How do I handle lock on vs multiple enemies?

[Zebane]

I'll have one enemy try and focus me in my face whilst whenever I lock on they will occasionally try to spin around me and completely clip my camera inside of myself to where I can't see anything whilst the other starts hitting me in the back.

[DargonBlak]

yes - unfortunately the combat as designed does not work well in 1vN

here's the best tips i can think of for 1vN melee combat:

1. Don't do it - avoid it

everything else is just ways to avoid it

2. Don't do 1v3+ - use strategy to keep it not more than 1v2, but focus on 1v1

use crowd control strategies - obstacles, luring opponents away, dollmaker poison, but when you close on melee try to focus on 1 at a time until dead, and then move on (keep it 1v1)

3. Always defend - Master Strikes ftw - and you can Master Strike from many angles

learn Master Strikes from Bernard - it's a time window just before Perfect Block

4. Back Step often

important strategy - stepping out of melee causes the enemies to go into a "disengage / re-engage" game mechanic, causing enemies to stop attacking momentarily while you reposition (and rebuild stamina)

5. use potions to stay healthy

3-potion set: aqua vitalis (less damage), bucks blood (more stamina), lazarus (heal ovr time)

[Judeo-communism]

You don't. Combat sucks. Hold S and spam Q, use archery, kite them on a horse or use stealth.

[Zebane]

Originally posted by DargonBlak:

yes - unfortunately the combat as designed does not work well in 1vN

here's the best tips i can think of for 1vN melee combat:

1. Don't do it - avoid it

everything else is just ways to avoid it

2. Don't do 1v3+ - use strategy to keep it not more than 1v2, but focus on 1v1

use crowd control strategies - obstacles, luring opponents away, dollmaker poison, but when you close on melee try to focus on 1 at a time until dead, and then move on (keep it 1v1)

3. Always defend - Master Strikes ftw - and you can Master Strike from many angles

learn Master Strikes from Bernard - it's a time window just before Perfect Block

4. Back Step often

important strategy - stepping out of melee causes the enemies to go into a "disengage / re-engage" game mechanic, causing enemies to stop attacking momentarily while you reposition (and rebuild stamina)

5. use potions to stay healthy

3-potion set: aqua vitalis (less damage), bucks blood (more stamina), lazarus (heal ovr time)

I try to avoid group fights but somehow these bandits fully kitted out in armor can easily outrun me the instant they spot me even with me having had a headstart. Potions would probably help, though the game said you couldn't heal during combat but I suppose potions are an exception?

[Entaris]

Originally posted by Zebane:

Originally posted by DargonBlak:

yes - unfortunately the combat as designed does not work well in 1vN

here's the best tips i can think of for 1vN melee combat:

1. Don't do it - avoid it

everything else is just ways to avoid it

2. Don't do 1v3+ - use strategy to keep it not more than 1v2, but focus on 1v1

use crowd control strategies - obstacles, luring opponents away, dollmaker poison, but when you close on melee try to focus on 1 at a time until dead, and then move on (keep it 1v1)

3. Always defend - Master Strikes ftw - and you can Master Strike from many angles

learn Master Strikes from Bernard - it's a time window just before Perfect Block

4. Back Step often

important strategy - stepping out of melee causes the enemies to go into a "disengage / re-engage" game mechanic, causing enemies to stop attacking momentarily while you reposition (and rebuild stamina)

5. use potions to stay healthy

3-potion set: aqua vitalis (less damage), bucks blood (more stamina), lazarus (heal ovr time)

I try to avoid group fights but somehow these bandits fully kitted out in armor can easily outrun me the instant they spot me even with me having had a headstart. Potions would probably help, though the game said you couldn't heal during combat but I suppose potions are an exception?

I would add to this list:

6. Keep the melee between you and the archers. A little free DPS on the unprotected parts of the enemy is always a treat

RE: Potions - They're typically an "over X minutes" effect, so you can easily take them ahead of time

[Judeo-communism]

Originally posted by Zebane:

I try to avoid group fights but somehow these bandits fully kitted out in armor can easily outrun me the instant they spot me even with me having had a headstart. Potions would probably help, though the game said you couldn't heal during combat but I suppose potions are an exception?

You can't outrun enemies. They get movement speed bonuses and will "tackle" you non-stop. The best way, like I said, is not to engage them on foot but run back and forth between them on your horse as you kite them and hit them while riding by until you win. Or if you really must be on foot, just use Master Strikes until they all die. Hold S to back pedal so you can try to keep them all in front of you as much as possible and see their attacks so you can Q at the correct times, but spamming Q often works if there's a lot of them.

You can't use any consumables in combat, including potions, so you'll need to drink whatever before combat starts and fight them while the effects are in duration. But potions won't save you from the RNG of being Master Struck by enemies, even if you're at max level, best in slot gear, and attacking the lowest level enemy in the game who's not even targeting you.