Zhang Liao

Zhang Liao is a character introduced in the second Dynasty Warriors game. He first served as a high-ranking commander under Lu Bu until he is captured by Cao Cao. Showing courage at his execution, he is spared and soon became the leader of the Five Generals of Wei.

In the Dynasty Warriors series, he is 27 years old. His height in Dynasty Warriors and Kessen II is 185 cm (close to 6'1").

Dynasty Warriors
Zhang Liao is known as a hardened veteran of war within the series and is feared by many officers in various games. Ordinarily, he starts as a general under Dong Zhuo and Lu Bu. While he may continue to serve them in their respective Musou Modes, he will become a Wei officer during his story. Although he is one of the generals present at the Five Passes, he will also not oppose Guan Yu's departure from Wei. He is best known for his unshaken defense at He Fei.

In Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends, Zhang Liao and two ally generals are surrounded by overwhelming odds at He Fei. Undeterred, he rushes into battle to wipe out the massive Wu army. While he hurries to aid his allies, he faces several generals including Lu Meng and Zhou Tai. His might startles Sun Quan and the Wu leader issues a retreat soon after.

Described as a soldier who has a history of serving unworthy masters, Zhang Liao starts as one of Dong Zhuo's generals at Si Shui Gate in Dynasty Warriors 5. After Dong Zhou's death, he follows Lu Bu to Xia Pi Castle. During the conflict, he proves his valor and, not wanting to see his talents go to waste, Guan Yu attempts to convince him to join his side. Though he refuses due to his faith in Lu Bu's honor, Zhang Liao feels he wasn't completely content with either of his previous lords and swears allegiance to Cao Cao after Lu Bu's defeat. While in Wei, he finds a purpose with Cao Cao and escorts his liege's escape from Chi Bi. When Cao Cao reaches Guan Yu, Zhang Liao accuses the Shu general as hypocritical for forsaking Cao Cao's acts of kindness towards him, one of which includes Red Hare. Thanks to his statements, both parties part ways peacefully and Guan Yu thanks him for preventing what could have been a regretful event. Rebuilding their forces after their loss, Wu attacks Zhang Liao's post in He Fei. He leads a brave resistance and stalls the large army long enough for Cao Cao's reinforcements. Distinguished in two kingdoms as a fearsome warrior, his name inspired awe in all who heard it and he is content to finally serve a worthy master.

His Legend Mode in the Xtreme Legends expansion occurs when he is under Lu Bu's command and groups him with his master and Diao Chan. The trio work together to surround Pu Yang Castle and join forces with the Wei defector, Chen Gong. After the battle, Zhang Liao notes that he can see past Lu Bu's violent nature and recognizes him as a honorable man.

Zhang Liao starts his story as an officer in Wei in Dynasty Warriors 6. Since his previous lords only fought for strength and power, he begins to question how he can fight for himself. While he swears to wage war for Cao Cao's vision, he asks other generals in Wei their purposes for fighting to find his own justifications for being a warrior. Once he realizes his strength can pave a path for the less fortunate, he gradually becomes one of Wei's finest generals and is named the army's Commander. After the other two kingdoms fall, Zhang Liao swears to uphold peace in the new land his lord desired.

Warriors Orochi
During Orochi's story, he was sent by his lord to reinforce Wu's resistance against the serpent king's army. He and Gan Ning hold the center of the field and charge for the enemy's main camp. When their plan is foiled, he is defeated and he retreats to report Orochi's prowess to Cao Cao. When his kingdom falls to Orochi, he acts as one of Orochi's instigators in Warriors Orochi. He stars in two gaiden stages for Wei. One pairs him with Mitsunari Ishida to rescue Diao Chan and the other has him and other Wei vassals taking on the Takeda-Uesugi alliance.

In Warriors Orochi 2, Zhang Liao is not seen until the Battle of Jia Meng Gate, where he appears by orders of Cao Cao to assist Guan Yu in defeating Kiyomori. In this battle, he reveals to Guan Yu that the defeat of the phantom soldiers is done by killing the sorcerers who control them. The two warriors accomplish that task and move on to defeating the Sun Wukong doubles only to find more sorcery at the gates. Eventually the two overcome the poison gas and defeat Kiyomori together. Zhang Liao is also present at Koshi Castle where he takes a northern path to take out the northwestern garrison to stop the cannon fire.

