For Honor

Overview

For Honor is the fourth main quest in Chapter 2: Golden Greed. Kliff heads to Hernand Square where he finds a group of knights from the Order of Light discussing the Greymanes. A confrontation with their leader, Matthias, escalates into a one-on-one duel. This is the first real boss fight in Chapter 2, though Matthias is relatively straightforward compared to what comes later.

Quest Details

Walkthrough

Travel to Hernand Square

Make your way to the western side of Hernand Square, near the inn. Look for a group of four people sitting together. The knight at the center of the group is Matthias, leader of the Order of Light. Lock onto him and start the conversation.

Confront Matthias

Kliff asks the group about his missing Greymane comrades. The exchange gets heated and Matthias challenges Kliff to a duel to prove his worth. Accept the challenge to begin the fight.

Boss Fight: Matthias

Overview

Matthias has two health bars that change color from blue to red as the fight progresses. He uses basic sword attacks and kicks. By the standards of bosses in this game, he is one of the easier encounters. His attacks are slow and well-telegraphed.

Phase 1 (Blue Health Bar)

During the first phase, Matthias telegraphs every attack clearly. His most notable move is the Pump Kick, where he drops both arms before charging forward. Dodge sideways when you see this animation to avoid the knockback. His heavy overhead strikes glow red and are easy to read. Punish him with light attack combos (R1/RB) after each dodge.

Phase 2 (Red Health Bar)

The second phase plays out similarly. Matthias becomes slightly more cautious and throws attacks with less downtime between them. The same patterns apply: dodge his telegraphed strikes and counter with light attacks. Heavy attacks (R2/RT) work well here too, especially when he staggers after a missed Pump Kick.

Combat Tips

• A reliable combo is three light attacks (R1/RB) followed by three heavy attacks (R2/RT). This interrupts Matthias before he can start his next move.

• Light attacks preserve stamina better than heavy ones. Save heavy attacks for openings when he is recovering from a missed swing.

• Keep your stamina above half before starting a combo. If you run dry, dodge away and wait for it to regenerate.

• Bring cooked food (grilled meat from the Hernand vendor restores 80 HP) if you are taking too much damage.

Learning Pump Kick

During the duel, watch for moments when Matthias performs his Pump Kick. Using Kliff's "Watch and Learn" ability (L1/LB), you can study the technique mid-fight. After observing it enough times, Kliff learns the Pump Kick skill and can add it to his own moveset. This is the main reward from the quest.

Notes

• If you lose the duel, you respawn at a checkpoint just before the fight. Your healing items are refunded.

• The Pump Kick skill is useful for creating distance against aggressive enemies in later quests.

• After the fight, stay in the area. The next quest, Awestruck, triggers immediately when a nearby NPC approaches Kliff.

Detailed Boss Strategy: Matthias

The duel with Matthias takes place in a circular arena in Hernand Square. He fights with a longsword and uses both quick thrusts and slow overhead swings. His two-phase health bar (blue, then red) is the first multi-phase boss encounter in Chapter 2.

Phase 1: Blue Health Bar

Matthias telegraphs every attack with clear wind-up animations. His most dangerous move is the Pump Kick: he drops both arms to his sides and charges forward. The animation is distinct and gives you roughly one second to react. Dodge sideways (not backward) to avoid the knockback. If the Pump Kick connects, Kliff gets knocked to the ground and takes moderate damage.

His overhead heavy strikes glow red before impact. These are slow but deal significant damage if they land. Roll to either side and punish with a three-hit light combo (R1/RB x3). He leaves himself open for about two seconds after missing a heavy strike.

Phase 2: Red Health Bar

Phase 2 plays similarly but Matthias becomes more aggressive with shorter pauses between combos. He still uses the same Pump Kick and overhead patterns, but mixes in faster thrust attacks that are harder to read. Continue the same dodge-and-punish strategy. Heavy attacks (R2/RT) work especially well after he misses a Pump Kick because his recovery animation is longer than after his other moves.

Effective Combos

Learning the Pump Kick Skill

During the duel, watch for moments when Matthias performs his signature Pump Kick. Activate Kliff's "Watch and Learn" ability (L1/LB) while he is performing the move. A learning progress indicator appears. You may need to observe the Pump Kick two or three times for the bar to fill completely. Once learned, the Pump Kick becomes available in Kliff's skill menu and can be equipped as an active combat ability.

The Pump Kick is useful for creating distance against aggressive enemies in later quests. It knocks opponents back and interrupts their attack chains, making it particularly effective against groups.

Preparation and Recovery

If you lose the duel, you respawn at a checkpoint just before the fight starts. All healing items consumed during the failed attempt are refunded, so there is no penalty for retrying. For players struggling with the fight, cooking grilled meat at any nearby cooking pot restores 80 HP per piece. Purchase raw meat from the Hernand vendor if your supply is low.

Keep your stamina above half before starting any combo. If you run out of stamina mid-chain, Kliff's attacks slow down and Matthias can counter. Dodge away and wait a few seconds for stamina to regenerate rather than forcing attacks on an empty bar.

Story Aftermath

After the duel, Matthias acknowledges Kliff's skill and withdraws with his Order of Light knights. The fight establishes Kliff's reputation in Hernand and sets up the next quest, Awestruck, which triggers immediately when Barden Middler approaches from the crowd. Stay in the square after the fight rather than leaving the area.