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For the character, see Liu Bei.

Liu Bei is a playable faction in Total War: Three Kingdoms. It starts the game landless, but with a sizeable army in Dong commandery. The faction appears in 190, 182, 194 and 200. Gaining a rank as a duke, king or emperor renames the faction to Shu-Han.


Unique Features[]

Unique Units

Unique Buildings

Unique Features

  • Unify
  • Integrate
  • Unity

Unique Features[]

Unify & Integrate[]

Liu Bei starts the game with two unique modifiers, allowing him to use benefits usually reserved for Emperors or controllors of Emperor Xian. Unify allows Liu Bei to confederate other factions from turn one. This right is usually reserved for powerful late-game factions, to swallow up minor allies and vassals.

Integrate provides the same bonus that controlling Xian would, where you can simply walk up to a settlement belonging to the Han Empire and integrate it into your own faction. Instead of spending money on doing so, you can use your faction resource, Unity.


Unity[]

Unity ia Liu Bei's unique faction resource. Unity is gained passively by keeping the satisfaction of your generals and court nobles high. Therefore, playing as Liu Bei requires you to keep a close eye on the characters within your faction, as wide-spread dissatisfaction will tank your unity. Another way to gain unity is through winning battles, then releasing the captives. As with most faction resources, unity is divided into different tiers that provide bonuses, with better bonuses being granted for more unity. These are:

Motivated (0-250)

There is greater unity to be found, but you must strive for it!

  • No effect


Co-ordinated (251-500)

If earnest desire cannot unify your people, then a common goal and a common threat will.


Harmonious (501-750)

You have found a driving force for yourself and your followers, who now find harmony in their beliefs and ideals.


Of One Mind & Purpose (751-1000)

You and your followers have found unity through ideals and peace through purpose.


Unity can primarily be spent on integrating Han counties. Naturally, late-game, there won't be much (or anything) left of the Han Empire. Luckily, you can spend your unity on assignments unique to Liu Bei.


Playstyle[]

Liu Bei is the choice of the confident, wise and modest ruler. Someone who cares about the people, understands their needs, wants to restore peace in the land and knows when an opportunity for victory shows up to make it so.

Even though Liu Bei hails from a dynasty of Emperors, he rose from humble beginnings, and does so in the campaign as well. Compared to the other warlords, his starting position is very fragile and insecure. He has no powerbase worth mentioning, though he does begin play with the most powerful army on the map.

Of all the warlords, he has the strongest bonds with his starting characters, his sworn brothers Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. Yet because of his lowly status, Liu Bei is only able to recruit one army at the start of the game. Only after he has established himself can he field more forces and effectively expand his territory. But to begin with at least, it’s safer to play Liu Bei with a low region count and focus on ensuring strong and prosperous governance.

Liu Bei’s strength is derived from those closest to him, so he must maintain unity and cohesion within his faction. Only by leading a tight-knit band of brothers will Liu Bei be able to emerge victorious from this conflict. Therefore, players will need to be doubly vigilant to ensure his followers are satisfied and happy. If he does so, Liu Bei will benefit from this unity with faster progression through the faction ranks and better government capabilities, such as fielding extra armies and assigning more governors.

Liu Bei is undoubtedly popular with the masses and, as long as he leads his faction, his militia units do not cost any upkeep. This makes it easy for him to maintain his forces, especially early on.

Due to his imperial ancestry, many see Liu Bei with more legitimacy than other faction leaders, which allows him to confederate with other warlords earlier than most factions. And, at the cost of some unity, he can claim territory under the control of the Han Empire without a fight.


Starting Situation[]

Rise of the Warlords (190)[]

Liu Bei sees chaos in the face of Dong Zhuo, and will not rest until the tyrant's corruption is uprooted and the Han dynasty restored. His family – the Liu family – is only nominally attached to the Han, yet there are still those who urge Liu Bei to redeem China from madness and restore the crumbling dynasty. Humble, virtuous and kind, Liu Bei is an inspiring presence, summoning strength from unlikely places, and forging unshakeable bonds with those who follow him.

