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For factions in other Total War games, see Factions.

Overview[]

Factions are hierarchical organisations of characters bound by common purpose, and form the discrete power blocks in Total War: THREE KINGDOMS. Each faction is led by a faction leader (also known as a Warlord, and after whom the faction is named), who is supported by their family, ministers, administrators, generals, spies, and any other unassigned characters in player's court. To learn more about court management, see Court.

There are a number of playable factions in Total War: THREE KINGDOMS, each of which has its own famous leader from history, and its own unique playstyle, which is largely defined by its leader's specialisation and its faction specialisation.

There are many more computer-controlled factions in the game, all of whom seek the same ultimate goal as the player: to become the ruling faction of all China, with their faction leader as emperor.[1]

The faction names are the same as that of their starting faction leaders. When the factions advance into higher faction rank, the faction name will change depending on the factional leader, geographic locations, or other cultural tradtions. For example, historically Liu Bei established Kingdom of Shu-Han, player will see the faction name change to it once Liu Bei advance his faction into King level.


Gameplay[]

Faction progression[]

Main article: Prestige (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Faction rank is a measure of player factions's propgress and development, and as player advance through the faction ranks, new bonuses are unlocked. Player's objective is to reach the rank of emperor, and defeat any other emperors to become the sole ruler of China. To achieve higher faction ranks, player must gather prestige from gameplay.


Faction management[]

Main article: Court (Total War: Three Kingdoms)

Court comprises of the faction leader, heir, administrators, and the most senior ministerial positions in player's faction. The court panel also displays all the characters currently employed by the faction, and presents a list of candidates who may be recruited into the faction, and offers a separate tab showing the family tree of faction leader.


Faction Specialisation[]

Main article: Faction resource

Each playable faction has its own faction specialisation, a unique mechanic which heavily influences its playstyle. This is noted in the faction's description before a campaign begins, and in the faction summary panel duringa campaign.

If a faction leader dies and their heir assumes the title, the faction will change its name to reflect the new warlord, and the original warlord’s character specialisation will be lost, though their faction specialisation will remain in play.


Faction support[]

Faction support is a concept that represents the integration between player's faction and territory owned. When player captures a new commandery or county, faction support will become negative, as the settlement and its people come to terms with their conquerors. Negative faction support penalises public order and replenishment in the commandery, and will be shown in the public order tooltips both in the commandery panel and on the settlement’s information bar on the campaign map.

Faction support naturally improves over time until it reaches 100%. When a settlement is newly captured, it is therefore wise to keep an eye on its public order, and perhaps station an army there to boost public order for a few turns while faction support improves.


Public order[]

Public order is the measure of a commandery population’s contentment and, by extension, its lawfulness. Certain conditions will cause a commandery’s public order to fall, such as high taxation, low food reserves, negative faction support, and excessive population. Other factors will cause it to rise, such as specific buildings (particularly red military buildings), a strong garrison, an army stationed in the settlement, adequate food reserves and a population below the settlement’s population cap. Player can see the factors influencing a commandery’s public order by mousing over the public order icon in the commandery panel or in the commandery’s information bar on the campaign map.


Rebellion[]

When a commandery’s public order drops to -100, a rebellion will occur. A rebel army of malcontents will spawn in the commandery, and begin mustering fresh troops each turn. The quality of the characters and units in the army are defined by the overall development level of the commandery’s buildings. So a small, under-developed commandery will be reflected in a militia-heavy army, whereas a highly developed commandery will contribute to a rebel army with higher-level characters and more advanced unit types.

A rebel army begins at war with the player immediately, and will seek to conquer the commandery capital if it can. Defeating a rebel army will improve public order in the commandery temporarily, but will not address the root causes of its low public order.


List of Factions[]

Total War: Three Kingdoms has dozens of playable factions, and nearly a hundred non-playable ones. Below is the full list of every faction in the game at the start of all campaigns. They are sorted by start date and split into two tables: Playable and Non-Playable. The tables' individual categories can also be sorted.

