List of Dynasty Warriors characters

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1 Wei (魏)
2 Shu (蜀)
3 Wu (吳)
4 Others (他)
5 Removed Characters
6 See also
7 External links

There are 51 playable characters in the Dynasty Warriors series as of the release of Dynasty Warriors 5, including three characters (Fu Xi, Nu Wa and Nobunaga) who are no longer in the current games. Most of the characters were real figures from the era of the Three Kingdoms, although some half-fictional characters from the novel were also included in the roster such as Xing Cai and Zuo Ci. Minor female characters from history have been placed on the battlefield by Koei, although aside from Zhu Rong they never fought in any of the battles.

The characters below have been sorted by the kingdom they were most known for serving, listed by popularity/importance. Each character has an Ultimate Weapon, which is the best possible weapon he or she can get in the basic games; these are commonly also called "4th weapons" or, in Dynasty Warriors 4, "level 10 weapons". The Xtreme Legends expansion disc for Dynasty Warriors 3 adds even more powerful 5th weapons, and the Xtreme Legends expansion disc for Dynasty Warriors 4 adds a level 11 upgrade to each weapon. Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme Legends does not contain 5th weapons.

[edit] Wei (魏)

[edit] Cao Cao (曹操)

Cao Cao, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Long Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Wrath of Heaven
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Xia Pi, Battle of Guan Du, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Battle of He Fei Castle

Cao Cao is the first ruler of Wei. Although he doesn't lead the alliance against Dong Zhuo, the games correctly state that he was the one who organized it. Although he commands most of the earlier Wei battles, he does not normally command the later Wei battles due to his death. Cao Cao is an active commander, who often charges right into the action, most notably at Chang Ban and Tong Gate. He also on some occasions allows minor generals to command battles for a short period of time before he arrives, as in the battles of Chang Ban and Mt. Ding Jun. The only Wei commander whose accomplishments were comparable to his own was Sima Yi, who, in the Wei storyline of the games, effectively unifies China by leading Wei in their final battles against Wu and Shu.

Cao Cao fights with a longsword in the games. He utilizes quick, powerful strikes, and steps into his attacks, giving him range greater than the other longswordsmen in the game. Although he is more of an all-around character, these advantages combined with his lack of real drawbacks make him a solid, effective character. As an NPC he is an avid horseman, riding one in every battle except Chi Bi.

[edit] Xiahou Dun (夏侯惇)

Xiahou Dun, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Scimitar
Ultimate Weapon: Kirin Fang
Notable battles: Battle of Xia Pi, Battle of Guan Du, Guan Yu's Escape, Battle of Chang Ban, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Fan Castle

Xiahou Dun wields a large scimitar and wears either an eyepatch or a strip of cloth (depending on the game) to cover his lost eye. He is quite popular, as his moveset is both fast and powerful. His main drawback, his slow running speed, is not too significant; if the player finds or equips a horse this problem can be eliminated, since he is an effective horse fighter. He is also considered one of the most 'badass' characters due to his not only surviving being shot in the eye, but actually ripping the eye out and eating it. However, in the games where this event occur (Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5), his speech upon pulling out the arrow is changed from referring to his parents to his willingness to sacrifice an eye for Cao Cao's dream. Xiahou Dun is normally not found in the later levels once Cao Cao is dead, honorably stating in the earlier battles that if Cao Cao was not there to end the chaos, he would have no reason left to fight.

Xiahou Dun supervises the advance force that initiated the attack on Liu Bei at Chang Ban. He also chases Guan Yu down when he tried to leave Cao Cao's service, but Guan Yu escapes (or is caught and released, if the battle is played from the Wei side). Indeed, in later games in the series he forms a strong rivalry with Guan Yu, as shown both in cutscenes and battlefield dialogue.

[edit] Xiahou Yuan (夏侯淵)

Xiahou Yuan, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Scimitar (in Dynasty Warriors 2 and 3), Battle Rod (in Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5)
Ultimate Weapon: Mystic Fang (in Dynasty Warriors 2 and 3), Enforcer Rod (in Dynasty Warriors 4 and 5)
Notable Battles: Battle of Xia Pi, Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun

Xiahou Yuan fights in most of the earlier Wei battles alongside Cao Cao, who is his cousin. Yuan is also the brother of Xiahou Dun, and in Dynasty Warriors 2 and 3, has a scimitar weapon like Dun. He doesn't have many significant roles or cutscenes in the battles, with a notable exception being at Mt. Ding Jun, where he originally commands the Wei forces along with Zhang He. In the games' canon, Xiahou Yuan loses the battle and is killed. He has a unique death cutscene when this happens.

In the games where he uses a sword, his fighting style and scimitar are nearly identical to those of Huang Zhong. He is powerful character, but slow. He is a skilled archer.

[edit] Dian Wei (典韋)

Dian Wei, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Hand Axe
Ultimate Weapon: Mad Bull
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Wan Castle, Battle of Xia Pi, Battle of Chang Ban, Escape from Chi Bi

Dian Wei serves as Cao Cao's bodyguard, along with Xu Zhu, with whom he develops a friendship in the games. He appears in the Battle of Wan Castle, and in some games in the battle against Dong Zhuo. At Wan Castle, he holds off the enemies led by Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu while Cao Cao escapes. Unless the player is controlling him or controlling another Wei character and chooses to save him, he dies at Wan Castle. In Dynasty Warriors 3, some characters replace others of the same kingdom in later battles once their musou mode is cleared, presumably to give the player more chances to encounter characters who die early on. Dian Wei is one such character, replacing Xu Huang at Chang Ban, Xiahou Dun at Chi Bi and He Fei, Zhen Ji at the Wu Zhang Plains, and Zhang He at He Fei Castle. Once his musou mode is cleared, this cannot be undone (although the original NPCs will still be in their spots on free mode).

Dian Wei's fighting style is slow, but powerful. He also has limited range and slow speed, making him a poor choice for beginners.

[edit] Cao Pi (曹丕)

Cao Pi, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: Two-bladed sword (similar to Darth Maul's lightsaber or the "Double Saber" weapons of Phantasy Star Online; the blades are detachable)
Ultimate Weapon: Chaos
Notable Battles: Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Battle of He Fei Castle

Cao Pi debuted as a playable character in the fifth installment of the series, two games after he was stuck as a generic NPC while his first wife Zhen Luo (known as Zhen Ji in the game) became playable at the third installment. He's portrayed as an ambitious, ruthless prince of Wei, striving to surpass Cao Cao. Although he claims that he's not continuing his father's conquest, but starting one on his own, he greatly respects him. He wields dual edged swords and he can detach them any time he wants.

Unlike the history or novel, Cao Pi loved Zhen Ji genuinely until his death. He states that during her ending.

[edit] Zhang Liao (張遼)

Zhang Liao, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Guan Dao
Ultimate Weapon: Gold Wyvern
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Xia Pi, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei

Zhang Liao is a friend of Guan Yu, and uses the same type of weapon as him. Zhang Liao originally served as an officer of Lü Bu, and continues to do so during the Xtreme Legends musou modes (he even remains with him when he decides to betray Dong Zhuo). He is quick to take his service to Cao Cao, appearing in the games on his side as early as the battle of Guan Du. Zhang Liao is somewhat of an important strategist; when not at the front lines as a commander or a special mission executor, he fights very close to the battle commander. He is an experimental commander, under Xiahou Dun's supervision along with Xu Zhu at Chang Ban before Cao Cao arrives. He also leads a team that ambushes and assassinates the Wu general Taishi Ci at He Fei.

Zhang Liao's fighting style, unlike his weapon, is actually more similar to Lü Meng's than Guan Yu's. His polearm weapon gives him high range and good power, both on foot and on horseback. Zhang Liao is an all-around character, without significant strengths or weaknesses.

[edit] Sima Yi (司馬懿)

Sima Yi, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Sword (in Dynasty Warriors 2), Warlord's fan (Dynasty Warriors 3 and beyond)
Ultimate Weapon: Dark Feather
Notable Battles: Battle of Fan Castle, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Battle of He Fei Castle

A capable strategist and commander, Sima Yi was the warlord who completed the late Cao Cao's quest to unify China. He was somewhat of a rival to Zhuge Liang, and was the only general in Wei who could counter his military genious. His patient, "big picture" strategy can be seen in the games; He declares at the battle of Fan Castle (which he commands in Dynasty Warriors 3 only) that he is willing to sacrifice the castle to defeat Guan Yu, and during the battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Sima Yi remains isolated in a strong defense, despite the urge to rush into an offensive against the Shu army. However, the games include a taunt event which causes Sima Yi to become more aggressive and vulnerable (contrary to the novel, in which Sima Yi endured the taunts, resulting in eventual victory). The main difference between his and Cao Cao's style of command is their aggressiveness; Cao Cao is a much more active commander, making him both more valuable as an ally and more difficult to protect. Sima Yi, however, rarely leaves his headquarters unless a full-scale offensive is launched to finish off the enemy forces or all other Wei units have been destroyed.

Sima Yi, like Zhuge Liang, fights with a feather fan, which he controls by hand and telepathically. He uses other magic as well, in the form of laser-like energy beams. He is somewhat lacking in brute strength, but has immense power in his musou attacks. His attacks are rather slow and awkward on a horse, so he is often on foot when an NPC. This makes him a poor character as far as speed is concerned, since his slow running can only be overcome by riding a horse and sacrificing much fighting ability.

[edit] Xu Zhu (許褚)

Xu Zhu, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Mace
Ultimate Weapon: Stone Crusher
Notable Battles: Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Chang Ban, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of He Fei Castle

Note: While Koei uses the spelling 'Xu Zhu,' he is referred to as 'Xu Chu' in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel and historical sources.

