The online multiplayer game Chivalry 2 has brought back a style of gameplay not often seen in competitive games: hand-to-hand deathmatch-style fighting in a medieval setting. There has been a growing trend of medieval fighting games in recent years, with games such as Mordhau and For Honor. Now, after a decade, the original is back.
While nobody can expect to be the best player right off the bat, picking up a few Chivalry 2 tips always helps to bump up those rookie numbers a bit. Fighting effectively in Chivalry 2 essentially comes down to two things: positioning and timing. These two things influence the majority of decisions players make in combat, and most Chivalry 2 tips revolve around being better at these two things.
Updated May 11, 2023 by Erik Petrovich: Chivalry 2 has been out for a little while now, and the game's unique combat still feels as fresh as its predecessor did all those years ago. Plenty of players have figured out how to play Chivalry 2, but too many get overly confident in their skills and accidentally sabotage their team with rash mistakes. Take time, look for openings, but don't be afraid to retreat – even just a little bit of space can make all the difference. This guide has been updated to more clearly explain some of the game's mechanics, as well as to explain why running away isn't always the worst Chivalry 2 strategy.
16 When Up Against Overwhelming Odds, Retreat!
Chivalry 2 is all about getting into the heat of combat and tearing through enemies before they can kill you. But oftentimes, getting into the fray isn't as good a choice as retreating. When the player rounds a corner and comes face-to-face with a veritable squad of enemy knights, it's a terrible idea to lunge for the attack first.
This may seem like obvious advice, but video games have a way of encouraging bold – and oftentimes blatantly stupid – decisions in the heat of the moment. Trust your gut, don't engage enemy groups, and don't go charging in after losing a bunch of health. It's easy to get overwhelmed in Chivalry 2 if each side's numbers aren't practically equal in number and skill, so sometimes it makes more sense to retreat. It creates distance between the attacker and player, if nothing else, and offers a chance to regroup with a stronger force and strike back.
15 Try Fancy Footwork To Conserve Stamina
One of the most common mistakes that players new to Chivalry 2 make is blocking too much, and, on the other hand, swinging their sword too much. If the player blocks every attack that comes their way, eventually their stamina will completely run out, which can quickly make them vulnerable to a strong enemy follow up. If the player attacks too much, swinging wildly with reckless abandon, enemies will anticipate their aggressive behavior and quickly find ways to get through the flurry.
Swinging too much gets rid of stamina too, so what is the player supposed to do in combat if they can't attack or block? Instead of using actions that cost a lot of stamina, try simply moving around the opponent's swings as a defensive strategy. Not only does this conserve stamina, but simply walking backward to avoid a hit gives you time to strike back, and most weapons have a shorter reach than one might think.
14 Mix Heavy And Light Attacks
When it comes to how to get good at Chivalry 2, being unpredictable is the first thing players should learn. Attacking with the same animation over and over again makes it really easy for enemies to anticipate how the player will swing and devise a way to respond. Instead, keep them on their toes by mixing Light attacks with Heavy attacks.
Players should also be switching their angle of attack regularly with melee weapons so enemies have a harder time figuring out which side to defend. The best Chivalry 2 players are wild and unpredictable whirlwinds of blades - never do the same thing twice, and enemies will have a harder time anticipating the player's movements and actions.
13 Play In Third-Person Perspective
Chivalry 2 offers players two perspectives when it comes to controlling their character – the typical first-person perspective, and a third-person perspective that also grants a wider field of view. Although the first-person perspective might feel more immersive, playing in third-person gives a player more information about their surroundings and can help with melee combat.
The normal binding for third-person perspective is the Select button on Xbox controllers, the Touchpad for PlayStation controllers, and the P key on PC, though this binding can be rebound on PC.
One thing to remember, though, is that not every server allows third-person play as it can give players huge advantages over those in first-person. In fact, most servers don't enable it, but nevertheless it is a much more melee-oriented perspective that can come in handy in fights it's allowed in.
12 Practice Crouch and Jump Dodging
Crouch-dodging is one of those Chivalry 2 advanced tips that can mean the difference between beheading the enemy or being the one waiting to respawn. When an enemy strikes with a high horizontal attack, instead of spending time getting out of the way or blocking it, players can just crouch in place and watch the blade whir above them.
This only works against enemies who have swung particularly high. The opposite maneuver, jumping over an enemy's low swing, is effective too, though it does slow down the player's movement and momentum for a sec, and equally only works against enemies who have swung particularly low.
11 Stick With Your Team Upon Respawning
Chivalry 2 is different from many online team-based fighters for a lot of reasons. One of the best mechanics unique to the series is that players don't respawn individually. Instead, teams respawn in waves. This helps to avoid the "meat grinder" effect of many team-based deathmatch games, when a losing team continues to get beaten down as players never get a real chance to recoup and amass a counter-strike.
However, it's still very tempting to leave the group and go off on one's own, perhaps hoping to catch a foe out on their own as well or get behind the unaware enemy team. In most situations, it's best to stick with the newly reformed group as more numbers can help to get the team back on the right footing.
10 Stab Or Overhead Strike When Allies Are Close
It is possible (and common) to damage teammates in Chivalry 2, unless the server has specifically disallowed it. Because of this, swinging wildly in a close-quarters team brawl is a terrible idea. Opt for an overhead swing or a jab instead, as the vertical nature of the attack lessens the chance of the player catching a teammate on accident.
This is especially true for classes with long-reaching weapons. A side swing with a Halberd can easily take out an unsuspecting ally Archer just a few feet to the side, even out of view, so be sure to use caution when wielding long-range weapons – especially when near squishy allies like Archers and Footmen.
9 Timing Blocks Is Better Than Constantly Blocking...
Blocking in Chivalry 2 takes up a small amount of stamina over the course of the block. If a player is forced to face off against a number of enemies all at once, there might not be any other option. But against a single opponent, it's best to conserve as much stamina as possible.
While players still take a little bit of damage from blocking in most situations, it's better to play defensively when faced with an overwhelming force. It might feel scary at first, but with enough practice, any player can manage to perfectly block attacks and keep up their rebuttals with ease.
8 ...But Ripostes Are Better Than Blocks
While players receive less damage on a regular block, a riposte will open up the enemy for a counterattack. Ripostes are accomplished by perfectly blocking an incoming attack, which sets the attacker off-balance for just a second and grants a fraction of a second of immunity to other attacks.
This is the perfect time for players to come in with their primary weapon for the follow-up, and it's especially useful against multiple foes – the moment of invulnerability a riposte grants can be just enough to avoid death and take down the target. Just be sure to practice the timing, as this is one of those Chivalry 2 tips and tricks that can be difficult to master.
7 Whirlwinding Isn't Effective In Chivalry 2
Whirlwind attacks in the original Chivalry were a blight on the multiplayer scene. It was incredibly easy to cover every direction at once by rapidly turning the mouse. Additionally, the method could also be used to swing from unforeseeable angles.
While it was effective in the first game, it's not an effective Chivalry 2 strategy, though it is still technically doable in a certain sense. Players can no longer turn into a blur of pixels swinging wildly in all directions, but they can still use quick, rapid movements to confuse enemies.