How to play Orochi? For Honor Orochi Guide
This chapter contains detailed description of the Orochi. You will find here information about his strengths and weaknesses, full move set and combat tips.
Last update: 22 February 2017
Orochi is without doubt the most mobile hero found in game. His speed and abilities allow him to literally jump around his opponent, dealing lightning fast strikes and avoiding his opponent's attempts to stop him.
Orochi - Strengths and Weaknesses
This hero is best suited to 1v1 combat. Orochi has numerous counters at his sleeve, very useful against opponents that attempt to simply push through your defense. Other than that, his strikes are really fast - a player not accustomed to fighting against Orochi will have a tough time blocking or parrying his attacks.
Orochi, as well as all other assassin classes found in game, can switch to one of the stances (top, left, right) to receive a temporary shield that block every attack coming from that direction. The shield lasts for a very brief moment of time. You can see the exact moment when your guard switches off by looking at the shade of the stance indicator. You can regain the shield by rotating stances - you'll begin to do so automatically after a certain amount of time spent with the hero.
Orochi can deflect an incoming attack by performing a dodge that meets the incoming strike. The attack will be blocked, while you'll be able to use one of a few available counterattacks (listed in the separate section of the guide). Take notice of Storm Rush and Riptide Strike - both attacks enable you to return with powerful counters. Moreover, Storm Rush gives you a window to throw a few additional attacks, mixing them into a fluid combination, while the ability itself can be used as a very effective counter, allowing Orochi to avoid the incoming attack in the last moment and return with his own strike.
The Chosen's assassin also has a few disadvantages, including short effective range, and small amount of health points. This means that every mistake is much more costly - one wrong call can deprive you of your entire health bar. Moreover, you'll need to keep close to your enemy at all costs - heroes with a lot of range (such as Kensei or Nobushi) will be able to keep you away, severely limiting your combat effectiveness.
Modifiers, Abilities, and Class Attacks
Orochi's abilities are focused mainly around mobility, counters, and throwing accurate and rapid attacks.
Class Modifiers
Orochi is reinforced by following class modifiers:
- Renown - Orochi earns more renown for 1v1 combat, killing enemy heroes, and kill streaks.
- Defense: Reflex - Your stance enables you to block any attack for a brief period of time.
- Deflect - Enables Orochi to deflect an attack by making a dodge in the direction of an incoming attack. After a successful deflection, the hero can return with Wind Gust or Hurricane Blast.
- Top Light Attack Combo - The second top light attack has a 100% chance of hit if the first one has struck the target.
- Hurricane Blast Cancel - Enables Orochi to cancel Hurricane Blast with other abilities such as Wind Gust, Guardbreak, or Dodge.
Feats
Orochi has access to 12 feats divided between 4 Tiers (each tier containing 3 abilities). You can choose four - each takes up one socket. The table below contains the list of all abilities.
Tier | Contents |
1 | Bounty Hunter - (Passive) Each kill renews a portion of health and stamina points. Available from the beginning. Kiai - Orochi can stun nearby enemies with a scream. Requires level 5. Iron Lungs - (Passive) You can sprint with an empty stamina bar. Requires level 7. |
2 | Smoke Bomb - Enables Orochi to throw a smoke bomb that breaks the Lock-on for a short period of time. Kunai - Enables you to throw a dagger that deals some damage to your target. Requires level 9. Revenge Attacks - (Passive) Your attacks fill up the Revenge meter. Requires level 11. |
3 | Long Bow - Enables you to fire a long bow, dealing moderate damage. Available from the beginning. Sharpen Blade - All attacks induce a small Bleed effect that deals damage over time. Requires level 13. Slip Through - (Passive) Dodging raises your damage dealt for a short period of time. Requires level 15. |
4 | Nail Bomb - A trap that induces the Bleed effect to every target in its area of effect. Fear Itself - The enemies in your vicinity receive penalties to stamina and defense. Requires level 17. Arrow Storm - Enables Orochi to call for an arrow volley that deals moderate damage to an area. Requires level 19. |
Class Attacks
Orochi has multiple special attacks that can be further mixed in fluid combinations. Most of his moves are focused on lunges and dodges, as well as countering what the enemy might throw at you. The table below lists all available combinations and special attacks.
