Cao Ren/Movesets

All the movesets for Cao Ren in the Warriors franchise.

Dynasty Warriors 4

 * R3: Releases wisps of light that stun enemies within range. Aura may change color in Free Mode to match the user's chosen side.

Ground Moveset

 * undefined: Steps forward with a two-handed grab. If it connects, Cao Ren will lift his foe up and toss them to the ground.
 * , undefined: An upward swing of the detached buckler blade.
 * ,, undefined, (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined): Shoots out fire balls from his buckler blade like an arm gun. The fire balls do no actual fire damage and the last one stuns the foe or knocks them back on air hit. Can hit multiple targets lined up.
 * ,, , undefined: A bear hug of sorts. Smashes away his opponent by crushing them with his free hand and buckler.
 * ,, , , undefined: Uppercuts his foe. If undefined is pressed again, Cao Ren will do a punching motion meteor slash in midair on his target.
 * ,, , , , undefined: Runs over enemies with shield and slowly comes to a stop.
 * ,, , , , : Slashes inward with a punching motion, then an outward slash, hopping shield crush (with buckler in front of Cao Ren like a wall), outward slash, inward strike, then a rushing bash by one step with a buckler butt.
 * Multiple slashes then a turning slash followed by a spinning leap slash to a ground-shaking stomp.


 * , : Downward diagonal slash to the right.
 * , undefined: Flips and falls downward with his buckler blade causing a quake.
 * Dashing : Runs forward with his buckler for a while as he knocks back foes a bit, then does an outward drawing slash with his buckler as he brakes from his running.


 * R1, : Shoots a normal arrow.
 * R1, undefined: Shoots a paralyzing bolt.
 * R1, : Unleashes a barrage of arrows.


 * L1, undefined: Counterattacks with C4.

Horse Moveset

 * undefined: Cao Ren slashes at both sides.
 * ,, , , , : Three attacks to the right side, three to the left.
 * Repeating slashes to all sides until the Musou gauge empties.

Fighting Style
Cao Ren, though with a slow attack speed and initial below-par reach, makes up for his weaknesses with his superb defense and officer-killing abilities, especially since his attack strings can be hard to interrupt. Cao Ren is also relatively slow in terms of his running speed, but his dash attack makes him travel far in a short amount of time. Roc, the fourth weapon in Ren's array, has a weak attack, so it is recommended to upgrade its Attack, Charge, and Base Attack attributes.

One good stalling attack is his C3. As with every other third charge, the attack's last hit stuns enemies. With added-on elemental orb items, the attack chain can swiftly defeat officers, and either clear or spread out surrounding crowds. His dash attack is also a great crowd entry move.

Ground Moveset
Removes bow moveset from previous games. Remains the same with the following additions/changes:
 * undefined: A stomp that knock over enemies.
 * ,, undefined, (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined): Same as before, but shoots out sonicbooms instead.
 * ,, , , undefined: Slams the ground sending enemies skyward with a ground pound.
 * ,, , , , , , , : After the fifth part of his chain, he then starts his C4 chain.


 * (True): A wide outward turn slash to launch opponents, then follows with a powerful stomp that shoots out a ring wave.
 * , undefined: Cao Ren jumps, then performs a flip onto the ground, stabbing his buckler into the ground to create a ground flash wave.
 * L1, undefined: Counterattacks with the final blow of his 2nd weapon chain, where he removes the buckler blade from his shield and slashes outward with it.


 * Warriors Orochi
 * ,, undefined, (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined), (undefined): Same as before, but shoots out blue cutting waves instead. Warriors Orochi 2 has the final shot fire three waves in a spread at once.
 * , R1: Dashes forward with his shield up front to grab an enemy with his free hand. Once it connects, Cao Ren ends with a rising uppercut with the buckler blade that emits a dark misty shockwave. Warriors Orochi 2 instead adds a hitbox to his buckler swat during the initial move forward, allowing him to intercept more incoming targets.
 * ,, R1: Same as his C3, only he fires a spread of multiple waves at once per shot instead. Only in Warriors Orochi 2.
 * R1 (Counter): Quick slice forward with the buckler blade while pushing forward with a shield lean. Creates a horizontal slash effect.


 * As opposed to in Dynasty Warriors 5, Cao Ren shoots saw-like projectiles in his C3. In the Warriors Orochi series, he shoots out blue waves that inflict non-elemental damage. The sequel modifies the attack by having it shoot more waves via enhanced strike and imbuing it with elemental properties this time around.


 * Warriors Orochi 2
 * Triple Attack 1: Creates a large pillar of air by thrusting weapon unto the floor.
 * Triple Attack 2: Stomps on the ground to produce a massive column of wind.
 * Triple Attack 3: Hurls a fierce gust of wind forward.