In Dynasty Warriors, Xu Zhu is depicted as an enormous, obese man whose mind and actions are like a child's. In battle, however, he is a fierce warrior capable of inflicting heavy losses. Many fans of Xu Zhu are angry about this, seeing that he is in general portrayed as just a simple minded man. He wields a huge mace. He also develops a great friendship bond with Dian Wei and is deeply saddened with his death in the Battle of Wan Castle. Xu Zhu is an experimental commander at Chang Ban, along with Zhang Liao. He also has a significant role at Tong Gate, where he is a very tough officer who follows Cao Cao, making it difficult to attack him without first defeating Xu Zhu.

Xu Zhu is the slowest character in the games, but quite strong. His weapons also have good range and unique effects, allowing and even forcing the player to take on new strategies in defeating enemies. Some of his attacks knock down the enemy without sending them flying, leaving them right in front of Xu Zhu. Others knock enemies back much further than average, leaving Xu Zhu alone, which is a defensive asset but an offensive hindrance. His musou attack inflicts great damage per hit; but instead of hitting enemies multiple times, it sends them flying far away, and in some games ends with Xu Zhu falling on the ground. In Dynasty Warriors 5, the musou attack was changed slightly so that it now hits multiple times, but damage output was sacrificed.

[edit] Cao Ren (曹仁)

Cao Ren, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 4
Weapon: Buckler Blade
Ultimate Weapon: Roc
Notable Battles: Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Fan Castle, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Cao Ren is Cao Cao's younger cousin, he is unique in the Wei Kingdom for being the only officer concerned with 'peace' not conquest. His voice in cut scenes and interstitials is often calm. It's interesting to note that his move sets and alternate costumes bear a striking resemblance to American football. From Dynasty Warriors 4 onwards, he commands the defense of Fan Castle, refusing to remove from the castle walls. In recent games, he typically fights in the later battles, such as Wu Zhang Plains, however when he was an NPC in earlier games he fought in battles such as Hu Lao Gate as well.

[edit] Xu Huang (徐晃)

Xu Huang, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Poleaxe
Ultimate Weapon: Marauder
Notable Battles: Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Chang Ban, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Fan Castle

Xu Huang is a Wei general. He is notable in that he fights for justice and peace, unlike most Wei characters, who fight for conquest and/or loyalty to Cao Cao. He, like Zhang Liao, was a close friend of Guan Yu, and if the two meet each other at Fan Castle, a unique encounter cutscene can be seen. Also like Zhang Liao, he was close with Cao Cao as well. He leads the ambush against Ma Chao at Tong Gate, after failing to convince Cao Cao of the battle's injustice. He also assists the Wei forces at Fan Castle in repelling Guan Yu. Like Zhang He, Xu Huang is given great responsibility under the command of Sima Yi. He co-commands, with Zhang He, the defenses of the Main South Gate at He Fei Castle, and is a leading general at the Wu Zhang Plains as well. Outside of China, Xu Huang fought a number of Mongol tribes, so they would not grow to be a large threat to the Wei Empire. Wei's invasion of the Naiman tribe was easily crushed by the Mongols. Though the Naiman did not invade China since they had their own problems to deal with.

Xu Huang's fighting style is quite effective. Although he has slow attack speed, his axe features great range and high power. His sweeping attacks often go around in a complete circle, so it is difficult to sneak attack him from behind while he's attacking. He features a ground stomp move with high power, and his musou attack is fairly basic, involving him swing his axe around and around. He is quite effective on a horse, with high mounted attack and range.

Xu Huang's armour is based on a Middle Eastern style. The skirt and the head band being good examples of this.

[edit] Pang De (龐徳)

Pang De, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: Twin Halberd
Ultimate Weapon: Heavenly Halberd
Notable Battles: Battle of Liang Province, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of Fan Castle

Pang De was originally an officer under Ma Teng and Ma Chao before submitting to Cao Cao. Unlike Han Sui, he did not defect, but was forced to surrender and served Wei rather than be executed. He is a particularly difficult officer of Ma Chao's at the Battle of Tong Gate, along with Ma Dai before he joins Wei. He serves them dutifully, most notably at Fan Castle.

Pang De was designed wearing an armor similar to an European Knight. His weapon of choice is the weapon that belonged to Dian Wei in history and novel, dual halberds. He's a slow character, but packs serious damage, defense and crowd control. Since he was part of the Xi Liang cavalries alongside Ma Chao, he's also excellent in cavalry fighting.

[edit] Zhang He (張郃)

Zhang He, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Claws
Ultimate Weapon: Phoenix Talon
Notable Battles: Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Chen Cang

Zhang He is depicted as a narcissist who takes joy in aesthetically appealing things and has excessively effeminate mannerisms, with the frequent use of the words "beautiful" and "graceful." He is also prone to posing during cutscenes, occasionally surrounded by a number of butterflies. His weapon of choice is a set of slashing claws. His moveset consists of graceful flips and tumbles, quick slashes and rolling jumps. He originally fights on the side of Yuan Shao, doing so at the battle of Guan Du, but later joins Cao Cao. In Yuan Shao's musou mode in the Xtreme Legends games, he continues to fight alongside Yuan Shao until the end. His only significant role under Cao Cao was at Mt. Ding Jun, where he co-commands the Wei forces with Xiahou Yuan before Cao Cao arrives. Once Sima Yi becomes Wei's leader, Zhang He has more significant positions; he leads the offensive against Ma Su at Jie Ting, is a leading attacking general against Shu at Wu Zhang Plains, and co-commands the defenses of the Main South Gate at He Fei Castle with Xu Huang. This increase in position, also seen in the novel, is probably a result of Zhang He's tactical style. He excelled at taking advantage of opportunities and aggressively pursuing openings in battle; this skill was not so useful to Cao Cao, who had the same talent already, but the calculated and patient Sima Yi used Zhang He's skills to much greater effect.

Zhang He's primary advantage in the game is his somewhat unpredictable fighting style and his incredible mobility. He is likely the fastest character in the game, actually capable of catching up with generals fleeing on horseback when equipped with the right items. He has high attack power, good range, high attack speed and above average defense. Some of his moves, especially his musou attack, are ideal for hit-and-run situations, since they stun or hurt the enemy and allow Zhang He to dart away. On a horse, he has high mounted attack, very quick attacks with extended range, and a sweeping musou attack.

Because of his appearance and mannerisms, many casual gamers believe he is homosexual, though fans of the Dynasty Warriors series furiously counter that his portrayal is simply Koei's method of making Zhang He stand out among the other characters. Some say that Zhang He's Dynasty Warriors incarnation is based on Vega, a narcisstic claw-wielding character from Capcom's main franchises, Street Fighter.

[edit] Zhen Ji (甄姫)

Zhen Ji, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Iron Flute
Ultimate Weapon: Dark Moon Flute
Notable Battles: Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains, Battle of He Fei Castle

Note: Koei calls her 'Zhen Ji,' but her name in historical records is 'Zhen Luo' and she is 'Lady Zhen' in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel.

Zhen Ji fights for the Wei forces, wielding a large golden flute she uses to strike her enemies with. Zhen Ji is described in the game as a "serene woman with a noble heart." She originally was a wife of one of Yuan Shao's officers, but this is not always mentioned in the game (although in Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends, she makes a cameo appearance on Yuan Shao's side at Jie Ting, the only battle in which she does so). In the games, she has a calm, even-tempered demeanor, but is unwavering and merciless. Her voice is much more aggressive (but not mean) than other female characters, showing a snobby and feminist edge, but not in such a way as to make her overconfident or self-centered. In Dynasty Warriors 5, she has a little more ruthless personality, perhaps to answer the ruthless personality of Cao Pi, who debuted in the said game. In the main sequence of games, she has no really significant roles, except that she is the default character who mentions suspicion of Zhou Fang's defection at You Ting (this position in the cutscene is variable, and can be filled by all characters except Sima Yi or Cao Cao, who ride alongside her).

Her storyline follows the actual history fairly close with some notable exceptions -- she actually participates in battles and campaigns, and willingly abandons Yuan Shao's forces to join Wei; the games also offer a happier end to Lady Zhen's life with Cao Pi, suggesting he genuinely loves her and they live out their lives in happiness together.

[edit] Important non-playable characters of Wei

[edit] Shu (蜀)

[edit] Liu Bei (劉備)

Liu Bei (middle), Guan Yu (right), and Zhang Fei (left), as they appear in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Long Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Gold Moon Dragon
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Chang Ban, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of Bai Di Castle, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Liu Bei is the founder of Shu and oath brother of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He originally appeared as a less expensively-dressed man than either Sun Jian or Cao Cao, but as the game series progressed he has been featured in more illustrious outfits. He, like Sun Jian and Cao Cao, participates in the battles against the Yellow Turbans and Dong Zhuo, and many of the games recreate with a cutscene the dramatic duel between he and his oath brothers against Lü Bu. In the games, Liu Bei fights mainly against Cao Cao, with the exception of his cousin Liu Zhang, who he battles for control of the region of Shu. However, his final battle is against Wu, not Wei, at Yi Ling. After swearing vengeance for Guan Yu's death at Fan Castle, Liu Bei decides to destroy Wu, but fails and dies shortly afterwards. Since Liu Bei in the game dies in battle, and which battle he dies in depends on the character, there is not really a "specific" final battle for him in the game, but the battle that is closest to the novel's canon (and the one that occurs latest in the timeline) is Yi Ling. Liu Bei is also the only character in the game who can kill his own wife (Sun Shang Xiang) in Musou Mode; this is sometimes a requirement to obtain his final weapon.