In his dream stage, he teams up with Gan Ning and Kotarō Fūma to carry out a sneak attack on Meng Huo's base, Ueda Castle. While the warriors penetrate the castle's rear defenses, they encounter Ranmaru, Kunoichi, and Zhuge Liang intruding their path.

Kessen
Zhang Liao is a general for Cao Cao in Kessen II. He often leads one of the physically strongest armies for Wei with a mixed footman and cavalry unit. During Wei's war councils, he often offers strategies that aim to demoralize the Shu army with brute force. He's an old friend of Guan Yu and, when their countries were allies, they dine together during Wei and Shu's victory banquet. In the past, they once fought a decade ago over a woman. However, Guan Yu let him win their battle and allowed Zhang Liao to marry her.

During Wei's story, he suppresses rebellions from Yuan Shao's armies and returns to his lord victorious. He joins moments before the Battle at Chang Ban Po and volunteers a strategy to use the shortest route through the eastern forest. If he meets Guan Yu during this time, they will have a friendly bout in battle. He asks his friend if he has a maiden and promises them a safe escape. Guan Yu refuses, stating that a man fights for the ones close to them. In response, Zhang Liao wins their scuffle and earnestly tells him to not disappoint his woman. Zhang Liao remains in Cao Cao's army for the rest of the game.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Zhang Liao is featured in all of the series' installments, often boasting high WAR. In Romance of the Three Kingdoms XI, he is one of the few officers with a unique 3D model, looking somewhat like his Online counterpart. He is a free officer during the Yellow Turban Rebellion preset scenario and is seen in Jin Yang. During the ideal dream match scenario, Rise of Heroes, he is seen serving Lu Bu with his son Zhang Hu.

Personality
Zhang Liao is a man of honor and will stay virtuous to the very end, no matter what obstacles come his way. Usually calm and just, he is also capable of turning into a fierce beast during battle. He believes that he can only find his true purpose in life during war and walks the warrior's path. While serving Lu Bu, Zhang Liao has the utmost faith in his master's more valiant traits. He is praised as the one of the land's greatest warrior by Lu Bu and the two generals mutually respect each of their strengths.

In most titles, he admires Guan Yu's chivalry during their time together in Wei. In the destiny mode for Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends, Zhang Liao states that his weapon, Blue Wyvern, was made to be similar to Guan Yu's as a sign of respect. Their reverence for one another is also featured in Warriors Orochi 2.

Character Symbolism
His previous weapon of choice in the Dynasty Warriors series is called gōuliándāo, or Hook Sickle Blade, a huge blade that was said to have been in use during the Ming Dynasty. Unlike the heavy yǎnyuèdāo, which has a weight that is much too unreasonable to be used conventionally, the gouliandao is lighter and a reasonable combat weapon. Aside from its weight, it was fashioned to mirror the appearance of its heavier predecessor. The yanyuedao is often said to have been the model for Guan Yu's legendary weapon. Zhang Liao's third, fourth, and Level 11 weapons are named to be identical to Guan Yu's respective weapons; the sole difference between the names of the two characters' armaments is the identified weapon type. Omega Force likely wanted to emphasize Zhang Liao's respect for his friend by giving them blades with similar origins and names.

Zhang Liao's original weapon names in Dynasty Warriors 6 are twin serpent faces (Standard), twin hawk beaks (Skill), and twin dragon heads (Strength). All three animals are considered divine kings in their own right, reigning the sky or land with their superb physiques. The listed reptiles are known to occasionally take human form within Asian mythology; emperors are fabled to be a personification of dragons or have dragon blood flowing within them. More often than not, serpents are a genus of dragons in Chinese mythology. They are said to actually be a form of nagas found within Hinduism and Buddhism. Due to their similar appearances, some claim Chinese dragons to actually be derived from nagas, though various sources argue whether this is true or not.

