The Dynasty Warriors series originally started as a fighting game which the rest of the series did not follow through with, this guide is meant to help with the move list of each playable character so you know what button combinations to press to get your desired attacks. This guide is meant for the US version, but note that if you are playing on the Japanese version C & D have their commands swapped, this is included for codes.
Basic Commands
| Command |
Description |
| A |
A horizontal swipe. |
| B |
A vertical attack or a thrust. |
| C |
Defends against A swipes. |
| D |
Defends against B swipes. |
| C+D |
Side step. |
| A+B |
Will do a throw from the front only. |
| &/@@*@@/(+A/B |
A lunging attack that can also be used to pursuit a downed enemy. |
| +A+C or +B+D |
On the bottom of the screen a bar will fill up, when it is full you are able to perform your characters musou attack. If your health is Red and the bar is full it will be a longer combo. |
Base Characters
These characters have an ending which you get by going through the 1P Battle mode.
Zhao Yun
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| ABBA |
High inward swing followed by a high thrust followed a mid thrust ending with an overhead chop. |
|
| BBA |
High thrust followed a mid thrust ending with an overhead chop. |
|
| BB, @+AAB |
High thrust followed a mid thrust followed by low spinning swing followed a downward swing ending with a pushing thrust. |
|
| @@^^@@+AA |
Inward mid swing followed by an outward pushing mid swing. |
|
| @@^^@@+ABB |
Inward mid swing followed by a poke with the butt end of the Spear ending with a mid pushing thrust. |
|
| @@^^@@+AB,+B |
Inward mid swing followed by a poke with the butt end of the Spear ending with a three quick mid thrusts. |
|
| @@^^@@+BB |
Mid poke with the butt end of the Spear ending with a mid pushing thrust. |
|
| @@^^@@+B,+B |
Mid poke with the butt end of the Spear ending with a three quick mid thrusts. |
|
| While Standing A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| While Standing BA |
Mid thrust followed by a pushing overhead chop. |
Used for his Normal 2 and Charge 3 in Dynasty Warriors 2 & 3. |
| @+BA |
Low thrust followed a lifting upward swing with the butt of the Spear. |
|
| 1+AAB |
Low swing followed by a pushing downward chop ending with a mid poke. |
|
| 3+BAAB |
Mid thrust followed by low spinning swing followed a downward swing ending with a pushing thrust. |
|
| +AA |
Tripping low inward swing followed by a lifting upward swing. |
|
| +A |
Lifting upward swing with the butt of the Spear. |
Used for his Charge 2 in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +AAAAB |
5 Spinning upward swings ending with a pushing thrust. |
Used for his Musou Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +B+D,+B |
True Musou extension after the poke with the butt end of the Spear, does three quick mid thrusts. |
|
Guan Yu
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AA |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing. |
Used for his Normal 1 & 2 in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| A, $+A |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing leading into High Held Stance. |
|
| A, @+AAA |
Inward swing followed by an upward swing then an inward swing and an outward swing leading into High Held Stance very shortly. |
|
| A, @+AA, 4+A |
Inward swing followed by an upward swing then an inward swing and an outward swing leading into High Held Stance. |
|
| BA |
High thrust followed a spinning pushing overhead chop. |
|
| ^+AA |
Outward swing followed by a quick inward. |
|
| While Standing A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| While Standing B |
Mid thrust. |
|
| +A |
Slow powerful pushing downward chop. |
|
| +A |
Slow spinning tripping low swing. |
|
| +B |
Uppercut with the butt of the Dragon Blade. |
|
High Held Stance (Command: 4+A)
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AABA |
Upward swing followed by an inward swing followed by a mid thrust ending with an outward swing. |