Liu Bei fights with a fairly standard style with his longsword, but with slightly above average stats in basically all fields. Like Cao Cao and Sun Jian, Liu Bei is a good character for beginners, but continues to be an effective and reliable all-around fighter when used by more experienced players. He is also one of only three characters to have a special horse as an NPC, the Hex Mark (the other two are Lü Bu and Guan Yu, who ride Red Hare).

[edit] Guan Yu (關羽)

Guan Yu, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Guan Dao
Ultimate Weapon: Blue Moon Dragon
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Guan Du, Guan Yu's Escape, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of Fan Castle

Guan Yu, the leader of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu, is the oath brother of Liu Bei and Zhang Fei, and as such is one of the first two generals to serve Liu Bei, fighting with him against the Yellow Turbans and the Dong Zhuo rebels. In the novel, he kills the mighty Hua Xiong, and this is sometimes recreated in the games. Some games also recreate his and his brothers' duel with the great warrior. He is clearly emphasized in the game, being an especially large character who announces rather than speaks, and with a pompous but courageous tone.

Guan Yu continues to be important until his death, having several important roles in battles. He serves Cao Cao shortly, and as an NPC can kill Yan Liang and Wen Chou instantly at the battle of Guan Du. If he encounters Liu Bei on the opposite side, he can also cause Liu Bei to pull out of the battle. While under Cao Cao's service, he develops friendships with the Wei generals Zhang Liao and Xu Huang. There is another battle involving his service of Cao Cao in which he escapes to rejoin his oath brothers and is pursued by several generals, always including Xiahou Dun. He also leads the Shu attack on Fan Castle, joined by his adopted son Guan Ping, and their deaths are the basis for the battle of Yi Ling.

Guan Yu has a very no-nonsense fighting style. He uses broad sweeps and stabs of his large weapon, and his charge attacks mostly consist of spinning attacks. His musou is also simple; he simply moves forward while spinning around, swinging his weapon in a circle. His simple but effective style makes him a popular choice for beginners, and he is always selectable right at the beginning of the game.

[edit] Zhang Fei (張飛)

Zhang Fei, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Snake Spear
Ultimate Weapon: Viper Blade
Notable Battles: Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Xia Pi, Battle of Chang Ban, Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Fan Castle

The impulsive, fearless and fiercely loyal Zhang Fei is the other of the three oath brothers consisting of himself, Guan Yu, and Liu Bei. He serves Liu Bei from the beginning of the games' events, fighting alongside him in the Yellow Turban battles and against Dong Zhuo, and his accomplishments earn him a place among the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. In the cutscenes that mimic the novel's duel between the three brothers and the seemingly unstoppable Lü Bu, he initiates the duel, despite being clearly no match for the terror-inspiring horseman. In the games, Zhang Fei is never given any significant strategic assignments like his oath brother Guan Yu, but he is always willing to face a much larger enemy force and not back down. He proves this at Chang Ban, where he single-handedly causes a large morale drop in the Wei forces by shouting a challenge on the Chang Ban bridge. This event is often required to get his final weapon. Throughout most of the other levels, however, Zhang Fei is simply a general who carries out orders, and doesn't have a large effect in the battle plans or events. However, his role in cutscenes where the dialogue depends on the character being used is sometimes quite comical.

Although he uses the spear set of weapons, as opposed to the heavier halberds, Zhang Fei's approach to fighting is strong and straight-forward, and more similar to the halberd-wielders than the spearmen. He uses standard bashing or slashing strikes, relying on his brute strength to kill enemies. The long range of his weapon and his great power make him a formidable horseman, making up for his slow speed.

[edit] Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮)

Zhuge Liang, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Feather Fan
Ultimate Weapon: Peacock Feather
Notable Battles: Battle of Chang Ban, Conquest of Nan Zhong, Battle of Tian Shui, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Zhuge Liang is the Shu strategist and Prime Minister; in other Romance of the Three Kingdoms games, many of which are designed purely from a Shu standpoint, he is called the greatest strategist in China, but in the Dynasty Warriors games he has two tough competitors, Lu Xun, and the more significant Sima Yi. Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, both of whom wield feather fans and use magic, have a sort of rivalry (although, considering that Sima Yi mentions Zhuge Liang much more than vice versa, this may be only a perceived rivalry in Sima Yi's mind). Their moveset is quite similar, their stats are comparable, and they face each other on the game's final battle, the battle of Wu Zhang Plains. However, Zhuge Liang's in-game personality is much more wise and pensive than Sima Yi's aggressive, harsh manner. This difference can be seen in the way they fight; Zhuge Liang fights with sweeping swipes, often with the flat of the fan, and his battle cry is barely a whisper. On the other hand, Sima Yi fights with quick slices, using the edge of the fan, and with a terse, staccato interjection. Even their musou attacks show this difference; Zhuge Liang floats mystically about, firing "lasers", while Sima Yi stands still and blasts enemies out of his way in a much simpler manner.

Zhuge Liang serves Liu Bei from early on in the game, and orchestrates many of the Shu battles (and one mostly Wu battle, Chi Bi). He can be seen in many of the stages' introductory cutscenes, even when he does not actually participate in that battle. When Liu Bei dies, he gains control of Shu as Prime Minister and attempts to complete Liu Bei's goal of restoring the Han. He also takes on a young apprentice named Jiang Wei, also playable, who formerly served the Wei kingdom. Whether or not the two, along with the other Shu generals, are successful in defeating Wei depends on which side the user takes.

Zhuge Liang is a defensive, slow fighter. He performs poorly on a horse, but on the ground he is a solid, reliable character. He uses, as discussed above, a feather fan, controlled by his hand and telekinesis to dispatch his foes. In his musou and some charge attacks, he uses powerful magic.

[edit] Zhao Yun (趙雲)

Zhao Yun, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Spear
Ultimate Weapon: Fierce Dragon
Notable Battles: Battle of Ji Province, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Chang Ban, Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Yi Ling

Zhao Yun is a young, energetic Shu General, and one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu. He is also a sort of poster boy for the series; he is featured prominently on many of the games cover arts and instruction manuals, where he sets the example for players to follow the reading. His name is also the default record holder for most challenge mode events. He is one character whose appearance has changed over the series somewhat; in Dynasty Warriors 4, he was given an older, gruffer, more muscular look complete with slightly shabbier clothing. In Dynasty Warriors 5, however, this change was reverted.

Zhao Yun originally served Gongsun Zan, but was drawn toward Liu Bei's ideals and personality. He is a hero of the Battle of Chang Ban, where he saved Liu Bei's infant son from the clutches of Wei; this stage is usually where his ultimate weapon(s) can be found. Afterwards, he has no roles of particular significance, but is present for almost every Shu battle.

Zhao Yun, like many Shu generals, wields a polearm weapon, namely, a light spear. Although he is not as strong as most of the other Tiger Generals, he has very quick attacks and runs fairly fast. His quick attacks can generate combos that are not easily interrupted, and he steps into his attacks, giving him considerable range. As is the case with most polearm users, Zhao Yun is good on a horse as well. He is lacking in defense, however, being smaller and more frail than some of his comrades.

[edit] Huang Zhong (黄忠)

Huang Zhong, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Sword (pulls out a bow for some charge attacks)
Ultimate Weapon: Oracle Sword
Notable Battles: Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Conquest of Nan Zhong, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Bai Di Castle.

Huang Zhong is the oldest playable officer in the Dynasty Warriors series. He is energetic and determined, despite his age, although he mentions his aging often. His aging doesn't prevent him from becoming one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu, however. His most memorable battle is the Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, where he charges down the slopes and battles Xiahou Yuan. Although the outcome varies with what side the player is on, the game's canon has Xiahou Yuan slain at this battle, scoring a huge victory for Shu.

Huang Zhong is more often than not seen with his bow and arrows in cutscenes, since his archery proficiency was somewhat legendary. However, his main weapon when actually fighting in game is a sword, nearly identical to that which Xiahou Yuan used in Dynasty Warriors 2 and 3. He has a fighting style very much like Xiahou Yuan's early style as well; it's simple and predictable, with a musou attack that involves just spinning around and slashing. His musou attack hints at his age; he stumbles slightly on the last hit, whereas Xiahou Yuan recovers normally. Huang Zhong has a higher bow attack than any other character, but the rest of his stats are very average, despite his Tiger General status.

[edit] Ma Chao (馬超)

Ma Chao, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Spear
Ultimate Weapon: Stallion Fury
Notable Battles: Battle of Liang Province, Battle of Tong Gate, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Bai Di Castle

The Dynasty Warriors games tend to portray Ma Chao as a warrior with a strong sense of justice and a willingness to fight for it, leading to many loud speeches and announcements of his intentions. He is more independent than most characters, serving Liu Bei only because he was already in the process of fighting Wei. Ma Chao begins his role in the games as the commander of the Guan Zhong alliance against Cao Cao, whom he fights for revenge for his father and brother and also to defend his homeland. At his side are his cousin Ma Dai (who, along with Ma Chao, is not related to Ma Su or Ma Liang), a strong ally Pang De, and a close friend Han Sui. Unfortunately, Han Sui has a friendly history with Cao Cao, and when Cao Cao attacks Tong Gate, where Ma Chao is camped, Han Sui defects, resulting in victory for Cao Cao and utter defeat for Pang De, who surrenders and joins the Wei forces. Ma Chao joins Shu and fights for them for the remainder of the game, earning the status of one of the Five Tiger Generals of Shu.