Rise of the Warlords (190)[]

Playable Factions
Faction Group Faction Name Faction Leader Start Capital DLC
The Coalition Cao Cao / Wei Cao Cao Easy Chen
Gongsun Zan / Yan Gongsun Zan Normal Youbeiping
Kong Rong / Qi Kong Rong Hard Beihai
Liu Bei / Shu-Han Liu Bei Normal Landless
Sun Jian / Wu Sun Jian Normal Changsha
Tao Qian / Lu Tao Qian Hard Donghai Tao Qian
Yuan Shao / Song Yuan Shao Normal Wei
Yuan Shu / Zhong Yuan Shu Very Hard Nanyang
The Empire Dong Zhuo / Zhou Dong Zhuo Hard Chang'an
Liu Biao / Chu Liu Biao Hard Xiangyang
Liu Chong / Chen Liu Chong Easy Yingchuan Mandate of Heaven
Liu Yan / Xun Liu Yan Hard Shu
Ma Teng / Liang Ma Teng Hard Jincheng
Shi Xie / Ba Shi Xie Hard Jiaozhi Shi Xie
Bandits & Outlaws Yan Baihu / Eastern Wu Yan Baihu Normal Xindu Yan Baihu
Zhang Yan / Heishan Zhang Yan Hard Yanmen
Zheng Jiang / Tai Zheng Jiang Very Hard Landless
Southern Tribes King Meng Huo Meng Huo Easy Jianning The Furious Wild
King Mulu Mulu Normal Jiaozhi The Furious Wild
King Shamoke Shamoke Hard Wuling The Furious Wild
Lady Zhurong Lady Zhurong Normal Yunnan The Furious Wild
Yellow Turban Remnants He Yi He Yi Hard Runan Yellow Turban Rebellion
Huang Shao Huang Shao Very Hard Dong Yellow Turban Rebellion
Gong Du Gong Du Very Hard Wudu Yellow Turban Rebellion


Non-Playable Factions
Faction Name Faction Leader Capital DLC
Han Empire Huangfu Song Hedong
Yellow Turban Rebellion Han Xian Dong
Ahuinan Ahuinan Jianning The Furious Wild
Cai Mao Cai Mao Nan
Dongtuna Dongtuna Zangke The Furious Wild
Gao Gan Gao Gan Shangdang
Gongsun Du Gongsun Du Liaoxi
Han Fu Han Fu Anping
Han Sui Han Sui Jincheng
Huang Zu Huang Zu Jiangxia
Jia Long Jia Long Shu
Jiangyang Tribes Wu She Nu Jiangyang The Furious Wild
Jianning Tribes She Ri Nuo Jianning The Furious Wild
Jiaozhi Tribes A Nuo Wu Liang Jiaozhi The Furious Wild
Jinhuansanjie Jinhuansanjie Fuling The Furious Wild
King Duosi Duosi Zangke The Furious Wild
King Wutugu Wutugu Jiangyang The Furious Wild
Kong Zhou Kong Zhou Huainan
Liang Qing Liang Qing Nanhai
Liu Dai Liu Dai Yingchuan
Liu Yao Liu Yao Danyang
Liu Yu Liu Yu Guangyang
Mangyachang Mangyachang Yunnan The Furious Wild
Qu Pan Qu Pan Jiuzhen
Sheng Xian Sheng Xian Danyang
Tu An Tu An Jiangyang The Furious Wild
Wang Kuang Wang Kuang Shangdang
Wang Lang Wang Lang Kuaiji
Xi Ni Xi Ni Jiangyang The Furious Wild
Yang Feng Yang Feng Yongchang The Furious Wild
Ying Shao Ying Shao Yulin
Yongchang Tribes Yong Yan Yongchang The Furious Wild
Yunnan Tribes A Nuo Qu Ju Yunnan The Furious Wild
Zangke Tribes She Ju Zangke The Furious Wild
Ze Rong Ze Rong Guangling
Zhang Chao Zhang Chao Guangling
Zhang Lu Zhang Lu Hanzhong
Zhang Yang Zhang Yang Shangdang
Zhou Huan Zhou Huan Gaoliang
Zhu Fu Zhu Fu Wuling



Mandate of Heaven (182)[]

