Among the roster of future champions in Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Yunobo may appear endearing and strong-hearted, but his gameplay demands a different kind of patience. As the descendant of Daruk, he shares his ancestor’s protective powers—but uses them with a completely different fighting style. No weapon, no frills—just fists, raw power, and a unique mechanic that revolves around his shield-based enhancements. This guide dives into every move, every mechanic, and gives you a strategic lens through which to view Yunobo’s role in the battlefield.

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Basic Abilities – Fists First, Strategy Second

Yunobo’s combat style is based around powered-up punches and the use of Daruk’s Protection, a mechanic unique to him. Let’s begin with his core moves:

• Dash Attack: Executed with X while sprinting, this has Yunobo roll forward and punch out of the roll. He then continues his momentum, which is a solid opener into combos.
• Mid-Air Ground Pound: Press Y while in mid-air, and Yunobo slams into the ground. You can continue mashing Y to keep this attack going indefinitely, creating a pseudo-loop that works decently in a crowd.
• Special Attack: A large AOE burst that’s simple but effective—standard for many characters.
• Weak Point Smash: Nothing special mechanically, but as with most characters, this move dishes out high damage when an enemy’s weak point gauge is depleted.

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Unique Action – Daruk’s Protection in Three Flavors

Yunobo’s Unique Action is to eat a Rock Roast, randomly granting one of three forms of Daruk’s Protection:

1. Normal (Smooth) – Buffs Combos 2 and 5
2. Spiky (Red) – Buffs Combos 3 and 4
3. Yellow (Flickery) – Buffs Combo 6 and the standard strong attack

Each protection aura enhances specific combos and damages enemies on contact, with the spiky version doing slightly more. However, the mechanic is random, making Yunobo a bit unreliable. You’ll often find yourself cycling through shields mid-battle, just to get the enhancement you want—exposing yourself to damage while doing so.

This system, while thematically amusing, can become frustrating. It interrupts the pace of combat, especially given Yunobo’s naturally slower animations.

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Sheikah Slate Runes – Standard but Solid

Yunobo’s rune abilities stick fairly close to what you’d expect:

• Cryonis: Creates a massive ice cylinder beneath him. Follow up with X to have Yunobo body slam it and break it—a flashy combo finisher with moderate area effect.
• Remote Bombs: Spawns a trail of bombs, and Yunobo rolls through them, detonating each one. You can direct the roll using the left stick, with curves possible depending on directional input.
• Magnesis: Pulls in nearby metal weapons and does a spinning attack that’s player-directed. Great for crowd control, but situational.
• Stasis: Freezes all nearby enemies. Yunobo follows with three progressively powerful ground slams. You can cancel out of the animation early with B to return to combos—helpful when you want to be more aggressive.

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Combo Analysis – Normal vs. Powered-Up

Now let’s look at Yunobo’s core combos and how each is altered with the correct protection shield.

• Combo 1 (Y x7): A series of seven punches. Feels sluggish and underwhelming—rarely used for practical reasons.
• Combo 2 (Y > X):
  • Normal Version: Basic rock shot forward.
  • With Normal Protection: Rock becomes much larger and gains a shield coating, boosting range and impact.
• Combo 3 (Y > Y > X):
  • Base Version: Punch-punch, then Goron roll. Extend roll with more X presses. Ends with Yunobo slamming his fists down.
  • With Spiky Protection: A large shield forms during the roll, and ends with a fiery magma fist erupting from the ground. Very effective in narrow lanes.
• Combo 4 (Y x3 > X):
  • Base Version: Ends with a spinning attack.
  • With Spiky Protection: Surrounded by a bubble shield during spin, and concludes with a small damaging tornado.
• Combo 5 (Y x4 > X):
  • Normal Version: Ends with a ground pound and single magma fist.
  • With Normal Protection: Greatly enhanced area—creates a full circle of magma fists, fantastic for crowd damage.
• Combo 6 (Y x5 > X):
  • Base Version: Summons the Divine Beast-style cannon and launches Yunobo.
  • With Yellow Protection: Cannon shot is wrapped in a large protective shield, boosting damage and range. Great against minibosses.

Each of these combos serves a role, but without the matching shield, their effectiveness is significantly reduced. Managing shield types becomes essential for success.

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Weapon Build Recommendation – Speed to the Rescue

Given Yunobo’s slow combo animations, attack speed is the top priority. Here’s a practical setup:

• 1x Attack Range Seal – Slightly helps with crowd control and hit consistency
• 3x Attack Speed Seals – Speeds up animation frames, letting you enter and exit combos more fluidly

Alternatively, go for 4x Attack Speed if you prefer maximum responsiveness and don’t care about extra range.

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Strategy Tips – How to Make Yunobo Work

• Pre-Plan Combos: Know which combo you want to use for each scenario. Need crowd control? Go for Combo 3 or 5. Bosses? Use Combo 4 or 6. That way, you can cycle to the right protection before entering the fight.
• Combo 3 in Hallways: The Goron roll works wonders in narrow spaces. With spiky protection, it can shred mobs while keeping Yunobo in motion.
• Combo 6 for Bosses: Yellow-enhanced cannon shots are one of Yunobo’s best options for revealing and damaging weak point gauges.
• Avoid Combo 1: It’s slow and inefficient. Stick to more specialized sequences.
• Be Cautious Mid-Cycle: Since shields are random, don’t cycle carelessly in combat. You’re vulnerable while waiting for the right aura.

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Final Verdict – A Rocky Road to Relevance

Yunobo’s kit has moments of brilliance—his powered-up combos can be satisfying, and his crowd control isn’t half-bad when the right shield aligns. But the barrier to entry is high, and the payoff often feels too modest for the effort required.

The shield cycling mechanic is clunky and undermines his flow. When other characters have instant access to devastating combos, Yunobo often feels like he’s playing a slower, less optimized game.

In a roster filled with more fluid and consistent champions, Yunobo struggles to find his footing. He’s not without value, especially if you love his personality or are committed to mastering every character—but he’s arguably one of the least efficient picks.

Still, if you’re willing to dig through the layers of RNG and patience, there’s a charm in making him work.