The staff has some of the flashiest moves inDynasty Warriors: Origins, but if you’re bringing a stick to fight thousands of people with swords and spears, you’d better know how to use it. If smart combos and thinking on your feet are your thing, then the staff can be the most satisfying weapon type in the game; if you just want to press the attack button and watch bad guys fall over, then it will come up short.

If confounding enemy officers with expert flurries and precise Battle Arts appeals to you, read on to master the way of the staff!

ziluan in his officer uniform with the basilisk staff equipped on the menu of dynasty warriors: origins.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Staff Moveset

The staff is the only weapon in the game capable of aneffectively infinite combo; holding the Heavy Attack button causes you to continue attacking until you release the button or get hit yourself, whichever comes first.

Repeated forward leaps and attacks until the button is released.

Can change direction between leaps with Left Stick.

Left Stick + Heavy Attack while Dodging.

Rapid close-range melee combo while running until the button is released.

You cannot stop while performing this attack, but you’re able to turn with the Left Stick.

Holding the button follows up a combo

Heavy Attack while midair or on horseback.

Dismounts if used from horseback.

Staff Combat Tips

As fun as the endless Heavy Attack Combos can be,don’t lean on them too heavily. Instead, wait for the right opportunity. The moving combos are great for cutting through large groups, but the stationary combo has a very specific purpose; following up a parry or Special Art.

When you successfully counter an enemy via a perfectly-timed parry or using a Special Art to interrupt an orange move, they’ll bebriefly staggered.While they’re down,move next to themand start a stationary combo to hit them multiple times before they can get up. This will do damage and usually wear down an extra shield’s worth of their Fortitude.

If it’s the last shield,keep holding the button until just before your Assault opportunity expiresfor maximum damage.

The staff also haslots of Battle Arts that launch enemies, so take advantage of its multi-attack aerial combos and glide to take down foes while they’re helpless in the air.

Best Staff Build

Building around the staff’s air combo potential lets you make the most of its unique properties.

TheVortex Gem, which increases damage dealt to airborne enemies, is practically tailor-made for staff builds. The only reason not to equip it is if it isn’t sufficiently leveled, in which case you shouldgather some Pyroxene and Moongrassto try and bridge the gap.

In the meantime, many high-tier versions of the staff have traits thatincrease the input window for parries, so theScorch Gemcan be a useful second-place pick. It also helps increase the overall damage you do when you parry into a combo strike.

Vaulting Leapbecomes available to buy from Shops starting in Chapter 3. For just one Bravery, it launches the enemies in front of you into the air then jump up after them, letting youfollow up with an easy air combo.Once you reach Proficiency 6, you may also follow up withSoaring Sky Danceor just lead with that move, bringing more foes from the ground into the sky.

While you’re making your way to unlocking those Arts, be sure to equipChaotic Flurrywhen you get it at Proficiency 4. It’s a short-term rush attack similar to the Running Combo, and its status as a Special Art lets itinterrupt key enemy moves.Its mobility means it can break up multiple formation tactics if deployed strategically!

You can also use Chaotic Flurry from the air, which is good for stopping some leaping attacks.

Since Chaotic Flurry costs three Bravery, it’s always good to have reliable oldPalm Strikeequipped as a backup. With this loadout, you’re a threat both on the ground and in the air, so nobody is safe from your combos!