Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered

Where are the elephants?

Elephants only appear in the Nanman Campaign stage. This is the only location where you can find them.

How do I get a fourth weapon or special item?

Fourth weapons are listed in each character's section of the FAQ, and there is also a dedicated section for them. Special items are detailed in the items section. Crucially, MAKE SURE YOU ARE PLAYING ON HARD MODE for fourth weapons. If you are attempting to acquire 5th weapons in Xtreme Legends, ensure you are playing on VERY HARD MODE.

How do I get the Wind Scroll or Elixir/Alive Pill?

These items are rarer than other stat-boosting items. Keep playing; a Wind Scroll may appear relatively easily, but an Elixir might take at least 50 hours of gameplay. For a specific method: In the Battle at You Ting (228 AD) on HARD MODE, collect all possible items from officers and boxes. Before defeating the final general (Sima Yi), QUIT GAME (without saving if you don't want to lose progress). Reload the game, defeat the boss, and check your items. If you don't get the desired item, reload and try again. Playing on Hard mode and using the 'better version trick' below increases your chances of obtaining rare items.

How do I get better versions of items?

Play the game on hard. Later levels also offer better item potential. To improve your chances of getting better items and weapons, finish off item-dropping enemies with large combos.

What does luck do?

Luck appears to increase the drop rate of items like meatbuns and axes. Some also believe it improves your chances of obtaining more powerful weapons and items. According to Anime Japan, it also increases the size of dropped arrows and buns. The Xtreme Legends Manual states that Luck increases the chances of good items being dropped by enemies, though it's unclear if this refers to mundane items or weapons and items.

How do I unlock sides with no playable characters, like Liu Biao?

While it's not explicitly known which characters unlock these sides, you can use a specific code (listed in the codes section of the full FAQ) to unlock them. Beating the game with certain characters likely unlocks these sides, but this is not confirmed.

Can I use Lu Bu in Musou Mode?

No, Lu Bu and other unaligned characters (Dong Zhuo, Diao Chan, Fu Xi, Nu Wa, Zhang Jiao, Yuan Shao, Zhu Rong, Meng Huo) cannot be used in Musou Mode. They can only be used in Free Mode. This restriction does not apply if you are playing Xtreme Legends.

Why aren't my character select screen bars maxed out on the mission screen?

The bars on the character select screen indicate the highest level a character can reach through power-up collection. On the mission screen, these bars can be further increased by equipping items and weapons. Most characters cannot max out these bars on the mission screen; Lu Bu might be an exception.

How do I get second and third weapons?

Second and third weapons are found in weapon boxes dropped by officers.

How do I unlock Sun Quan or other characters?

For Sun Quan, check the stage strategies section under He Fei for a detailed explanation. For other characters, consult the character profiles, which list their unlock conditions.

The Basics

Before engaging in combat, it is essential to learn how your character fights. Practice their moves and get a feel for their unique style. Characters using similar weapons may have comparable fighting styles, but even they...

This section details the various combat mechanics in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, focusing on attack properties, special moves, and defensive strategies.

Attack Properties:

When fighting on foot, you have several basic attacks, with execution varying by character:

• Combo Attack (S rapidly): A series of rapid attacks. Better weapons increase hit count. Can be ended with special attacks.
• Attack 1 (T): A wide-reaching attack effective against groups. It's slow but can break enemy guards.
• Attack 2 (S, T) - Juggle Attack: Knocks enemies into the air, allowing for follow-up combos.
• Attack 3 (S, S, T) - Dizzy Attack: Dizzies enemies, making them vulnerable to further attacks. Effectiveness varies by character.
• Attack 4 (S, S, S, T) - Knockback Attack: Pushes enemies away, often with good range, useful for clearing paths.
• Attack 5 (S, S, S, S, T) - High Juggle Move: Available with the second weapon. Launches enemies high into the air, enabling extended combos or infinite combos by following up with repeated T presses.
• Attack 6 (S, S, S, S, S, T) - Special Attack: Varies greatly by character. Some characters can extend this with further T presses.

