Ma Chao

Ma Chao has served as an unaffiliated force for quite some time, and has called himself the "Spear of Justice" in many installments. Since he cuts a fine figure and wears excellent armor, he is sometimes called, "Ma Chao the Spendid". First allying with Pang De in the defense of Xi Liang, he made a name for being one of the Eight Riders.

In the Dynasty Warriors series, he is 21 years old and his height is 186 cm (a little over 6'1"). He stands at 180 cm (approximately 5'11") in Kessen II.

Dynasty Warriors
Ma Chao is well known for his goal of a land of justice. When his family is destroyed by Cao Cao, he often leads a resistance against their killer at Tong Gate. After the conflict, he wanders and eventually meets Liu Bei at Cheng Du. Though they are enemies during their struggle, he is impressed by their valiant spirit and capable warriors. He joins Shu from then on and participates in their Southern or Northern Campaigns.

His Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends happens after the battle at Jia Meng Gate. Ma Chao has just been recruited by Liu Bei, who accepts him as an equal. However, to appease disbelievers, Liu Bei asks him to undergo a short trial against his army. When the time limit ends, Ma Chao is fully accepted into Shu's ranks and is congratulated by the other Five Tiger Generals.

In Dynasty Warriors 5, Ma Chao is a warrior of Xi Liang who is trained by his father since his youth. He joins his father's campaign to drive Dong Zhuo away from their lands. After the battle, Ma Teng and his clansmen are invited to attend to the emperor and are executed for treason by Cao Cao. Enraged and vilifying Wei, Ma Chao pacifies Quanzhong for his clansmen and rallies with Han Sui at Tong Gate. In his story, he claims victory but loses many friends and comrades in his quest for vengeance. Left with nothing but hatred, his meeting with Liu Bei changes the youth's outlook with his vision of unity. Feeling in debt to his new liege and emphasizing with his loss, Ma Chao aids the front at Yi Ling. When Liu Bei dies, he believes in the hopes of his fallen comrades and defends their dreams at Jie Ting and Bai Di Castle. With Wei their only opposition remaining, he feels no spite for his enemies and only desires to deliver justice in the name of Shu. In his ending, he challenges Cao Pi and Sima Yi to an unknown conclusion.

He shares his Legend Mode in Xtreme Legends expansion with Pang De and the duo work together to reclaim Ji Castle. Driven to end Cao Cao's claim in his homeland, he leads his army to reclaim Liang. He leads a no-nonsense, frontal assault against many powered up Wei generals. Since he is influenced by revenge and hatred, he loses Pang De's trust and his comrade deserts him. Recruiting him for Shu is also one of the objectives in the Jia Meng Gate Legend Mode.

During the following title, Ma Chao appears in the battle of Cheng Du as a reinforcements for the defending army. In Zhao Yun's story, he is disgruntled when Liu Bei rides into battle in the name of vengeance, saying that his lord's choice is not one of justice. Zhao Yun restores his faith in Liu Bei by reasoning that, though their lord's delivery may be flawed, he is still staying true to his beliefs.

In Dynasty Warriors 6: Special, he begins his story by trying to avenge his father's death at Tong Gate. Once he's betrayed by Han Sui and many of his officers, Ma Chao realizes he was believing in a tainted justice and wanders to find a new life for himself. He successfully defends Cheng Du but once again suffers betrayal when Liu Zhang joins Cao Cao. Remembering his enemies' valor during battle, he joins Liu Bei and becomes a zealot for their army. When Liu Bei loses Guan Yu, Ma Chao tries to convince his lord to avoid seeking vengeance since it will only repeat the cycle of hatred. Though Zhao Yun tells him that it is a honorable deed, his view of a virtuous Shu pales after they take Sun Quan's life at Yi Ling. Even so, he participates at the Battle of Jie Ting to aid Ma Su and to repay his debt to Shu. No longer clouded by anger, he takes Cao Cao's life. With the land united, Ma Chao sells his sword to purchase a new horse and rides freely towards the horizon.

