Peacekeeper Guide [outdated]

This is Peacekeeper guide for Season 2 with all the stuff you need to know.

Introduction

Here you can learn how to play a Peacekeeper (P.K.) and For Honor in general in several steps.

• Common game mechanics. (basic stuff needed to understand stuff)
  
• P.K. general mechanics. (defense type and dashes)
  
• In-depth Moveset. (all the attacks)
  
• Advanced mechanics. (stuff you can do with attacks and movement)
  
• Game plan. (What you should do in a fight i general)
  
• Matchups. (not finished)

Common game mechanics

First, short vocabulary that we will be using here (idk if it is nececary but I started doing it and I might as well use it):
Light attack
Heavy attack
Guard break
Directions of movement (we do not need attack directions in this guide)
Dash
Feint
Press both buttons simultaniously
Press one button and next in very rapid sucsession (100~200 milliseconds) "piano roll buttons"
press next button when previous attack hit the target
separator between actions "do this >(then) do this".
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Second: do not forget that you must play the game well in general. So this is what you must understand to implement your Peacekeeper tricks right.

1. For honor is very defensive game.

Reacting to the opponent and getting guaranteed punishes is better than spending the stamina yourself to open up somebody (and risk being punished). Game is very dumb in high level play when you either feint a lot to condition your opponent or just do nothing and wait.

1.1. Learn to break throws.

If you can't do it consistently you are as good as dead in this game. As simple as that.

Go into custom games and train against high level bot or your friend.

1.2. Learn to parry.

Well this is crucial. You must learn to parry LIGHT attacks. Heavy attacks usually feinted in high level play and if you are playing against turtling player this will be your only chance to deal damage.

Go into custom games and train against high level bot or your friend.

2. Know your opponent.

Most crushing defeats will come from the opponents that mastered their character mechanics and you just panicked and done wrong actions at the wrong time.

I will be making matchup section in this Guide but it takes so much time...

3. Learn to feint.

You will need this to open up your opponents. Beware of feinting against the aggressive opponents.

P.K. general mechanics

As character P.K. Has some semi-unique mechanics that you should know and use.

Defense:Reflex

P.K.'s Guard stance is not permanent. After few seconds it will return into the neutral so you need to reactivate it manualy (by moving your mouse or stick on controller).

Downside: you cannot just rest your guard on a most advantageous position. And you can get hit if you forget to renew it during long stand-off.
Advantage: When your guard is down there is no way to predict the side of attack by looking at your guard stance (it is mostly just adding mental pressure.)

Dodging and deflecting

You are an assasin with cool dodges that can avoid or deflect attacks.

• You need to dodge an attack in same direction (left=left, right=right top=forward).
  
• Dodging and attack in wrong direction may result in either in avoiding the aera of attack completely or getting hit because some attacks have tracking. So do it correctly.
  
• Dodging attacks that incorporate movement OR made from a maximum distance may result in missing the punish (and getting punished yourself).
  
• If you dodge an attack (in same direction) with the parry timing DEFLECTION will happen (problem is that PK has garbage deflect attack so forget about that for now).

 Train against bots in a cusom duel to get comfortable with the mechanic or specific characters!

Indepth Moveset

Light attack

Peacekeeper's light attacks are actually nothing special. 500 ms startup is common and 17 damage is also common for assassins.

DIRECTION	DAMAGE	SPEED (ms)	CHIP DMG
ANY	17	500	0

• Cannot be feinted.
  
• Cannot be chained into other stuff if blocked.
  
• Can be soft canceled into AoE attack.

Heavy attacks.

Your standard feinting tool. You wont be using it much without feinting, soft canceling or for parrying if opponent is any good.

DIRECTION	DAMAGE	SPEED (ms)	CHIP DMG
ANY	33	800	2

• Can be feinted.
  
• Can be chained if blocked.
  
• Can be soft canceled into throw, "Deep Gouge" or dash.

Basic chains

Your Light chain starters work as a test of opponent's reaction. After 1 or 2 Light attacks you go for the Heavy feint into throw \ light attack or even just a heavy attack. You also can start a chain with a Heavy attack and feint next one to bait a parry attempt.

NAME	INPUT
Twisting Blade
Dervish Strikes
Sword Dance

• You cannot soft cancel 2nd and 3rd Heavy attacks in a chain.
  
