How to play Kensei? For Honor Kensei Guide
This chapter contains detailed description of the Kensei. You will find here information about his strengths and weaknesses, full move set and combat tips.
Last update: 17 February 2017
Kensei is one of the three Samurai classes available from the beginning. His Nodachi is able to deal damage from a longer range, dangerous for most characters. However, there are certain downsides - heroes fighting at a short range will have an easy time dealing with you. Kensei is best utilized as a middle range hero.
Description - strengths and weaknesses
Kensei is characterized by his high mobility and the ability to change his approach according to the situation at hand. You can either stay behind and make use of the extended range, or perform very effective Dashes to harass your opponent and then return to a safe distance to avoid being countered. Mastering his moves is not simple, but it will allow you to control most of the situations - an experienced Kensei is one of the worst enemies you can encounter on the battlefield.
This class favors poise and calmness. Kensei is able to perform powerful attacks (some of them cannot be blocked or interrupted), which are however very slow - an experienced player can simply evade them. To be less predictable, break the combination in half and jump back from your opponent rather than stick to him at all costs. Make use of Dash - this ability is very versatile, enabling you to surprise the enemy with a sudden leap forward, or escape from an unfavorable situation.
One of the main advantages of this hero is the ability to create combinations which can be ended in one of two ways. One of them is an unblockable power attack - the hero performs an unblockable overhand slash which can only be parried (your enemy risks a serious hit), or dodged. On the other hand, the player can use a strong overhand slash dealt from left or right side. This attack can be blocked, but once the hero begins the animation, he is unstoppable (he is lit in white), which means that the attack will have 100% chance of success. Both strikes are performed as a third hit in the combination.
The ability to tailor his approach is also the biggest disadvantage of this hero. The reason is simple - full mastery of the hero will take you a lot of time, while other classes may be much more powerful while requiring shorter amounts of time to master - this mainly applies to some of the starting classes, such as Warden, or Raider.
Moveset and hero-specific abilities
Kensei's attacks are rather unspectacular, but he can combine his hits into combos, creating powerful strikes that cannot be blocked, or in case of some variants - uninterruptible.
Class Modifiers
Kensei has six traits (i.e. perks) These are as follows:
- Renown - Kensei earns more renown for uneven fights near objectives or while engaging enemy troops.
- Chain Starters - Helm Splitter, Swift Strike and Guardbreak can initiate combinations.
- Throw Into a Chain Finisher - You can perform any Chain Finisher after a Throw.
- Cancel Top Heavy Finisher - A strong overhand finisher can be canceled in the early stage of the animation by a light or heavy side attack, enabling the player to perform an uninterruptible strong side hit.
- Unblockable Top Heavy Finisher - enables Kensei to end any combination (with at least 3 strikes) with an unblockable heavy overhand strike.
- Zone Attack - Allows the player to end a Zone Attack after the first hit.
Feats
Kensei has 12 feats that are divided between 4 tiers (each tier contains 3 abilities). You can choose only one ability from each tier. The table below contains the descriptions of all abilities available for Kensei.
Tier | Contents |
1 | Fast Recovery - Stamina has a faster regeneration rate. Available from the beginning. Body Count - Killing enemy soldiers regenerates health and stamina points. Requires level 5. Iron Lungs - You can sprint even when the stamina bar is empty. Requires level 7. |
2 | Inspire - Once used, allies deal more damage, while soldiers nearby fight faster. Requires level 9. Smoke Bomb - Throw a smoke bomb on the ground which makes locking-on impossible. Requires level 9. Chilling Stare - Lowers Attack and Defense values of nearby enemies. Requires level 11. |
3 | Second Wind - Recover some of your health. Available from the beginning. Long Bow - Enables Kensei to fire a long bow, dealing moderate damage. Requires level 17. Steadfast - Any Throw attempts directed at you result in a temporary immunity. Required level 15. |
4 | Arrow Storm - An aerial attack affecting a small area, dealing medium damage. Available from the beginning. Stalwart Banner - Nearby Allies regain health continuously. Requires level 17. Unblockable - Your attacks are Unblockable for a short period of time. Requires level 19. |
Special Attacks
This class focuses on strings of hits rather than special attacks. Nevertheless, Kensei has access to two powerful ending hits which are one of the keys to master this class.