Zhang Liao's original outfit for Dynasty Warriors 7 is a baseball uniform. According to the characters printed on it, he plays for "Fenghuang University". The fenghuang is a legendary bird found within Chinese mythology. It is often used to symbolize Wei throughout the series, an alternate way of representing his loyalties to the empire. The H icon on his cap is due to the Japanese pronunciation for the mystic bird, "houoh".

His personal item in the Asian ports of Warriors Orochi is Bai Ma Piang, a famous poem composed by Cao Zhi. The poem surrounds a brave warrior who wholeheartedly dedicates himself to his country. According to a claim made by Gu Zhi, a Qing Dynasty Hakka scholar, the central figure in the composition was possibly Zhang Liao. He alleged that the poem may be based on the general during Cao Cao's subjugation of the Wuhuan in 207.

Voice Actors

 * Michael McConnohie - Dynasty Warriors 4~5, Warriors Orochi (English)
 * Roger Craig Smith - Dynasty Warriors 6~7, Warriors Orochi 2 (English)
 * Paul St. Peter - Kessen II (English)
 * Yu Heamu - Dynasty Warriors 2 (Korean)
 * Lee Gyoo Seok - Dynasty Warriors 3 (Korean)
 * Kim Gwang-Kook - Dynasty Warriors 4~5 (Korean)
 * Naoki Kinoshita - Dynasty Warriors 2 (Japanese)
 * Hirofumi Tanaka - Dynasty Warriors 3~7 and Warriors Orochi series (Japanese)
 * Ryōtarō Okiayu - Dynasty Tactics series (Japanese)
 * Hideyuki Tanaka - Kessen II (Japanese), Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CDs

Quotes

 * See also: Zhang Liao/Quotes


 * "Your skills are no match for me! I'll help Master Sun Ce realize his dream at any cost!"
 * "What refreshing impudence... Very well, let's see how bold you are when the "cost" is your life!"
 * Taishi Ci and Zhang Liao; Dynasty Warriors 6: Special


 * "They used to talk about us, you know."
 * "They'd say, 'Wei has Zhang Liao but Wu has Gan Ning!'"
 * "The bad news for you lot is..."
 * "You have the unfortunate luck of running into the both of us!"
 * Zhang Liao and Gan Ning; Warriors Orochi 2


 * "So you are the famed Zhang Liao. Tell me, why does a man of your obvious skill serve a man like Lu Bu?"
 * "I serve him in my quest to attain True Might. There is no doubt you can instill in me."
 * "True Might is that which can swallow this land whole. What good is might if you cannot do that?"
 * "Then I shall prove to you that True Might is with our lord!"
 * Cao Cao and Zhang Liao; Dynasty Tactics 2

Ground Moveset

 * undefined (undefined): Rushes forward spinning his blade in front of him then does a horizontal slash.
 * , undefined: Knocks opponent airborne with an upward diagonal swing.
 * ,, undefined (undefined, undefined, undefined): Swings his blade diagonally in front of him multiple times, in the opposite direction each time then finishes with a broad swing.
 * ,, , undefined: Spins around and pivots on one foot with his spear held in front of him.
 * ,, , , undefined: An upward swing that releases a small white tornado in front of Zhang Liao.
 * ,, , , , undefined: A large gust of wind and energy.
 * A series of downward diagonal slashes then a horizontal slash repelling opponents.


 * , : Jump, then swipe with halberd.
 * , undefined: Releases a disc flying down from his weapon.

Horse Moveset

 * undefined: Zhang Liao leans to each side, and spins his weapon.
 * ,, , , , : Three attacks to the right side, three to the left.
 * Repeating slashes to all sides until the Musou gauge empties.


 * Warriors Orochi
 * R1: Unblockable funnel of wind.

Ground Moveset

 * string (Renbu ∞): Four horizontal slashes with his right halberd, performing a turning slash on the last cut. Lifts both halberds high to slash foes to his front, mixing between low and high dual blows. Stabs twice and slices two times with both halberds. Finishes the chain with ten alternating diagonal cuts from each of his halberds.
 * undefined string (Renbu ∞): Stabs with each halberd once while walking forward. Hits again with one halberd before using both in one slash. Poses to create a burst of energy around himself, knocking away nearby foes.
 * undefined (held): One-two slashes with his halberds. Range increases on higher Renbu levels.
 * Series of attacks based on Renbu levels. Ends with three spinning slashes and a pose, creating a burst of energy that knocks away enemies.