|
| 1+AAAAAA |
Inward low swing followed by spinning the blade above followed by two more inward swings to spin the blade again for an outward swing then hitting with the butt of the blade ending with a downward chop. |
|
Zhang Fei
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Bonk with the butt of the spear followed by a chop with the spearhead ending with a low tripping swing. |
|
| AAB |
Bonk with the butt of the spear followed by a chop with the spearhead ending with a pushing thrust with the butt of the spear. |
|
| @@^^@@+AAAA, B |
High swing followed by a low and two high swings leading to a stance, then do a pushing thrust forward. |
|
| @@^^@@+B |
Shoulder thrust. |
Used as his Dash attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| While Standing AAB |
Lifting swing with the butt of the spear followed by a quick chop downward ending with a pushing thrust. |
|
| While Standing B |
Mid thrust. |
|
| +A |
Downward pushing swing with the butt of the spear. |
|
| +B |
Powerful pushing mid thrust. |
|
| +B |
Spin to powerfully thrust spear upward lifting enemy. |
|
| +AA |
Spinning pushing chop followed by a downward swing with the butt of the spear. |
|
| +B |
Yell causing enemy to trip. |
Used as his damaging Announce Yourself in Dynasty Warriors 4. |
| +A |
(Throw) Strangle enemy with the spear to spin around to toss them. |
|
Xiahou Dun
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AB |
Inward swing followed by a stab. |
|
| AAAA |
Two inward and outward swings. |
|
| BAA |
Stab followed by lifting upward swings. |
|
| @@^^@@+A |
Quick pushing chop forward. |
|
| @@^^@@+BA |
Weapon handle hit followed by a quick pushing chop forward. |
|
| @@^^@@+BBA |
Weapon handle hit followed by a low stab and lifting outward swing. |
|
| 6+AA |
Two inward swings. |
|
| While Standing AA |
Two lifting upward swings. |
|
| While Standing B |
Mid stab. |
|
| !A |
Spinning tripping swing. |
|
| 1+BA |
Delayed low stab followed by a lifting outward swing. |
|
| +B, A+B, @@*@@+A |
Deep stab followed by tossing the enemy up and chasing to spike them down. |
The spike down is similar to his Charge 5-2 used in Dynasty Warriors 3 & 4. |
| +AAA |
Three rising swings. |
Somewhat similar to his Charge 3 in Dynasty Warriors 4 & 5. |
| +A |
Step back then fiercely swing in front. |
|
| +B+D, A+B, @@*@@+A |
True Musou extension after deep stab, tosses the enemy up and chases to spike them down. |
|
Dian Wei
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing ending with a pushing downward chop. |
|
| ABA |
Inward swing followed by a left hook ending with a downward chop. |
|
| AA, @+AB |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing followed by a tripping spinning low swing ending with a punch. |
|
| BA |
Left hook followed by a downward chop. |
|
| ^+BB |
Mid elbow followed by a downward pushing arm chop. |
|
| $BA |
Shielded mid stab followed by an outward pushing mid swing. |
|
| While Standing A |
Inward pushing mid swing. |
|
| While Standing BA |
Gut punch followed by an inward pushing mid swing. |
|
| 2+B, A |
Low punch followed by an inward pushing mid swing. |
|
| 2+BA |
Low punch followed by an inward low swing. |
|
| +BB |
Headbutt followed by a second one. |
Used as his Dash Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +B |
Slow powerful pushing punching. |
|
| +A |
Mid lifting spinning uppercut swing. |
|
| +B |
Lifting headbutt. |
|
| +AAAAAAAA |
Upward swing followed by Six rotating mid swings ending with a lifting upward swing. |
|
| +AAAAAAAB |
Upward swing followed by Six rotating mid swings ending with a pushing mid stab. |
|
Xu Zhu
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AA |
Inward swing followed by a pushing downward swing. |
|
| ABBB |
Inward swing followed by a high thrust followed by a mid thrust ending with a low thrust. |
|
| BBB |
High thrust followed by a mid thrust ending with a low thrust. |
|
| BAA |
High thrust followed by an outward swing ending with a pushing downward swing. |
|
| ^+A |
Downward swing. |
|
