10. Shi Xie

Shi Xie, a free-LC character, is a strategist-type general and leader of his own faction. His starting armor doubles his health, which makes him a strong general to have in your army, and his passive skills greatly buff the morale of nearby units, one of the most important stats in any Total War game! Pairing this general with others who can further buff morale or damage the morale of enemy units will give you a strong enemy to contend with.

Strengths

• Shi Xie has strong abilities and traits that can greatly buff units during battle, and help snowball a weak point in the enemy’s army and cause a general rout.

Stats

• Governor Shi
  • +20 Cunning | +20 Authority
  • -10% recruitment cost for ranged units [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +1 available trade agreements (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Scholarly
  • +4 Expertise | +4 Cunning
  • +25% Character Experience
• Brilliant
  • +6 Expertise | +6 Cunning 
  • +15% ammunition for all units (own armies in this county)
  • -30% ammunition for all units (enemy armies in this county)
  • +10% income from all sources (administered commandery)
  • Increased ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Clever
  • +8 Cunning
  • +25% Character Experience

Ancillaries

Shi Xie’s Armor

• 15 Armor Base
• +18 Cunning
• +30% Ranged block chance
• +12 Charge Bonus
• Double Health

Abilities

• Turning the Tide (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: Enemy unit routing in range | 100m effect range
  • +25% Ranged Damage - Base
  • +25% Ranged Damage - Armor-piercing
  • +25% Melee Damage - Base
  • +25% Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
  • +10 Morale
• Nature’s Ally (Passive Buff)
  • 75m effect range
  • +25% Speed
  • +10 Morale
  • Ignore forest penalties
• Inspiring Surge (Passive Buff)
  • Can target if: general | 50m effect range
  • -2s Decreased cooldown of abilities

9. Guo Jia

Guo Jia is a strategist-type character whom you can recruit as Cao Cao through a series of events. His  main strength is placing him as prime minister or heir to your faction, as his bonus decreases corruption, which will especially be useful in the mid or late stages of the game, where the size of your kingdom will make corruption rampant throughout your game. He’s definitely a strong contender for this position, should you get him into your faction. 

Strengths

• Placing this character as prime minister, faction heir or faction leader, you can drastically decrease corruption, which will be a big thorn to your income in the later stages of the game. He also possesses one of the strongest forest spotting abilities in the game, preventing the enemy from hiding units in forests during battles!

Stats

• Astute Advisor
  • +20 Expertise | +20 Cunning | +20 Authority
  • -10% Corruption [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)

• Brilliant
  • +6 Expertise  | +6 Cunning 
  • +15% ammunition for all units (own armies in this county)
  • -30% ammunition for all units (enemy armies in this county)
  • +10% income from all sources (administered commandery)
  • Increased ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Perceptive
  • +6 Cunning | +2 Instinct
  • +10% Chance of capturing enemy officers post-battle
  • +10% Line-of-sight
• Cunning
  • +15% Chance of ambushing (own army)

Ancillaries

Guo Jia’s Armor 

• 15 Armor Base
• +18 Cunning
• +10% Character Experience (this army)
• +15% Speed

Abilities

• Wisdom of the River (Active Debuff)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 50m effect range
  • 30s duration | 120s cooldown
  • -100% Melee Evasion
  • -100% Armor 
• Stifling Deluge (Passive Debuff)
  • Can target if: general | 50m effect range
  • 1s duration | 4s cooldown
  • +5s Increased cooldown of abilities
• Foresight (Passive Buff)
  • +5000 Visibility Range
  • +5000 Forest Spotting

8. Yuan Shao

The Preeminent Commander, Yuan Shao, is a commander-type general and the leader of his own faction. While his faction leader bonuses aren’t special and his starting traits aren’t ideal (the “Vain” trait, especially), what makes him stand out is his unique abilities, “Distant Courage” and “Familial Conflict,” providing nearby units with several buffs to their stats (notably to morale and charge bonus). This makes him a strong battlefield commander, and that any units fighting with him on the field will be much stronger than they usually are! However, it would be to your benefit to aim to reroll his “Vain” trait as soon as possible, as it can be very detrimental to your income, especially in the early game!

