Tier-Listen
Launch-tier rankings of factions and retainer schools, framed from the official Early Access data. Community tiers will replace these as the meta develops.
These editorial tiers reflect the launch version only. Rankings will shift as the roadmap adds maps, units, and the Battle of Changping campaign.
Faction tier list
Launch-tier read of the seven warring states based on their confirmed strategic identity. The meta will shift as players explore asymmetry and the roadmap adds new maps and units.
S
Qin (秦)
Disciplined agrarian war machine — reforms snowball into the strongest late game.
Qi (齐)
Wealthy coast buys victory before fighting; trade and economy smooth over early fragility.
A
- A
Zhao (赵)
Cavalry reforms reward aggressive, mobile play; demands strong macro to sustain.
- A
Wei (魏)
Disciplined heavy infantry and central-plains crossroads — solid, forgiving for new players.
B
- B
Chu (楚)
Vast southern depth rewards turtling, but slow to project power early.
- B
Yan (燕)
Frontier endurance and raiding shine on larger maps; weaker on compact skirmishes.
C
- C
Han (韩)
Smallest of the seven — strategic craftsmanship shines only with skilled crafting setups.
Retainer school tier list
How the eight schools of thought shape launch-era playstyles. School tier depends heavily on your faction and chosen governance path.
S
Legalist (法家)
Direct production and morale boosts — the most universally useful governance school.
Military (兵家)
Army command and formation bonuses; essential for any war-focused build.
A
- A
Agriculturist (农家)
Farming and food security — the backbone of sustaining a large population.
- A
Confucian (儒家)
Morale stabilization and population growth — strong for tall, peaceful cities.
- A
Mohist (墨家)
Construction speed and defensive machinery — excellent for fortification play.
B
- B
Diplomat (纵横家)
Diplomacy and trade leverage — powerful but situational against aggressive AI.
- B
Daoist (道家)
Ritual and disaster mitigation — valuable on disaster-heavy maps.
C
- C
Medical (医家)
Disease and recovery support — niche until the field hospital arrives in October.
Community-sourced tier lists will appear here as players publish builds. Want to contribute? Share your rankings in the official Discord or Reddit.