Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered Complete Guide (62 Sections) | AntMag

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Welcome to Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, the definitive version of Koei Tecmo's classic hack-and-slash action game. Step into the sandals of legendary warriors from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era and carve your path through massive battlefields. Master devastating combos, unleash powerful Musou attacks, and lead your chosen officers to victory in epic clashes against thousands of enemy soldiers. Whether you're fighting for the Yellow Turban Rebellion or defending the Han Dynasty, every battle is a chaotic dance of steel and strategy.

This guide is your essential companion for conquering every challenge this remastered epic throws your way. We'll help you navigate the treacherous paths to all the game's endings, ensure you secure every collectible item scattered across the vast maps, and provide strategies for overcoming the toughest boss encounters, including the formidable Lu Bu. Get ready to experience Dynasty Warriors 3 like never before!

Part 1

This guide is intended to be a comprehensive resource for Dynasty Warriors 3 and its expansion pack, Xtreme Legends. It covers characters, items, weapons, strategies, and more. Contributions are welcome and will be credited. Special thanks are extended to Muni Shinobu, the GameFAQ's DW3 board community, Dynasty Warriors 3 Essence, Kongming's site, and Koei for creating the game.

Important Note: Please read the FAQ thoroughly before emailing questions, as most information, especially regarding fourth weapons, is already included. Emails with questions covered in the FAQ will be ignored. For help beyond this guide, consult the GameFAQ's message board. Ensure emails are understandable.

Disclaimer: This document is copyrighted by Z-Force. Feel free to use it on your website, but do not sell it or use it for profit. Please email Z-Force to request permission and be added to the list of sites using the FAQ.

Version History:

Version 0.1 (1-2-2002): First version, all content included.
Version 0.2 (1-4-2002): Added general info, officer details, the Super Sneaky Officer Killing Trick, special item acquisition, basics section, codes and tricks, and contributors/resources.
Version 0.3 (1-7-2002): Included missing item info, more general details, the secret ending, and began stage strategies, including a comprehensive guide for He Fei to unlock Sun Quan.
Version 0.4 (1-8-2002): Added strategies for more stages, Cao Cao and Zhang He's fourth weapons, and more officer information. General tips for obtaining fourth weapons were also added.
Version 0.5 (1-9-2002): More stage strategies, officer info, and fourth weapon strategies for Zhou Yu, Zhuge Liang, and Sun Jian. Included stage information based on Mashu's FAQ, how to get the Art of War item, and US version cheat codes.
Version 0.6 (1-10-2002): Added extensive information on character attacks and strategies for several stages.
Version 0.7 (1-11-2002): Included stage strategies, officer information for specific characters, how to get Lu Xun and Liu Bei's fourth weapons, another DW3 website to resources, and information on horses and the scoring system.
Version 0.8 (1-13-2002): Added significant stage strategy and officer information. Descriptions for obtaining Red special items were completed.
Version 0.85 (1-14-2002): Added more officer info and stage strategy. Most stage strategies are complete, with some variations noted. Added a couple of fourth weapon strategies and a complete weapon list, though base stats and users for many weapons are missing, with a request for contributions.
Version 0.87 (1-15-2002): Included more information on generals' attacks and stage strategy.
Version 0.9 (1-16-2002): Finished the list of moves for each officer. Added more stage strategies and a list of planned future updates.
Version 0.92 (1-17-2002): Completed stage strategies and the process for obtaining fourth weapons for each character.
Version 0.94 (1-18-2002): Added snack and wine locations for each stage, sourced from DW3 Essence, and included in each stage's strategy. Added physical descriptions.