Strengths

• While his starting traits are not ideal, Yuan Shao’s abilities (particularly Distant Courage) can give nearby units very strong buffs and are only unique to him.

Stats

• Preeminent Commander
  • +30 Resolve | +20 Authority | +10 Instinct
  • +100% Reinforcement Range
  • +50% Income from family estates (if faction leader)
  • -15%  recruitment cost for polearm infantry [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +3 starting rank for polearm infantry recruits [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Arrogant
  • +2 Instinct | +6 Authority
  • -15% chance of evading capture post-battle
• Charismatic
  • +12 Authority
  • +5 Satisfaction [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +3 Public Order (administered commandery)
  • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Vain
  • +6 Instinct | -4 Cunning
  • +25% Retinue upkeep
  • +1 starting rank for all recruits (own retinue)

Ancillaries

Yuan Shao’s Armor

• 70 Armor Base
• +6 Instinct | +15 Authority
• +5% Melee Attack Rate

Abilities

• Distant Courage (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: not engaged in melee | 150m effect range
  • +50% Charge Bonus
  • +50 Morale
• Familial Conflict (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: Friendly units are in range of this ability
  • Can use if: Not on elephant
  • +50% Melee Damage - Base
  • +50% Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
  • +50% Melee Charge Bonus
  • +50% Melee Attack Rate
  • +5 Morale
• Unyielding Earth (Active Buff)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 75m effect range
  • 30s duration | 120s cooldown
  • +1900% Charge Resistance
  • +100% Melee Evasion
  • Unbreakable

7. Liu Chong

Liu Chong, the Prince of Chen, is a commander-type general that starts off as the leader of his own faction. His faction leader bonuses aren’t special, but it makes him suited to crossbow-heavy armies. His true strength lies in his unique “Show of Force” ability. Provided you can place him in a favorable position where he can fire freely, he will be able to use this ability to damage and rout enemy units!

Strengths

Liu Chong’s ability, Show of Force, makes him one of the most dangerous Commanders in the game, able to deal heavy casualties to enemy units and demoralizing them at the same time. You can effectively force certain units to rout if you place Liu Chong in a position where he can freely use this ability.

Stats

• Prince of Chen
  • +40 Resolve | +25 Authority | +15 Expertise
  • Enables: Scare
  • -20% recruitment costs for Chen units [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +15% Ranged damage for crossbows [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +3 starting rank for all ranged units [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Wise
  • +2 Expertise | +6 Cunning | +4 Authority
  • +5 Satisfaction (local county)
• Patient
  • +6 Expertise |+2 Cunning
  • Enables: fatigue resistance
• Charismatic
  • +12 Authority
  • +5 Satisfaction [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +3 Public Order (administered commandery)
  • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator

Ancillaries

Liu Chong’s Armor

• 75 Armor Base
• +15 Authority

Prince Liu Chong’s Crossbow

• 1k Ranged Damage - Base
• 540 Ranged Damage - Armor-piercing
• 30 Ranged Attack Rate
• 250 Range
• +10 Cunning
• +10% Ammunition (own retinue)

Ebon Prince

• 80 Speed
• 2.5k Mass
• +10 Authority | +5 Instinct
• +10% chance of evading capture post-battle
• +10% Melee Evasion

Abilities

• Stone Bulwark (Active Buff)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 75m Effect Range | 30s duration | 120s cooldown
  • +100% Ranged Block Chance
  • Unbreakable
• Show of Force (Missile Attack)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | Not engaged in a pending or active duel | Not engaged in melee | 60s cooldown
  • 3.8k Ranged Damage - Base
  • -15 Morale
• Unyielding Earth (Active Buff)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 75m effect range | 30s duration | 120s cooldown
  • +1900% Charge Resistance
  • +100% Melee Evasion
  • Unbreakable

6. Sun Ce

Sun Ce, heir to Sun Jian, is a vanguard-type general and the heir to the Wu Kingdom. Being a legendary character and a potential faction leader, his starting stats are higher than usual, making him a solid and reliable hero on the field. However, his true strengths lie in the bonuses he provides as a faction leader, heir or prime minister, doubling the charge bonus of all cavalry and increasing the damage of all shock cavalry, giving even your most basic Mounted Lancer and Saber Militia massive buffs, elevating their lethality on the battlefield. If you ever recruit Sun Ce into your faction, he is a strong contender for one of these three positions, especially if your playstyle revolves around shock cavalry units!