• 2nd and 3rd attacks deal less damage (17 =>15, 33 =>30).

AoE attack

This attack have 2 parts: fast light attack with tracking and slow heavy attack. Both will come out from YOUR left. Second attack can and always MUST be feinted against player characters.

DIRECTION	DAMAGE	SPEED (ms)	CHIP DMG
ALWAYS LEFT SIDE	20,20	400, ~800?	1, 1

• First attack have Light properties, second have heavy properties.
  
• Both attacks will came from your left side.

Deep Gouge

Basically you need to press Light attack right after Heavy attack hits the target (should not be blocked). Any heavy attack will do: basic, dashing or in chain.

DIRECTION	DAMAGE	SPEED (ms)	CHIP DMG
SAME SIDE as H	15 bleed	unblockable	0?

Dashing Thrust and Sidestep Strike

As an assassin you can dash around like a loon. Heavy attack during dash is a good counter-attack move but you will be punished if its blocked.

DIRECTION	DAMAGE	SPEED (ms)	CHIP DMG
TOP	20	?	1
SIDE	15	?	1

• Heavy attack should be pressed during the 1st half of dash animation (watch the head).

Riposting stuff

You can riposte the attack if you dash in it's direction with same timing as parry. Game will play special animation for you and you can do special riposte attack (that sucks) and some other actions (that sucks too). So don't go for the riposte (in some matchups it's even a lose\lose situation).

NAME	INPUT	DAMAGE	INFO
Riposting Stab		15 bleed	unblockable attack that have very fast recovery
Guard break		check guard break section	It is untechable only against heavy or slow attacks

Guard break

You can do a guard break in "locked on opponent" state, "free movement" state and while running. In "free movement" state Guard break has increased range. It has even more range and tracking while running.
• After a sucsessful guardbreak you can do 2 things: stab or toss the opponent (or do a empty Deep Gouge if you are rеtardеd).
  
• You can make up to 3 stabs. by pressing Light attack. Light attacks for 2nd and 3rd stabs must be pressed when P.K. pulls out the dagger from the victim. So if you somehow messing stabs: try do it slower.
  
• You can toss the opponent after the guardbreak or 1st and 2nd stabs by pressing Guard break button again (with direction). Nobody do it after the 1st stab unless you saw another enemy gank.

INPUT	DAMAGE	REASON TO DO
	toss	Environmental kill.
.	2 +8 bleed, toss	???
. .	2 +8 bleed, 2 +8 bleed, toss	wallslam into more damage
. .	2 +8 bleed, 2 +8 bleed, 2 +16 bleed	no walls around

Advanced mechanics

Soft canceling

Input: During a Startup of the basic Heavy (~150 MS) or Light attack (~150 MS) you do another action.
Result: Stamina is drained for the attack you soft canceled, animation and attack indicator is shown for up to ~150 MS and then your attack is canceled into another action.

Why use it: To confuse the opponent.

Things that can be Soft canceled:

Refresh Guide if GIFS are weirdly placed. IDK why it happens. I tried everything.
Heavy into Deep Gouge
Basically 40% of your stamina for nothing. You gain some range but attack is still can be blocked, parried or riposted and comes from the same side as the original attack. To add a cherry on this sh|t cake: Left side Heavy into Deep Gouge is slower for some dumb reason.



Heavy into Guard break
You should almost always soft cancel Guard break to confuse your opponent.







Heavy into Dash
Specific soft cancel to punish parry attempts.








Light into AoE
Input window: 100 ms. Worst mixup AoE in game.

FUN FACT: everybody else can do this. With input window increased to 200 ms and  animation reduced by 100 ms. So Warden and Orochi have better mixup because they can show you 200 ms Light attack and then go for 200 ms AoE.

Parry option select

Input: if you want to parry an attack you should press both light and heavy attacks.
Result: if opponent feints AoE attack will come out instead of heavy attack. Aoe attack is faster and safer, but cost alot of stamina.

Riposte option select

Input: during a dash you should press both light and heavy attacks.
Result: if you riposte, Riposting Stab will come out, if not - Sidestep Strike. You do not need to do Light attack on reaction anymore.

Why use it: It removes any decision making and provides guaranteed result. But in some matchups you better do not do this (example: never riposte Berserker chains).

Gameplan: The general stuff

Peacekeeper uses her attacks to confuse the opponent and then deal damage.

