Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features a deep and satisfying combat system that rewards experimentation and mastery. In this guide, we’ll dive into advanced techniques such as aerial combos, surge management, cancels, and strategic use of time manipulation to dominate your foes. Whether you’re aiming for flawless boss runs or mastering extended combos, this guide covers everything you need.

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1. Mastering Melee Combos and Cancels

Basic Mechanics Recap:

• Sargon’s primary melee combo consists of three hits:
  • Hit 1 & 2: Can be canceled into a dodge, parry, or jump.
  • Hit 3: Cannot be canceled, so avoid it unless you are certain it will land.

Advanced Combo Tips:

• Two-Hit Rule: Stick to two-hit combos to avoid launching enemies too far for follow-ups.
• Combo Extensions: After two hits, dodge forward and continue attacking to extend combos.
• Aerial Launch: After two ground attacks, hold up + attack to launch enemies into the air for aerial combos.

Aerial Combos:

• Perform two attacks in the air, then use the upward slash to keep enemies airborne.
• Avoid repeating the same attack consecutively as it reduces damage.

Pro Tip: Use dodge cancels to reset the first two hits repeatedly, maximizing DPS without committing to uncancelable finishers.

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2. Time Manipulation and Shadow Clones

Time manipulation is a cornerstone of advanced combat, offering both offensive and defensive options.

Shadow Clone Techniques:

• Press L1 to place a clone and press it again to return to it.
• Combo Setup: Place a clone, execute a charged attack, teleport back to the clone, and follow up with more attacks.
• Aerial Usage: Launch enemies, teleport to a clone above them, and continue air combos.

Time Rewind Tips:

• Use time rewind to dodge large AOE attacks like flame wheels or beams.
• Effective against bosses with prolonged AOE attacks by placing a clone outside the attack radius.

Pro Tip: Integrate clone setups into air combos to stay airborne longer and maximize damage.

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3. Ranged Attacks: Bow and Chakram Mastery

The Bow of Menolas:

• Great for interrupting non-red indicator enemy attacks.
• Use arrows mid-combo to extend air time and juggle enemies.

Chakram Techniques:

• Charge the Chakram for extended range and multi-hit potential.
• Parry the Chakram: Parrying it on return builds AOM meter and interrupts enemy actions.
• Teleport to Chakram: Unlocks later; use to extend combos or reposition during boss fights.

Pro Tip: Alternate between bow shots and melee hits in air combos to keep enemies stunned.

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4. AOS Surges: When and How to Use Them

Understanding AOS Surges:

• Requires a filled surge meter (up to 3 levels).
• Surges provide invincibility frames, making them ideal for counterattacks.

Recommended Surges:

• Barman’s Breath: Healing zone for survival during boss fights.
• Soul of Gilgamesh: Temporarily boosts speed, attack, and defense.

Surge Management Tips:

• Use level 1 surges frequently for crowd control.
• Save higher-level surges for boss phases with limited openings.

Pro Tip: Combine surges with time clones to maximize damage without risk.

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5. Amulets: Passive Boosts and Best Builds

Recommended Amulets:

• Blade Dancer: Adds an extra hit to combos.
• Shield of Mithra: Creates a time-slowing bubble on parry.
• Eye of Destiny: Displays enemy health bars, crucial for timing surges.

Optimizing Builds:

• Equip offensive amulets for mob fights and defensive for bosses.
• Upgrade slots to hold multiple amulets for versatility.

Pro Tip: Use amulets that enhance AOM meter gain if you rely heavily on surges.

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6. Advanced Defensive Techniques

Parry vs. Dodge:

• Parries: Rewarding but risky. Use against yellow-indicator attacks for instant execution.
• Dodges: Safer and can be canceled into attacks.

Slide Dodge:

• Effective for repositioning behind shielded enemies.
• Integrate into combos for mix-ups.

Backstep Dodge:

• Useful for canceling heavy attacks and avoiding wide AOE.

Pro Tip: Prioritize dodges against bosses and parries for mob clearing.

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7. Efficient Farming and Training Tips

Training Arena:

• Complete challenges for Time Crystals and AOM meter practice.
• Focus on parry timing and combo extensions.

Farming Tips:

• Use the Ecbatana Steel amulet to gather time crystals quickly.
• Focus on arenas with high enemy density for AOM charge farming.

Pro Tip: Farm AOM meter in weaker enemy arenas to start boss fights with a full charge.

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Conclusion

Mastering the advanced combat techniques in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will transform every fight into a display of precision and strategy. Experiment with surges, time clones, and optimized amulet builds to find your perfect combat style.

Good luck, and may your blades strike true!