Playable Factions
Faction Group Faction Name Faction Leader Start Capital DLC
Imperial Warlords Cao Cao / Wei Cao Cao Hard Landless Mandate of Heaven
Dong Zhuo / Zhou Dong Zhuo Normal Shuofang Mandate of Heaven
Sun Jian / Wu Sun Jian Hard Northern Jian'an Mandate of Heaven
Imperial Governors Liu Biao / Chu Liu Biao Normal Nan Mandate of Heaven
Lu Zhi / Guangyang Lu Zhi Very Hard Henei Mandate of Heaven
Ma Teng / Liang Ma Teng Hard Wudu Mandate of Heaven
Tao Qian / Lu Tao Qian Hard Donghai Mandate of Heaven + Tao Qian
Yuan Shu / Zhong Yuan Shu Very Hard Runan Mandate of Heaven
The Han Dynasty Liu Bei / Shu-Han Liu Bei Hard Pingyuan Mandate of Heaven
Liu Chong / Chen Liu Chong Easy Yingchuan Mandate of Heaven
Liu Hong / Han Empire Liu Hong Very Hard Luoyang Mandate of Heaven
Yellow Turbans Zhang Bao Zhang Bao Normal Landless Mandate of Heaven
Zhang Jue Zhang Jue Normal Landless Mandate of Heaven
Zhang Liang Zhang Liang Hard Landless Mandate of Heaven


Non-Playable Factions
Faction Name Faction Leader Capital DLC
Han Empire Wang Yun Xiangyang Mandate of Heaven
Bian Zhang Bian Zhang Hedong Mandate of Heaven
Cao Song Cao Song Xindu Mandate of Heaven
Chen Gui Chen Gui Beihai Mandate of Heaven
Chu Gong Chu Gong Nanyang Mandate of Heaven
Ding Yuan Ding Yuan Taiyuan Mandate of Heaven
Dong He Dong He Shu Mandate of Heaven
Han Fu Han Fu Anping Mandate of Heaven
Han Sui Han Sui Jincheng Mandate of Heaven
Jin Xuan Jin Xuan Wuling Mandate of Heaven
Liu Hong Liu Hong Kuaiji Mandate of Heaven
Liu Xun Liu Xun Jiangxia Mandate of Heaven
Liu Yu Liu Yu Youbeiping Mandate of Heaven
Lu Kang Lu Kang Lujiang Mandate of Heaven
Nanman Rebels Wu Bo Xian Jianning Mandate of Heaven + The Furious Wild
Qiao Mao Qiao Mao Dong Mandate of Heaven
Que Jian Que Jian Baxi Mandate of Heaven
Wang Rui Wang Rui Badong Mandate of Heaven
Ying Shao Ying Shao Lean Mandate of Heaven
Yuan Yi Yuan Yi Jingzhao Mandate of Heaven
Zhou Xin Zhou Xin Danyang Mandate of Heaven



A World Betrayed (194)[]

Playable Factions
Faction Group Faction Name Faction Leader Start Capital DLC
Warlords Cao Cao / Wei Cao Cao Hard Yingchuan A World Betrayed
Gongsun Zan / Yan Gongsun Zan Hard Youbeiping A World Betrayed
Liu Bei / Shu-Han Liu Bei Easy Donghai A World Betrayed
Lü Bu / Yin Lü Bu Normal Chen A World Betrayed
Shi Xie / Ba Shi Xie Normal Jiaozhi A World Betrayed + Shi Xie
Sun Ce / Wu Sun Ce Hard Landless A World Betrayed
Yuan Shao / Song Yuan Shao Easy Anping A World Betrayed
Yuan Shu / Zhong Yuan Shu Normal Huainan A World Betrayed
Regional Warlords Kong Rong / Qi Kong Rong Very Hard Beihai A World Betrayed
Liu Biao / Chu Liu Biao Normal Xiangyang A World Betrayed
Liu Chong / Chen Liu Chong Easy Chen A World Betrayed
Liu Yan / Xun Liu Yan Easy Shu A World Betrayed
Ma Teng / Liang Ma Teng Hard Jincheng A World Betrayed
Bandits & Outlaws Yan Baihu / Eastern Wu Yan Baihu Easy Xindu A World Betrayed + Yan Baihu
Zhang Yan / Heishan Zhang Yan Hard Yanmen A World Betrayed
Zheng Jiang / Tai Zheng Jiang Very Hard Landless A World Betrayed
Southern Tribes King Meng Huo Meng Huo Easy Jianning A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
King Mulu Mulu Normal Jiaozhi A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
King Shamoke Shamoke Hard Wuling A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Lady Zhurong Lady Zhurong Normal Yunnan A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Yellow Turban Remnants He Yi He Yi Hard Runan A World Betrayed +Yellow Turban Rebellion