Ma Chao is a powerful warrior, with attack power around that of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. He also has a rate of attack comparable to Zhao Yun, and has a higher ratio of mounted attack to total attack power than almost any other character. These characteristics give Ma Chao very high potential; however, his fighting style is somewhat hard to control without experience. It consists of arc swings and deep lunges with his spear, making him look like a fencer at times, and he moves his feet a lot, making his stances look highly choreographed. When on horseback Ma Chao has no equal.

[edit] Guan Ping (關平)

Guan Ping, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: Zanbatō
Ultimate Weapon: Young Dragon
Notable Battles: Battle of Chang Ban, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of Fan Castle, Battle of Yi Ling

The commonly seen generic officer that was Guan Ping was finally given a unique model in Dynasty Warriors 5, where he is seen wielding a backhand sword of large size. He is the oldest son of Guan Yu, although he was adopted (he was adopted becuse Guan Yu saw potential within Guan Ping, and they both shared the same family name of 'Guan'). He fights alongside his father in numerous battles, and defends him from the Wei forces when Guan Yu escapes Cao Cao's service (he is seen only if the player is playing on Cao Cao's side). His most significant role is with his father at Fan Castle, where he assists in bringing about the flood attack. However, he is killed along with his father by the Wu forces led by Lu Meng.

[edit] Wei Yan (魏延)

Wei Yan, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Double Voulge (similar to the 'Swallow' weapon used by Serge in Chrono Cross)
Ultimate Weapon: Comet Strike
Notable Battles: Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of Tian Shui, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Wei Yan is a good example of the liberties Koei has taken in forming the characters' personalities. He is portrayed as a simple, tribal man, serving Shu in most of the later battles. He grunts single words, strung together with pauses in between to form sentences. It is never explicitly stated that he is mentally deficient, but that is a common theory, with another being that he is simply like a person who likes to express his emotions as briefly as possible. His apparent inability to express his thoughts coherently, however, is made up for by his abilities in battle. He has virtually no significant roles in the games, however in Dynasty Warriors 4 he, in defense of Huang Zhong, slays his master Han Xuan in a battle, submitting to Liu Bei.

Wei Yan fights with a double voulge, consisting of a single edged blade attached to each end of a pole. His attacks are quick and powerful, to make up for his slow running speed and poor defense, and his fighting style is unorthodox, involving a lot of body movement. This makes him somewhat unpredictable to use or fight against. His popularity has also been enhanced by the popularity of double-bladed staff-like weapons, which can be traced to the on-screen debut of Darth Maul.

[edit] Jiang Wei (姜維)

Jiang Wei, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Trident
Ultimate Weapon: Blink
Notable Battles: Battle of Tian Shui, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Bai Di Castle, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Jiang Wei, formerly a vassal of Wei, joined Shu in order to learn from the great strategist Zhuge Liang. He learned quickly, soon becoming one of the most important Shu generals, and even succeeding Zhuge Liang after his death (which is only sometimes referred to, depending on the game). His role in the games is small but important; he fights at Jie Ting against Zhang He and the others, and is second in importance only to Zhuge Liang at Wu Zhang Plains.

Jiang Wei fights with a spear with a trident-like blade. He fights much like Zhao Yun, having quick strikes and good running speed. He is often remembered for his exceptionally high-pitched battle cries.

[edit] Pang Tong (龐統)

Pang Tong, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Staff
Ultimate Weapon: Tornado Staff
Notable Battles: Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Conquest of Nan Zhong, Battle of Bai Di Castle

Pang Tong is a hunched, obscure wise man who is a friend of Zhuge Liang. He appears very little in the game, with only one important battle. He wears a heavy cloak, full-circle brimmed hat, and a mask to cover his mouth, making him appear very mysterious. Like the two great strategists in the gems, Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang, he wields the power of magic, especially in his musou attack. He is the leading strategist during Liu Bei's campaign against Liu Zhang, until he is ambushed and killed by the forces of Zhang Ren. Often this is preventable, but rather difficult.

Pang Tong, with staff in hand and low height, looks a little like an ape when he fights. He twists his body erratically and strikes enemies with his staff, while sometimes using magic in his charge attacks. In his musou attack, Pang Tong creates a tornado and continues to spin it for as long as he can, catching all enemies in range in his wake. This results in massive combos, since Pang Tong does not move around, but can also result in missing the target with no chance of getting in range. His jump charge attack is unique in that it is more of a quick way to get around the battlefield rather than to attack the enemy directly.

[edit] Yue Ying (月英)

Yue Ying, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 4
Weapon: Scythe (Incorrectly referred to as spear)
Ultimate Weapon: Oblivion
Notable Battles: Battle of Chang Ban, Conquest of Nan Zhong, Battle of Tian Shui, Battle of Chen Cang, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Note: in Romance of the Three Kingdoms she is known as Huang Yueying, and Zhuge Liang's father-in-law (Yue's father) often says that his surname is Huang.

Yue Ying, who originally debuted as a default Shu bodyguard in Dynasty Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends, is the wife of Shu Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. She fights for Shu, although her role in battle is completely fictional. She is portrayed as intelligent and an able strategist, and an inventor of the Juggernaght weapon which she uses to fight the Nanman. Her "housewife" demeanor, which some deem inappropriate for a general, has lead her to be criticized by some as being a forced character, for the sake of inserting a female character into Shu's ranks (since Shu was the only kingdom by Dynasty Warriors 3 not to have a female character). Also, Yue Ying is probably the only character to have a good and sweet bond with her husband.

[edit] Xing Cai (星彩)

Xing Cai, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: War Fork
Ultimate Weapon: Ambition
Notable Battles: Battle of Cheng Du, Battle of Mt. Ding Jun, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of Jie Ting, Battle of Bai Di Castle

Xing Cai, daughter of Zhang Fei, is the second female character to enter Shu's selection. She wields a war fork and fights in the stead of her father after he is killed. Some criticize her addition, saying that her general attitude and mannerisms are anachronistic and try too hard to break the stereotype of a submissive Chinese girl. Others praise her, saying that this contributes to the game, making her interesting and likeable. Although she, in the games, is obviously nothing like she ever was in the novel, her fans counter with other examples of unconventional characters, such as Zhang He and Xu Zhu. She is shown as loving her husband, Liu Chan, and fights to defend him from the forces of Wu. It is also hinted she may also have a romantic connection with Guan Ping.

[edit] Important non-playable characters of Shu

[edit] Wu (吳)

[edit] Sun Jian (孫堅)

Sun Jian, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Long Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Savage Tiger
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of He Fei Castle, Battle of Bai Di Castle

Sun Jian, both in the games and in real history, was the first of the three "original" leaders of what was or would become the Three Kingdoms to die. He dies during a battle with Liu Biao, crushed to death by stones. However, his army is large enough and his sons well known and well taught enough that they would go on to form the kingdom of Wu under Sun Ce's and Sun Quan's leadership. Sun Jian is portrayed as a charismatic, good-humored man with a courage that is not as outspoken as the courage of other characters. He fights alongside Liu Bei, Cao Cao, He Jin and the other Han forces against the Yellow Turbans, and then joins them all again against Dong Zhuo. In the battle (or battles, depending on the game) against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian takes the forefront, most often against Hua Xiong. His forces usually fall under danger, however, since Yuan Shu refuses to give him supplies. After Dong Zhuo is destroyed, the story in the game says (although there is no actual battle sequence showing this) that Yuan Shao's general Liu Biao (also a relative of Liu Bei) attacks Sun Jian because of his possession of the Imperial Seal. Sun Jian, vowing revenge, launches a surprise attack on Liu Biao, but is crushed in a rockslide attack by the combined efforts of Kuai Liang and Lü Gong. His son Sun Ce takes over the troops on the spot, defeating Liu Biao.

Sun Jian's fighting style is much like his son Sun Quan's style. He wields a longsword, like Cao Cao and Liu Bei, and is an all-around warrior with above-average stats. This makes him, like Cao Cao and Liu Bei, both a good choice for beginners and a solid, reliable character for those with more experience.

[edit] Sun Ce (孫策)

Sun Ce, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearances as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Tonfa
Ultimate Weapon: Overlord
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of the Wu Territory, The Trials of Sun Ce, Battle of Xia Kou

Sun Ce is the light-hearted, good-humored son of Sun Jian who briefly is the leader of the Wu nation. He begins fighting for his father at the battles against Liu Biao (where his father will sometimes say "It would be your first battle", even though Sun Ce may fight other battles first in musou mode before the one against Liu Biao). If his father is killed, which is the case unless the player deliberately takes steps to prevent it, Sun Ce takes command of the Wu forces mid-battle and finishes Liu Biao. He then fends off attacks on the Wu territory from Yan Bai Hu, Wang Lang, and Liu Yong, who employed the mercenary Taishi Ci. Sun Ce defeats them, along with the help of Zhou Yu, his very close friend, and Taishi Ci, who defects to Sun Ce after his own or Liu Yong's defeat, depending on the game. Sun Ce dies shortly afterwards, although this is rarely shown in the games. In Dynasty Warriors 5, he fights Yu Ji (Trails of Sun Ce) a mystic who, ficticiously; cursed Sun Ce, later, as a result, killing him, but in the game Sun Ce lives. In his own musou modes, he continues to live, taking the place of Sun Quan as head of the Wu army. Sun Ce has personal relationships with several Wu characters; he is the son of Sun Jian, the brother of Sun Quan and Sun Shang Xiang, the sworn brother of Zhou Yu, the husband of Da Qiao, and a close friend of Taishi Ci.

Sun Ce wields a pair of tonfa, one of the more exotic weapons of the game. As a martial artist, he fights with the tonfa, supplemented by kicks and bodycheck-like rushing attacks. Sun Ce has a relatively unorthodox combat style, involving a lot of movement, but his musou attack is generally considered much less stylish.

