Is there anyway to avoid NPC Master Strikes?

[Sir Harlz]

Getting annoyed at the mechanics in this game. Like whats the point of having real time combat at all if stats are literal going to determine EVERYTHING. IS there actually any way to avoid getting riposted by the AI if they are higher level than you? This game is supposed to have real time combat but it actually feels like a big ol quicktime event at the moment. There is very little incentive for me to ever press the attack button unless I already master striked or clinched the enemy.

[Guts]

You avoid master strikes by never attacking in ways that will get you countered. Attack too much in the same direction? They master strike and punish you. Fighting an opponent with higher stats than you? If you don't win a clinch or use your own master strikes, it's very likely they'll just automatically counter you. You can also counter strike by attacking while they're attacking, and if the opponent is running, a quick stab will never be blocked.

[theo]

Don't try straightforward aggressive tactics against a dude with bouche shield

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Potions help to withstand a bashing when up against stronger opponents.
Aqua Vitalis(Vitality potion)--You feel like Achilles and can withstand wounds easily. For five minutes, strikes will wound you 50% less.

Artemisia potion--A bitter herb liquer that will put strength in your blood, but also bewilder your eyes with strange visions. Your Strength and Warfareskill are increased by 5 for ten minutes.

Bivoj's Rage potion--Increases Strength and invoked a bloody frenzy. For two minutes the damage you inflict on foes in melee combat increases significantly, but at the same time your Defence is lowered slightly

Poison--dip sword and arrows in it also ---A potion that poisons anyone who consumes it - makes health gradually deplete by 50.

Marigold decoction---Within one minute will cure light wounds or dispel hangover effects

https://kingdom-come-deliverance.fandom.com/wiki/Potions

[Judeo-communism]

No. They are hard programmed to master strike you 60% of the time, no matter your level, their level, gear, or anything else. The only time you can attack without being master struck is if you flinch them from winning a cinch, or your attack initiates a combo skill animation. So if you have a 3 hit combo, the first hit can be landed by the cinch flinch, the second hit is a 60% gamble, then the third hit is guaranteed if the 2nd hit wasn't master struck.

That's the nature of the game. It's a large reason why the combat is one of the weakest parts to it. You can be max 20s in everything using the best longsword fighting a weak level 1 drunkard using a bludgeon and he will still master strike you 60% of the time no matter what. The devs want you to be very patient and defensive, for some reason, which really sucks in 1vs2+ and when you don't want to just cinch constantly, or rely on your dog.

[theo]

Originally posted by Banks = Root evil:

They are hard programmed to master strike you 60% of the time

Proof?

[theo]

Obviously there is no proof so I've made a quick research using Pribyslavitz arena from From the Ashes DLC
I put up myself against opponents of different strength and made 20 random attacks at each one of them counting results:
- Beginner, using training axe without shield - 20 attacks, 0 master strikes, 0 perfect blocks and dodges
- Veteran, training axe without shield - 20 attacks, 3 master strikes, 5 perfect blocks and dodges
- Veteran, training axe and shield - 20 attacks, 3 master strikes, 8 perfect blocks and dodges

[Chillum]

Im pretty sure it takes your warfare and defense stats into account, which is why both can level up from successful masterstrikes. As theo put as a small sample size I seem to see alot in the rattay tourny as well. The first two opponents I can combo on all day, the third will masterstrike just about every time.

[Guts]

Originally posted by theo:

Obviously there is no proof so I've made a quick research using Pribyslavitz arena from From the Ashes DLC
I put up myself against opponents of different strength and made 20 random attacks at each one of them counting results:
- Beginner, using training axe without shield - 20 attacks, 0 master strikes, 0 perfect blocks and dodges
- Veteran, training axe without shield - 20 attacks, 3 master strikes, 5 perfect blocks and dodges
- Veteran, training axe and shield - 20 attacks, 3 master strikes, 8 perfect blocks and dodges

And this is heavily modified by your play style as well as your stats. If you have lower warfare, you're easier to masterstrike because your weapon swings are slower. If you try for headshots or a specific combo a lot, you'll get punished a lot. Basically as I said above, you have to not attack in ways that will get you hurt, so only attack at first (when the AI has no idea what you'll try to do) and then after they start blocking that behaviour, change to a different tactic. I should mention with 20 warfare and strength you can fight any number of people because you can clinch them all to death. Enemies don't attack you while you're clinching their friend, and you get a free headshot after a clinch.

[myhv]

Stats don't really matter, attack direction does not matter, hell, even staggering does not matter half the time. With maxed out stats I still get masterstoked about 33% of the time, even by peasants. And don't get me started on fact that some of the masteredstorking animations do no damage, while others ignore your stamina and armor, and just do a bunch of health damage with a major chance to cause injuries and bleeding.

The only real way to avoid it is to never attack. Or mod the game to have a decent combat system.

[PBR]

Originally posted by myhv:

Stats don't really matter, attack direction does not matter, hell, even staggering does not matter half the time. With maxed out stats I still get masterstoked about 33% of the time, even by peasants. And don't get me started on fact that some of the masteredstorking animations do no damage, while others ignore your stamina and armor, and just do a bunch of health damage with a major chance to cause injuries and bleeding.

The only real way to avoid it is to never attack. Or mod the game to have a decent combat system.

Way to necro a thread from 2020.

[myhv]

Cause it's the first thread that comes up when searching, and it's all still relevant, as nothing changed in 3 years.

[PBR]

Originally posted by myhv:

Cause it's the first thread that comes up when searching, and it's all still relevant, as nothing changed in 3 years.

Way to necro a thread from 2020.

[Mr. Du Bois]

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hell, I like so many aspects of this game, but combat really feels like it's just reduced to pressing Q at the correct time.

If I try otherwise, they just use master strikes against me.

I hope they rebalanced this for KCD2.

[Judeo-communism]

Originally posted by Mr. Du Bois:

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hell, I like so many aspects of this game, but combat really feels like it's just reduced to pressing Q at the correct time.

If I try otherwise, they just use master strikes against me.

I hope they rebalanced this for KCD2.

Hit the nail on the head.

Sadly, no, it does not seem KCD2 is changing this. The devs on Discord said they want KCD2 to remain accessible to players of all skill levels, so that lesser skilled players still have a chance to finish the game, thus the combat will retain it's RNG Master Strikes aspects.

[Mr. Du Bois]

Originally posted by Judeo-communism:

Originally posted by Mr. Du Bois:

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ hell, I like so many aspects of this game, but combat really feels like it's just reduced to pressing Q at the correct time.

If I try otherwise, they just use master strikes against me.

I hope they rebalanced this for KCD2.

Hit the nail on the head.

Sadly, no, it does not seem KCD2 is changing this. The devs on Discord said they want KCD2 to remain accessible to players of all skill levels, so that lesser skilled players still have a chance to finish the game, thus the combat will retain it's RNG Master Strikes aspects.

If they didn't tell that about master strikes word for word, then it would paint an opposite picture. If it's more "casual friendly" then you could argue normal attacks would be easier to land.

To even know master strikes exist in the first place, you already have to have some knowledge on the system, and landing them as well can be confusing in the first place, not really newcomer friendly.

At least the existence of crossbows and supposedly high risk, high reward "guns" will make things more interesting.