Name | How to perform | Description |
Rushing Sweep | Perform a strong attack while sprinting. Unavailable in Lock Mode. | This move can only be performed when outside of Lock Mode. It enables the player to perform a powerful strike that is perfect to initiate a fight. |
Helm Splitter | Perform a Forward Dash and make a light attack during its duration. | One of a few available attacks that enable the player to engage an enemy through a dash. Helm Splitter is a quick overhand strike that doesn't deal much damage, but enables you to approach your target and surprise him. |
Swift Strike | Make a Side Dash (left or right) and perform a light attack. | Another dashing attack, this time performed after a Side Dash. Swift Strike enables the player to avoid an enemy attack (even an uninterruptible one) and hit him with a side attack. Useful in defense, to avoid attacks, as well as when attacking, to surprise the enemy and break his defense. |
Grasping Pounce | Forward Dash + Guardbreak | The third combination and the first one employing Forward Dash. One of the best moves in game. It allows Kensei to engage the enemy and break his guard, making him vulnerable to further attacks, or you may perform a throw and receive access to a strong attack that will end the combination. |
Combo I (Dawn of the Steel Sun) | Light attack x3 | A standard combination - light attacks are much better if you want to catch your opponent, rather than throw cumbersome strong hits. However, these attacks do not deal major damage, while making you vulnerable to enemy hits and depriving you of ten possibility to end the combination with an unblockable/uninterruptible strong attack. Consider using a different combination when facing a player-controlled hero. |
Combo II (Spirit of Inevitability) | Light attack, light attack, strong attack | A combination much more effective that the one described above. Enables Kensei to begin with two fast strikes and conclude with an unblockable/uninterruptible strong attack. In all, the best combination available for this hero - you'll be seeing a lot of it in combat. |
Combo III (Form of the Dragon) | Light attack, strong attack, strong attack | This combination is much slower than the one described above. The combo deals more damage, but the attacks are slower, giving your opponent more chance to parry. Use this combination when fighting with a slow opponent, or a player that has visible problems with parrying. |
Combo IV (Dawn of the Kensei) | Strong attack x3 | As far as I'm concerned, the worst combination available for this hero. The attack is built from strong hits only - almost every enemy will be able to interrupt this combination by dashing, blocking, or simply parrying. Use a different combination when fighting against an human opponent. |
Zone Attack | Press light and heavy attack simultaneously. | A doubled zone attack that damages all targets in the near vicinity. You can stop the attack after the first hit. It uses around 50% of the stamina bar. |
Tips and Tricks
Some tips that often prove useful during the game:
- Remember that reckless attempts to engage the enemy and put him under pressure will most likely end with failure. Kensei is mainly a counter-striker, as well as a class that requires patience and composure when in combat.
- Finish your combinations with strong attacks. As a result, you'll be able to perform unblockable (when hitting from the top), or unparryable (side hits) hits.
- Remember that you can end a throw with a strong attack. This move is especially useful when you've managed to topple your opponent (he had an empty stamina bar when thrown), or pushed him onto a wall (which will stun him) - in such cases you have almost 100% chance that the attack will stick.
- The main advantage of this hero is a wide range of initiators (Helm Splitter, Swift Strike, and Grasping Pounce). Kensei can engage his opponents from a longer range, yet his attacks are very slow, making it easy for the enemy to counter or simply avoid them. Initiators are the way to deal with this problem, enabling Kensei to quickly pounce at his opponent and be close enough to use one of his combinations.
- Remember that initiators can also be used as a defensive measure. This mainly involves Swift Strike - using it you can jump to the side and get off your enemy's way (e.g. when he begins to perform an unblockable strike).
- Use Feint. Kensei can easily slide away from a strong finisher and proceed to hit his enemy from a completely different side. Use it when battling players that block well, or have managed to avoid an unblockable strong hit.
- You can strike with a full combination after a Guard Break. Most classes are only able to deal single hits after a Guard Break. Kensei can perform a whole combination, ending with an unblockable/uninterruptible strong attack.
- Avoid fighting in cramped spaces and between numerous obstacles. Kensei waves his sword rather vigorously, so you might get blocked in such conditions, allowing your enemy to launch a counterattack.
- Monitor the stamina level of your hero. Kensei is able to deal strike after strike or stick to his opponent, but these actions can quickly drain his stamina bar, creating a perfect opportunity for your enemy to eliminate you. When the stamina bar is at 1/3 of its capacity, stop attacking for a few moments and let your stamina regenerate.