Name | How to Perform | Description |
Crosswind Slashes | Light Attack, Light attack, Light Attack | A basic combination - the second hit is guaranteed if the first one had struck the target. |
Lightning Strikes Twice | Strong Attack, Strong Attack | A combination of two strong (yet very slow) attacks. Consider using a different combination as this one is very easy to counter. You can try to feint any of the attacks to return with a different one. |
Tidal Wave Slashes | Strong Attack, Light Attack, Light Attack | A combination initiated with a strong attack and concluded with two light ones. If you've struck the enemy with the first light attack, the second one has a 100% chance of hit. |
Crushing Wave | Sprint + Strong Attack Unavailable in Lock Mode. | An attack that can only be utilized outside of Lock Mode. Useful in initiating the encounters, or while chasing an escaping enemy. |
Riptide Strike | Strong Attack while moving backwards. | One of two dedicated counters. Orochi backs down a bit, and then proceeds with a powerful top attack. The move deals major damage, but is very slow (especially compared to Storm Rush) - more experienced players will either parry or simply interrupt it by hitting your hero. |
Storm Rush | Hold Strong Attack while moving backwards. | I recommend using two top light attacks for maximum effectiveness - there is a huge possibility that both strikes will hit the target, depriving him of a large percentage of his health points. |
Lightning Strike | Forward Dash + Light Attack | A forward lunge ending with a light attack. The move doesn't deal major damage, but can startle your opponent and allow you to throw a series of other attacks. |
Zephyr Slash | Side Dash (left/right) + Light Attack | Orochi can perform a side dash to avoid an attack and sting his opponent with a light attack. This move is perfect for avoiding unblockable hits, as well as to get through to shield-armed opponents (Conqueror and Warlord). |
Wind Gust | Deflect an attack and press Light Attack. | One of two moves using Deflect mechanic as a base. To begin, Deflect an attack (lean in the direction of an incoming strike). If you were successful, Orochi will block the attack, and you'll receive a window to use Wind Gust - it's an unblockable strike that deals moderate damage. |
Hurricane Blast | Deflect an attack and press Strong Attack. | The second attack taking advantage of the deflect mechanics. Performed by throwing a strong attack after a successful deflection. Deals much more damage than Wind Gust, but can be easily mitigated. |
Zone Attack | Press Light Attack and Strong Attack simultaneously. | A powerful attack that enables Orochi to hit all enemies in the near vicinity. |
Tips
Some tips that often prove useful during combat:
- Avoid repeating the same attack patterns. Repeated use of Storm Rush won't yield the desired result - your opponent will quickly get used to it after two or three attempts and will respond with a powerful counter. Orochi has numerous combinations up his sleeve - make use of them all.
- Your defensive abilities are limited - use Deflect. This ability enables you to deflect an attack by leaning in its direction just before it lands. Then, you can use one of two attacks: Wind Gust, an unblockable fast strike, or Hurricane Blast, a powerful attack, yet very easy to counter.
- Remember that Orochi, as well as all other assassin classes, has a characteristic block. Assuming a stance endows you with a temporary invincibility from all attacks coming from that direction. The shield lasts only a few seconds - after that time, the hero will stop blocking incoming attacks. If you want to regain the guard, switch sides, or simply rotate the stance.
- Orochi can step back and return with powerful attacks. Storm Rush begins with a leap backwards accompanied by a charge that can be followed by further attacks. Riptide Strike begins with a small sidestep, making it easier for the opponent to block, but Orochi's riposte is much more powerful.
- Monitor your stamina bar. As every other hero in game, Orochi's stamina is limited, even if his abilities are not that consuming. When you've depleted your stamina bar, your main advantage - mobility - will be lost. When you've running out of stamina (around 1/3 of the bar), stop attacking for a few seconds and regenerate it.