Strengths

• On top of being a reliable vanguard on the battlefield, placing Sun Ce as the prime minister, heir or leader of your faction will double the charge bonus of every cavalry unit in your faction, drastically increasing their lethality on the battlefield.

Stats

• The Little Conqueror
  • +10 Expertise | +20 Instinct | +30 Authority
  • 100% charge bonus for cavalry [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • Cost to establish order in deserted settlements halved [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +15% melee damage for all shock cavalry [Faction-wide] (only if this character is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Brave
  • +12 Resolve
  • +3 Morale (when commander)
• Arrogant
  • +2 Instinct | +6 Authority
  • -15% chance of evading capture post-battle
• Fiery
  • +2 Resolve | +6 Instinct
  • +10 Charge Speed

Ancillaries

Sun Ce’s Armor

• 45 Armor Base
• +18 Instinct
• +12% Speed

Abilities

• Devastating Roar (Active Debuff) (2 Uses)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 50m effect range | 15s duration
  • -50 Morale
• Flames of the Phoenix (Melee Attack)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 10s duration | 30s cooldown
  • 3.8k Splash Damage
• Blood Fury (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: Winning melee combat | Engaged in a duel
  • +25% Melee Damage - Base
  • +25% Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
  • Berserk

5. Zhou Tai

Zhou Tai just might be the single most capable vanguard general in the game, even after repeated nerfs and patches to his character. With a little bit of set up to boost his stats and ancillaries, you can utilize Zhou Tai’s abilities to ensure that his health is never dangerously low, that he can never break and rout and that he never gains fatigue. If you’re playing on Romance, this is an extremely potent prospect for a general! He doesn’t start out in any one faction, so watch that recruitment pool for him. He requires a little bit of investment, but given what he can grow into, you’re bound to be paid back in loot and bodies!

Strengths

• His abilities allow him to single handedly take on entire armies! A mix of healing, unbreakable morale and strong buffs can give him this strength, making him greatly excel at his role as a vanguard general.

Stats

• Reformed Bandit
  • +10 Resolve | +15 Instinct | +5 Expertise
  • +10% armour for all shock cavalry [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Loyal
  • +8 Expertise
  • -50% desire for higher office
  • Decreases ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Direct
  • +2 Resolve | +6 Instinct
  • Enables: Charge Reflect
• Solitary
  • +2 Cunning | +6 Expertise
  • -2 Satisfaction (this army)

Ancillaries

Zhou Tai’s Armor

• 75 Armour Base
• +18 Instinct
• +5% Melee Attack Rate
• +12 Charge Bonus 

Abilities

• Undying Vow (Active Buff)
  • Can use if: All oathsworn alive | Not on elephant
  • -100% Melee Evasion
  • Stop fatigue gain
  • Immune to fatigue
  • Unbreakable
  • +0.2% Max health heal amount (every 10s)
• Final Rush (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: Health below 50%
  • +50% Speed
  • +50% Charge Speed
  • +50% Melee Charge Bonus
• Targeted Strike (Melee Attack)
  • Enabled if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 15s Duration | 30s Cooldown
  • -15 Morale
  • +30s Increased cooldown of abilities
  • 1.9k Splash Damage

4. Zhang Yan

Known as the “King of the Black Mountain,” Zhang Yan is a champion-type general and the leader of his own faction. He starts out with “Unbreakable” and “Fatigue Immunity” traits, which makes him a very strong general, given that he’ll neither rout nor gain fatigue during duels and battles. However, if you’re playing Zhang Yan’s faction, not only will you get access to his faction leader bonuses, but you’ll also be able to launch offensive ambush battles; a very strong ability, one that’s unique only to Zhang Yan!

Strengths

• His starting traits and ancillaries give him the “Unbreakable” and “Fatigue Immunity” bonuses, essentially making him a unit with infinite stamina and morale. This easily makes him one of the most dangerous generals to fight in the game!

