Every fight in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 can spell the end of Henry's journey, and if you want to make it out of each scuffle alive, you'll need to use every advantage available to you. One such advantage is a technique called the Master Strike, and it can easily turn the tide of battle in your favor if used correctly.
Learning the Master Strike can make swordfighting a lot easier, and it'll save you the trouble of having to reload a save in KCD 2 in case you end up dying. It's one of the best techniques Henry can learn when it comes to wielding a sword, and you'll want to know how to use it as soon as possible.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 - So Why Should I Trust You? Choice Guide (Easy Riders)
In the second main story mission of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Henry of Skalitz has to make a decision.
How to Unlock Master Strike in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Players can unlock the Master Strike technique as soon as they finish the Laboratores quest, which automatically begins after reaching Troskowitz. After Henry and Hans' fateful encounter with the local guardsmen and taverngoers, speak with Bara — she'll be calling you from near the guardhouse entrance. Talk to Bara until she mentions a man named Tomcat, who she claims to be a master of the sword.
Tomcat is with a group of Romani nomads west of Troskowitz, past the ridge behind Bozhena's hut. Speak with him to learn some basic swordfighting techniques. Once that's done, Tomcat will tell you that he'll teach you the Master Strike technique, but only if you beat him in a duel.
Beating Tomcat at this point of the gameis a lot easier said than done. He hits hard and fast, and you likely won't have enough stamina, health, or damage to beat him anyway. Losing to him during this duel will also leave you battered with very low health left. Come back later, or keep trying until you get his fighting pattern down.
If you insist on fighting him, try tiring Tomcat out by Perfect Blocking (without riposting) and using the sword combos he taught you prior to the duel.
How to Use Master Strikes
A Master Strike is an unblockable counter-attack that can only be executed with swords, both long and short, and it's one of the best combat techniques in KCD 2. To execute this technique, place your guard at the opposite side of your opponent's, then attack when the green shield icon appears. This will cause Henry to parry the enemy's incoming attack and immediately follow up with an unblockable move.
You can also follow up with a Master Strike directly after parrying an enemy with a Perfect Block. Always keep the position of your sword in mind before you attempt this — the Master Strike timing window is more or less the same as a Perfect Block, but you need to make sure that your sword is in the opposite direction of the enemy's weapon.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Released
- February 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Use of Alcohol, Blood and Gore, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Warhorse Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
- Engine
- CryEngine
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
- PC Release Date
- February 4, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 4, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- February 4, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Action-Adventure, Open-World
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
