When you increase your blade skill, more power attacks are available and the power attacks can be used by pressing a certain direction and using the power attack (for the PC, walk sideways and use power attack)

However most of the time i tend to walk whilst doing the power attack, and more often than not i end up missing the attack
How are the attacks supposed to be done? Because if i perform a backward power attack for example i would end up taking a few steps back and attacking.

That gets tricky, especially with the Backwards Power Attack. It's all about timing. I know that sounds like a cheap answer, but it's true. The same with others. The only time I can execute them, with constant success, is when my character it up against a wall. :teehee: This keeps him/her from moving out of range. The BPA is effective when the enemy is charging. Also using a longer weapon, like a Claymore, will increase the success of these power attacks.

Basicly this is your answer. It is about timing and positioning, and even after almost 5 years of practise I miss regulary. Best thing is to just keep trying.

Agreed, though the draw back of doing BPA while against the wall is you're screwed if you get mobbed (stares at guards).

The best time of doing a sidewards, standing and forward power attack is after your opponent recoils from hitting your shield. This ensures that your opponent has a smaller chance of being able to block your pwer attack.

The worst time of doing a power attack is when your surrounded, or when you strike while the opponent is blocking.

Forward power attack is good when an opponent charges at you, though is risky because they could block. Forward is also good for nailing those damned Necromancers/ Conjurers who run away.

Like what everybody says, timing is key. You should get sparring matches by toggling God Mode then practicing on a guard.

Sparring matches eh? ok
Although it seems like doing power attacks with dagger wouldnt be worth it, is there any "optimal" weapon to power attack with? Longswords for example? Claymores seem too bulky

If you have the Stronghold DLC, you can Sparr with a person in there without cheating.

Personally, I use power attacks for special moments.

Forwards power attack (without moving): 1v1, I've just blocked an enemies blow and they are recoiling. 1 Power attack when I have high fatigue is better the two swings of my sword.

Forward power attacking whilst moving (charge): Running into battle occasionally, depends if they ahve a shield themselves. If they do they intend to block me before I reach them, making me recoil. AND: Using it to catch up with Archers and Mages, use it when close behind them.

Side attacks (Left + Right): If you're in a corner, using these may make your opposition recoil whilst your moving away from the wall. If it's a group of enemies you can use it to go through a gap if they surround you. Also good for just spinning around on 1v1 , has a chance to disarm i believe?

Backwards attack: Use when against a wall, this way you have a much lower chance of missing. Use this too if you want to gain distance, and its a perfect combo if you block, enemy recoils after hitting you, you quickly move forwards and then backwards power attack. Doing this effectively will cause them not only to take damage, but to swing at you and 95% of the time miss you as you've gone backwards. This allows you to frenzy slash them, as I like to call it. Others like to call it 'going ape [censored] on them'.

Thats what I personally do. Take what you will

Are power attacks crucial if your character is warrior based? because what i usually do is i normal power attack them (less chance to miss) till they stagger and then i slash em as fast as i can when they're staggering.
Because im planning to play a warrior in Skyrim, gotta learn the tactics
And thanks, the situations y'all mentioned seem to work pretty well

I wouldn't say they're crucial. In my experience they help certainly, but are not essential. I often forget about special moves and spend hours at a time playing the same way I did at level 1. If your character is staying alive, you're doing it right.

I wouldn't bother learning the tactics, if your goal is to transfer that knowledge to Skyrim. With the new talent trees Warrior tactics are bound to be very different in that game.

Heavier weapons has a greater chance of staggering your opponents.

Usually I spam the sideways power attack to disarm my opponents, then they're dead meat.

Hi Azuron, I'm actually playing a Breton warrior level 21 right now, whats your warrior race and level? I'm at the point now where I'm really starting to enjoy this character, he is an absolute beast.

I use a longsword with shield, I highly recommend this. I've always been a big sword fan but I'm having a LOT more fun with shield, I think it's at expert or maybe journeyman I can't remember you get a very neat skill, when you block an attack straight afterwards you smack him with the shield, and it does it often too and it always staggers them setting them up for your punishing power shots.

No one has mentioned this but I've found a technique that really works for me, I rarely use the side step power attacks I like the backwards one, when executed it sometimes knocks them down. I do this everytime I've just staggered them with my shield I get as close as I can to them, Don't actually hold the attack button and move backwards at the same time, first press the attack button so the power attacks starts charging up and just before he's about to lash out move backwards, this way u don't move very far from ur enemy and it always hits and I love it when they are on the floor and you just smash them to bits with a sadistic smile lol. Doing this to big enemies like Minotaur lords and ogres makes you feel badass too.
Just try it out in third person so you get the timing right and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Edit: This isn't always the most effective way as it doesn't always knock them down, but I know many people say they get bored of warriors because it's just spamming the attack button, this is just a different way of killing to mix it up a bit and as I've said theirs not many things better than seeing an ogre flying through the air and falling on it's ass by a lovely power attack.

I usually deliver my power attacks in a double or triple attack combo (slash, power-attack or slash, slash, power-attack).

When doing a sideways power attack, your character tends to sidestep away from the enemy being in your focus (center of your screen). Try to keep the enemy a the center of the screen, while you're doing a sideways power attack, by turning your character to face them, if you can. Although I don't find my sideways power attacks very successful at disarming my opponents.

Backwards power attacks I usually execute when the enemy is charging. Sometimes they back off momentarily to dodge, but I then pull a BPA when they come charging back in. I also seem to have a decent success rate doing a double attack combo (slash, BPA).

Also as mentioned, another opportune time to do a power attack is just after successfully blocking an enemy's physical attack.

Use a big hammer side ways power attack, disarm opponent, then attack with hand to hand. It's a nice little loophole against enemies that traditionally attack with weapons, there hand to hand usually isnt very good and you can dominate them.

ORC APPROVAL!

Sideways attack is easier to connnect when playing in 3rd person, as is close quarters archery.

Thank God I have no such problem with Archery. Once you get that zoom fucntion, with sneak and poisons - oh man...