How to Learn Master Strikes

If you rode to the Nomad Camp as soon as Tomcat came up, that first lesson probably felt rough fast. The combo drill is picky, and the duel right after it can make Henry feel clumsy in a hurry. This unlock comes down to timing more than raw stats, so once the rhythm lands in Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, fights start making a lot more sense.

TL;DR: Finish Combat Training I with Tomcat at the Nomad Camp, then challenge him to a duel to unlock Combat Training II. Beat him with a sword and decent armor, then learn Master Strike, a sword counter that works when you attack from the opposite line at the same moment as the green perfect-block prompt.

How to unlock Master Strikes

1. Go to Tomcat and finish Combat Training I first. This happens at the Nomad Camp in the Trosky region. Tomcat starts with basic combos before he teaches the advanced counter.
2. Do the Horizontal Slice combo faster than feels comfortable. The sequence is an attack from above, then from the right, then from the left. After the second hit, enter the third strike quickly and cleanly. Do not oversteer your aim. That is where many players lose the chain.
3. Challenge Tomcat to a duel to begin Combat Training II. Treat it like a real fight, not a sparring match. Bring a proper sword, wear armor, and expect him to push you hard.
4. Beat Tomcat with patience. A perfect block is a last-second guard that stops an incoming hit cleanly. Use that to stay safe, then answer with one clean strike or a short combo. Do not burn all your stamina on wild swings. If the duel feels out of reach, leave, get a few more Sword or Warfare levels, improve your gear, and come back later.
5. Learn Master Strike and practice it in the lesson. A Master Strike is stronger than a normal block because it stops the enemy attack and hits back in one motion. Keep your sword on the opposite side of Tomcat's attack, then press attack as the green shield prompt appears. If his blade starts on your left, start on your right.

How to make Master Strikes work in real fights

The part many new players miss is that Master Strikes are not a free panic button. Two things have to happen together: you need the right direction and the right timing. They also only work with swords, so do not expect them to trigger with axes, maces, or polearms. In duels, though, this is one of the best early tools Henry can learn. It lets you punish an aggressive enemy without having to win a long exchange first.

Use Master Strikes most in one-on-one fights and small scraps. Hold center, watch the enemy's weapon line, and let them begin. If you keep getting clipped, slow down and read the attack line before you worry about the prompt. Tip: in group fights, do not chase a Master Strike every second. Footwork, space, and stamina matter more.

If you missed Tomcat or have already moved on to Kuttenberg, you can still learn Master Strike later from Dry Devil at the Devil's Den. It is the slower route, but it beats stumbling through half the game without the counter that finally makes sword duels feel fair.