Warriors Orochi
In Warriors Orochi, Ma Chao forms an army resisting Orochi with Jiang Wei, Yue Ying, and Ranmaru Mori. He clashes with the Orochi army led by Sun Ce and escapes from their grasp. After his defeat, he struggles to save peasants from Sima Yi at Kawanakajima. Nobunaga Oda aids him and, if all the villagers escape, he pledges to join their cause.

He helps Wu defeat Lu Bu at Yang Ping Gate and joins their cause in Warriors Orochi 2. In the name of justice, he teams with Nagamasa Azai and Kanetsugu Naoe in their dream stage to save peasants from Kiyomori Taira.

Kessen
In Kessen II, Ma Chao appears in Shu's story during their siege of Cheng Du. He leads a cavalry armed with crossbows and is a good offensive warrior. Before he clashes with the enemy, he'll usually lead a unique charge with a handful of his troops, in which they ride their horses forward like surfers. He declares his wishes to join Liu Bei so he can avenge the death of his homeland. He assists the southern campaign against King Meng Huo and may request for his cousin, Ma Dai, to join Shu when they face Cai Wengi.

During Wei's story, Ma Chao will attack Cao Cao's home after Chi Bi, which thwarts his plans of completely subjugating his rivals. After his defeat, Pang De joins Wei.

Personality
Filled with a warrior's pride, Ma Chao is a straightforward man who believes in making his future with his own power. A firm believer of justice and heroics, he is always intent on declaring his intentions for all to hear. His determined proclamations are not always appreciated by his listeners from his home or from rival armies since he often yells the loudest in Shu's army. While his charisma and honesty wins him followers, his lack of foresight and planning sometimes robs them of their trust, as he sometimes neglects to consider others while completing his own personal goals.

He shares a mutual friendship with Zhao Yun as both warriors agree on similar morales and mindsets. Back when they were together at Xi Liang, he idolized Pang De. When his comrade leaves him to join Cao Cao, his opinion sours due to the betrayal and he considers Pang De one of his worst enemies. He resents Cao Cao in most of his appearances, but his degree of hatred changes with each title.

Voice Actors

 * Tony Oliver - Dynasty Warriors 4 (English)
 * David Berón - Dynasty Warriors 5~6, Warriors Orochi series (English)
 * Kim Gwanjin - Dynasty Warriors 2 (Korean)
 * Yang Seok Jeong - Dynasty Warriors 3~5 (Korean)
 * Kouji Haramaki - Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi series, Dynasty Tactics 2 (Japanese)
 * Takahiro Suzuki - Dynasty Tactics (Japanese)
 * Ryōtarō Okiayu - Kessen II (Japanese)
 * Akira Kamiya - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series

Quotes

 * See also: Ma Chao/Quotes


 * "I fear nothing and no one!"
 * "Ma Chao, you fought well. There is no need to throw your life away. Join me!"
 * "I would endure the pain and anguish of a thousand deaths before joining the likes of you!"
 * Cao Cao and Ma Chao; Dynasty Warriors 6: Special

Ground Moveset

 * undefined: Plants spear in ground and spins around it kicking
 * , undefined: Ma Chao turns around and rings his spear upwards to the right.
 * ,, undefined (undefined, undefined, undefined): Thrusts spear multiple times and ends with a spinning slash.
 * ,, , undefined: Fiercely thrusts spear forward.
 * ,, , , undefined: Spins his spear in his hand, forming a wind tornado in front of him.
 * ,, , , , undefined: Spins and lets loose a shockwave.
 * Switches spear in between hands, creating a helicopter-typed movement in the spear, ending with Chao planting his spear in the ground and coming down for a massive slash.
 * , : Jump, then a spinning downward slash.
 * , undefined: Ma Chao jumps, then shoots himself forward, spinning like a torpedo, also holding out the spear out.

Horse Moveset

 * undefined: Ma Chao sits up straight and twirls his spear in the air, letting loose a shockwave.
 * ,, , , , : Six attacks to the right side.
 * Repeating slashes to the right side until the Musou gauge empties.


 * Warriors Orochi
 * R1: Jumps into the air and hurls his spear. Catches it as he lands.

Dynasty Warriors 6
In the original release, he shared his moveset with Sun Ce, Taishi Ci and Zhang He. See Cloned Moveset for more details.


