dont like that people ruin their own experience by focusing on master strikes.
I even lowered the timing for master strikes in my game to make them really hard to perform.
False Edge? Not on my list. Why? I unlocked all of it.
where was this video like 6 years ago :(
I never use combos and that's a waste. I clinch n then poke (you can get a free hit in) sometimes haha sometimes just to avoid ruining armor health.
Master strikes with sword n shield aren't nearly as good. It does a few different animations. I can't peg exactly which it will do, so it's RNG haha that's a bummer.
Great video mate!
Nice use of the PS controller to highlight & illustrate what your talking about 👍
What really annoys me about the combat is the locked in animations after you've initiated the first attack & henry moving back...ADVANCE YOU IDIOT!!! ADVANCE!! Those drawn out locked animations piss me off. & if your against multiple opponents your F*cked.
I also dont like how bandits & highwaymen fight like guards/ knights. They shouldn't be able to fight like that not unless they were previously some kind of fighter.
Also whats with literally every bandit in the game being faster than Henry? He runs, their up to him like they've ran marathons their enitre life.
Thanks for explaining! I still dont think Ive got combos down yet. When I swivel the analog stick left or right etc it doesn't look like Henry is swinging in the direction I want..I dont think Ive been able to pull off a proper combo.
Nevertheless I'll keep trying.
Tilting the stick and pressing the attack button simultaneously at the right moment should work. I would also advise to not rely on the combat star when doing combos.
Thanks for watching,Bluenova.👍
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