Best Companions in Dynasty Warriors Origins

Companions in Dynasty Warriors Origins play an instrumental part in the fulfillment of any major battle criteria. Of course, there are some provisos in this case: the number of Officers you have in your army, and the difficulty setting you choose to enable, for example. In general, though, companions can pull you out of a sticky situation, and it’s thanks to the game’s in-battle Switch feature that you can easily alternate between warriors and battle tactics.

To boost your Bond level with your Companions, you will first need to fulfill a few basic requirements, such as speaking with them whenever a letter at the Inn suggests that you do so, or fighting alongside them as part of a Faction. After a short while, you will begin to earn their favor and, in turn, their skill sets and brute strength. But, as always, there is a catch to this: most Officers are tied to a particular Faction, which means you will need to shovel through the Campaign three times in order to gain access to all of the Companions.

So, who should you choose when it comes to pledging allegiance to any given Companion or Faction in Dynasty Warriors Origins? Well, if you’re looking to build lifelong friendships with the game’s strongest warriors and take full advantage of their skill sets, then be sure to consider these options the next time you’re attending the War Council…

Guan Yu

Faction: Liu Bei

Weapon: Green Dragon (Crescent Blade)

Guan Yu is, without a shadow of a doubt, the most influential Companion on the board, period. Aside from being superbly revered for his contributions towards the fulfillment of countless Factions’ goals, the globally-proclaimed God of War also shares a common ideology of wanting to restore peace and stability to the provinces. And as for the battlefield, well, let’s just say the Green Dragon crescent blade is more than enough to wipe the floor clean. To add, Guan Yu has access to a special attack that, if used correctly, can eliminate upwards of a thousand soldiers in a single assault. So, be sure to take that into consideration the next time you’re finessing your Battle Preparations.

Zhang Fei

Faction: Liu Bei

Weapon: Serpent of Yan (Lance)

Although slightly dimwitted in his role of being a faithful guardian of Liu Bei’s provinces, Zhang Fei has the brute strength of a thousand Officers, and then some. In addition to the Serpent of Yan lance—a weapon that brings monumental power to the battle—the natural-born warrior also has access to some fantastic abilities and special attacks, thus making him one of the best Companions in Dynasty Warriors Origins.

Xiahou Dun

Faction: Cao Cao

Weapon: Qilin Blade (Podao)

Cao Cao’s most trustworthy Officer, Xiahou Dun, not only has the mental capacity to handle strategic information and tide-turning tactical decisions, but the skills and raw power of an entire fleet of soldiers. The primary weapon, the Qilin Blade, also features as one of the best weapons in Dynasty Warriors Origins, effectively making the Wei Officer the jack-of-all-trades of the Han Dynasty.

Zhang Liao

Faction: Cao Cao

Weapon: Twin Raptor Pikes (Twin Pikes)

Zhang Liao quite easily has the ability to hold a candle against the likes of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei combined. Thanks to his Twin Raptor Pikes—double-edged melee weapons that are not only swift and efficient, but immensely powerful—the Cao Cao Officer quickly becomes a fan favorite on the battlefield. It’s also thanks to his ludicrously high HP and Battle Arts nodes that the Officer stands tall as not only one of the most popular Companions in Dynasty Warriors Origins, but also one of the best warriors in the series to date.

Huang Gai

Faction: Sun Jian

Weapon: Raging Tiger Claws (Gauntlet)

Huang Gai, although known for having a little more trouble with dealing with large numbers of enemies, has the iron fists of a short-ranged ballista. In the case where tougher enemy Officers spring out from the shadows, Huang Gai can not only deal devastating blows to their HP and whittle down their abilities, but conjure earth-shattering Battle Arts attacks that have the momentum to deliver the best possible outcome. Suffice it to say, if you’re joining up with Wei, then you’re probably going to want Huang Gai in your corner for the long haul.

Sun Shangxiang

Faction: Sun Jian

Weapon: Heaven and Earth (Wheels)

The Wheels are one of the most slept-on weapons in all of Dynasty Warriors Origins; the fact that the dual weapon is not only swift in its ability to hit enemies, but also perfectly capable of dealing with crowd control, makes it one of the greatest well-rounded weapons, period. And as for the Companions who know the ins and outs and the potential of these weapons, well, let’s just say Sun Shangxiang is no stranger to the Wheels and their ability to withstand any kind of threat.

Lu Bu

Faction: N/A

Weapon: Peerless Halberd

If you’re familiar with Dynasty Warriors and its lineage of heroes and villains, then you’ll know for a fact that Lu Bu is, in spite of all his treacherous attempts to overthrow the three kingdoms, the most prolific and powerful warrior in the entire region. And it’s because of Lu Bu’s legendary prowess that, in order to take full advantage of his abilities, you must first complete the campaign alongside any of the three Factions. Trust on this, though. If you’re looking to return to the battlefield and mop up any leftover tasks, then you should definitely consider onboarding Lu Bu as your primary Companion.

For more tips on how to tackle Dynasty Warriors Origins, be sure to check our official tips for beginners here.