Which faction should you side with in Dynasty Warriors: Origins?
Dynasty Warriors: Origins, like all other titles in the series, is based on the Epic novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. As you might have guessed, it features 3 factions vying for dominance over Ancient China.
Like its name suggests, Dynasty Warriors: Origins, takes place at the beginning of this period following the Golden Turban. While you’re able to keep good relations with all three factions at the start of the game, at one point you will have to choose which to side with.
This means that you’ll locked in with that faction, and help them in their conflicts against the others, thus locking you out of the other factions.
In this article, we take a look at all three factions, what makes them different, and help you choose between them.
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When Do You Have to Choose Between the Three Factions?

During Chapter 3, you’ll see names of the leaders of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Jian. Moreover, there are diamonds below their names representing your contributions to their campaign.
To permanently join a faction, you’ll need to complete a specific number of battles for them before advancing time in Chapter 3.

Cao Cao requires 1 Contribution: Suppression of Yan Province.
Liu Bei requires 2 Contributions: Battle of Jieqiao and Battle of Beihai
Sun Jian requires 3 Contributions: Assault on Nanyang, Siege of Fan Castle and Battle of Xiangyang
If you do not meet the number of contributions required for a faction, you will not be able to join them permanently.
Moreover, there are also some key choices you’ll have to make during Chapter 3, which will lock you out of a certain faction.
Chapter 3 Choices
During the Battle of Xu Province, you’ll have to choose to side with either Cao Cao or Liu Bei. You’ll be able to join the faction you choose to support here. However, you will be locked out of joining the other faction.
Similarly, in Battle of Xiaopei, you’ll have to choose between Liu Bei and Sun Jian.
After a second timeskip later in Chapter 3, you’ll have to choose between the three factions.
You must first complete a set number of contributions for the faction you want to join:
- Cao Cao: 5 battles.
- Liu Bei: 4 battles.
- Sun Jian: 5 battles in total.
Complete the number of contributions you need and afterwards, speak to a leader and to lock into their faction for the rest of the game.
Which Faction Should You Choose?
Though choosing a faction is a major decision in terms of the story, none of the factions have any major gameplay differences, with the only difference being losing access to the other 2 factions and not being able to have their officers as companions.
The only difference between the three factions is their endings, and the tone of their stories.
Moreover, after you finish the campaign, you’ll be able to return to Chapter 3 and pick another faction to follow anyways.
You’ll spend time with each of the three factions in Chapters 1 and 2, which should help you decide which characters, and their kingdom you like best.
Cao Cao

Cao Cao is the ruthless and ambitious ruler of the Wei Kingdom, and has a villainous reputation. His focus is on conquest and expanding his kingdom. As such, his campaign deals with politics and the expansion of his territories more than the other 2 factions.
Cao Cao’s route, however, is arguably the hardest of the three, as his ruthless conquests makes enemies of both Liu Bei and Sun Jian. Furthermore, they eventually unite against Cao Cao as well, and thus, the odds are stacked against him.
However, Cao Cao’s main rivalry is against Liu Bei, and you’ll be frequently fighting against him and his forces which include, Lu Bu, and Yuan Shao.
Liu Bei

In contrast to Cao Cao, Liu Bei is the benevolent ruler of the Shu Kingdom. He prioritizes righteousness over strength and conquest. As such, at the start, his is the least powerful faction of the two.
But Liu Bei’s true ending is the easiest to get of the three factions’ as you’ll only need to change the outcome of one battle to give him an advantage during the Battle of Chibi.
While Cao Cao’s route is focused on war and conquest, Liu Bei’s route showcases an underdog narrative with clear-cut heroes and villains, and focuses on brotherhood.
His true ending also gives the most positive conclusion, depicting a time of peace and prosperity under his rule.
Sun Jian

The Sun Clan’s route is a more and isolated storyline, and focuses more on fighting minor factions and the internal conflicts within Wu. The route begins with Sun Ce becoming the leader of the clan following his father, Sun Jian’s, death.
Later, it also focuses on Jian’s other children: his second son Quan and his daughter Shangxiang.
Like Liu Bei’s ending, Sun’s ending is also positive. But like the rest of the route, it focuses more on the Southlands and the Sun Clan, rather than the wider implications.
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