[edit] Huang Gai (黃蓋)

Huang Gai, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Club
Ultimate Weapon: Dark Shadow
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of Chi Bi, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of Bai Di Castle

Huang Gai is a strong, loyal Wu general who serves Sun Jian from the beginning of the game, against the Yellow Turbans. He is not much more than an order executor, and fights in the earlier Wu battles before mostly disappearing from the game after the Battle of Chi Bi. His role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms is much greater than his role in the games. He does get the spotlight at Chi Bi, however, when he is one of three men (the others being Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu) who together trigger a massive fire attack against the Wei forces, destroying their navy and reducing their army greatly. If Huang Gai is defeated at Chi Bi before this event, it can be prevented.

Huang Gai fights a large rod. His later weapons are wider than his original rod, giving them an appearance more similar to a club than a rod. He fights simply and predictably, swinging his club around to beat his enemies to death. He has high defense and above average attack power, but very low speed. This, combined with his relatively dull fighting style, gives him the appearance of a simple, plodding fighter, and makes him an unpopular choice despite his average statistics. In later games, his moveset becomes more interesting when he gains the ability to set or even throw explosive bombs.

[edit] Sun Quan (孫權)

Sun Quan, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Long Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Master Wolf
Notable Battles: Battle of Xia Kou, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of He Fei Castle, Battle of Bai Di Castle

Sun Quan, though not a member of the original three rulers, is the main leader of the Wu kingdom. He personally commands nearly all of their battles starting with Xiakou, including the final battles against Shu and Wu. Sun Quan takes over the leadership of the country after the death of his older brother, Sun Ce. He is much more serious and business-like than his father and brother, though he does show a tendency to drink and celebrate. He relies on Zhou Yu and Lu Xun as strategists, resulting in canonical victories over Cao Cao at Chi Bi and Liu Bei at Yi Ling (although the outcome of these battles can vary). The games say that Sun Quan was hesitant to fight at Chi Bi, and considered surrender due to Zhou Yu's "fire attack" plan not showing signs of possible success because of the direction of the wind. When Zhuge Liang arrives to help, promising to reverse the direction of the winds, Sun Quan decides to resist Cao Cao. After Cao Cao is defeated, Sun Quan later attacks Wei at He Fei. There he is halted by Zhang Liao, who leads a team to assassinate Taishi Ci, resulting in his death (although the player can prevent this). Sun Quan then retreats and is pursued by Zhang Liao; if Zhang Liao is defeated, Gan Ning leads an ambush party against the Wei base camp and Sun Quan orders a full charge. If this happens in the stage, it becomes very difficult for Wei to win. Sun Quan goes on to lead other important battles at Yi Ling, You Ting, and He Fei Castle, but his personal involvement is usually not extraordinary.

Sun Quan fights with a longsword, like his father. His fighting style is that of a basic swordsman. He is very similar to his father, but has slightly lower stats. Unlocking Sun Quan is sometimes difficult, involving triggering many events at He Fei.

[edit] Sun Shang Xiang (孫尚香)

Sun Shang Xiang, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Sword (in Dynasty Warriors); Chakram (in Dynasty Warriors 2 and beyond)
Ultimate Weapon: Sol Chakram
Notable Battles: Battle of Jing Province, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of Yi Ling

Sun Shang Xiang is the daughter of Sun Jian and sister of Sun Quan and Sun Ce. Her role in the Dynasty Warriors games is small; she fights for Wu in the later battles, but rarely has any significant involvement. The one battle that she has even a semi-important role, You Ting, is sometimes not even included in her musou stages. Although it is rarely mentioned, she is the wife of Liu Bei, and is the only character who can kill her own husband in musou mode. This is more proficient in Dynasty Warriors 5, and she ends up fighting him at Yi Ling. Her ending shows her mourn over his death. In the Xtreme Legends games, she is portrayed, more so even than the other female characters, as a rival of Zhu Rong.

Sun Shang Xiang wields two chakrams in battle. She uses striking and spinning attacks along with kicks, and can throw her weapons a short distance in her musou attack and several charge attacks. She is a fast runner and a quick fighter, but lacks attack power and defense. The need to rely on quickness and technique makes her a slow killer.

[edit] Zhou Tai (周泰)

Zhou Tai, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 4
Weapon: Tachi
Ultimate Weapon: Dusk
Notable Battles: Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Chi Bi, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of Bai Di Castle

The Japanese-influenced Zhou Tai is a towering figure on the battlefield. Historically known for his height, Zhou Tai is a younger officer of Wu.

Zhou Tai fights with a tachi (usually mistaken for a katana), which between attacks is kept sheathed (suggesting that he practices a form of battojutsu or iaijutsu), is one of the few characters to have a cape, and is skilled on horseback. He often protects Sun Quan in battle, as shown in He Fei when he defends him from Zhang Liao. In the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel, at Yi Ling, he avenges his fallen comrade Gan Ning by slaying Sha Moke. He also serves in later battles, following the advice of Lu Xun.

[edit] Zhou Yu (周瑜)

Zhou Yu, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Ancients Sword
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Xia Kou, Battle of Chi Bi

Zhou Yu is the first important Wu strategist. A close friend of Sun Ce, he helps him rid his land of attackers under the command of Yan Bai Hu, Wang Lang and Liu Yong, who fight along with Taishi Ci. They are soundly defeated, and Taishi Ci joins Wu. Zhou Yu greatest accomplishment in the games is the victory at Chi Bi, which he planned with a fire attack on Wei's ships. Although originally defeat seemed unavoidable due to the direction of the wind, causing Zhou Yu to become very sick, Zhuge Liang arrived and offered to help strategize, promising to reverse the direction of the wind. Zhou Yu sends Huang Gai to launch fire boats at Cao Cao's navy, which set it ablaze. Zhou Yu then orders a counterattack, forcing Cao Cao to flee.

Zhou Yu dies before the later battles, although this is generally not mentioned directly in the games. He is succeeded in the games by Lu Meng and Lu Xun (although in the novel and real history, he is first succeeded by Lu Su).

Zhou Yu fights with a long, slightly-curved sword. He is quick and defensively tough, but has below-average attack strength. His moves are simple, but somewhat unique among the games' swordsmen; his strikes are more whispy and swashbuckling than others, looking even a little artistic.

[edit] Gan Ning (甘寧)

Gan Ning, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Scimitar/Kilij/Dao (sword)
Ultimate Weapon: Sea Master
Notable Battles: Battle of Xia Kou, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Fan Castle, Battle of Yi Ling

Gan Ning is a gruff and experienced young general of Wu. He is portrayed as a cocky general who does not take battle lightly, but still manages to enjoy it thoroughly. Although it is only mentioned in the later games, he once fought for Liu Biao before favoring the odds of the Wu forces and joining them. Gan Ning was a former pirate and bandit who, along with his cohorts, attached bells to his clothing when he performed raids. He joined Wu after being passed over for promotion, and fought with them until late into the storyline. Despite his youth, he was a significant general in the Battle of Chi Bi because of his experience in ship to ship fighting. At the Battle of He Fei, if Zhang Liao is defeated by the Wu forces, Gan Ning appears near the Wei camp with a large ambush party and attacks. After this battle, he fights mainly alongside other young Wu generals such as Lu Meng, Lu Xun and Zhou Tai. Gan Ning becomes steadily more important as the more experienced Wu generals fall to the enemies and the younger ones gain more prominence. In earlier games, he continues to fight for Wu until their final battle at He Fei Castle, though historically, he dies around 219 and in the novel, he dies at Yiling.

Gan Ning fights with a broad Kilij resembling a scimitar. He employs swift srikes with his sword, and his charge attacks mostly involve him whirling around and slashing at enemies that have surrounded him. The most memorable part of his moveset is undeniably his musou attack, which is one of a kind; he crouches slightly, holding his blade in a backhand position, and rushes forward, plowing through any enemies who get in his way. As the fastest moving musou attack, it is perfect for "hit-and-run" fighting, or even for traveling if the player has low enough life that the musou gauge fills automatically, since the run is faster than riding even Red Hare.

[edit] Lu Meng (呂蒙)

Lu Meng, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Ji
Ultimate Weapon: White Tiger
Notable Battles: Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of Fan Castle

Note: His name in-game appears as "Lu Meng" instead of "Lü Meng."

Lu Meng is one of the "younger generation" Wu generals, although he is older than most of them. He is portrayed as a loyal warrior with extraordinary determination who fights with an impersonal mindset, without developing any dangerous anger or pride. The origins of his service of Wu are not usually detailed in the games, but he comes into prominence at the Battle of Fan Castle. He serves as a transitional Wu strategist after Zhou Yu's death, quietly expecting to be succeeded by someone else eventually. When Sima Yi (or Cao Ren, depending on the game) is besieged at Fan Castle, Lu Meng and his close friend Lu Xun, himself a promising strategist, improvise a temporary alliance with the Wei forces there to destroy Guan Yu, who controls the Jing Province. Lu Meng, assisted by Lu Xun and another young Wu general Gan Ning, arrive to reinforce the desperate Wei forces. Although the outcome depends on the player's side, the canonical outcome is the defeat and death of Guan Yu and his adopted son Guan Ping.

Lu Meng is successful in taking back the Jing Province, but the Wu army's actions incite the wrath of Liu Bei and other Shu generals, leading to a battle between Shu and Wu at Yi Ling. Lu Xun, devising a plan to take advantage of Zhuge Liang's absence and burn the Shu army, is made the head strategist and forward commander. In the Wu storyline, Wu destroys the larger Shu army and is able to then move against Wei. Lu Xun is made the head strategist of the entire Wu army for his victory. Lu Meng, still alive, is replaced rather than succeeded; however, he strongly supports Lu Xun's new position and fights alongside him until the end of Wu's final battle at He Fei Castle.

