Dynasty Warriors Next/Direct Break

Direct Break is an exclusive attack feature introduced in Dynasty Warriors Next. When the green bar on the bottom left (known as the Break gauge) is full, players can unleash a powerful attack by tapping the screen once. Aside from dealing damage to surrounding enemies, it has an additional effect of capturing any base other than main camps instantaneously. Also, bases gained via Direct Break cannot be taken again by enemy troops. The type of Direct Break used depends on what troops the player's character has under their command.

Strategy
An effective way to fill up the Break gauge is to perform long combos against a large group of enemies. This can be done by using Speed Musou attacks to score massive hits or chain maneuvers to prolong combo strings. Ginseng, certain stratagems, and any weapon with the "Break" attribute also help improve the player's ability to maximize the gauge.

With the exception of shield troops, archers, and sorcerers, players remain stationary during a Direct Break. At times, positioning oneself before activating the attack is necessary in order to inflict the most amount of damage possible. The effects of the three aforementioned units provide excellent cover and mobility, enabling the player to fight how they see fit.

It is ideal to trigger Direct Breaks on sanctums to ensure further protection for other bases nearby. Areas captured through this method may also serve as bait to keep enemy officers occupied while allied troops can rush towards their main camp.