The Master Strike in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a counterattack that deflects your opponent’s blow and follows straight through with a hit of your own. Tomcat at the Nomads’ Camp teaches it, but only after you beat him in a duel. This guide covers where to find Tomcat, how both training quests go, how to time the Master Strike, how combos work and how to survive fights against several enemies. Information is current as of 19 October 2026.
How combat works in KCD2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a first-person action RPG, and combat follows suit. According to Warhorse’s developers, fights are not decided by a hidden dice roll but by how well you handle technique: blocking, counterattacks and combos. You can fight with swords, axes, maces and bows, now also crossbows and early firearms, and there is unarmed combat with grapples and disarms.
Combat is directional. An enemy holds their weapon left, right, high or low and attacks from that direction. The general rule: attack from the opposite side to where your opponent holds their weapon. This principle applies to regular strikes and to the Master Strike.
Tomcat: where to find him and what he teaches
Tomcat teaches you the basics of sword fighting. You will find him at the Nomads’ Camp in the south-west of the first map. Bara the beggar in Troskowitz points you to him: she gives you the quest Combat Training I. Bara is a good first stop after the prologue for her lockpick and information too, see our beginner’s guide.
Combat Training I: free combos
In the first session Tomcat teaches you basic sword combos for free. You repeat each combo several times, so you get a feel for the controls with no risk.
Combat Training II: the duel for the Master Strike
In the second session you have to beat Tomcat in a duel. Only then does he teach you the Master Strike. Save with Saviour Schnapps before the fight so you can retry if it goes wrong. The schnapps recipe and brewing steps are in our guide to alchemy recipes.
Master Strike: timing and direction
The Master Strike is a counterattack. You strike at the moment your opponent’s attack is landing, and from the opposite direction to theirs. If they go high, you go low. Your strike deflects their blow and follows through with a hit.
- Timing: strike as your opponent’s attack is landing.
- Direction: watch where the attack comes from and answer from the opposite side.
- Weapon: the Master Strike only works with a sword. You cannot use it with an axe or a mace.
You learn the timing fastest by repeating it. That is why it pays to save before fights where you want to practise the Master Strike.
Combos: how to chain them
A combo is a series of strikes from different directions. You enter each next strike at the moment the previous one hits.
In the first training session Tomcat teaches you, among others, these two combos:
- right → left → right
- up → right → left
We do not list combo names because sources disagree on them. What matters is the directions and the rhythm.
Fighting several enemies
Being surrounded is the most dangerous situation in KCD2. Against several opponents, back off so they follow you in a line and attack one at a time instead of all at once.
Your dog Mutt is a big help. He fights at your side and can keep one enemy busy while you deal with another. The quest to find him is long and runs across the whole first region, but it is worth it.
Weapons against armour
Not every weapon suits every opponent. Blunt weapons such as a mace or hammer help against heavy armour, while light padding is vulnerable to cuts. Remember that the Master Strike only works with a sword, so consider switching weapons against heavily armoured enemies.
Look after your weapons. A broken sword is gone for good, and a poorly maintained firearm can blow up in your hand. You can also forge a sword yourself, as our blacksmithing guide explains.
How to get better at combat
Skills in KCD2 improve through use (more in the Steam announcement). The more you fight, the better you get, and progress with one weapon also helps other weapons of the same class. New techniques unlock as you level up. Besides Tomcat, there are other trainers and books.
If you want combat without help, try the Hardcore Mode: it removes visual combat hints from the UI, and enemies no longer surrender.
Join our Discord to get tips on beating Tomcat or share your own approach to duels: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
From Tomcat at the Nomads’ Camp in the south-west of the first map. Complete Combat Training I, where he teaches you combos, then beat him in a duel in Combat Training II. After that he teaches you the Master Strike.
At the Nomads’ Camp in the south-west of the first map. Bara the beggar in Troskowitz gives you the quest that leads to him.
Strike as your opponent’s attack is landing, from the opposite direction: if they attack high, go low. Your strike deflects their blow and follows through with a hit.
No, the Master Strike only works with a sword.
Back off so they follow you in a line and attack one at a time, and let Mutt keep one of them busy. Being surrounded is the most dangerous situation.
Information verified on 19 October 2026. Find more guides in our KCD2 guides section.