| $+A, ^+A, $+A |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing ending with a pushing inward baseball swing. |
|
| While Standing A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| While Standing BB |
Mid thrust followed by a low thrust. |
|
| 2+AB |
Low inward swing followed by a low thrust. |
|
| +A, @@*@@+A |
Hopping downward swing followed by an upward thrust. |
|
| +A |
Pushing baseball swing. |
Used for his Charge 4 in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +AAA |
Three high spinning inward swings. |
|
| +A, @+AAA |
High spinning inward swing followed by three spinning mid swings. |
|
| +A, 2+AA |
High spinning inward swing followed by a spinning mid swing ending with a low sweeping swing collapsing afterward. |
Used for his Musou Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| @@^^@@+A, A+B +A |
Shove Club handle forward stunning enemy followed by a bear hug ending with a baseball swing. |
|
Zhou Yu
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Two swipes with a lifting upward swing. |
|
| AA, 4+A |
Two swipes with a lifting upward swing then go into Sword Stance. |
|
| BAB |
Thrust followed by a swing ending with a pushing Thrust. |
|
| B, @+A |
Thrust then a tripping low swing. |
|
| ^+B, A |
Weapon handle hit followed by a pushing mid swing. |
|
| ^+B, @+A |
Weapon handle hit followed by a low tripping swing. |
Low swing is used in Dynasty Warriors 4 & 5 as the ender to his Charge 3. |
| While standing A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| While standing B |
Mid thrust. |
|
| 2+AA |
Low swing followed by a lifting upward swing. |
|
| 2+A, 4+A |
Outward low swing followed by a lifting upward swing then go into Sword Stance. |
|
| 3+AA |
Inward low swing followed by another. |
|
| +A |
Pushing mid swing. |
|
| +B |
High lifting uppercut swing. |
|
| +B, 4+A |
High lifting uppercut swing then go into Sword Stance. |
|
| (+AA |
Double aerial swings. |
Used as the extender for his Charge 4 in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
Sword Stance (Command: 4+A)
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Two swipes with a tripping low swing. |
|
| AAB |
Two swipes with a pushing thrust. |
|
| 1+AA |
Low tripping swipe followed by an upward swing leading back into Sword Stance. |
|
Lu Xun
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AA |
Inward swing followed by another inward swing and downward swing after. |
|
| @@^^@@+ABA |
Inward swing followed by a stab ending with a double inward pushing swing. |
|
| @@^^@@+AB, @+A |
Inward swing followed by a stab ending with a double inward tripping low swing. |
|
| @@^^@@+B |
Slow mid stab. |
|
| $A |
Lifting back flip swing. |
|
| While StandingA |
Outward mid swing. |
|
| While StandingB |
Mid stab. |
|
| 3+A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| +AAA |
Double upward swing followed by another ending with a double inward pushing swing. |
|
| +AA |
Double inward swing followed by a lifting upward swing. |
|
| +A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| +AA, ^+A |
Low inward swing followed by a high inward swing ending with a double downward pushing swing. |
|
| +AAAA |
Low inward swing followed by a high inward swing followed by a double outward swing ending with a double inward swing. |
|
| (+AA |
Double overhead downward swings. |
|
Taishi Ci
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Outward swing followed by an inward swing ending with a lifting upward swing. |
|
| $+B |
Delayed pushing mid thrust. |
|
| @@^^@@+BA |
Shove both Rods in front then spread to push enemy away. |
|
| @@^^@@+B, $+A, +B |
Shove both Rods in front then opens enemies guard ending with a pushing double thrust. |
Used for his Musou Attack finisher in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| While Standing A |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| While Standing B |
Elbow to the gut. |
|
| 2+AB |
Low outward swing followed by a pushing mid thrust. |
|
| !AA |
Spinning low inward swing followed by a lifting upward swing. |
|
| +B |
