For Honor is one of the most complex multiplayer games to be released in the last few years, meshing aspects of MOBAs, action RPGs and even loot games to create something that seems to be quite popular with fans of several different genres. But it sports an unusually steep learning curve, made even more apparent by the experience gap between alpha/beta players and those who had to wait until launch, leaving many For Honor fans unsure of what to do next.
It’s impossible to know how the game’s meta will evolve over the next few weeks -- maybe even the next few days -- and even the best performance can’t guarantee victory in some For Honor’s multiplayer mods. But we’ve got some For Honor tips and tricks that should at least help anyone who’d just like to finish a few matches with more kills than deaths. We’ll also continue to update this post, as we become more familiar with the game, and encourage fellow For Honor players to share their tips (basic or advanced) down in the comments section.
Always Use A Gamepad
Look, we know the common wisdom is that the precision of a mouse and keyboard is always preferable to a twin-stick gamepad. But For Honor is an exception to that rule. Changing stances feels infinitely better when mapped to the right analog stick, as opposed to the Ctrl + Mouse combination on mouse and keyboard, and switching to a DualShock 4 had an immediate impact on our performance. If you’re playing the PC build, or bought one of those console adapters made popular by Overwatch, we’d suggest switching to the DS4 (or an Xbox One controller) the next time you play. You can always go back if you don’t like it.
Finish Both Sets Of Tutorials
It may not sound exciting but new players really should set aside enough time to complete both the basic and advanced tutorials built by the For Honor team. If you still want more information, watch the tutorial videos for your preferred hero(s) and any classes you struggle against. Each will give you a better understanding of how the For Honor team expects heroes to be played (and countered). Ubisoft gave players all the tools to succeed, at least while the For Honor multiplayer is still relatively new. You just need to use them.
Learn The Movesets
Everyone who plays fighting games with any regularity knows someone who can occasionally button mash their way to a short win streak. That isn’t the case in For Honor . You might get a kill or two, especially in 2v1 or 3v1 scenarios, but you’re unlikely to find much long-term success without learning the movesets. And you’re basically dead on arrival in Duel mode. Even if it means hanging out in the AI modes for a bit, make sure you’re familiar with the full moveset for your favorite hero before spending much time online.
Stick With Your Allies
There is strength in numbers, especially when those numbers begin to pile up for (or against) you. This tip obviously isn’t going to help you in Duel mode. But players struggling to get a grasp of For Honor ’s combat mechanics might want to stick close to their allies during Elimination and Dominion matches. It doesn’t guarantee you’ll do any better. But stronger players might be able to close up gaps in your performance. Just don’t get crazy with your attacks. Friendly fire can have an immediate and devastating impact on your side’s ability to fend off an attack.
Learn To Feint And Parry
Feinting isn’t technically an official command in For Honor . It’s a combination of a heavy attack and a cancellation, which most (but not all) of the game’s characters can perform. Feints drain a bit of stamina but they also allow players to chain directly into a light or heavy attack from a different angle. Learning to bait a parry from one direction and attack another can be the difference-maker against reactive opponents.
Parrying is similarly important, and similarly complicated, but pretty much a necessity if you’re hoping to remain competitive. To parry, launch a heavy attack just before an incoming heavy is going to strike your character. If performed properly, you’ll stagger your opponent and sap a fair amount of stamina. If the attacker is exhausted, he’ll be knocked to the ground; the For Honor equivalent of being served a free kill on a silver platter. If not … well, things might go pretty rough for you.
Use Your Skills
It didn’t even take an hour for me to lose count of all the For Honor players I’ve encountered who don’t remember to use their hero’s skills. These abilities can really shift the outcome of a fight, if used properly, and can even decide whether or not your team claims victory that round. Keep an eye on your cooldowns throughout the round and try to think about how each might benefit you in the moment. If you know your team is about to push a specific point in Dominion, don’t burn Kensei’s local attack buff in a one on one fight against an opposing hero. And no one, except for the other team, ever got mad at a triple kill on a properly-timed Shugoki revenge.
Learn The Unblockable Attacks
There are quite a few unblockable attacks spread among the For Honor roster. Learning which heroes can perform these techniques, and how to spot them quickly, will be key to your long term success. In the interim, keep an eye out for the flaming attack indicator that appears when heroes are preparing to launch such attacks. It’s also good to remember that dodging isn’t your only viable response to such techniques. They can also be parried.
Avoid Crowded Bridges And Ledges
If you haven’t been thrown to your death yet, there’s a good chance you’ve seen it happen to a less fortunate For Honor player. The simplest way to guarantee it doesn’t happen frequently is to avoid relatively tiny sections of the map. Obviously, you can’t avoid those features entirely, particularly in multiplayer Elimination or Dominion. But if you see people fighting near a bridge, think twice before trying to cross it. There’s at least a small chance an opposing warrior will disengage and try to get the easy kill by tossing you over the edge. There’s a much better chance that one of their teammates also saw the fight and will have a much easier time catching/killing you. And there aren’t many spots on the existing multiplayer maps with a single entrance/exit, so you should still be able to find a safe route to your destination.
Fight The Bots
For Honor is a game with a steep learning curve. It’s also the sort of game that in which many players feel like a warm-up match or two can be immensely beneficial. Make ample use of the game’s practice offerings. Play a few rounds of Dominion against teams of bots to figure out good routes between zones. Fire up a custom game, set it to 99 rounds, and duel a hero you struggle against for however long it takes to get comfortable. You can even turn up the bots’ combat prowess, as your own skills improve, so that such practice remains valuable for more than a few days or weeks (depending on your habits).
Experiment With Other Heroes
People tend to pick a “main” in any game with an expansive roster but familiarizing yourself with the rest of the any game’s playable characters is a vital part of staying competitive. For Honor is no different. Spend plenty of time with the hero(s) you’re most drawn to but don’t forget to spend a few hours learning the rest of the For Honor roster. It’s much harder to be caught off guard by an opponent if you have some idea of what each hero is capable of.
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For Honor is currently available on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Be sure to check back with iDigitalTimes and follow Scott on Twitter for more For Honor news in 2017 and however long Ubisoft supports For Honor in hte years ahead.
