Elements

Elements are a concept included in both Dynasty Warriors and Samurai Warriors in almost all games. They are sometimes in the Weapons, or as a Seperate Item (see Orbs), sometimes only one allowed, or multiple ones at once. Elements are effects that take place at the end of charge attacks (often requiring a full musou bar to take place) that add a special property. The are generally as follows (most games have 4-6 elements in a game, the minimun is 3)

Lightning/Bolt element- Cause instant damage, foes crumble to ground, and in some games it spreads.

Fire element- Gradual damage as long as target is airborn

Dark/Vorpal/Death/Slay element- Instantly kills peons and takes a percent of a generals health,sometimes takes out your own musou bar and always seems to change name

Light/Flash/Blast element- Breaks or damages guard, occasionally throws in extra damage

Ice element- Freezes foes, causing them to stick to the ground through your attacks and lowers their defense

Drain/Night element- absorbs a tiny bit of life from enemies

Clones/multi- not so often an element as so much as an effect that characters cause on themselves, and tends to lean more in samurai warriors. Creates clones that add onto attack making it more powerful, however it messes with knockback screwing up some attacks.

Poison element- only in Dynasty Warriors 4. Lowers defense for a time