How to play Warlord? For Honor Warlord Guide
This chapter contains detailed description of the Warlord. You will find here information about his strengths and weaknesses, full moveset and combat tips.
Last update: 17 February 2017
Warlord is an equivalent of the Conqueror class that is available for Knights. He is a Viking warrior equipped with a short sword and a shield. He can take almost any hit without receiving damage. Despite his short range of attack, he is able to hit the enemy with great force, without leaving him with a chance to rest or counterattack.
Class description - good and bad sides
Like Conqueror, Warlord can block almost every attack with his shield (except for the unblockable ones). He doesn't have the Superior Block of the mentioned Knight class, but he is more agile than him. He can push his opponent through a large part of the battlefield (something like Raider's throw) or he can perform a powerful jump attack. In addition to that, he has the Perfect Defense ability - after activating it the Warlord slightly lowers his position and will temporarily automatically block all attacks. While in Perfect Defense stance, he can perform a few special attacks about which you will learn in the next chapter of this guide.
Despite the fact that it is a class equipped with a shield, Warlord is more offense-focused than his defense-oriented equivalent from the Knights (Conqueror). Two special abilities help him in that. The first one enables him to block enemy attacks and automatically perform a counterattack and the second one gives special properties to his strong attacks. In the middle of the strong attack animation Warlord gains Hyper Armor - it will become highlighted in a characteristic way and his attack will become unstoppable. It means that the opponent can hit you during the rest of the animation, but it won't cancel the attack - in most cases this will enable you to hit the enemy at the same time. Since Warlord has great number of health points, he will win most of duels like that.
The greatest disadvantage of this class is its great need of stamina. A few regular attacks, not even mentioning the more advanced ones like a jump attack or shield charge, and the whole stamina bar is depleted. The player must rationally attack and constantly monitor the state of his stamina.
Modifiers, abilities, and class attacks
Warlord's class abilities are mostly defense-focused, but they also provide some options for players who prefer to harass their opponents. Becoming familiar with these abilities will make duels with you very challenging for every opponent.
Class modifiers
Warlord has the following class modifiers:
- Renown - obtain more renown in order to unlock talents that help the characters or save them and defend the targets.
- Superior Block Light Attacks - weak attacks have Superior Block modifier that enables the class to parry attacks and perform counterattacks simultaneously.
- Uninterruptible Heavy Attacks - after about half of the animation, strong attacks become unblockable. Even if the enemy hits you, your attack will be finished and the enemy will receive damage as well.
- Full Block Stance - blocks attacks coming from all directions (stances). Requires stamina for activation. When activated, depletes stamina and depletes it with each blocked attack.
Feats
Warlord has access to 12 feats divided into 4 tiers (3 per each). He can use only four of them simultaneously - one per each tier. Below you can see the table in which all abilities are described.
Tier | Contents |
1 | Speed Revive - a passive ability. You quickly revive fallen team members. Available since start. Rush - activate in order to increase movement speed for a short time. Requires level 5. Body Count - a passive ability. Killing enemies regenerates health points and stamina. Requires level 7. |
2 | Bear Trap - a trap which deals damage and stops enemies. Available since start. Juggernaut - highly increases resistance to attacks at the expense of movement speed. Requires level 9. Thick Skin - a passive ability. Reduces the amount of received damage. Requires level 11. |
3 | Fury - slightly increases movement speed and provides a large boost to attack and defense. Available since start. Punch Through - a passive ability. Your blocked attacks deal damage. Requires level 13. Tough as Nails - a passive ability. Increases maximum health level. Requires level 15. |
4 | Regenerate - a passive ability. You regenerate health when you aren't fighting. Available since start. Auto Revive - a passive ability. Enables you to revive yourself without the help of other player. Requires level 17. Fire Flask - enables you to throw a grenade that burns the area and enemies near the landing point. Requires level 19. |
Class attacks
Warlord has access to quite large number of special attacks that are mostly focused on blocking and parrying enemy attacks and on harassing the enemies. The below table contains information about all special attacks available for this class.
