Assassins Creed Odyssey: Guide to Combat

If you\’re unable to use stealth, combat is essential in Assassin\’s Creed Odyssey. This guide provides information on how to prepare for battles, win them, and keep your character alive.

• Experience level
• Equipment
• Weapon types
• Light and heavy attacks
• Camera locking, dodging, and parrying
• Enemy\’s heavy attacks
• Character\’s additional skills
• Health bar and healing
• Allies on the battlefield

Experience level

The experience level of your enemy is a crucial factor that affects the difficulty of the battle:

1. You have a higher chance of winning a fight when your enemy\’s level is the same or lower than yours.


2. You have lower chances of defeating an enemy who is one level above yours. These chances reduce further if the enemy is an elite with unique attacks or equipped with heavy armor.


3. Your chances of defeating an enemy who is two levels above yours are low. Avoid such confrontations, or run away when you are attacked by such enemies.

Enemy levels are displayed above their heads, and red color marks enemies who are higher level than you. Scout the area with Ikaros to check the levels of your enemies in advance and avoid fights with overly powerful enemies.

Equipment

The level and stats of your equipment are essential in preparing for a fight. For instance, if you\’re a level 10 hero, using level 5 equipment can make it challenging to attack level 10 enemies. Your attacks may be too weak, while your enemies can hit you hard.

Try to equip all slots with items that are close to your current level. The difference in levels should not exceed 2-3. All items can be upgraded at a blacksmith, but the process is costly and requires specific materials. Upgrade only the most important items, such as your main weapon, and replace the rest with new gear.

Weapon types

Melee weapons can be divided into two groups: slow and fast. Fast weapons, such as swords and daggers, are generally better since they allow you to react faster to your enemy\’s movements and have a better chance of damaging your opponents. Powerful and slow weapons are more suitable for attacking larger and better-armored enemies.

Choosing weapons is simplified later in the game. At level 15, you unlock the Man at Arms skill, which provides you with a new slot in your inventory. From then on, you can switch between your weapons with just one button. Choose one fast and one slow weapon and switch between them to match your needs.

It is possible to use a bow in Assassin\’s Creed: Odyssey, although it is more effective for killing enemies from the shadows. Players can aim for weak spots or utilize abilities that provide extra damage. In open conflicts, a bow can come in handy if the enemy hasn\’t yet reached the player and if they do not want to use a melee weapon. Light and heavy attacks are the two basic types of attacks in the game, and players can combine them into simple combos. Heavy attacks can also break the enemy\’s guard when they are hiding behind a shield. Locking the camera on enemies is useful during almost every encounter, allowing players to avoid attacks and use their own with greater precision. Dodging is the most basic way of keeping the character alive, and players can perform a roll by holding the dodge button. Parrying is another defensive option that can be used by pressing L1+R1 (PS4) or LB+RB (XONE) when an enemy has started their attack. When facing archers, it is recommended to reach them quickly and kill them before they can use their bow. Enemies with a red glow around them are about to perform an unblockable attack that can only be dodged, and the frequency of these attacks depends on the enemy\’s level of status.

Enhance Your Character\’s Abilities

When engaging in close combat, certain active abilities can be extremely helpful. You must fill the yellow adrenaline bar to activate these abilities, and one charged section of the bar gives you one use of an active ability. With every successful hit, the adrenaline bar charges.

Two recommended abilities that can be unlocked from the beginning are Bull Rush and Sparta Kick. Bull Rush is an effective offensive ability that enables you to charge towards an enemy, knock them down and deal more Warrior damage. This ability works even on enemies with shields. However, you must aim it carefully to avoid losing the adrenaline charge.

Sparta Kick is another great ability that pushes enemies back and deals more Warrior damage. You can use this ability to make an enemy fall from a great height, causing significant damage or killing them. Be careful not to miss, or you will lose your adrenaline charge. Moreover, Sparta Kick can stun and recruit enemies in later parts of the game. You can stun an enemy with low health and recruit them to your ship\’s crew by approaching them and pressing the right button.

