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.
6 There Are No I-Frames In A Dodge
Dodging is essential to surviving insurmountable encounters in this game, and one of the best Chivalry 2 tips is to get used to its dodge system. It can let the player get a moment of relief before a second assault, and of course, lets players get out of the way of an incoming attack quickly. What it doesn't do, though, is completely prevent damage.
Invincibility Frames, like those seen in FromSoftware's well-known Dark Souls and Elden Ring roll dodges, prevent all damage for a fraction of a second during a dodge. Don't roll into opponents' attacks in Chivalry 2, though, unless your goal is to get skewered because these frames just don't exist.
Instead, treat dodging as a way to create space, whether that be getting away from an attack to make space or making space for strategic purposes, like flanking. To dodge in Chivalry 2, just press the direction you want to go and either the Space key on mouse and keyboard, X on PlayStation controllers, or A on Xbox controllers.
5 Try To Line Up Two Enemies In A 1v2
Going up against two players at once seems like an unwinnable situation, and most of the time it is. However, players can increase their odds of winning if they face each foe one at a time instead of both at once. Kiting isn't a mechanic reserved for auto-pathing NPCs, it's a great combat tactic that real humans fall for too.
Circle around enemies until one is behind the other before attempting to strike, and continue moving around if they fall out of line. This is one of those tips for Chivalry 2 that can often lead to teammates accidentally killing each other, too eager over the possibility of killing the player.
4 Dashing Can Prevent Getting Flanked
Rapid reactions to incoming enemy attacks can mean the difference between life and death. Sometimes in a 2v1 situation, players won't be able to line enemies up perfectly and can easily get flanked, especially if there are more than two foes.
One of the best Chivalry 2 pro tips is to make liberal use of the dash in combat. Dashing is not only a good way to avoid an oncoming attack, but it's also a useful positioning ability. When enemies are closing around from all angles, quickly dashing can get a player out of the oncoming bloodbath by the skin of their teeth.
3 Kicking Gives Players Free Hits
Kicking is an ability available to every player, no matter their class, as an interrupt and shield break. It is most often seen in standoffs where two players won't engage one another. However, it's useful for much more than just breaking their guard.
When a kick successfully connects, players have enough time to get in two to three attacks before the other player even has a chance to respond. Steer clear of enemy kicks while dealing them out, to constantly keep enemies on edge.
To kick in Chivalry 2, press F on mouse and keyboard Circle on PlayStation controllers, or B on Xbox controllers while looking at a nearby enemy.
2 Don't Ignore Feints, Especially Against Skilled Players
Feinting is a mechanic in Chivalry 2 that lets a player trick the enemy into thinking they will follow through on their attack. This is accomplished by canceling an attack moments after starting it. It's usually the thing that separates the good players from the god-like players, but it's one of the hardest tricks to truly master.
Feinting correctly lets the player follow up with a follow-up attack afterward, theoretically after their target has been duped. It's one of the few Chivalry 2 combat tips that, when done correctly, can set the flow of combat just off-balance enough to swing it in the player's favor.
1 Practice On A Bot In A 1v1 Map
The best way to hone skills in-game and truly understand the underlying Chivalry 2 strategy is to practice on an opponent that can strike back. Players can start their own server, and only put one bot on the other team. This provides a great opportunity to train some of the more difficult combat maneuvers, like feints and parries.
This can also be done with a friend in a 1v1 multiplayer match. However, be clear with other players that it's for training and not messing around, for players who are serious about getting better.