Basic strategy:

From neutral position when both people just staring at each other an deciding what to do:
1. GO IN.
2. Open up the opponent with fancy stuff.
3. Deal the damage. Go for the throw or few slashes.
4. Get the hell out. Regenerate stamina.

If you getting pressured:
0. Obligatory "Know you opponent" rule. Some guys need to be just blocked and punished some require a dash or parry and some needed to be interrupted with an attack.
1. Use proper option. General rule: if a guy just starts his pressure - dash, if you just got eaten one or more attack - block and prepare to parry or dash out of next mixup.
2. Punish. If opponent is in panic and you have enough stamina repeat this step.
3. Get the hell out. Regenerate stamina.

If opponent wants to get the hell out:
1. Chase them with unlocked throw or "Slipping Lunge" (forward dash+heavy attack)

If you are in Revenge mode or opponent out of stamina:
1. Go in and for the guard break.
2. Deal damage.

Gameplan: How to open your opponent.

HOW TO "GO IN" AND "OPEN AN OPPONENT".

Direct ways:
1. Light attacks.
Their range is short and if they blocked you lose more than gain but it is what you have. You should make the best out of it:

• You need to be close light attacks require you to crawl to the opponent to start offense.
  
• Use one light attack instead of two if your opponent is good at blocking them.
  
• Check your stamina before you go for the wild chains with feints.

...and go to the beginning.

...and you do the throw combo if GB is successful.

...do it only on a rare occasion or in a group fights.

2. AOE into stuff.

• It has nice range it automatically counts as going in and opening up the opponent.
  
• It wastes tons of stamina.

... And go to chains.

...and you do the throw combo if GB is successful.

3. Soft cancel throw.

• It has some (not as much as AOE though) range it automatically counts as going in and opening up the opponent.

...and you do the throw combo if GB is successful.

4. Mediocre Mixups.
You bait the defensive reaction on your but go for the (with soft cancel) or even .
_______________________________________________________________________________
Indirect ways.
It is all about Heavy feints. You need to remember when you do a feint you need to watch the reaction of your opponent and not mashing next move!
NOTHING. Reaction bait. You bait opponent into action to parry or block.

... and then you start your Light chains. Better against dashing opponent you need to check where they gonna dash.

This is works like a parry punish attempt. Low skill players will panick and just try block it so whole thing is againsg either good or stupidly agressive plaiers. And again assasins may try to just dodge it.

...and you do the throw combo if GB is successful.

First video is about the general mechanic (and player misconceptions about feints) and second is one of the best videos on the subject of feints and parries. P.K.'s soft feint metioned about 8:20 (but the useful general information is in the 1st half of the video)

Gameplan: How to punish your opponent

HOW TO PUNISH STUFF AND DEAL DAMAGE

1. When P.K. parries any attack only distance between her and the opponent decides how she should punish: Guard break if opponent is close (light attacks up close heavy attacks), AoE if it is a Heavy attack form Nobushi, Valkirie, Lawbringer or Kensei.

1.1. AoE Punish: READ "AOE into stuff" ABOVE.

1.2. Guard break punish:
Without walls nearby:


With walls near or if you are in revenge mode or if opponent is out of stamina.


If you are in revenge mode or if opponent is out of stamina and he falls very close to you.
(both attack should be top. Look if Light attack connects then go for Heavy into Gouge, whenever Light attack misses (moves you forward) or connects (free dmg) do the the Heavy into Gouge. Full punish (Light AND Heavy hits) is super strong but happens very rarely, even more rare than Raider's Heavy into unblockable thingy.)

This video contains the stuff.

Matchups

WIP

WARDEN

CONQUEROR
Kudos to: Gasermann
0. He has the superior block so your Heavy attacks will be interrupted too. So more lights it is.
1. Do not get your back to the wall. His loops depend on it.
2. He can cancel his running unblockable into the blocking stance. So you sorta short on options to have a running engage with him because IF HE IS GOOD he'll win any option except "side dash into guardbreak".

PEACEKEEPER
1. Guard your right side if she close. Guard top if she far.
2. Bait side dashes with feints. Then punish.
3. Check if she throws after double lights or dashing attacks. If she does dont try to dash away.

JUDICATOR
0. He will play super defensively.
1. Guard TOP (his only poke), get ready to dash from his unblockable.
2. Learn to parry his top light attack and you have an upper hand.