Part 2

Walkthrough

1
Version 0.96 (1-19-2002): Added a dedicated section for obtaining fourth weapons, consolidating information previously found within individual character sections. Overall assessments for some officers were also included.
2
Version 0.97 (1-20-2002): Introduced a "Newbie Questions" section to address common inquiries from the GameFAQs board. Crowd tactics and officer tactics were added to the basics section. A list of combos for unleashing elemental attacks was added to the fourth weapon section. Character rankings, including a top 10 and a section for beginner-friendly characters, were started. A strategy for the Fan Castle stage using Guan Yu was added.
3
Version 0.98 (2-9-2002): Incorporated strategies, tips, and submissions from other players throughout the FAQ.
4
Version 0.985 (3-11-2002): Included reader-submitted information and an addition to the disclaimer. A comparison chart between Dynasty Warriors 3 and State of Emergency was added for amusement. Morale was added to the basics section.
5
Version 0.99 (3-18-2002): Added weapon statistics for all weapons except the Staff of Wind. More character assessments and miscellaneous information were included.
6
Version 1.0 (3-23-2002): Completed the weapons section. Favorite quotes were added for each character. Strategies for the three Musou-only stages were added to the stage strategy section. A combos section was added to the basics section. Various bits of information were added to the walkthroughs.
7
Version 1.01 (3-24-2002): Added instructions on how to obtain snacks and wines for the three Musou-only stages. More character assessments were added, and general touch-ups were made.
8
Version 1.1 (3-29-2002): Finished adding character assessments and implemented "real" character rankings. Assorted corrections were made throughout the FAQ.
9
Version 1.2 (3-31-2002): Provided more detailed strategies for acquiring certain fourth weapons. Minor additions were made.
10
Version 1.3 (5-24-2002): A benefits section was added to the fourth weapon strategy section, detailing the advantages of obtaining a character's specific fourth weapon. Reader corrections and information were incorporated. Character rankings were revised.
11
Version 1.4 (6-25-2002): Minor additions submitted by readers were included.
12
Version 1.5 (8-2-2002): More assorted content from readers was added. Information on "Fierce Warriors," the upcoming special edition of Dynasty Warriors 3, was included.
13
Version 1.6 (8-27-2002): Additional reader-submitted information was incorporated.
14
Version 2.0 (1-14-2003): Information on each character's running attacks was added (some are still missing). Advanced strategies for most characters were included. Miscellaneous content was added throughout the FAQ. A preliminary section for the Dynasty Warriors 3 expansion, Xtreme Legends, was started.
15
Version 2.1 (1-15-2003): With the release of Xtreme Legends, a dedicated section was started, including stage strategies, information on new challenge modes, and general details.
16
Version 2.2 (1-16-2003): More stage strategies were added. The first method for obtaining a fifth weapon (for Cao Cao) was included. General updates were made.
17
Version 2.3 (1-17-2003): Additional stage strategies were added. Instructions for obtaining Zhen Ji's fifth weapon were included.
18
Version 2.4 (1-18-2003): Methods for finding the remaining fifth weapons were filled in. Specific strategies for obtaining them will follow once the author has acquired them. Numerous miscellaneous additions from contributors were included. More stage strategy was added.
19
Version 2.5 (1-22-2003): More stage strategies were added. Tips for "Combo Mania" were included. Information on obtaining another item was added. Some fifth weapon statistics were included.
20
Version 2.6 (1-24-2003): More stage strategies, fifth weapon statistics, and another new item were added. More challenge mode tips were included.
21
Version 2.7 (1-26-2003): More stage strategies, fifth weapon statistics, and another item were added. Several broken links on the resources page were removed. All fifth weapon statistics were completed.
22
Version 2.8 (1-31-2003): More stage strategies and various reader contributions were added.
23
Version 2.9 (3-3-2003): Stage strategies were completed. Additional information, including the remaining advanced character strategies, was added. The next version is anticipated to be the final update, containing all remaining reader contributions.
24
Final Version (6-10-2003): All remaining reader contributions were added. This marks the final update to the FAQ.

Places to get this FAQ:

www.gamefaqs.com
www.kongming.net

NEWBIE QUESTIONS

This section addresses frequently asked questions seen on the GameFAQs board.

Q: Should I buy this game?

A:

Part 3

Where are the elephants?

Elephants only appear in the Nanman Campaign stage. This is the only location where you can find them.

How do I get a fourth weapon or special item?

Fourth weapons are listed in each character's section of the FAQ, and there is also a dedicated section for them. Special items are detailed in the items section. Crucially, MAKE SURE YOU ARE PLAYING ON HARD MODE for fourth weapons. If you are attempting to acquire 5th weapons in Xtreme Legends, ensure you are playing on VERY HARD MODE.

How do I get the Wind Scroll or Elixir/Alive Pill?

These items are rarer than other stat-boosting items. Keep playing; a Wind Scroll may appear relatively easily, but an Elixir might take at least 50 hours of gameplay. For a specific method: In the Battle at You Ting (228 AD) on HARD MODE, collect all possible items from officers and boxes. Before defeating the final general (Sima Yi), QUIT GAME (without saving if you don't want to lose progress). Reload the game, defeat the boss, and check your items. If you don't get the desired item, reload and try again. Playing on Hard mode and using the 'better version trick' below increases your chances of obtaining rare items.

How do I get better versions of items?

