Dynasty Warriors Origins: Factions, Explained

Dynasty Warriors Origins, in spite of its unique twist on The Romance of the Three Kingdoms period, remains true to one crucial aspect of the series: the decision over which of the three Factions to form an alliance with. Similar to its preceding iterations, Origins invites you to participate in a series of battles, and eventually, make a vital contribution towards one of three fledgling Rulers: Cao Cao of Wei, Sun Jian of Wu, or Liu Bei of Shu. Regardless of the Faction you choose to side with at the end of Chapter 3, it is important to note that each kingdom has its own Companions, Assignments, and Battles, which means, once you have decided which Ruler to pledge allegiance to, the remaining arcs will no longer be available to explore. And yes, that does technically mean that you will need to replay the campaign three times to unlock everything.

Once you begin Chapter 3, you will have the ability to move freely between the three kingdoms and their respective territories and battles. At this particular point in time, you will have the opportunity to learn more about each of the Factions in Dynasty Warriors Origins, form Bonds with several of the key Officers, and uncover their ideologies as they establish themselves as dominant forces in a seemingly crumbling society. Thankfully, you don’t have to make a snap decision right off the bat; in fact, the opening portion of Chapter 3 will allow you the chance to analyze your potential future with either of the three kingdoms, after which you will need to stick with one of them for the remainder of the campaign, which spans two additional Chapters.

How to Evolve Your Factions in Dynasty Warriors Origins

To start out, you will need to earn Points for each of the three warring Factions, which contribute towards your final decision on which kingdom you are likely to cooperate with at a later point in the timeline. In these operating sequences, be sure to pay firm attention to the cutscenes before and after each battle, as they will provide you with a basic understanding of how each Ruler will reshape the Han Dynasty in the aftermath of the ongoing turmoil.

It is worth pointing out that, while you will be able to make gradual changes to your Bonds and other investments in the initial segments of Chapter 3, you won’t be able to join your chosen Faction without a sufficient amount of Points. In other words, if you don’t respond to enough Letters or join enough battles to further push their agenda, then you won’t be given the opportunity to engage with the roster. So, if you’re confident with your decision, then you’ll want to make sure that you’re doing all in your power to prioritize the appropriate procedures.

Suffice it to say that, while each of the three Rulers share an ambition of quelling the chaos and restoring order to China, only one will have the opportunity to propel their agenda to victory — and it will come down to you to decide who will eventually take the throne. The question is, which Faction should you choose, and why?

Wei, Wu, or Shu?

Wei, Wu, and Shu—the three Factions that constitute the Romance of the Three Kingdoms era—each share the common goal of wanting to restore peace and stability to the provinces. However, there is only room for one Ruler to take control over the regions, which means that, when push comes to shove, you’ll need to make a crucial choice between Cao Cao, Sun Jian, or Liu Bei. Moreover, as each Faction will feature its own True Ending and series of distinct challenges, it also means that you will need to follow several important steps in order to ensure their success. A lot to take in, but stick with us!

To give you a clearer picture of how Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei envision their future as Rulers over the provinces, you will first need to complete a batch of introductory battles, one for Wei, two for Shu, and three for Wu. At the end of each of this portion of the campaign, you will have the option to choose which Faction to join. Now, depending on your choice over which of the three kingdoms you choose to call home, you will have to complete a specific criteria to unlock the True Endings. Note here that, while the game does also offer standard endings, each Faction has a unique conclusion, though you will need to refer back to the link above for a deeper explanation on how to fulfill the objectives.

Cao Cao, Sun Jian, or Liu Bei?

Cao Cao is a firm but fair competitor in Origins, and a primordial candidate for the throne. Aside from being an important figure amongst the masses, the Wei Ruler also shares an undying desire to quell the chaos and restore balance to the provinces.

Sun Jian, while not an enormous asset in the initial segments of the campaign, also shares the common goal of maintaining order in light of the Coalition Army’s disbandment. Aside from sharing the goal of keeping the provinces intact, the Wu Ruler also has several incredibly talented warriors in his ranks.

Liu Bei, a benevolent leader whose ability to form trustworthy alliances and influence common forces and citizens is admirable, to say the least, lacks the same volume of troops as his rivals. However, with Guan Yu and Zhang Fei being amongst those ranks, the Shu Ruler is still a force to be reckoned with, and not to mention a clear fan favorite for those who’d much rather opt for a friendlier Faction.

Which Faction Should You Choose?

There isn’t really a right or a wrong answer for the question of how to approach the Factions. Simply put, if you’re interested in joining the most ferocious Ruler in their conquest of China, then you’d be far better off joining up with Cao Cao. If, however, you would much prefer to join the ranks of a slightly less established Faction, then either Wu or Shu ought to suffice in most cases. At the end of the day, you can quite easily slip back to the crossroads and take an alternate path at a later point in time.