Dynasty Warriors Origins: Best Podao build guide

If you're diving into Dynasty Warriors Origins and want to decimate enemies with the mighty Podao, this guide has got your back. Set in the war-torn era of the Three Kingdoms, Dynasty Warriors Origins (DWO) blends epic battles and tactical gameplay. Among all the 10 weapon types in Dynasty Warriors Origins, the Podao stands out as a powerhouse, packing massive damage through charged attacks and versatile battle arts.

Here’s everything you need to know about building the ultimate Podao setup, from skills and combos to gear and companions.

How to make the best Podao build in Dynasty Warriors Origins

A still from Dynasty Warriors Origins (Image via Koei Tecmo)

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Why pick the Podao?

The Podao is essentially a “heavy sword” whose strong, charged attacks deal fatal blows. Its strengths lie in building bravery quickly and unleashing powerful battle arts like Ardent Aura Slash and Blade Typhon. However, it comes with drawbacks: its reliance on strong attacks, long animations, and a lack of range compared to other weapons.

Pros:

Promote bravery faster.
Battle Arts Variety and Forceful.
Critical charge damage capabilities.

Disadvantages:

Long attack animations.
Limited range.
Strong-attack dependency.

Also read: 5 best combat tips for beginners in Dynasty Warriors Origins

How to unlock the Podao in Dynasty Warriors Origins

To unlock the Podao, finish the "Subjugation of the White Wave Bandits" battle. The Podao is a long, Chinese single-edged weapon with extended hilt suited for heavy one-hit attacks; it can even be charged with power. For an upgraded form, it should be bought after unlocking from stores or battled on the ground.

Progression table

Weapon Name	Grade	Attack Power
Crushing Falchion	1	22
Enhanced Falchion EX	2	42
Gnashing Fang	3	80
Gnashing Fang EX	4	136
Sky Splitter	5	204
Training	6	300
Demon Slayer	7	326

Best Battle Arts

Equipment Arts for Podao (Image via Koei Tecmo)

Beginner Battle Arts

Direction	Battle Art Name	Bravery Cost	Description
Left	Dragon Sweep Slash	2	Execute a spinning kick that knocks enemies into the air, ideal for dealing area damage.
Up	Sharp Fang Flurry	5	Deliver a series of rapid slashes aimed at a single target, excellent for breaking fortitude.
Right	[Sp.] Palm Strike	1	Channel bravery into a focused palm strike, staggering and interrupting enemies at close range.
Down	Whirlwind Kick	2	Perform a swift swinging kick that grants temporary invulnerability and mobility during its execution.

Advanced Battle Arts

Direction	Art Name	Description	Bravery Cost
Left	Blade Typhon	Unleashes an energy-infused slash that triggers a delayed burst after a moment.	4
Up	Ardent Aura Slash	Charges the weapon with energy, releasing a powerful strike in front of you.	7
Right	[Sp.] Power Shot	Fires a strong, single arrow that interrupts targets; can also be used mid-air.	2
Down	Bounding Earth Strike	Charges toward enemies and slams down, dealing significant damage.	3

Mastering Podao combos and mechanics

To make the most out of the Podao, you have to master its unique combo system and charged attack mechanics:

Optimal combo strings

The most reliable combo of Podao is Triple Strong Attack sequence:

Swing > Ground Slam > Spinning Kick: It does excellent AoE damage, breaks officer fortitude, and generates bravery.

Charged attacks

The Podao can be very effective when charged with an attack, especially after the enemy has been launched with a strong attack or stunned with a battle art. Charge your next attack for a devastating result; this is best used against staggered or knocked-back officers.

Do not overuse normal attacks

While normal attacks are faster, they do not deal damage and generate bravery in Dynasty Warriors Origins, unlike strong attacks. Use them to chip away at fodder enemies. For real progress, however, use strong attacks.

Best skills and passives for the Podao build

Skill Name	Tree	Description	Skill Points Required
Whirlwind Kick	Knight-Errant Rank	Perform a swift spinning kick to attack enemies.	20
Chain Evade	Knight-Errant Rank	Grants the ability to dodge repeatedly.	30
Meat Bun Glutton	Knight-Errant Rank	Increases the number of meat buns you can carry.	50
Perfect Evade	Adept Rank	Awards bravery for perfectly timed evasions.	50
Meat Perceiver	Adept Rank	Allows Sacred Bird to detect nearby meat buns.	40
Army of One	Adept Rank	Fills the Musou Gauge after defeating 1,000 enemies.	60
Item Investor	Expert Rank	Lets you carry one additional portable item.	50
Extreme Musou Attack	Expert Rank	Unlocks powerful Musou Attacks with companions.	80
[Sp.] Power Shot	Expert Rank	A ranged interrupt skill that costs 2 bravery points.	100
Meat Bun Glutton	Mastery Rank	Further increases the maximum number of meat buns.	70
Bolster Bravery	Mastery Rank	Enhances bravery generation by 10%.	80
Accessories Artisan	Mastery Rank	Allows equipping an additional accessory.	80
Meat Bun Glutton	Hero Rank	Further enhances the meat bun carrying capacity.	70
Item Investor	Hero Rank	Increases the number of portable items by one.	70
Endurance Accumulation	Hero Rank	Boosts endurance accumulation rate.	120
Bolster Bravery	Musou Rank	Adds a 10% bonus to bravery generation.	100
Prolonged Rage	Musou Rank	Reduces Rage Mode drain by 5%.	200
Rage Restored Upgrade	Musou Rank	Restores health while attacking during Rage Mode.	200

Optimizing gear for the Podao

Equipment - Weapon in Dynasty Warrior Origins (Image via Koei Tecmo)

1) Best weapon traits

The following are traits to prioritize in customizing your Podao to be at maximum efficiency:

Bravery Generation Boost: Increases bravery from all attacks.
Musou Gauge Accumulation: Speeds up the filling of the Musou Gauge to gain extended Rage Mode.
Parry Timing Extension: Increases the chances of being able to parry enemy attacks.
Whirlwind Effect: Add a chance to create small whirlwinds that deal AoE damage.

2) Recommended accessories

Red Dragon’s Talon: Boosts Musou Gauge accumulation by 10%, perfect for keeping Rage Mode active longer.
Dragon’s Spleen: Restores a portion of your Musou Gauge whenever you take damage, offering resilience in prolonged battles.
Ravenous Spirit Amulet (Beginner-Friendly): Heals 5% of your health every time you defeat an officer, increasing survivability.

3) Best Gems

Ascendance Gem: Automatically blocks incoming officer attacks, allowing you to maintain offensive pressure.
Oblivion Gem: Increases the range of attack to counter the shorter Podao reach.
Wellspring Gem: Allows for passive healing after killing every 100 enemies, a requirement for longer battles.

Best tactics for the Podao build

Tactic	Description	Cooldown
Flaming Volley	Unleashes a powerful volley of fire arrows, dealing significant damage to enemies in a wide area.	240 seconds
Encirclement	Sends allies and guards to swarm and trap an officer, perfect for distracting during boss fights.	210 seconds
Mounted Charge	A massive cavalry charge that deals heavy damage to enemies in a large radius, ideal for breaking through groups.	420 seconds

Portable items to carry

Incense of Vitality: Recovers 70% of health to your entire party, which is ideal for long battles where keeping your team alive is crucial.
Spirit Pill: Recovers a segment of your Musou Gauge immediately, and allows you to perform multiple Rage Modes in succession.
Meat Buns: A basic curative item restoring a chunk of health instantly is great for staying topped up when things get critical.