It\’s important to note that you can use Spartan Kick to your advantage by climbing on towers or high stone ledges and kicking enemies when they get closer to your character. This is a useful technique for killing stronger enemies such as mercenaries and fort commanders.

Assassin\’s Creed: Odyssey also offers numerous other useful skills such as Venomous Attack, Weapons Master and Gear Master abilities.

Health Bar and Healing

In Assassin\’s Creed: Odyssey, your health bar doesn\’t replenish automatically during a battle. Therefore, you should pay close attention to your equipment and use defensive abilities such as dodging and parrying. Fortunately, there are three alternate ways to replenish your health.

The initial approach to healing your character is the simplest. Whenever you use an active ability, your character will regain a small amount of health points. Although this method won\’t fully restore your character\’s health quickly, the additional points will help prolong your survival on the battlefield. It\’s recommended to use your adrenaline regularly and avoid fighting with a full and unused bar.

The second method involves unlocking the Second Wind active skill, which becomes available at level 5 or higher. This skill allows you to utilize adrenaline points to regenerate health. On the easiest difficulty setting, you\’ll recover about a quarter of your health. Assign this skill to one of your buttons and use it when your character sustains severe injuries.

The third method is to retreat and seek refuge in a safe location. You don\’t have to abandon your current position, such as a fort. Your health bar will begin to replenish once you\’ve escaped your pursuers. Afterward, you can return to the fray. Meanwhile, your foes won\’t be able to restore their health or respawn.

Allies on the Battlefield

Allies can accompany you during certain battles, particularly in Conquest fights. However, you may also be accompanied by other characters during random encounters on the map or quests.

Regardless of the situation, take advantage of your enemies\’ preoccupation with attacking your allies by unleashing heavy attacks on them. This increases your chances of landing a hit that they won\’t evade or block. However, larger battles also necessitate caution, as your character might suddenly be surrounded by enemies or attacked from behind. Keep moving to stay safe.

Note that during Conquest, you should monitor the bar that indicates the strength of your allied forces. Letting it drop to zero results in failure. Conquest battles are discussed in greater detail on a separate page of this guide.

FAQ

1. How does combat work in AC Odyssey?

Combat in AC Odyssey is a mix of fast-paced action and tactical decision-making. Players can choose from a variety of weapons, including swords, spears, and bows, and each weapon has its own unique set of abilities. Timing is key in combat, as players must dodge and parry enemy attacks while looking for openings to strike back. The game also features a skill tree system, allowing players to unlock new abilities and upgrades as they progress.

2. What are the best weapons for combat?

The best weapons for combat in AC Odyssey ultimately depend on your playstyle. However, some of the most popular weapons include the sword and shield combo, which provides a good balance of offense and defense, and the spear, which allows for longer range attacks. The bow can also be a useful tool for taking out enemies from a distance. It\’s important to experiment with different weapons to find what works best for you.

3. How do I improve my combat skills?

To improve your combat skills in AC Odyssey, you\’ll need to spend time practicing and unlocking new abilities. Try to engage in as many battles as possible, and focus on learning enemy attack patterns so you can anticipate their moves. You can also spend ability points to unlock new skills and upgrades on the game\’s skill tree. Be sure to invest in abilities that complement your playstyle, whether that\’s focusing on ranged attacks or close combat.

4. Are there any tips for winning tough battles?

Winning tough battles in AC Odyssey requires a combination of skill and strategy. One tip is to always be on the move, dodging and weaving to avoid enemy attacks. It\’s also important to identify enemy weaknesses and exploit them – for example, using fire attacks on enemies weak to fire. Don\’t be afraid to retreat and regroup if needed, and try to pick off weaker enemies before taking on tougher ones. Finally, make sure to use your abilities wisely, and use them to set up combos and take out large groups of enemies at once.