Stats

• King of the Black Mountain
  • +10 Expertise | +20 Resolve | +30 Authority
  • Unlock Assignment: Bandit Patrols
  • Enables: Ignore forest penalties [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +50% Post-battle loot income [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +3 starting rank for all Black Mountain units [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +5% chance of ambushing (own army)
• Stubborn
  • +6 Resolve | -4 Authority
  • Enables: Unbreakable
• Greedy
  • -4 Resolve | +6 Authority
  • +50% desire for higher office
  • +10% corruption (administered commandery)
  • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Careless
  • +6 Instinct | -4 Cunning
  • -15% chance of avoiding ambush (own army)

Ancillaries

Zhang Yan’s Armor 

• 47 Armor Base
• +15 Resolve
• +6 Expertise
• Enables: Fatigue immunity

Abilities

• Targeted Strike (Melee Attack)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 15s duration | 30s cooldown
  • -15 Morale
  • +30s increased cooldown of abilities
  • 1.9k Splash Damage
• Binding Fury (Melee Attack)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 10s duration | 60s cooldown
  • 7.5k Splash Damage
• Mending (Active Buff) (4 Uses)
  • Can target if: General | Can use if: Not on elephant | 20s duration | 60s cooldown
  • +50% armor 
  • +50% melee evasion
  • 1.6k heal amount (over 20 seconds)

3. Zheng Jiang

Zheng Jiang is a champion-type general and the leader of her faction. Her unique skills and high traits make her a capable general, especially if she gets the “Stubborn” trait during the campaign. However, among her strong faction bonuses, her main strength is an increased income from tributaries, which also applies to vassals and subjects. This means that if you get Zheng Jiang into your faction, and you have a network of vassals or subjects, you can make her prime minister or heir to get a very strong increase in income for your faction!

Strengths

• As a faction leader, she can drastically increase your income from tributaries, vassals and subjects. Her skills are uniquely suited to assassinating generals, and her weapon ancillary gives her fatigue immunity! If she gets the “Stubborn” trait during her campaign, you can have the same combo that Zhang Yan enjoys.

Stats

• Bandit Queen
  • +20 Resolve | +30 Instinct | +10 Authority
  • Poor Background: -25% income from family estate (if faction leader)
  • +100 faction support [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +15% all damage for all forces when attacking [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +50% diplomatic income from tributaries (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Clever
  • +8 Cunning
  • +25% character experience
• Greedy
  • -4 Resolve | +6 Authority
  • +50% desire for higher office
  • +10% corruption (administered commandery)
  • Increases ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Determined
  • +6 Resolve | +2 Instinct

Ancillaries

Zheng Jiang’s Armor

• 55 Armor Base
• +15 Resolve | +6 Instinct

The Red Sisters

• 723 Melee Damage - Base
• 1.7k Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
• 24 Melee Attack Rate
• -15 Expertise | +15 Resolve | +15 Instinct
• Enables: Fatigue Immunity

Abilities

• Binding Fury (Melee Attack)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 10s duration | 60s cooldown
  • 7.5k Splash Damage
• Tenacity of Steel (Passive Buff)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel
  • +100% Melee Damage - Base
  • +100% Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
• Poisoned Blade (Missile Attack) (3 Uses)
  • Can target if: General
  • Can use if: Not engaged in a pending or active duel | Not on elephant | 30s cooldown
  • 10k damage (over 15 seconds)

2. Taishi Ci

Taishi Ci, Of Exceptional Dexterity, is one of the most dangerous Sentinels, and maybe even generals, in the game. His unique abilities greatly complement the use of his bow, and is likely the main weapon you’ll be having him use throughout the campaign. With a little setup and preparation, placing Taishi Ci in a favorable position where he’s free to fire on the enemy will make him a lethal force, capable of killing generals and routing units! He doesn’t start off in any one faction, so be sure to keep an eye out for him in the recruitment pool.

Strengths

• Not only does he start off with a powerful bow, his unique skills also complement his bow greatly. This, along with being a solid Sentinel general that can hold his own in melee, makes him one of the most versatile and dangerous Sentinels in the game, capable of sniping generals and massacring retinues with his archery.