Non-Playable
Faction Name Faction Leader Capital DLC
Han Empire Huangfu Song Cangwu A World Betrayed
Yellow Turban Rebellion Wu Huan Northern Jian'an A World Betrayed
Ahuinan Ahuinan Jianning A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Dongtuna Dongtuna Zangke A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Gao Gan Gao Gan Shangdang A World Betrayed
Gongsun Du Gongsun Du Liaoxi A World Betrayed
Han Sui Han Sui Wuwei A World Betrayed
Hu Mao Hu Mao Ba A World Betrayed
Hua Xin Hua Xin Yuzhang A World Betrayed
Huang Zu Huang Zu Nan A World Betrayed
Jiangyang Tribes A Xi Zhi Yu Jiangyang A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Jinhuansanjie Jinhuansanjie Fuling A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
King Duosi Duosi Zangke A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
King Wutugu Wutugu Jiangyang A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Li Jue Li Jue Jingzhao A World Betrayed
Lin Jun Lin Jun Nanhai A World Betrayed
Liu Yao Liu Yao Poyang A World Betrayed
Lu Kang Lu Kang Lujiang A World Betrayed
Mangyachang Mangyachang Yunnan A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Shi Wei Shi Wei Jiuzhen A World Betrayed
Tian Kai Tian Kai Bohai A World Betrayed
Tu An Tu An Landless A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Wang Lang Wang Lang Kuaiji A World Betrayed
Wu Jing Wu Jing Guangling A World Betrayed
Xi Ni Xi Ni Jiangyang A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Xianyu Fu Xianyu Fu Guangyang A World Betrayed
Xing Junya Xing Junya Landless A World Betrayed
Xu Gong Xu Gong Danyang A World Betrayed
Xu Zhao Xu Zhao Danyang A World Betrayed
Xue Li Xue Li Danyang A World Betrayed
Yang Feng Yang Feng Hedong A World Betrayed
Yang Feng Yang Feng Yongchang A World Betrayed + The Furious Wild
Yuan Tan Yuan Tan Pingyuan A World Betrayed
Zang Ba Zang Ba Dong A World Betrayed
Zang Hong Zang Hong Lean A World Betrayed
Ze Rong Ze Rong Guangling A World Betrayed
Zhang Ji Zhang Ji Shangyong A World Betrayed
Zhang Lu Zhang Lu Hanzhong A World Betrayed
Zhang Yang Zhang Yang Henei A World Betrayed
Zhou Huan Zhou Huan Gaoliang A World Betrayed
Zhu Fu Zhu Fu Wuling A World Betrayed


Fates Divided (200)[]

Playable Factions
Faction Group Faction Name Faction Leader Start Capital DLC
Warlords Duchy of Wei Cao Cao Hard Yingchuan Fates Divided
Liu Bei / Shu-Han Liu Bei Easy Donghai Fates Divided
Sun Ce / Wu Sun Ce Hard Danyang Fates Divided
Yuan Shao / Song Yuan Shao Easy Anping Fates Divided
Regional Warlords Liu Biao / Chu Liu Biao Normal Nan Fates Divided
Liu Zhang / Xun Liu Zhang Easy Shu Fates Divided
Ma Teng / Liang Ma Teng Hard Wudu Fates Divided
Shi Xie / Ba Shi Xie Very Hard Jiaozhi Fates Divided + Shi Xie
Bandits & Outlaws Zhang Yan / Heishan Zhang Yan Hard Anping Fates Divided
Zheng Jiang / Tai Zheng Jiang Very Hard Pengcheng Fates Divided
Southern Tribes King Meng Huo Meng Huo Easy Yunnan Fates Divided + The Furious Wild
King Mulu Mulu Normal Jianning Fates Divided + The Furious Wild
King Shamoke Shamoke Hard Wuling Fates Divided + The Furious Wild
Yellow Turban Remnants Gong Du Gong Du Very Hard Runan Fates Divided