CENTURION
0. Prepare for combo guardbreaks and learn to break them.

WARLORD
0. Never go for trades.

RAIDER
0. Beware top poke feints.
0. Beware if he unlocks and runs away. He wats to turn 180 degrees and grab you. (idk what to do with it right now but dash heavy might be an answer).

BERSERKER
0. Don't go for deflection. VS him it can work only from neutral and worse than parry or side stab.
1. His "up close" game is better, your "getting in" game is better. Stay away.
2. Bait his attempts to get in or side dash attacks.
3. Remember he has armor on chains and "get in" attacks.

VALKYRIE

KENSEI
0. Block dash attacks (do not parry them) then go for the GB.
1. Get ready for feint fest if he is good. Get ready for top lights (fastest attack) if he is bad.
2. If he doing AoE (especially unlocked): dash away, maybe punish (check in custom game how yourself) after he finish doing his twirls.

OROCHI
0. Learn to break throws.
1. Guard your TOP side get ready to switch to the RIGHT. Because his flicker is good.
2. Do not just rush for him if he dashes back for the attack. He will be punished if you block it but if he hits you it is a free top lights for him (and then a throw and top heavy and you're dead)

NOBUSHI
1. Your main parry punish is AoE. Do not throw.

SHINOBI

[Imjustatourist]

thanks for the guide, man.
Not maining PK but I prefer playing Assassins and I think alot of your advice transfers to the class in general!

[Nohead]

Sometimes you presented with a huge buckes of bu llsh it on the internet and you do not want to sort it out but you interested in what the heck is happening in this guy's mind.

* "it is different from X because it is not X" is not a valid argument. You either point the differences to make it less vague statement or go full "prove me wrong" and say "it is not X".
* It is not a rouge like in any sense. No random generation and no full game over here.
* The general gerne of fighing games is not described by juggles or fantasy settings. So your point is irrevelant. To prove anything you need to go and compare M-D-A's (gernes, Extra credits; do not like them but whatever).
* F.H. is not trying to be realistic. If you want to jump in this rabbit hole you may go straight to shadiversity, metatron or skallagrim and educate yourself on how F.H. have very little based in reality.

[Nohead]

Your whole post is either missing the point or wrong. At least you did not assume and generalise things about people just to do 180* after 1 post to climb on a high horse and ask to not do that about you. So here you go.
I will be away for some time. Feel free to take your time to make valid arguments and a good rebuttal, if you can.

[Vel]

the thing that seperates this game from fighting games, is its not a fighting game. its a fighting game roguelike, kind of. but it can be classified in its own genre if we wanted to go that far. you cant compare this game to fighters, as its not a fighter. you dont see mythical beasts or insane juggle combos, this game is supposed to be akin to realistic fighting styles. with characters and techniques based on real life mythology and lore.

[Nohead]

forks=mixups. I'm not native english speaker. So some terminology may look weird if I mention it from top of my head.

[Nohead]

Wow. I did not know that you get notifications here.
Listen Dan, I know that your point is "500 ms attacks are hard, pro players said that".
And I think you should understand my position too.
My position is: I play freaking fighting games where basically same forks (low\high\throw\crossup) can be delivered at much higher pase with startups of 100ms and less. So chill the heck out. "Professional players" in for Honor are as valuable as game's competitive scene when compared to other games (so basically their value is nonexistant now). Stop arguing about slow paced game that you can't handle. Go home and be a family man.

[Dan brDorman]

@Nohead

So we players are considered noobs even though we have quite alot of time spended on For Honor for disliking a hero that is deemed a braindead that very minimal afford is required to win every match easily? Not to mention PK is still at the top tier amongs the others,While heros like Shinobi or shugoki still being at the very bottom tier.

And this is coming from a guy who has less hours in game.

Please, Every Idiot can just play a PK and win a match just be constantly spamming lights,feints and that dreaded zone attack.

Replace idiot with A professional player and you are basically doomed unless lucky enough to guess all of player's tactics.

[Nohead]

The thing about noobstomping characters (but honestly is PK ever was such character after s1?) is that when you complain about them, you mostly expose yourself.

[Gaser]

@GrangerJoe @Vel @Dan brDorman

What ever you guys say. XD

What's next Conq op? :D

[Dan brDorman]

PK is still a hero for braindead players, Absolutely a disgusting one.