Lu Meng fights with a long pike, but in later games he uses a ji(a chinese halberd). Despite his similarity of weapons and identical family name, he is not related to Lu Bu. He has a fierce, forceful fighting style, relying on the strength and technique of his attacks rather than the motion and speed of his weapon as others do. His fighting style is much like Zhang Liao's, and has a simple but very effective musou, consisting of swipes and stabs with his pike. Lu Meng has high attack and defense and decent running speed, as well as a good moveset. His only weakness is his very low health and musou ratings, ranking among the lowest in the game. Despite this, he remains a powerful and popular character to be used, and is often difficult to unlock.

[edit] Lu Xun (陸遜)

Lu Xun, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Twin Sabers
Ultimate Weapon: Falcon
Notable Battles: The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of Fan Castle, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of He Fei Castle, Battle of Bai Di Castle

The young, boyish Lu Xun is the latest and most accomplished Wu strategist. He is portrayed as competitive with, but slightly inferior to, Zhuge Liang of Shu and Sima Yi of Wei as far as abilities of a strategist are concerned. He serves Wu from a very young age, frequently fighting alongside other young Wu generals as Gan Ning, Lu Meng, and Sun Shang Xiang. After the death of Zhou Yu, the somewhat inexperienced Lu Meng becomes the main Wu strategist. He is wed to Sun Ce's daughter, though this is mentioned only in passing, and his wife does not appear in the game. Lu Xun and Lu Meng has a good friendship, and often cooperate to devise battle tactics. Lu Xun begins his significant part in Wu history at the battle of Fan Castle, where he and Lu Meng devise a way to defeat Guan Yu and retake the Jing Province from Liu Bei of Shu. They ally with the commander at Fan Castle (Sima Yi or Cao Ren) and destroy Guan Yu, retaking the province, but also inciting the wrath of Shu. Lu Xun comes up with a plan to surprise the Shu forces and burn their camp, and is made the head strategist at the Battle of Yi Ling. Although the in-game battle results vary with the player's choice of character, the canonical outcome is a complete defeat for the larger Shu forces.

After Yi Ling, Lu Xun is made permanently Wu's head strategist, with the recommendation of the still living Lu Meng. Lu Xun first moves against Wei-controlled Shiting, telling Zhou Fang to fake defection to the Wei forces. The Wei army, suspicious of his motives, position him close to headquarters to keep an eye on him. The Wu forces surround Wei general Cao Xiu, telling Zhou Fang to switch back to Wu. His placement near the base camp of Wei cuts Cao Xiu off from the rest of Wei, resulting in an easy Wu victory. Lu Xun and Sun Quan then invade He Fei Castle, controlled by a smaller but determined Wei force. Whether or not Lu Xun's strategy and the size of the Wu army can overcome Sima Yi's brilliance and the more experienced Wei army depends on the player.

Lu Xun is also the main strategist of the fictional Wu battle against the Nanman (the real battle was with Shu against the Nanman). This battle occurs in various points on the timeline in various games.

Lu Xun fights with twin swords, using quick, short slashes. His musou is nothing special, involving him just slashing at the surrounding enemies. He is one of the more powerful characters overall, having slightly above attack power, slightly low defense, and very high speed and attack rate. He is easy to control and has a simple but very effective moveset. Since enemy generals' attack and defense are "normalized" to be close to a certain value, depending on the battle and difficulty settings, Lu Xun is a deadly enemy to the player, since his attack and defense will be as high as other generals but he will still be much quicker than the average officer.

[edit] Taishi Ci (太史慈)

Taishi Ci, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Twin Rods
Ultimate Weapon: Tiger Slayer
Notable Battles: Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Xia Kou, Battle of He Fei, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Battle of He Fei Castle

Taishi Ci is a hulking man who is made out to be the greatest fighter in the Wu kingdom. He originally serves Liu Yong and aids him, along with Yan Bai Hu and Wang Lang in attacking the Wu territory controlled by the young Sun Ce. The events in the battle vary according to the player's actions, but Taishi Ci often duels Sun Ce, leading to a draw. When Liu Yong is killed by Sun Ce's men, Taishi Ci surrenders, expecting to be executed. Instead, Sun Ce asks him to join him. Impressed by his mercy and kindness, Taishi Ci puts his life in Sun Ce's command and helps him to destroy Yan Bai Hu and Wang Lang.

Taishi Ci continues to serve the Sun family and Wu, fighting in many battles, including Chi Bi. When Sun Quan is ambushed by Zhang Liao at He Fei, Taishi Ci takes the lead in repelling the Wei attackers. His valiant efforts allow Wu to hold the central square at He Fei, despite being ambushed and surrounded, but unfortunately, this does not last. Zhang Liao leads a team of archers to ambush and assassinate Taishi Ci, who dies after being shot many times. His death forces Sun Quan to retreat from the square, allowing Wei to gain the upper hand.

Taishi Ci fights with two thick, club-like rods and wears full body armor.. He is remarkably strong, but also a quick striker. His role in the mainstream games is actually quite small compared to his role in real history and the novel, but he is present at both of his most important battles. In the battle against Liu Yong and his cohorts, Taishi Ci can be an enemy to either side, depending on whether or not he switches sides, and the difficulty in fighting him here is comparable (though not as extreme) as the difficulty of fighting Lu Bu. In the Xtreme Legends games, Taishi Ci is one of the most commonly encountered enemy Wu generals, perhaps to make up for his lack of roles in the mainstream games.

[edit] Ling Tong (凌統)

Ling Tong, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: Nunchaku
Ultimate Weapon: Dragon Fury
Notable Battles: Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Xia Kou, Battle of Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Yi Ling

The young Ling Tong, originally devastated when the Wu officer Gan Ning kills his father Ling Cao, eventually becomes an esteemed officer of Wu alongside Gan Ning, and the two eventually form a friendship after Gan Ning saves his life from an attack by the Wei general Yue Jin at the battle of He Fei. He serves as a junior strategist with few prominent roles, being overshadowed by Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lu Meng, and Lu Xun.

He fights with nunchaku, and his attacks are extremely fast, which compensates for their short range. He has an unimpressive Musou attack, spinning his weapon around him, and finishing with a weak shockwave.

[edit] Da Qiao (大喬)

Da Qiao, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Twin Fans
Ultimate Weapon: Qiao Beauty
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Xia Kou

Da Qiao is the sister of Xiao Qiao and the wife of Sun Ce. She has few appearances in the game, and is a very minor character. She and her sister help Zhou Yu and Sun Ce rid Wu of Liu Yong and his allies, and she sometimes appears at Sun Ce's side in some battles. The latest appearance she has is at You Ting, where she and her sister spearhead the attack on the forts to surround Cao Xiu. In Dynasty Warriors 4, she and her sister are kidnapped by Dong Zhuo and must be rescued by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. In Xtreme Legends, she is one of the female rivals of Zhu Rong, helping Sun Ce to lead Wu against the Nanman. Compared to her sister, Da Qiao is generally portrayed in the games as more reserved and mature.

Da Qiao fights with two traditional Chinese fans, as opposed to the feather fans used by Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang. She slices at enemies with them, but also throws them like boomerangs, suggesting a magical connection with the fans. She is light and speedy, but has poor attack and defense and a benevolent appearance. As such, she is not a common choice for players.

As opposed to her sister, her combos involve holding the weapon in her hand, while her musou involves controlling the fan with psychic powers.

[edit] Xiao Qiao (小喬)

Xiao Qiao, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Twin Fans
Ultimate Weapon: Qiao Grace
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Jing Province, Battle of the Wu Territory, Battle of Xia Kou, Battle of Chi Bi

Xiao Qiao, one of the "Two Qiaos" famous for their beauty, is the wife of Zhou Yu. Her fighting style and personality is much like her sister's, however, she is much more reckless than her sister. She accompanies her on most of their scarce battles. She helps her sister and their husbands defeat Liu Yong and his allies, and takes the frontlines in capturing the forts at You Ting. The "Two Qiaos" are often criticized in several ways; fans complain that their similarity in personality makes them interchangeable with one another, and many consider it unrealistic that a pair of women who look like small children would be married to Sun Ce and Zhou Yu. They are also perceived as submissive and anti-feminist, referring to their husbands as "lord" and "master". Compared to her sister, Xiao Qiao is generally portrayed in the games as more exuberant and sometimes childish. In Dynasty Warriors 4, she and her sister are kidnapped by Dong Zhuo and must be rescued by Sun Ce and Zhou Yu.

Xiao Qiao's fighting style is very similar to her sister's, but not identical. She uses the same weapons and some of the same attacks, but the variation is enough to make most players prefer one or the other.

Xiao Qiao's fighting style is opposite her sisters, her combos are generally ranged moves of control through physic, whereas her musou is held in her hand.

[edit] Important non-playable characters of Wu

[edit] Others (他)

[edit] Lu Bu (呂布)

Lu Bu, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Halberd
Ultimate Weapon: Sky Scorcher
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Chang Shan, Battle of Xia Pi
Note: His in-game name is displayed as "Lu Bu" instead of "Lü Bu."