TW3K Liu Bei 190

190, Liu Bei - Landless, Enemies - Red

Start: Normal

Liu Bei starts the game without any territory, stranded deep inside hostile Yellow Turban territory. However, fear not, as you command easily one of the most powerful armies at the start of the campaign. Defeating Yellow Turban leader Zhao Bo nearby will be easy, and his defeat will be the stepping stone towards capturing territory inside Dong commandery. After establishing your bearings, you will find that the nearby Yellow Turbans, as well as the Yellow Turban Warlord Huang Shao, will provide little resistance to the combined might of yourself, Tao Qian, and Kong Rong.

TW3K Liu Bei-Inital dilemma

Yet, before long, Tao Qian will be attacked by Cao Cao for his supposed hand in the death of Cao Song. This is your Initial Dilemma, and you must choose whether to side with your ally Tao Qian or ignore the conflict and build your strength more.

Characters


Mandate of Heaven (182)[]

Liu Bei has come from nothing, has nothing, but in him lies the potential to be something far greater. Born with nominal attachment to the ruling Han dynasty, Liu Bei grew up with ambitious dreams and lofty ideals, yet this ardour has faded as his life, shaken by tragedy, and become more mundane out of necessity. However, though dimmed, his passion has never fully died. Loved by all those who know him, Liu Bei still has the desire to aid the world; he just does not yet know how...

Start: Hard

Liu Bei's "faction" consists of himself and his retinues and nothing more than that. He's chasing Looters led by Shen Chen in Pingyuan commandery. After defeating these looters with the aid of nearby Han general Zou Jing. After this, a wild goose chase starts, taking you across most of northeastern China, where various lords request you to deal with local bandits. If you play your cards right in the ongoing Yellow Turban Rebellion, you might gain some territory for yourself.

Characters


A World Betrayed (194)[]

TW3K Liu Bei 194

194, Liu Bei - Green, Zang Ba - Red

Liu Bei has struggled from nothing to become a warlord of increasing renown - and with the tyrant dead, he sees perhaps his greatest chance to liberate the emperor from evil clutches! His family – the Liu family – is only nominally attached to the Han, yet there are still those who urge Liu Bei to redeem China from madness and restore the crumbling dynasty. Humble, virtuous and kind, Liu Bei is an inspiring presence, summoning strength from unlikely places, and forging unshakeable bonds with those who follow him.

Start: Easy

Liu Bei has finally gained himself some territory, establishing himself in Donghai commandery. However, his capital already stands in danger, as Zang Ba is at war with you. The man himself stands on your border and must be defeated. After that, it should be relatively easy to conquer the rest of his territory. However, the nearby war between Cao Cao and Lü Bu might prove troublesome for you if it spills over (it will).

Characters


Fates Divided (200)[]

TW3K Liu Bei 200

200, Liu Bei - Green, Allies - Blue, Enemies - Red

Although Liu Bei has grown in power, he has suffered fate's mixed fortunes and the sting of betrayal along the way, yet he endures! Although sworn to Cao Cao, Liu Bei does not trust the cunning warlord, yet nor does he trust any other rising power. Liu Bei's goal is still the restoration of the Han, to which he is nominally attached by blood. To see this goal realised, he will align himself with whoever he can, and betray who he must.

Start: Easy

Since 194, you have been vassalized by Cao Cao. Recently, that vassalization has ended, and now you are at war with your former overlord. Fret not, however, as Cao Cao stands not just at war with you but Yuan Shao in the north, alongside his sizeable web of allies and vassals. However, this will not be an easy war, as your lands serve as the frontline of the conflict. Armies under Cao Cao stand at your border. You can either strike fast and hard against Cao Cao and his territory or take a defensive position, waiting for Yuan Tan to arrive from the north. The choice is yours.

Characters


Gallery[]

Reference[]

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