10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters

2. Zhang Liao

Zhou yun dynasty warriors
Koei

As one might expect of the man who becomes famous in the novel thanks to Guan Yu vouching for him after he is defeated alongside Lu Bu, Zhang Liao used to be a slightly different version of the Shu general already on our list. In more recent iterations of the game Zhang Liao has turned in his Blue Dragon-like glaive for a pair of large battle axes.

Now look, Guan Yu's on this list for a reason – so a slightly weaker version of Guan Yu is still pretty good, too. But Zhang Liao's switch to the dual axes has caused him to propel higher on the list for sure. He's a little slower than some of the others on this list, like his original master, Lu Bu - but his moveset and power more than make up for that. He doesn't have much forward momentum in his regular attacks, until you hit the end of his combo and he rushes through waves of enemies.

Rushing right into the thick of things could be bad for some others on this list who are susceptible to attacks from behind – especially slower attackers, like Zhang Liao. But with his dual axes he manages to protect his rear with a helluva backswing. His special moves and musou make him perfect for tearing up generals, too – putting him solidly on this list.

Contributor
Contributor

Author of Escort (Eternal Press, 2015), co-founder of Nic3Ntertainment, and developer behind The Sickle Upon Sekigahara (2020). Currently freelancing as a game developer and history consultant. Also tends to travel the eastern U.S. doing courses on History, Writing, and Japanese Poetry. You can find his portfolio at www.richardcshaffer.com.