The ancient Chinese military strategist Sun Tzu once said, "Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win." This advice is seriously worth considering when making any moves in Total War: Three Kingdoms, and if it were as easy as Sun Tzu made it sound, then even the hardest difficulty setting would seem like child's play.
Battles are the best part of any RTS, but when it comes to grand strategy franchises like Total War, each and every move should be pondered with the utmost consideration. You're going to find yourself in sticky situations attempting to unite China under one banner, and having a stable of beastly warriors is crucial in rectifying your mistakes. To help you recover from a lack of tactical wit, here's a list of the most powerful warriors in Total War: Three Kingdoms.
Updated on November 17, 2021, by Jeff Drake: Sun Tzu also once said, "Make sure to use your skill points to unlock crucial skills and abilities." Actually, that might have been someone else. Seriously though, picking the right warriors in Total War: Three Kingdoms is important for success. Several factors were considered when judging the characters in this game to see if they earned a spot on this list. Their individual base statistics and combat abilities are important for duels and when personally engaging the enemy on the field of battle. Also under consideration are the various bonuses they provide to the armies under their command.
15 Dian Wei
Dian Wei is part of Cao Cao's faction; he is actually Cao Cao's personal bodyguard. This is a huge, intimidating, brutish warrior that is so renowned that even when a price was put on his head for a murder he committed nobody would challenge him. He has the Scare ability - while being immune to Scare himself.
This warrior's skillset makes him a great choice for dueling, and his Traits (Brave and Dutiful) make him an excellent general. Dian Wei gets even more dangerous when weakened due to his Cry Of The Forest ability.
14 Dong Zhuo
Dong Zhuo is a mountain of a man - a very broad mountain. Picking Dong Zhuo's faction can pose some serious challenges. You start out at war with everybody, and everybody dislikes Dong Zhuo because of his legendary cruelty. On the other hand, he does get Lu Bu as a general, as well as access to Shock Cavalry.
Watching Dong Zhuo in a duel is kind of amusing. He moves as if waist-deep in water. However, he has the base statistics to win his fair share of duels. His Blade Breaker ability is awesome, and Dong Zhuo comes with the Blade of Xiang Yu. This blade has an incredibly high base damage of 1,700.
13 Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun was a general in Cao Cao's army. His ferocity in battle is legendary. It is said that he was hit in the eye with an arrow during a battle. Did he die? No, he instead pulled the arrow out, with his eye still attached, ate his eyeball, and then charged into battle.
Xiahou Dun's skills and traits make him an excellent general, but not so good at administrative duties. His Hamstring and Binding Fury abilities make him a dangerous foe in battle.
12 Gongsun Zan
Gongsun Zan is a faction leader in Total War: Three Kingdoms. Since he is so focused on military matters, he makes an excellent general and is himself a very powerful warrior. His reinforcement bonus makes dealing with invading armies a lot easier to handle.
One big reason to pick Gongsun Zan is that he starts with the unique weapon, Dread Bringer. There are only a few weapons that have a higher base damage than this spear which boasts 1,900. Dread Bringer is great for dismounting the opponent during duels.
11 Ma Teng
Ma Teng is another faction leader, and is sometimes called "Protector of the West". His abilities make his faction one of the best in the game. In fact, there are exploits with Ma Teng's faction that make laying seige to a city way too easy - zero casualties if done right.
He also allows his army to operate far afield due to their ability to forage. This makes expansion with his faction less demanding in terms of logistics. Ma Teng is no joke during duels either; he is capable of defeating any of the other warriors on this list.
10 Zhang Fei
Described as a Drunken Brawler, Zhang Fei may not be the most graceful combatant in the game, but that certainly doesn't stop him from crushing his enemies with ease. Besides which, what better way is there to quell the nerves before a battle with a little bit of liquid courage?
Fighting for one of the game's prominent leaders, Liu Bei, Zhang Fei is renowned for his skills in combat and unrelenting savagery. As a vanguard unit, Zhang Fei is built for battle with abilities like Blazing Roar, Final Rush, and Sundering Strike. He also comes equipped with a unique weapon from the start of any Liu Bei campaign, the Serpent Spear.
9 Guan Yu
Anyone nicknamed God of War is bound to be dangerous, and when you see Guan Yu's spectacular beard, there can be no doubt that he is a formidable foe. Imagine fighting against this majestic warrior, watching him strike down your fellow soldiers while his mane flows through the wind. Hard to think of anything more horrifying.
Equipped with a unique weapon, the Green Crescent Dragon Blade, as well as his own powerful armor set, Guan Yu comes with the intimidating trait that prevents him from becoming scared while fighting. With that kind of beard, it's no wonder he isn't afraid of a fight.