Pushing mid thrust. |
Used for his Charge 4 in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +A |
Downward pushing swing. |
|
| +BBBBB |
Alternating mid thrusts, fifth one pushes. |
Used for his Musou Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| +BBB, ^+BA |
Alternating mid thrusts, fourth hit shoves both Rods in front and ends by spreading out pushing enemy. |
|
| +BBB, ^+B, $+A, +B |
Alternating mid thrusts, fourth hit shoves both Rods in front then opens enemies guard ending with a pushing double thrust. |
|
| +A |
Spinning upward lifting swing. |
|
| +A |
Double upward lifting swing. |
|
| ^+A+C |
Opens enemies guard. |
|
Diao Chan
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Backhanded swing followed by a spinning swing ending with a lifting upward swing. |
The first two hits are similar to her Normal 1 & Normal 2 used in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| AA, @+A |
Backhanded swing followed by a spinning swing ending with a spinning tripping swing. |
|
| BAA |
High thrust followed by a backward swing ending with a scooping upward swing. |
|
| B, $+A |
High thrust followed by an upward swing, back turns. |
|
| B, $+AA |
High thrust followed by an upward swing ending with a lifting kick. |
|
| ^+BA |
Elbow followed by a pushing inward swing. |
|
| ^+B, @+A |
Elbow followed by a low inward swing. |
|
| @@^^@@+A |
Cartwheel. |
Somewhat used as her dash attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| @@^^@@+BA |
Lifting upward swing followed by a quick chop. |
|
| While Standing AA |
Backhanded swing followed by an upward swing. |
|
| While Standing BA |
Ducking mid thrust followed by an outward tripping swing with both clubs. |
|
| +BA |
High poke followed by a high kick. |
|
| +A |
Outward tripping swing with both clubs. |
|
| +A |
Upward swing, back turns. |
|
| +B |
High lifting uppercut swing. |
|
| +AA |
Upward swing ending with a lifting kick. |
|
| (+A |
Rebounding aerial swing. |
|
| ^$ |
Back flip. |
|
| ^$+A |
Back flip then an inward low swing. |
|
| ^$+BA |
Back flip then high poke followed by a high kick. |
|
While back turned
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Lifting mid swing followed by an upward swing ending with a lifting kick. |
|
| BAA |
Lifting mid swing followed by an upward swing ending with a lifting kick. |
|
Unlockable characters
These are characters you gain clearing 1P Battle with specific characters, if Selection type is set to Normal Type they are located off screen, if Selection type is set to Quick Type they have their own icon.
Zhuge Liang
Unlock requirement: Complete 1P Battle with Zhao Yun, Guan Yu & Zhang Fei.
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AA |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing. |
|
| AAB |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing ending with a mid poke. |
|
| A, ^+A |
Inward swing followed by a pushing mid swing. |
|
| BB |
High poke followed by a mid poke. |
|
| ^+AB |
Outward swing followed by a mid poke. |
|
|| ^+AAA || Inward swing followed by an outward swing ending with inward swing. || |
| 6+AAAA |
Slow high inward swings ending with a pushing swing. |
|
| While Standing AA |
Lifting upward swing followed by a pushing mid outward swing. |
|
| 3+B |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| +B |
High unblockable magic laser. |
|
| +B |
Low unblockable magic laser. |
|
| +B |
Lifting upward swing. |
|
| +AA |
Lifting outward swing followed by a pushing upward swing. |
|
| +A |
Fan spins inward at high, mid then low levels. |
|
| +A |
Fan spins inward at low, mid then high levels. |
Somewhat similar to his Musou Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2. |
| $+A+B+C |
(Throw) Telekinetic spinning throw. |
|
| C+D |
(After blocking) Teleport behind enemy. |
Strategic Fanning Stance (Command: 4+A)
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| A |
Delayed lifting upward swing. |
|
| B |
Crumpling quick high poke. |
|
Cao Cao
Unlock requirement: Clear 1P Battle with Xiahou Dun, Dian Wei & Xu Zhu.
