The legendary and brutal fighting style of Mad Dog has officially arrived in A Universal Time (AUT) with the massive Update 5.3. Inspired by the Mad Dog of Shimano, this Legendary ability offers a fast-paced, aggressive melee combat style that is both challenging and incredibly powerful. Unlocking it requires completing a specific questline.
This guide will walk you through every step of how to get Mad Dog in AUT, from starting the quest to mastering all its devastating moves.
How to Start the Mad Dog Quest
The first step to unlocking this powerful ability is to find and speak with the right NPC.
Go to Champion District.
Ensure you are Standless. You cannot start the quest if you have any Stand or Spec active.
Locate and talk to Homare Nishitani. He will give you the quest to prove your worth.
AUT Mad Dog Quest Guide: Step-by-Step
The quest for Mad Dog consists of several consecutive steps. Follow them carefully.
Step 1: Find the Mysterious Dagger
After speaking with Homare, your first objective is to find the Mysterious Dagger.
This item spawns randomly inside chests located around the game’s map.
You must search various chest locations until you find it.
Pro Tip: Playing on a server with fewer people can make it easier to find and loot chests without competition.
Once you have the Mysterious Dagger in your inventory, return to Homare Nishitani in the Champion District and give it to him.
Step 2: Defeat 15 Unique Players (Standless)
Your next task is to prove your strength in PvP.
Homare will task you with defeating 15 other players.
You must be Standless for these kills to count.
Each player you defeat is counted only once. Defeating the same player multiple times will not progress the quest.
There is a cooldown of approximately 2.5 minutes between each counted kill.
Step 3: Defeat 15 Thugs and 15 Hooligans
After proving yourself against players, you must now defeat NPCs.
Homare will ask you to defeat 15 Thugs and 15 Hooligans.
These NPCs can be found in the areas surrounding the Champion District.
This step is relatively straightforward and serves as a preparation for the final challenge.
Step 4: Defeat Homare Nishitani
Once all the Thugs and Hooligans are defeated, you will face your final test: a one-on-one battle against Homare Nishitani himself.
This is a quick duel where Homare uses the Mad Dog fighting style.
Be prepared for a fast and aggressive opponent.
Upon defeating him, he will reward you with the Demonfire Dagger, a Legendary item.
Step 5: Unlocking the Mad Dog Ability
With the Demonfire Dagger in your inventory, the final step is simple.
Make sure you are Standless.
Use the Demonfire Dagger from your inventory.
This will consume the item and permanently unlock the Mad Dog ability for your character.
AUT Mad Dog Mastery and Moveset Guide
Unlocking the ability is just the beginning. To access its full potential and all its moves, you must increase your Mad Dog Mastery by speaking with Homare again.
Prerequisite: You must be at least Ascension 1+ to start the Mastery grind.
How to Increase Mad Dog Mastery
The process for increasing Mastery is a repetitive cycle of combat and challenging Homare.
With Mad Dog equipped, speak to Homare.
He will challenge you to defeat 5 unique players using the Mad Dog ability.
Once you have 5 unique PvP kills, return to Homare.
You must now defeat him in a duel again. Be warned: with each Mastery level, Homare becomes stronger and will start using the moves you have unlocked.
Winning the duel will increase your Mad Dog Mastery by one level.
Repeat this process until you reach Mastery 4 to unlock the entire Mad Dog moveset.
Mad Dog Moveset Unlock Order
| Mastery Level | Ability Unlocked | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mastery 0 | Basic Combo & Finishers | The foundational attacks you start with. |
| Mastery 1 | Haanya Dance | A powerful and evasive move. |
| Mastery 2 | Triple Rush Attack Finishers | Enhances your existing combo with new, brutal finishers. |
| Mastery 3 | Mad Dog Maul | A devastating heavy attack. |
| Mastery 4 | Loose Dog | The ultimate and most powerful move in the Mad Dog arsenal. |
Tips for Getting Mad Dog in AUT
Use Buffs: Consider using speed buffs or other items that enhance your mobility to make the PvP steps easier.
Server Selection: For the Mysterious Dagger step, opt for low-population servers to check chests without interference.
Stay Standless: Do not use any other Stand or Spec ability during the initial questline, or you may have to start over.
Practice Combos: Once unlocked, spend time learning the Mad Dog combos to maximize its effectiveness in battle.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Is Mad Dog a Stand or a Spec in AUT?
A: Mad Dog is classified as a Spec (Special Ability), not a Stand.
Q: Can I use another ability during the “Defeat 15 Players” quest?
A: No. You must remain Standless for those kills to count toward the quest progress.
Q: What is the best way to defeat Homare in the Mastery duels?
A: Learn his attack patterns. As he gains your unlocked moves, he becomes more predictable. Use your own Mad Dog combos aggressively and dodge his heavy-hitting attacks.
Q: Is Mad Dog better than Dragon in AUT?
A: Both are powerful Legendary melee specs introduced in Update 5.3. “Better” is subjective and depends on your playstyle. Mad Dog is known for its raw speed and aggression, while Dragon offers a different set of powerful moves. They are considered rivals.
Conclusion
Unlocking and mastering the Mad Dog ability in A Universal Time is a challenging but rewarding grind. By carefully following this AUT Mad Dog quest guide—from finding the Mysterious Dagger and defeating players to finally overcoming Homare and grinding your Mastery—you will add one of the game’s most aggressive and prestigious melee specs to your arsenal. Its fast-paced, chaotic combat style makes it a top-tier choice for any player looking to dominate in close-quarters combat. Good luck