 * Special attack: True Speed: greatly boosts speed. Leans his upper body forward, holding his spear in a defensive position while he runs.
 * Dashing : Performs a quicker sliding version of his normal version.
 * Dashing undefined: Quicker spin on his attack as he continues running.

The following moves are for his new moveset in Special.

Weapons

 * See also: Ma Chao/Weapons

Historical Information
As opposed to his Romance of the Three Kingdoms counterpart, Ma Chao historically did not do much under Liu Bei, but accomplished a great deal as the successor of his father, Ma Teng. Ma Chao did not slay Li Tong, duel with Xu Zhu or Yang Fu, war with Liu Bei, cut off Han Sui's left hand, prevent an invasion or guard Xiping. It is unknown whether he participated in Ma Teng's campaign on Li Jue. If he did participate within the battles, he did not slay Wang Fang or capture Li Meng. Under a joint alliance between Ma Teng and Zhong Yao, Chao commanded his father's forces and succeeded over an army of Yuan Shang.

Following some conflicts with Han Sui, Ma Teng moved to Xu Chang, the capital of the Dynasty at that time. There was some tension between Ma Chao and Cao Cao, yet no conflicts took place. The former was allowed to succeed his father, yet when Cao Cao led his army against Zhang Lu, a neighboring warlord, Chao and several other Western warlords rose in revolt against the Cao forces out of fear. However, Cao Cao defeated Ma Chao's coalition in scattered battles. By 213, Chao had conquered multiple cities, most notably Ji from Wei Kang. Though he was able to ward off attacks from Cao Cao's officers, including Xiahou Yuan, Chao was eventually forced out by the remnants of Wei Kang's army.'

Ma Chao persuaded Zhang Lu to lend him troops so he could renew the war with Wei Kang loyalists. During the year 214, Xiahou Yuan led an attack to defeat Ma Chao, this time decisively. Henceforth, the Liang warrior went to live with a group of Di barbarians. Though soon, Ma Chao grew tired of a life without action, and offered his services to Liu Bei. He helped Bei with besieging Cheng Du, a city belonging to Liu Zhang at the time.

Once Cheng Du was conquered, Ma Chao was offered multiple ranks. Thereafter, he was asked to introduce the Han culture to the Qiang people, whom Chao was on good terms with. Unfortunately, he died in the year 222AD. It is still unknown whether Chao succeeded in the last mission Liu Bei gave him.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Ma Chao was born in Liang Province. He swore vengeance upon Cao Cao when he learned that Cao Cao executed Ma Teng, Ma Chao's father. After receiving a letter from Liu Bei requesting that he attack Cao Cao Ma Chao marches his forces out and meets Cao Caos army at Tong Pass.

After numerous failed assaults by Cao Cao Ma Chao attacks the pass and Cao Caos troops flee in terror. Ma Chaos power is so great that while fleeing Cao Cao heard someone crying "Cao Cao is he with the red dress". Cao Cao immediately tore off his red dress and continued fleeing but before too long he heard more people crying "Cao Cao is he with the long beard" at which point Cao Cao cut his beard but someone also saw this and shouted to Ma Chao that he had sawed off his beard, so Ma Chao demanded that all people with short beards were to be captured, hearing this Cao Cao wrapped a part of a flag around his chin and fled only narrowly escaping with the help of Cao Hong and Xu Chu.

Not long after Xu Chu sent a written request for a duel with Ma Chao. Ma Chao accepted and the next day the two generals met. For more than 200 bouts they fought with neither one gaining the advantage nor losing strength, returning only briefly to gain new steeds. After 230 bouts Xu Chu tried to stab Ma Chao but was evaded whereupon Ma Chao took the opportunity to strike Xu Chu's heart, but Xu Chu grabbed his spear and broke it in two. Instead of rushing back to his own lines to gain a new spear Ma Chao simply fought with Xu Chu with half of one, whilst his opponent retained the other half and each struggled to gain both parts of the spear. But before too long Cao Cao grew afraid for his general and ordered his army attack and so Ma Chao's forces moved in a crushed Cao Cao's assault. When Cao Cao returned to his camp he had less than half his troops remaining.