Fighting Style
Cao Ren has not changed much, but most of his moves have gained a slight improvement, as his C3 seems to have an increased field of range. The Wei general is one of the many characters that has a stomp attack that knocks over enemies, which is his C1. Though it has bad range, it can give time for Cao Ren to flee. On a horse, Cao Ren has excellent reach. He also cannot flinch to normal attacks while he is attacking. This ability is unique to him and Xing Cai in Dynasty Warriors 5 and also to any character with a heavy weapon in the Extreme Legends expansion. As Cao Ren is a Technique-type character, he has access to Enhanced Strikes and one special attack. His Enhanced Strike allows him to counter in a wide arc in an invincible state. In the C2-ex special attack of Cao Ren, after, and an R1 tap, Cao Ren quickly sprints frontwards, and raises his arm, activating a black quake around him. In the original Warriors Orochi, Cao Ren would only use a very small amount of his Musou gauge, and would do a high of damage to all units. In the second installment, the Musou gauge cost for using his special attack increased dramatically, using about half of his initial level one Musou gauge. However, the damage also increased, and the initial strike now carries weapon elements.

In Warriors Orochi 2, Cao Ren gains a C3-ex special not listed in his move set. After, , and an R1, instead of shooting single waves repeatedly, he will blast out a six-round spread shot barrage. All rounds activate weapon elements.

To make up for Cao Ren's speed and range weaknesses, enhancing his weapon with Agility, Range, Flash, and high-damaging elements. In the first Warriors Orochi game, Cao Ren's C3 attack was noticeably weaker to Dynasty Warriors 5 and it's expansions. However, in the next installment, it's damage done to every unit of soldier was greater than past attacks.

In the first Warriors Orochi its recommended to give Cao Ren Air element. Cao Ren has the most number of ways in which he can repeatedly use the elemental Stomp C1 against officer over and over again, as such, this move can be used as his main offense against anything.

In the second game, Cao Ren can forgoes the use of Flash, thanks to its C3 that is never blocked by officer and peons alike. His gameplay consist of using his two massively powerful Ex Moves, and as a result, it is recommended to put highly damaging elements such as Slay, and Air alongside Absorb to self sustain his Musou usage.

Dynasty Warriors 6
He shares his moveset with Lu Meng, Xu Huang, Guan Ping, and Ling Tong. See Polearm Movesets for more details.
 * Special attack: Swift Attack: immediately boosts Cao Ren's Renbu gauge up to the Infinite Renbu and grants higher attack and defense power. When used at low, red health, the effects of Swift Attack increase.

Fighting Style
In Dynasty Warriors 6, Cao Ren was remodeled to wield a large trident and has a polearm moveset. The new moveset Cao Ren has focuses on wide-range attacks, accompanied by linear energy waves with a lightning effect, stunning enemies. His Musou attack also ends with a giant arrowhead shockwave that travels quickly in a straight line.

His abilities to enhance his Swift Attack are Overawe (which causes enemy defenses to be reduced), Rage and Wild Rage (in which overall damage from Swift Attack is increased). Along with Special Start, a skill that makes Cao Ren start with one Tome every battle, Cao Ren's Officer Skills mainly focus on buffing up his defenses. Skills like Fire Resist, Lightning Resist, Ice Resist, and Arrow Guard help him resist elemental attacks and decrease damage taken from long-range arrows.

Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce
Cao Ren mainly uses the polearm moveset in this title.

Dynasty Warriors 7
Cao Ren is affiliated with the flail in this appearance. When he is equipped with it, he can perform a unique attack exclusive to him. Upon performing his Musou techniques, he will automatically use the weapon in his attacks.


 * EX Attack:, , , undefined, undefined: Grabs the nearest opponent and drains some of their life.
 * Musou - Charging Bull (廬山): : Bulldozes forward while surrounded by a powerful aura, finishes with a jump and ground smash. Classified as a Multi-strike Musou in Next.
 * Alternate Musou - Grapple Smash/Cascading Falls/Surprise Assault (瀑布): R1 + : Sends his mace forward to catch an opponent. While still attached to the mace, he swings his victim several times around before slamming them into the ground. Used in Warriors Orochi 3.


 * Dynasty Warriors Next
 * Speed Musou - Whirlwind: Tap both sides of screen: Cao Ren spins around while swinging his flail about to produce a tornado. Following the attack's movements causes the tornado to expand and create slash marks hitting affected enemies even more.


 * Warriors Orochi 3
 * , undefined: Strikes the ground to produce a minor impact.
 * R1: Entangles the enemy in chains and slams them into the ground.
 * , R1 (Ultimate only): Uses flail to latch unto an enemy and slams them down hard while landing.

Dynasty Warriors 7: Empires
His weapon affiliation changes to the his old shield 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: Conjures a shield-shaped afterimage that damages nearby foes upon contact.
 * Alternate Musou - Chi Surge (驚浪): R1 + : Impales nearby target before hurling them back with pure force.

Dynasty Warriors 8
Cao Ren keeps the same moveset from the previous title with the following additions.


 * EX Attack 2 (Xtreme Legends only):, undefined, undefined: Jumps into the air and propels self to the ground in a spiraling motion.
 * Aerial Musou - Mountain Gorge (幽谷):, : Stomps on the ground twice to produce two massive shockwaves.
 * Awakening Musou: Eviscerates enemies with diagonal slashes done back and forth. For the final phase, the user immediately stomps the earth with enough might to unleash a large burst of energy. The extension of this attack has the user ramming shield at high-speed before thrusting blade a few times near the end.