 * , : Quick wide slash with both of his weapons.
 * , undefined: Hovers a bit in the air and plunges both halberds' bladed ends into the ground.
 * Dashing : Single diagonal slash with a halberd.
 * Dashing undefined: Hops and smashes both of his halberds into the earth. Emits a small explosion effect around the weapons' impact.


 * Grapple attack : One handed strike in a circular rotation to his left, which has him lift his left leg slightly. If it connects, he uses his left halberd to throw off his enemy's balance. He then stabs with his right halberd and retracts it, using the blunt edge to shift their body's weight to the right. He finishes by stabbing again with his left halberd. Enemies have to be directly in front of him to successfully pull off the move.
 * Grapple attack undefined: Wide attack with both halberds. If it connects, he stuns them with his first blow before trapping them a second time between his weapons' hooked blades. With them caught between his weapons, he spins once and throws his foe forward. Enemies have to be directly in front of him to successfully pull off the move.


 * Special attack: True Speed: greatly boosts speed. Holds his right halberd in front and keeps his left halberd tucked by his hip while he runs.
 * Dashing : Slices inwards with both halberds as he runs.
 * Dashing undefined: Same as his normal dashing version except he emits a larger explosion as he lands.

Horse Moveset

 * string: Strikes with both halberds individually to the right, using circular sweeps to attack.
 * undefined: Stronger slash with one halberd.
 * Faster version of the string that ends with a undefined attack.

Dynasty Warriors 7
Zhang Liao is affiliated with twin axes in this appearance. When he is equipped with it, he can perform a unique attack exclusive to him. When he performs his musous, he will automatically use the weapon in his attacks.


 * EX Attack: ,,,undefined,undefined: Zhang Liao is encased in a flaming blue aura which knocks back any nearby opponents.
 * Musou 1: : Charges forward while holding out and spinning his axes separately in each hand.
 * Musou 2: R1 + : Uses one ax to stab and stun the nearest opponent. If his first stab hits, he momentarily turns his back to the dazed foe and proceeds to roundhouse kick and slash with both axes summoning lightning in its wake.

Dynasty Warriors
For the majority of the series, Zhang Liao and Lu Meng were noticeably similar in terms of their moveset, but changes were made to differentiate them from one another in later installments. Zhang Liao is a basic character all around with decent attacks and average stats at best, though his attacks are slow, it's not much of a problem. His C1 in the fourth and fifth installment as well as his jump charge in Dynasty Warriors 5 are his best moves.

In Dynasty Warriors 6, Zhang Liao has a pair of axes. Zhang Liao's primary strong attacks are viewed as extremely strong for Renbu Gauge level one. His grapple attacks are slow compared to a group of select characters, though they are very powerful. Zhang Liao's range factor might be one to consider as his weakness, so it is recommended that players use a standard-type weapon. Zhang Liao's Special Attack is True Speed. Despite it's two consecutive hits per multiple steps, the bonuses Rush and Power Rush increase damage to enemies during the attack, and Stamina increases the duration of the Special Attack.

Warriors Orochi
Zhang Liao plays similar to his Dynasty Warriors 5 counterpart, but has little to no change on his existing moves. His R1 attack can be good move for crowd control, like his C1 and jumping charge, but his average attack speed seems to make him overshadowed by others.

Weapons

 * See also: Zhang Liao/Weapons

Trivia

 * Zhang Liao's irrational yet fun nickname with Japanese Dynasty Warriors fans is "Yamada~!" (山田ああ!), which is a pun of one his battle cries during his True Musou in Dynasty Warriors 3, "Out of my way!" (邪魔だ!, Jyamada!). It started due to the characteristic slur that the voice actor does while saying the line, making it sound like he's yelling at a person rather than saying a phrase. The name's popularity grew in more recent installments due to the voice actor's harsh delivery of the line.