Bow Attacks:

Hold R1 to enter bow mode:

• S: Fire a standard arrow.
• T: Fire a spectacular arrow.
• Circle: Rapid fire arrow assault.
• L1: Move while aiming (strafing).

Bow attacks are clutch in many situations. Huang Zhong and Xiahou Yuan are noted as the best bow fighters.

Mounted Attacks:

Horses are primarily for faster travel but allow for attacks:

• S: A left-to-right weapon swing, good for keeping enemies at bay.
• T: A charge attack to both sides.
• Circle: Activates a Musou attack, swinging the weapon on both sides.

Elephant Attacks:

Exclusive to the Nanman stage, elephants are slow but powerful:

• S: Swing your trunk to hit enemies in front. Can also break wooden barriers.
• T: A powerful stomping attack that dizzies enemies and can knock others off their elephants.
• Circle: Activates Musou, a forward rushing attack to trample enemies.

Defensive Tactics:

• L1: Block enemy attacks. Holding block too long can break your guard unless you have the Buckler.
• Tapping S while blocking: Pushes enemies back slightly, creating distance.
• Blocking Limitations: Ineffective against arrows and attacks from behind in large crowds.
• Recovery: When knocked down, tap L1 at the right moment for a fast recovery. Hitting S while springing up performs a jumping attack. Recovering mid-air is possible with precise L1 timing, especially useful after being launched by an elephant.

Morale:

Maintaining high army morale improves their combat effectiveness. Morale is indicated by a bar in the upper left, showing the battle's tide.

This section covers advanced combat tactics for Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, focusing on how to effectively deal with different enemy types and deploy your character's abilities to their fullest.

Morale:

Character morale is indicated by stars next to their name (up to 8). Higher morale boosts effectiveness. Morale increases by defeating enemies, officers, or performing heroic deeds. Defeating 1000 enemies in a stage grants the title "True Hero of the 3 Kingdoms" and maxes out ally morale.

Archer Tactics:

Archers are dangerous and can easily kill players. Identify the direction of incoming shots and prioritize eliminating archers when an opening appears. Use quick attacks to defeat them before they can retreat. Musou attacks, especially long-range ones, are effective for clearing groups. When rushing distant archers, use a zig-zag pattern and jumping to evade their aim. For archers in watchtowers, approach closely. Always prioritize taking out the "First Bow" or "First Crossbow" (or "Bow Captain" on Nanman stages) as they coordinate archer attacks. Once they are defeated, other archers become disorganized and easier to handle.

Crowd Tactics:

To quickly deal with large groups of enemies, use character-specific crowd-clearing moves, often found in S, S, S, T combos. Musou attacks are also highly effective. Spear-wielding characters often have good crowd control due to their wide attack range. Sometimes, a series of regular attacks can be more effective than special attacks, which may have delays that leave you vulnerable.

Officer Tactics:

Officers are your toughest opponents. Lean on the block button to defend against attacks and create openings. Characters with the Buckler can block indefinitely without guard breaks. When on the offensive, use short attack bursts (e.g., S, S, S, combo) and cancel them if the enemy blocks to avoid counterattacks. A charged Musou attack can break enemy combos and allow you to pummel them. You can also cancel enemy Musou attacks with your own, resulting in a weapon lock. For difficult officers like Lu Bu, try distracting them, getting them dizzy, or knocking them down. Attack them from behind as they get up to deal continuous damage without them being able to block. This is particularly useful for characters with lower defense or those facing stronger generals.

Combos:

Combos can deal significant damage or rack up hits for better loot. The S, S, S, S, T combo can be repeated for hit accumulation (up to 255 hits). For stylish finishes, use S, S, S, S, T, T. For high damage, consider characters with their 3rd weapon who can perform repeated charge 6 attacks. The most devastating combo involves canceling any attack with a Musou attack, such as S, S, S, S, S, T (followed by repeated T if available) then canceling the T attack with Musou for massive damage.