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| A, @+A |
Inward swing followed by a low tripping outward swing. |
|
| AAAA |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing followed by a lifting upward swing ending with a quick crumpling mid stab. |
|
| AAB, @+AA |
Inward swing followed by an outward swing followed by a mid stab ending with two low tripping swings. |
|
| ^+AB |
Outward swing followed by a mid stab. |
|
| ^+AB, @+AA |
Outward swing followed by a mid stab followed by two low tripping swings. |
|
| ^+AA, @+A |
Outward swing followed by an inward swing ending with a low tripping swing. |
|
| @@^^@@+B |
Crumpling mid stab. |
|
| While Standing AA |
Lifting upward swing followed by a quick crumpling mid downward stab. |
|
| While Standing BBA |
Mid stab followed by an elbow to the gut ending with a pushing downward swing. |
|
| While Standing BB, $+A |
Mid stab followed by an elbow to the gut ending with a disabling chop throw. |
|
| While Standing ^+BA |
Elbow to the gut followed by a pushing downward swing. |
Elbow is used as his Dash Attack in Dynasty Warriors 2 through 5. |
| While Standing ^+B, $+A |
Elbow to the gut followed by a disabling chop throw. |
|
| 3+AA |
Two low tripping swings. |
|
| 3+BB |
Mid stab followed by an elbow to the gut. |
|
| +A |
Outward pushing mid swing. |
|
| +A |
Crumpling mid downward stab. |
|
| +A |
(Throw) Disabling chop. |
|
| +A |
Blocking stance followed by an upward lifting swing. |
|
| +AA |
Blocking stance followed by an upward lifting swing (attacks earlier). |
|
| +A, @+A |
Blocking stance followed by a low tripping swing. |
|
Lu Bu
Unlock requirement: Clear 1P Battle with Zhou Yu, Lu Xun, Taishi Ci, Diao Chan, Zhuge Liang & Cao Cao.
| Command |
Description |
Use in later games |
| AAA |
Inward swing with the butt of the halberd followed by an outward swing ending with a quick downward pushing chop. |
|
| AABB |
Inward swing with the butt of the halberd followed by an outward swing followed by a mid stab ending with a back turned pushing stab. |
Last hit is used as his Charge 4 in Dynasty Warriors 2. |
| BA |
Poke with the butt of the halberd followed by a downward pushing chop. |
|
| $+B |
Quick blocking stance followed by a pushing mid stab. |
|
| @@^^@@+A |
Lifting upward swing. |
Used as his Charge 2 in Dynasty Warriors 2. |
| While Standing AA |
Lifting upward swing with the butt of the halberd followed by an lifting upward swing. |
The first hit is similar to his Charge 2 used in Dynasty Warriors 3 through 5. |
| While Standing BB |
Mid stab followed by a pushing poke with the butt of the halberd. |
|
| +B, 4+A+B |
Impaling stab, lift the enemy up and slam them behind you. |
|
| +AAA |
High inward swing followed by a low inward swing ending with a low tripping swing. |
|
| +AAB |
High inward swing followed by a low inward swing ending with a mid pushing poke with the butt of the halberd. |
|
| +A |
Downward swing followed by a pushing chop. |
|
| +B+D, 4+A+B |
True Musou extension after impaling stab, lift the enemy up and slam them behind you. |
|
Code characters
These are characters that you have to enter a code to unlock, these characters do not have an ending if you use them in 1P Battle. If Selection type is set to Normal Type they are located off screen, if Selection type is set to Quick Type press [ or ] and hover over a specific character who's moveset they are a copy of.
Sun Shang Xiang
On the title screen press $*@BA[] you will hear a chime to telling you that the code was entered correctly. To play as her press [ or ] and hover over Zhou Yu.
Nobunaga
After clearing 1P Battle with Lu Bu on the title screen press A@@*@@B@C you will hear a chime to telling you that the code was entered correctly. To play as him press [ or ] and hover over Lu Bu.
Toukichi
After clearing 1P Battle with Nobunaga on the title screen press @@^@@*@@DB]} you will hear a chime to telling you that the code was entered correctly. To play as him press [ or ] and hover over Cao Cao.