I'm sucky at combat 😒

[Shelt]

Are you sucky too? Do I just need to practice more, or will I always be terrible?

[Shelt]

And sneaking, apparently. Trying to play it without powers.

I curse a lot.

[Shelt]

Chloroform bottles (ether) works good on human enemies to knock them out, including witches.

[PKFire199X]

Don't worry man, you just need to practice more. I was horrible at combat when I started the first game in the series, but after going through the main story twice + all the DLC, the hardest difficulty on Dishonored 2 doesn't feel as unforgiving as I thought it would.

It also depends on what kind of run you're trying to do. High Chaos is easier for me since I enjoy combat more. Low Chaos can be fun, too, but only when I know the map layout. Otherwise I'll probably start cursing at the game, too.

What are the main issues you're having?

[Abyss]

Me too, we're just the stealth gang of the community

[Shelt]

Mostly had some troubles with larger groups of enemies. What usually happen is that one enemy spots me then many rush over to kill me.

I'm getting better at dealing with them, using stun mines and various darts, but I wished I woulda taken powers now.

[secondmoods]

dw man, while running no powers always remember that the quick-save button is your friend! Saved my skin (and sanity) during my no-powers stealth run. Since you have trouble with big groups of enemies i'd suggest drawing them all to an area while stealthed, then using grenades or setting up springrazors/stun mines. Super effective in my experience

[Shelt]

I figured out how to slide into enemies and knock them over, then, if I get up fast enough, I can kick them and KO them. But again, with more than one enemy around, it gets much harder. I'm actually starting to like the rush and chaos of combat now. Although I still die about 25% of the time when there's more than one enemy. The guards who have pistol and sword like me are trouble.

[Furdi]

If parrying is troubling you with open combat then get the reflexes skill and focus on it.
You'll parry a lot more easily and even parry bullets so open combat wont be too hard.

[PKFire199X]

Originally posted by Shelt:

Mostly had some troubles with larger groups of enemies. What usually happen is that one enemy spots me then many rush over to kill me....

I'm getting better at dealing with them....Although I still die about 25% of the time when there's more than one enemy. The guards who have pistol and sword like me are trouble.

That's good that you're getting more used to combat w/ multiple foes now. With a no powers run, it's especially hard to avoid damage sometimes, but always keep in mind that you don't need to remain engaged in a fight. Have an escape route just in case, and when some of the enemies follow you, try to get around them for an ambush, or pick them off from afar with your pistol or crossbow.

Take a look at what StealthGamerBR was able to do on the first mission: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFd8-CHwxVQ
Running and sliding underneath slashes, parrying, using his surroundings to his advantage, etc. It takes a lot of practice, of course, but you'll continue to get better as you develop a combat style that suits you.

Personally, if I see someone drawing their pistol in the distance while I'm in a closer fight with some others, I try putting distance between myself and the swordsmen, quickly drawing my own pistol or crossbow, then hitting the gunman and turning back to parry the guards who are closer to me. Or you can just parry/block everything, as Furdi pointed out. You can also just keep running after hitting a gunman if you don't feel safe in the combat situation. All up to you.

[Shelt]

Woah he's really good. He's like a trick shot artist.

The combat is highly entertaining and sometimes so random it makes me laugh out loud. Last night I was fighting with a guard, grabbed him in a choke, shoved him at another guard, he stumbled forward and into a window, broke it, fell out, and landed on another person below. I donkey laughed like a lunatic.

I love this game, more than any other I've bought recently. The level where you get the time piece is pure genius.

[Dizzy Cat]

Pistol & sword combo is the way to go, for most group scenarios. Also, remember you can do a "charged/focus" attack with the sword. Hold down the key/button to slash and your character will do a forward hard(er) thrust.