Non-Playable Factions
Faction Name Faction Leader Capital DLC
Chen Deng Chen Deng Guangling Fates Divided
Chenggong Chunhua Chenggong Chunhua Yulin Fates Divided
Gao Gan Gao Gan Shangdang Fates Divided
Gongsun Du Gongsun Du Liaoxi Fates Divided
Han Sui Han Sui Jincheng Fates Divided
Hua Xin Hua Xin Yuzhang Fates Divided
Huang Zu Huang Zu Jiangxia Fates Divided
Shi Huang Shi Huang Cangwu Fates Divided
Shi Hui Shi Hui Jiuzhen Fates Divided
Shi Wu Shi Wu Nanhai Fates Divided
Shi Yi Shi Yi Hepu Fates Divided
Wu Jing Wu Jing Xindu Fates Divided
Xu Zhao Xu Zhao Danyang Fates Divided
Yuan Tan Yuan Tan Beihai Fates Divided
Yuan Xi Yuan Xi Youbeiping Fates Divided
Zhang Lu Zhang Lu Shangyong Fates Divided
Zhang Meng Zhang Meng Wuwei Fates Divided


Eight Princes (291)[]

Playable Factions
Faction Group Faction Name Faction Leader Start Capital DLC
Princes of Jin Sima Ai Sima Ai Normal Changsha Eight Princes
Sima Jiong Sima Jiong Normal Beihai Eight Princes
Sima Liang Sima Liang Very Hard Runan Eight Princes
Sima Lun Sima Lun Hard Shangdang Eight Princes
Sima Wei Sima Wei Hard Shangyong Eight Princes
Sima Ying Sima Ying Normal Chengdu Eight Princes
Sima Yong Sima Yong Easy Pingyuan Eight Princes
Sima Yue Sima Yue Normal Donghai Eight Princes


Non-Playable Factions
Faction Name Faction Leader Capital DLC
Jin Empire Zhang Hua Luoyang Eight Princes
Bai Jin Bai Jin Jiangxia Eight Princes
Bian Bing Bian Bing Fuling Eight Princes
Cao Huan Cao Huan Chen Eight Princes
Fan Zhou Fan Zhou Cangwu Eight Princes
Gu Zhen Gu Zhen Hepu Eight Princes
Huang Xin Huang Xin Jiangyang Eight Princes
Ju Ruo Ju Ruo Dai Eight Princes
Li Chang Li Chang Lingling Eight Princes
Mao Ren Mao Ren Wuling Eight Princes
Pei Minshu Pei Minshu Donglai Eight Princes
Ruan Shen Ruan Shen Poyang Eight Princes
Shan Yu Shan Yu Badong Eight Princes
Sima Chang Sima Chang Xiangyang Eight Princes
Sima Chi Sima Chi Yuzhang Eight Princes
Sima Dan Sima Dan Zhongshan Eight Princes
Sima Di Sima Di Hanzhong Eight Princes
Sima Gan Sima Gan Pingyuan Eight Princes
Sima Hong Sima Hong Taiyuan Eight Princes
Sima Hun Sima Hun Bohai Eight Princes
Sima Ji Sima Ji Youbeiping Eight Princes
Sima Jian Sima Jian Guangling Eight Princes
Sima Mao Sima Mao Nan Eight Princes
Sima Mo Sima Mo Nanyang Eight Princes
Sima Rui Sima Rui Langya Eight Princes
Sima Shi Sima Shi Beihai Eight Princes
Sima Tai Sima Tai Anding Eight Princes
Sima Wei Sima Wei Chen Eight Princes
Sima Yan Sima Yan Danyang Eight Princes
Sima Yao Sima Yao Dong Eight Princes
Sima You Sima You Anping Eight Princes
Sima Zhi Sima Zhi Pengcheng Eight Princes
Song Wei Song Wei Lujiang Eight Princes
Tian Ben Tian Ben Jingzhao Eight Princes
Wei Guan Wei Guan Shangdang Eight Princes
Xi Kan Xi Kan Jiaozhi Eight Princes
Xu Yan Xu Yan Wudu Eight Princes

Gallery[]

References[]

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