Combat Training II Walkthrough

Defeat Tomcat in a Duel: This isn't just a sparring match; you'll be going at it with actual weapons and armor. Think of it as a gear and skill check. Tomcat isn't the toughest opponent out there – I managed to take him down with just a couple of solid hits to his exposed areas, or a couple of partially blocked combos. That said, I'd been doing a lot of running around and had way better stats and gear than you probably do right after escaping the pillory. If you're struggling, remember to focus on dodging and looking for openings.

Learn Masterstrike: Once you've defeated Tomcat, the training session begins. He'll first show you how to perform a Masterstrike by attacking from his right. Pay close attention! Then, it's your turn. The core idea of a Masterstrike is simple: keep your weapon in the opposite position of your opponent's, wait for them to attack, and instead of just blocking when you see that green shield icon, you strike! It's a bit risky because you leave yourself open if you miss, giving your opponent a clear shot at you from the opposite side of your guard. But, if you time it right, you'll land a powerful counter-attack that deals massive damage. In the Trosky region, this move alone can win you fights. Later on, though, enemies get trickier and start feinting more, so the Masterstrike becomes more of a tool in your arsenal rather than your sole winning tactic.

Practice Masterstrike: First, you'll need to nail Tomcat's Masterstrike training. He'll attack from above, then from the right, and finally from the left. Focus on countering each of these. After that, it's freeform training. Tomcat won't tell you which direction he's striking from, so you'll need to watch his weapon, position yours opposite, and execute a Masterstrike when he attacks. You need to successfully pull this off three times.

Final Lessons: Once you've mastered the Masterstrike, Tomcat will give you some final advice before heading off. You can still talk to him if you want more practice, and he's a great trainer for Swordsmanship, Heavy Weapons, Polearms, and Unarmed combat (he's an Apprentice trainer for Unarmed, but basic for the others). He can also teach you those three techniques from Combat Training I: Knee Strike (Sword), Shield Deflect (Shield), and Hammer (Unarmed), but remember, both skill and technique training cost Gold.