Stats

• Of Exceptional Dexterity
  • +30 Expertise | +20 Cunning | +10 Resolve
  • +10% Melee Evasion for melee infantry [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • +10% Ranged Damage [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Defiant
  • +2 Expertise | +6 Resolve
  • +5% attrition to hostile forces (enemy armies in administered commandery)
  • +5% attrition to hostile forces (own army)
• Honorable
  • -50% desire for higher office
  • -10% chance of capturing enemy officers post-battle
  • Decreases ambition to gain independence as administrator
• Intimidating
  • Enables: Immune to scaring

Ancillaries

Taishi Ci’s Armor

• 38 Armor Base
• +15 Expertise | +6 Cunning
• +12% Speed

Breath & Wind

• 1.1k Ranged Damage - Base
• 600 Ranged Damage - Armor-Piercing
• 30 Ranged Attack Rate
• 250 Range
• +15 Cunning
• Enables: Mounted fire while moving
• Enables: Fire backward

Abilities

• Venomous Shot (Missile Attack) (3 uses)
  • Can use if: Not engaged in melee | Not engaged in a pending duel or active duel | Not on elephant | 60s cooldown
  • -25% Melee Evasion
  • -20% Melee Attack Rate
  • 450 Damage (over 30 seconds)
• Hail of Arrows (Missile Attack) (4 uses)
  • Can use if: Not engaged in melee | Not engaged in a pending duel or active duel | Not on elephant
  • 1.5k Ranged Damage - Base (x10)
  • -25% Charge Speed
  • -33% Ranged Attack Rate
  • -33% Melee Attack Rate
  • -500 Melee Charge Bonus
• Quickfire (Passive Buff)
  • Can use if: Not engaged in melee | Not moving
  • +100% Ranged Damage - Base
  • +100% Ranged Damage - Armor-piercing

1. Sun Jian

The leader of the Wu Kingdom and the Tiger of Jiandong, is a sentinel-type general that provides several solid faction leader bonuses, particularly one that reduces the upkeep of mercenary retinues; combined with the “Heroism” resource, you can greatly decrease the upkeep of mercenary units! His “Tenacity of Steel” and “Impetuous Charge” abilities also allow him to buff the charge bonus of nearby units, allowing them to greatly plow through and overwhelm enemy units!

Strengths

Sun Jian not only does have great faction leader bonuses (particularly increased campaign movement range) and strong starting ancillaries, but he has the strongest ability that a Sentinel unit can have in the game, greatly increasing the charge bonus of the units around him, as well as temporarily stopping them from gaining fatigue. This alone makes him one of the most capable Sentinels in the game.

Stats

• Tiger of Jiandong
  • +20 Expertise | +10 Authority | +30 Instinct
  • +50% income from family estate (if faction leader)
  • +15% campaign movement range [Faction-wide] (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • Cost to establish order in deserted settlements halved (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
  • -25% recruitment and upkeep cost for mercenary retinues (only if this unit is prime minister, heir or faction leader)
• Brave
  • +12 Resolve
  • +3 Morale (when commander)
• Fiery
  • +2 Resolve | +6 Instinct
  • +10 Charge Speed
• Loyal
  • +8 Expertise
  • -50% desire for higher office
  • Decreases ambition to gain independence as administrator

Ancillaries

Sun Jian’s Armor

• 45 Armor Base
• +15 Expertise | +6 Instinct
• +12% Speed

Ancient Silver Sword

• 1.4k Melee Damage - Base
• 697 Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
• 30 Melee Attack Rate
• +18 Authority
• +10 Satisfaction
• Enables: Unbreakable

Heavenly Fire

• 80 Speed
• 2.5k Mass
• +5 Authority | +10 Instinct
• +15% chance of evading capture post-battle
• +20% Armor

Abilities

• Flames of the Phoenix (Melee Attack)
  • Can use if: In melee | Engaged in a duel or has an attack order | Not on elephant | 10s duration | 30s cooldown
  • 3.8k Splash Damage
• Tenacity of Steel (Passive Buff)
  • Enabled if: In melee | Engaged in a duel
  • +100% Melee Damage - Base
  • +100% Melee Damage - Armor-piercing
• Impetuous Charge (Active Buff)
  • Can use if: Not on elephant | 50m Effect Range | 30s duration | 120s cooldown
  • +250 Melee Charge Bonus
  • +100% Mass
  • +50% Charge Speed
  • Stops fatigue gain

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