Play the game on hard. Later levels also offer better item potential. To improve your chances of getting better items and weapons, finish off item-dropping enemies with large combos.

What does luck do?

Luck appears to increase the drop rate of items like meatbuns and axes. Some also believe it improves your chances of obtaining more powerful weapons and items. According to Anime Japan, it also increases the size of dropped arrows and buns. The Xtreme Legends Manual states that Luck increases the chances of good items being dropped by enemies, though it's unclear if this refers to mundane items or weapons and items.

How do I unlock sides with no playable characters, like Liu Biao?

While it's not explicitly known which characters unlock these sides, you can use a specific code (listed in the codes section of the full FAQ) to unlock them. Beating the game with certain characters likely unlocks these sides, but this is not confirmed.

Can I use Lu Bu in Musou Mode?

No, Lu Bu and other unaligned characters (Dong Zhuo, Diao Chan, Fu Xi, Nu Wa, Zhang Jiao, Yuan Shao, Zhu Rong, Meng Huo) cannot be used in Musou Mode. They can only be used in Free Mode. This restriction does not apply if you are playing Xtreme Legends.

Why aren't my character select screen bars maxed out on the mission screen?

The bars on the character select screen indicate the highest level a character can reach through power-up collection. On the mission screen, these bars can be further increased by equipping items and weapons. Most characters cannot max out these bars on the mission screen; Lu Bu might be an exception.

How do I get second and third weapons?

Second and third weapons are found in weapon boxes dropped by officers.

How do I unlock Sun Quan or other characters?

For Sun Quan, check the stage strategies section under He Fei for a detailed explanation. For other characters, consult the character profiles, which list their unlock conditions.

The Basics

Before engaging in combat, it is essential to learn how your character fights. Practice their moves and get a feel for their unique style. Characters using similar weapons may have comparable fighting styles, but even they...

Part 4

This section details the various combat mechanics in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, focusing on attack properties, special moves, and defensive strategies.

Walkthrough

1
Gate Guards: Always prioritize taking out gate guards. If left unchecked, they will continuously spawn enemies, overwhelming you, especially near bosses.

Attack Properties:

When fighting on foot, you have several basic attacks, with execution varying by character:

Combo Attack (S rapidly): A series of rapid attacks. Better weapons increase hit count. Can be ended with special attacks.
Attack 1 (T): A wide-reaching attack effective against groups. It's slow but can break enemy guards.
Attack 2 (S, T) - Juggle Attack: Knocks enemies into the air, allowing for follow-up combos.
Attack 3 (S, S, T) - Dizzy Attack: Dizzies enemies, making them vulnerable to further attacks. Effectiveness varies by character.
Attack 4 (S, S, S, T) - Knockback Attack: Pushes enemies away, often with good range, useful for clearing paths.
Attack 5 (S, S, S, S, T) - High Juggle Move: Available with the second weapon. Launches enemies high into the air, enabling extended combos or infinite combos by following up with repeated T presses.
Attack 6 (S, S, S, S, S, T) - Special Attack: Varies greatly by character. Some characters can extend this with further T presses.

Bow Attacks:

Hold R1 to enter bow mode:

S: Fire a standard arrow.
T: Fire a stunning arrow.
Circle: Rapid fire arrow assault.
L1: Move while aiming (strafing).

Bow attacks are crucial in many situations. Huang Zhong and Xiahou Yuan are noted as the best bow fighters.

Mounted Attacks:

Horses are primarily for faster travel but allow for attacks:

S: A left-to-right weapon swing, good for keeping enemies at bay.
T: A charge attack to both sides.
Circle: Activates a Musou attack, swinging the weapon on both sides.

Elephant Attacks:

Exclusive to the Nanman stage, elephants are slow but powerful:

S: Swing your trunk to hit enemies in front. Can also break wooden barriers.
T: A powerful stomping attack that dizzies enemies and can knock others off their elephants.
Circle: Activates Musou, a forward rushing attack to trample enemies.

Defensive Tactics:

L1: Block enemy attacks. Holding block too long can break your guard unless you have the Buckler.
Tapping S while blocking: Pushes enemies back slightly, creating distance.
Blocking Limitations: Ineffective against arrows and attacks from behind in large crowds.
Recovery: When knocked down, tap L1 at the right moment for a fast recovery. Hitting S while springing up performs a jumping attack. Recovering mid-air is possible with precise L1 timing, especially useful after being launched by an elephant.

Morale:

Maintaining high army morale improves their combat effectiveness. Morale is indicated by a bar in the upper left, showing the battle's tide.

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