Lu Bu is generally considered to be the most powerful character in the Dynasty Warriors games, both as an AI and playable character. He is also the only character to have his own theme song when encountered by the player (until Tadakatsu Honda of Samurai Warriors). His high statistics make him dangerous for new players who play the early stages he appears in. He is depicted as an extremely aggressive and brutish warrior who fights for the sole purpose of finding an opponent worthy of challenge. He is eventually persuaded by Diao Chan to execute his lord and adoptive father, Dong Zhuo, which did happen in the novel (Diao Chan was not a real person). He later fights Cao Cao, and is shown to have a strong bond with his subordinate, Zhang Liao, who looks up to him. Many characters cannot understand why Zhang Liao chooses to ally himself with Lu Bu, and he spends much time defending his reasons and the actions of his lord from curious opponents who respect Liao, but are disgusted by Lu Bu. Lu Bu is eventually defeated and slain at Xia Pi by the allied forces of Cao Cao and Liu Bei, after many of Lu Bu's disillusioned officers defect to the enemy, also a factually accurate event.

[edit] Zuo Ci (左慈)

Zuo Ci, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 5
Weapon: Card Deck
Ultimate Weapon: Trump Deck
Notable Battles: The Yellow Turban Rebellion, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Guan Du, Battle of Chang Ban, Escape from Chi Bi, Battle of He Fei, Battle of Yi Ling, Battle of Wu Zhang Plains

Zuo Ci was included in Dynasty Warriors 5 due to popular demand. He was not part of any of the three kingdoms but did reside in the areas of Shu. He is a sorcerer of Taoism and took no part in any battles. This results in him having no significant importance in any battle. But in his Musou mode, he is seen primarily trying to test Cao Cao to see if he is worthy of his secret style of taoism. He is depicted as on old, wise sorcerer with a magic, spiritual deck of cards as his weapon. He is statistically the best character in the game with a highly unorthodox fighting style, using magic consisting of all three elements, fire, ice and lightning. His musou is the most impressive. He walks towards his enemies with his magic cards spinning around him demolishing everyone in his path; he finishes it off with a fire, ice and thunder strike.

[edit] Yuan Shao (袁紹)

Yuan Shao, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Long Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Sword of Kings
Notable Battles: Battle of Ji Province, Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Chang Shan, Battle of Guan Du

Yuan Shao is a nobleman and supporter of the Han Dynasty who raised a large, powerful army in response to the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He is portrayed as an arrogant, overconfident aristocrat who is hesitant to fight in the front lines of battle. When Cao Cao's call to dispose of the tyrant Dong Zhuo is answered by various warlords in China (namely Sun Jian, Gongsun Zan, Liu Bei, Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao himself), Yuan Shao is given command of the army with Cao Cao's strong recommendation; though Sun Jian and Liu Bei are reluctant to rely on Yuan Shao for command, they do not voice their concerns. Yuan Shao sends the other warlords to the frontline, while making a strong defense for himself and putting his brother Yuan Shu in charge of the supply lines. Dong Zhuo is defeated, but the coalition leaders lose faith in the Han Dynasty and disband. Yuan Shao ends up in control of the largest army in China and stations himself in the North, preparing to clash with Cao Cao, the other major northern warlord. At the Battle of Guan Du, Yuan Shao, with aid from Liu Bei's small force, attacks Cao Cao's small castle, relying on his brilliant generals Yan Liang, Wen Chou, and Zhang He. During the battle, Yuan Shao attempts to overwhelm Cao Cao's army with sheer numbers and takes no particular strategy. Because of Yuan Shao's lack of adaptability, Cao Cao is easily able to outmaneuver him on several occasions. Guan Yu, serving temporarily under Cao Cao, slays Yan Liang and Wen Chou himself, and Zhang He, who would later become one of the most prominent Wei generals under Sima Yi, defected to Cao Cao's side. With no competent generals left, the nepotistic Yuan Shao is defeated by an army a third the size of his own and is killed in battle.

In the Xtreme Legends games, Yuan Shao, instead of dying at Guan Du, defeats Cao Cao, who fades temporarily into obscurity. He then moves to wipe out Liu Bei, who leaves his service after encountering Guan Yu at Guan Du. After destroying Liu Bei at Chang Ban, Yuan Shao heads to Fan Castle, defended by his general Zhang He, to reinforce him against the allied armies of Guan Yu, who escapes Chang Ban alive, and Sun Quan, who rules in the Wu kingdom. After he defeats them and takes over much of Wu, Sun Quan marches against him at He Fei, but Yuan Shao defeats him again, destroying the Wu kingdom. Yuan Shao's final enemy is Cao Cao in Wei, who manages to raise a large army to confront Yuan Shao. Though the efforts of Cao Cao and his strategist Sima Yi are fierce and determined, Yuan Shao is victorious and unites China under the Yuan family rule.

[edit] Dong Zhuo (董卓)

Dong Zhuo, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Serrated Longsword
Ultimate Weapon: Horror
Notable Battles: Battle of Xi Liang, Battle of Liang Province, Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Hu Lao Gate

Dong Zhuo is an imperial general who took advantage of the turmoil of the Yellow Turban Rebellion by deposing the Emperor and supporting a young, weak heir. He is portrayed as obese and bad-tempered, and very concerned with his own safety. He becomes Prime Minister and a tyrant, and a coalition is called by Cao Cao to depose him. Dong Zhuo, along with his adopted son, the mighty Lu Bu, and the beautiful but formidable Diao Chan, faces the coalition at the Hu Lao and Si Shui Gates. Although his demise in the novel is more prolonged, in most of the games he is defeated in battle there and killed. The long term effects of his brief period of power, however, echoed for decades, as most the private army warlords that had gathered to fight him and the Yellow Turbans lost faith in the Han Dynasty. His death began the competition among them for power over China.

In the Xtreme Legends games, Dong Zhuo defeats the alliance at Hu Lao Gate, scattering their leaders and killing Yuan Shao. He quickly sets out to bring the rest of China under his control, defeating Cao Cao at Guan Du and Sun Ce at He Fei. After putting the lands of Wu under Lu Bu's direct control, Dong Zhuo deposes the Emperor and confronts Liu Bei's large army, intent on restoring the Han Dynasty. He destroys the kingdom of Shu, only to find that his greatest warrior, Lu Bu, and the lovely Diao Chan have revolted against him. His fleet engages Lu Bu's army at Chi Bi, and despite the aid to Lu Bu from the remnants of Wu and Shu, Dong Zhuo is victorious over the seemingly indomitable Lu Bu, uniting China under his rule.

Dong Zhuo fights with a longsword, which is serrated in the later games. He fights elegantly, much like a fencer, but takes advantage of his tremendous bulk in his musou attack, during which he flips sideways into the air and lands on the ground, causing a massive tremor. His character is portrayed as somewhat pampered and helpless, and unwilling to fight for himself. He often dies calling out for the aid of his soldiers or of Lu Bu, as he died in the novel.

[edit] Diao Chan (貂蝉)

Diao Chan, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors
Weapon: Dual Maces
Ultimate Weapon: Diva
Notable Battles: Battle of Si Shui Gate, Battle of Hu Lao Gate, Battle of Chang Shan, Battle of Xia Pi

Diao Chan is a cunning, beautiful woman who fights on the side of Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo at Hu Lao Gate. Although she fights against the coalition in the mainstream games, her real intention is to drive Lu Bu and Dong Zhuo apart by appealing to their jealousy over her. Her true motives are only revealed when the player plays a battle on Dong Zhuo's side and fights against the coalition; Diao Chan may betray Dong Zhuo as things start to go badly. Her death in some of the games also causes Lu Bu to fly into a rage and betray Dong Zhuo to avenge her death. Although she succeeds in the novel, in the games her plot fails because the coalition is able to destroy Dong Zhuo on their own; she is killed during the ordeal. In later games, however, she survives and fights alongside Lu Bu throughout his career, until they both are killed by Cao Cao at Xia Pi.

During the Xtreme Legends games, Diao Chan fights in Dong Zhuo's army with Lu Bu as he sets out to eliminate the other warlords in China, constantly flattering Lu Bu during the battles. Her performance in the battles against Cao Cao and Sun Ce earns the trust of Dong Zhuo, and he allows her to accompany Lu Bu as he sets out to conquer the lands of Shu on Dong Zhuo's behalf. After he succeeds, Diao Chan convinces him to betray Dong Zhuo, and their armies clash at Chi Bi. Lu Bu and Diao Chan are victorious and Dong Zhuo is slain. Afterwards, Diao Chan convinces the "politically inept" Lu Bu to support the Han Dynasty, and the Han are restored. Diao Chan then attempts to leave Lu Bu and live by herself peacefully, but her way is blocked by Lu Bu's officers and raiders from the remnants of the Three Kingdoms. She defeats them all, but is caught by Lu Bu, who refuses to let her leave. She defeats him in battle and he surrenders, allowing her to leave the political arena for good.

Diao Chan fights with dual maces, consisting of decorative globes on the ends of sticks, as well as with dainty kicks. She is a fast runner and a quick attacker, but deals very little damage compared to other characters. Her musou attack consists of a spinning kick followed by a great swing of her maces.

[edit] Meng Huo (孟獲)

Meng Huo, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Gauntlets
Ultimate Weapon: King of Beasts
Notable Battles: Struggle for Nan Zhong, Battle of Nan Zhong, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Conquest of Nan Zhong

Meng Huo is the king of the Nanman tribe and husband of Zhu Rong, and is highly protective of both his people and his wife. He seeks to defend them from threats and live in harmony. He fights against Zhuge Liang, but is defeated 7 times and eventually submits. He uses specialised troops such as elephants and armoured soldiers, and the terrain to his advantage, but cannot overcome Zhuge Liang's strategy. His own Musou Mode sometimes involves him fighting the other kingdoms (occasionally by accident), before eventually crushing Shu and living in peace.