8 He Man
Now, I know what you're thinking. How can anyone in ancient China defeat someone wielding the Power of Grayskull? Take a closer look at He Man's name. There's no hyphen, so we're clearly dealing with someone else here. Don't be fooled, He Man (correct pronunciation here) might be even more dangerous than He-Man, as the Yellow Turban general can take down almost any foe.
You can recruit He Man with the help of He Yi, a faction leader for the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a class of peasants who have decided to take up arms against the Han dynasty that is collapsing under the corrupt leadership of Dong Zhuo.
7 Pei Yuanshao
Another member of the Yellow Turbans, Pei Yuanshao is one of the game's unstoppable forces when it comes to one-on-one duels. If you happen to be going up against Pei Yuanshao, then do not accept a duel with him. You will probably lose. If you don't believe me, then go ahead, find out for yourself.
A legendary veteran and Virtuous Outrider, Pei Yuanshao has the relentless trait that gives him a 25% resistance to fatigue. He's a determined general who will push himself to the limit and beyond in search of victory.
6 Sun Ren
Daughter to the powerful Sun Jian and a sibling of Sun Quan and Sun Ce, Sun Ren is a force to be reckoned with. Another vanguard unit, she excels in combat situations and is one of the most desirable heroes in the game. You can recruit Sun Ren when she turns 18 in the autumn of 207 while playing as Sun Jian, or as Sun Ce if you're playing the most recent DLC, A World Betrayed. Playing a Sun Ce campaign will save you a few turns, as the start date is 194 and Sun Ren begins the game as a 5-year-old.
Sun Ren's fiery trait gives her a +10 boost to charge speed, which makes her retinue of cavalry an effective battering ram for clumps of opposing armies. Like most characters on this list, she's tremendous while dueling, so you can be confident in her abilities no matter the situation.
5 Zhang Liao
The Heavenly Dragon General is available in Cao Cao's faction when starting a Rise Of The Warlords campaign, but you can also recruit him as part of Lü Bu's faction if you're playing A World Betrayed. Zhang Liao comes with his own unique set of armor that improves his expertise stat, thus giving him improved melee evasion.
As a sentinel, Zhang Liao is proficient at holding chokepoints for an extended period of time, so the melee evasion bonus helps keep this stalwart alive. Like all generals in Three Kingdoms, you can give him better weapons and mounts, which will only make him more powerful. A well-equipped Zhang Liao is heavenly, indeed.
4 Ma Chao
Deciding who to include between Ma Chao and his father Ma Teng was a difficult decision, so both were included. As one of the few factions that have remained loyal to the crumbling Han Empire, Ma Chao is a strong leader in a unique situation.
Like Sun Ren, Ma Chao is available once he has come of age while playing a campaign as his father. If you play A World Betrayed as Ma Teng, Ma Chao will be available immediately and is already deployed on the map. The Most-Brilliant Warrior is aptly named, despite his reckless nature that makes him susceptible to capture if a battle is lost.
3 Zhao Yun
A staple of Gongsun Zan's army in the Rise Of The Warlords campaign, Zhao Yun is also eager to join Liu Bei's forces if you defeat him in battle. Pairing him with Zhang Fei and Guan Yu would give you a wrecking crew behind the all-powerful Liu Bei.
As with most warriors on this list, Zhao Yun is great at dueling, and his base stats are nothing to shake your fist at. His 59 ranged and 64 melee toughness make him a great all-around warrior, and traits like brave, kind, and honorable are why he's nicknamed Light In The Dark.
2 Zheng Jiang
Anyone living as a bandit in the mountains should already be considered dangerous, however, Zheng Jiang has abilities that separate her from anyone else living at high altitude. Her base stats are huge, and her dual-wielding axes, appropriately named The Red Sisters, give her an edge in combat that many warriors simply cannot contend with.
Another dueling specialist, Zheng Jiang has the upper hand in nearly every one-on-one she walks into. Her weapons apply a fatigue effect on her enemies, and her base morale stat of 72 makes her resistant to retreating.
1 Lü Bu
If you're familiar with Three Kingdoms, then you knew this guy was coming. Capable of cutting down thousands of men single-handedly (seriously, thousands) with ease, Lü Bu is hands-down the most powerful warrior in Three Kingdoms. Playing A World Betrayed allows you to take control of Lü Bu as a faction leader, and while his starting position is not easy, it's certainly balanced out by his sheer power.
Because of his ability to down scores of opponents, it's not advisable to send him into every duel. You don't want to lose this absolute wrecking ball to the uncertain outcomes of dueling another champion, so it's best to keep him for fighting swathes of forces. His unique mount Red Hare, along with his Sky Piercer polearm, allow him to cut through enemy troops like a hot knife slicing butter. Simply put, he's the best.