Name | How to perform | Description |
Focused Strikes | Light attack, strong attack | A basic attack combination that allows the player to perform a series of two attacks, a light and a strong one. Useful for canceling enemy actions - the weak attack doesn't deal much damage, but it is surprisingly fast, especially when considering the size of the Warlord. The strong attack is unblockable (one of the class traits) and it deals high level of damage. |
Hack and Slash | Strong attack, light attack | A reversed version of the combination described above. It is great for overusing the passive ability of this class - the unbreakable strong attacks. The player can perform a strong attack which the enemy won't be able to stop and then surprise the opponent with a fast weak attack. |
Crashing Charge | Performing a guard break during spring. This attack is unavailable in Lock Mode | An attack which you can perform only while outside the Lock Mode. It enables you to perform a powerful charge which can push the enemy through a large part of the battlefield and throw him away at the end or knock him into the wall - in the latter case it additionally stuns him. |
Headsplitter Leap | Performing a strong attack during spring. This attack is unavailable in Lock Mode | An attack which can be used only outside the Lock Mode. It enables you to perform an air attack by jumping towards the opponent and slashing him. This attack can deal great number of damage and after the jump it is possible to perform other attacks and combinations. |
Headsplitter Leap Alternative | Forward dash and strong attack | A version of Headsplitter Leap performed in Lock Mode. |
Headsplitter Leap Combo | Forward dash and strong attack, then Guard Break and light attack. | A version of Headsplitter Leap which enables the player to perform a combination of attacks after the dash. The whole combination eats large amount of stamina, but is impossible to block (once it starts) and it deals large number of damage. |
Board and Blade | Strong attack while in Full Block Stance. | A strong attack that deals high level of damage. It can be performed from Full Block Stance. |
Block and Stab | Light attack while in Full Block Stance. | A similar attack to the one mentioned above, but this one uses light attack. The player should wait for the enemy to start his attacks and counter then with light attack. |
Shield Counter | Performing a Guard Break after parrying hostile attack. | The player must parry enemy attack and then perform a Guard Break. This will hit the enemy with a shield and stun him for a moment (the sound of the stunned player will be muted and he won't see markers that show the direction of the incoming attack). It will also reduce his stamina bar. A powerful ability which is very effective against enemies that perform large number of attacks one after another (like Berserker, Orochi and Peacekeeper). |
Shield Counter Combo | Performing a Guard Break after parrying enemy attack and using a light attack. | A version of Shield Counter in which after hitting the enemy in his face with the shield, you also perform a light attack. This isn't all - after hitting the opponent you can continue the assault and perform more attacks. |
Headbutt | Forward dash and Guard Break. | A powerful ability which cannot be blocked - the only option is to get out of the attack line. It enables the player to jump towards the enemy and hit him with the head - it throws the enemy away and leaves him vulnerable for further attacks. This ability is great for breaking enemy assault or simply for throwing him into fire, obstacle or to make him fall from a height. |
Headbutt Riposte | Guard Break while in Full Block Stance. | A version of the above described ability that is performed while in Full Block Stance. |
Headbutt Combo | Guard Break while in Full Block Stance, finished with a light attack. | A version of Headbutt Riposte in which after throwing the enemy away the player's character performs one additional attack. This attack can be combined with other combinations. |
Zone Attack | Pressing both light and strong attack buttons simultaneously. | A strong attack that enables the player to hit all enemies around him. |
Tips
Some tips that can be useful while playing this character:
- Remember that blindly throwing yourself at the enemy and trying to overwhelm him with attacks is the worst thing you can do. Playing as this class requires patience, control and taking advantage of opponent's mistakes.
- Your strong attacks provide your character with Hyper Armor. Halfway the animation your character starts glowing in a specific way. From that point your attack becomes unstoppable - even if the enemy hits you, your attack will be continued. Due to that you and your opponent will both receive damage. Use this ability as frequently as possible in order to deal damage and knock your opponent off balance - most of the players will not expect to receive damage when they hit their opponent in the middle of an attack.
- Use Superior Block light Attacks. This enables you to parry and perform light attacks simultaneously. It won't deal great number of damage, but after countering hostile attack you can continue your offensive and perform your own combination.
- Remember that you can enter Full Block Stance. In this stance your character cannot move, but you will block all enemy attacks, no matter from which direction they are coming. Additionally, while in this mode you can perform a few deadly attacks that can be transformed into whole series of attacks.
- When you face an opponent that is furiously attacking you with combinations of attacks, use Shield Counter. This will enable you to survive enemy assault, knock him off-balance and perform deadly counterattack while the opponent is stunned and has no idea from which side the attack will come.
- When you face an opponent that is defending himself well, use Headbutt. This will enable you to jump towards the enemy, break his defense and leave him vulnerable to further attacks.
- Warlord in Revenge mode is a killing machine. When you enter this mode, keep attacking the enemies without stopping - your attacks will be unblockable, and your main disadvantage, stamina, won't be a problem anymore since in Revenge mode it is unlimited.
- If it's the enemy that is in the Revenge mode, don't dare attacking him. He will probably parry each of your attacks, throw your character to the ground and deal great number of damage to you. Additionally, Crashing Charge ability will knock you down every time it hits you. Whenever you must face a Warlord in Revenge mode, the best course of action is to simply run away - no one is able to defeat him and blocking his attacks is impossible.
- Keep monitoring the stamina of your character. Warlord is perfect for harassing enemies since he can perform deadly effective combination of attacks, but fast maneuvers can quickly deplete his stamina bar. This will make the battle much easier for the opponent. Stop attacking for a few seconds and regenerate yourself when you start having little amount of stamina (about 1/3 of the bar).