He is a very slow attacker and runner, but is, in game terms, the strongest character, with a higher strength than even Lu Bu. His powerful attacks can often crush enemies, and many of his attacks involving stomping the ground.

[edit] Zhang Jiao (張角)

Zhang Jiao, as he appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 2
Weapon: Staff
Ultimate Weapon: Volcano Staff
Notable Battles: Battle of Xi Liang, Battle of Ji Province, Battle of Nan Zhong, The Yellow Turban Rebellion

Zhang Jiao is the leader of the Yellow Turbans, the army fighting for a religious sect known as the Way of Peace. Zhang Jiao, accompanied by his brothers Zhang Liang and Zhang Bao, began a rebellion against what they perceived as a corrupt and indifferent Han Dynasty, the results of which formed the basis for the events in the Three Kingdoms era. He attacks the Han forces under the command of the brilliant Regent Marshall (Imperial Army commander) He Jin at Ru Nan. The Han forces are initially overwhelmed, but after being reinforced by several private armies, most memorably those of Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian, the Han protectors are able to repel the rebels and kill Zhang Jiao and his brothers. Zhang Jiao is portrayed as a manic zealot who takes a paternal attitude toward his followers. He was originally designed wearing common, simple clothing along with strings of beads, but in more recent games is seen wearing a gold mask and fine robes. In later games in the series, he is seen as a powerful sorcerer who often grants his followers the use of magic to use against the Han armies. However, the player can find ways to defeat his magic, which sometimes involve taking control of altars or destroying cauldrons. In Dynasty Warriors 5, his Musou Mode involves him fighting against Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao and even Meng Huo before eventually destroying the Han army.

Zhang Jiao's role in the Xtreme Legends games is based on his attempts to rekindle his own faith in himself, as well as his follower's faith in him, while avoiding religious persecution by the Han Empire. He journey's with his "children", as he calls them, throughout China, but is constantly pursued by Han sympathizers, forcing him to defend his civilian followers in each battle. He is initially attacked at Ru Nan by He Jin, Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei, but manages to scatter the enemy leaders and escape. Disillusioned and confused, he wanders from village to village, determined to quell the bandit uprisings started by men claiming to be Yellow Turbans themselves. After regaining some faith in himself, he and his followers set off for the "Promised Land", but are once again attacked by Han supporters, this time consisting of Yuan Shao's and Liu Bei's armies. The Yellow Turbans defeat their pursuers and escape by sea to Jiang Dong, where they are offered shelter by Liu Biao. Unfortunately, Liu Biao's hospitality is only a guise; under the direction of Sun Jian, Liu Biao ambushes the Yellow Turban army at night, and Zhang Jiao is forced to flee once again on sea after defeatng Sun Jian and killing Liu Biao. Cao Cao organizes a cooperative effort by himself, Yuan Shao, Liu Bei and Sun Jian to defeat the Yellow Turbans at sea, but the Han forces are defeated and scattered again by the Yellow Turbans, this time resulting in the deaths of Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Yuan Shao. Undiverted in his effort to restore the Han to their former glory, Liu Bei, aided by his strategist, the powerful wizard Zhuge Liang, attacks Zhang Jiao at Yi Ling, but Zhang Jiao once again prevails, killing Liu Bei and his generals and clearing the way to the Promised Land. When the Yellow Turbans arrive at the Promised Land, however, they find their way obstructed by the Nanman people, who refuse to let them pass. The Nanman attack, aided by Zhuge Liang, who escaped from Yi Ling, but Zhang Jiao's army prevails for the final time, killing Zhuge Liang and forcing the Nanman King Meng Huo to surrender; this allows the Yellow Turban to at last reach the Promised Land and live in peace.

Zhang Jiao fights using a staff and fire magic. He fights erratically, reminiscent of a non-human primate, and gives off a sharp, high-pitched battle cry.

[edit] Zhu Rong (祝融)

Zhu Rong, as she appears in Dynasty Warriors 5.

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3
Weapon: Boomerang
Ultimate Weapon: Inferno
Notable Battles: Struggle for Nan Zhong, Battle of Nan Zhong, The Invasion of Nan Zhong, Conquest of Nan Zhong

Zhu Rong is the wife of the Nanman King Meng Huo, and said to be the daughter of the God of Fire. She is the only female character who actually fought in the novel, defeating several Shu generals in the battle against them. She has only a small role in the mainstream games, being simply another officer who guards Meng Huo's main camp. Once Meng Huo is defeated five times without being defeated for the final time, she flies into a rage, becoming eager to avenge the insult to her husband. She has a unique troop of guards as well; her guards are female, scantily-clad Nanman women who are given the title of "Amazoness", despite being nowhere near Greece. Zhu Rong fights with a three-pointed boomerang, using a combination of slashing and throwing attacks. She is a slow mover and slow attacker, with average attack power and high defense.

During the Xtreme Legends games, she has a deeper role and the spotlight during her own musou mode is on her. When the Shu Emperor Liu Bei invades Nan Zhong, he brings his wife Sun Shang Xiang; Zhu Rong asks Meng Huo to bring her to the battle, and the two of them lead their army to an easy defeat over the Shu army, wiping them out. Sun Shang Xiang escapes to her native Wu, and Zhu Rong, having never seen the world outside of Nan Zhong, decides to travel the country with her army. Along their journey, the Nanman couple meets other couples in battle; while at sea, they defeat Xiao Qiao and her husband Zhou Yu, and later Zhen Ji and her husband Cao Pi, when they meet the Wei fleet heading toward Jiang Dong. Once the Nanman army returns to land, they discover Luo Yang. Determined to explore it, they engage Dong Zhuo and his concubine Diao Chan, who control the stronghold at Luo Yang. Dong Zhuo is killed, and Diao Chan and the great warrior Lu Bu are forced to flee.

Having demolished Cao Cao's and Dong Zhuo's armies, the Nanman unwittingly become the undisputed rulers of Northern China. They decide to head home, purposely heading through the Wu territory at Zhu Rong's request in order to provoke an attack. Wu, ruled by another rival couple Sun Ce and his wife Da Qiao, attack the Nanman at You Ting, but they are defeated, and Zhu Rong once again outfights Sun Shang Xiang. Wu comes back for a rematch at He Fei, ambushing Meng Huo and surrounding him. The ambush fails however, and Sun Ce, Da Qiao, and Zhu Rong's longtime rival Sun Shang Xiang are killed. The Nanman army, seeking a rest, occupies He Fei Castle, but the rest is short lived; the three surviving female warriors who have been defeated by Zhu Rong (Zhen Ji, Diao Chan, and Xiao Qiao) surround He Fei Castle. They and their husbands unite under the command of Lu Bu. Unafraid, Zhu Rong defeats her female rivals and Cao Pi and Zhou Yu while Meng Huo holds a defense in the central square of the castle. Declaring themselves to be the strongest couple in the land, Meng Huo and Zhu Rong then engage and defeat Lu Bu, ending the last resistance to the Nanman and allowing them to return home at last.

After Lu Bu is forced to flee from the Battle of Hu Lao Gate. He first invades a small area of northern Nan Zhong and prevails. Meng Huo orders Zhu Rong to lead an army to fight Lu Bu but Zhu couldn't as she realised she had developed feelings for Lu Bu. After hearing upon Lu Bu's death, her love for him died away and she returned to Meng Huo and regained control of northern Nan Zhong.

[edit] Other Important non-playable characters

[edit] Removed Characters

[edit] Oda Nobunaga (織田信長)

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors, downgraded to bodyguard in subsequent games
Weapon: Katana
Ultimate Weapon: None (Original Dynasty Warriors does not have multiple weapons)

Nobunaga was the first character in the series to not be based on someone from Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Appearing only in the original Dynasty Warriors game, Nobunaga is a cameo from Japanese history, rather than Chinese like the rest of the characters. He represents a sixteenth century daimyo (samurai warlord) who is a part of several other KOEI games. Nobunaga is also unique among characters in not having his family name (Oda) given. He has a partner named: Sho. Both of them are bodyguards in later games.

[edit] Fu Xi (伏羲)

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3, but taken out of subsequent games
Weapon: Bastard Sword
Ultimate Weapon: Fu Xi's Sword
Notable Battles: None

Fu Xi is not based on a Three Kingdoms person, but on a Chinese mythological being named Fu Xi. He is a secret character in Dynasty Warriors 3, who can be unlocked by clearing Musou Mode with the three original kingdom leaders - Cao Cao, Sun Jian, and Liu Bei - and unlocking Lu Bu (achieved by defeating 1000 enemies at Hu Lao Gate). His attacks are strong but slow. Fu Xi has been removed since Dynasty Warriors 4. However, his sword can be equipped to custom characters in later games.

[edit] Nu Wa (女媧)

First appearance as playable: Dynasty Warriors 3, but taken out of subsequent games
Weapon: Rapier
Ultimate Weapon: Nu Wa's Rapier
Notable Battles: None

Nu Wa, like Fu Xi, is based not on a character from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but on a Chinese Mythical being named Nu Wa. She is also a secret character on Dynasty Warriors 3, and can be unlocked by clearing Musou Mode with each female characters loyal to one of the Three Kingdoms (Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Sun Shang Xiang and Zhen Ji). Her attacks are fast but weak. Nu Wa has been removed since Dynasty Warriors 4. However, her rapier can be equipped to custom characters in later games.

[edit] See also

v • d • e

Dynasty Warriors video games

Dynasty Warriors • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
Dynasty Warriors (PSP) • Advance • Mahjong • Vol. 2 • BB
Characters

[edit] External links

The Official Site of Koei (English)

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Categories: Lists of video game characters | Koei | Dynasty Warriors