Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition bundles the 2009 gunpowder era Total War with every expansion, including the Warpath Campaign and the Elite Units packs. The Grand Campaign runs from 1700 to 1799 across three land theatres and four trade theatres, with eleven playable factions from Great Britain to the Maratha Confederacy. It was the first Total War where you command naval battles yourself instead of watching an auto resolve.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Britain | A | Balanced | Best available |
| France | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Prussia | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Russia | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Ottoman Empire | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition tier list.
A-Tier: Great Britain
Great Britain is a top-performing option in Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Line Infantry | Musket armed troops who win by massed volley and discipline rather than melee, and they form the core of every army in the game. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Three land theatres plus trade theatres | The map splits into Europe, the Americas and India, with separate trade theatres at the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Brazil and the East Indies where fleets sit on trade nodes for income. |
How to Play Great Britain
Great Britain focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Line Infantry does the damage and Three land theatres plus trade theatres keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: France
France is a strong option in Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Grenadiers | Heavier infantry who throw grenades and hold melee far better than standard line troops. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Line infantry volley combat | Battles are decided by musket volleys rather than melee, and formation choice does more than unit stats. |
How to Play France
France focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Grenadiers with Line infantry volley combat and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Prussia
Prussia is a strong option in Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Dragoons | Cavalry who can dismount to fight with carbines, which makes them flexible flankers rather than pure shock troops. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Real time naval battles | Fleets fight in real time with wind direction, sail damage and three ammunition types: round shot for hulls, chain shot for rigging and grape shot for crews. |
How to Play Prussia
Prussia focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Real time naval battles covers the gap Dragoons leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Russia
Russia is a specialized option in Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Foot Artillery | 12 pounders, howitzers and mortars that break formations before contact and demolish fort walls in sieges. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Research through gentlemen and schools | Schools and universities house gentlemen who research along military, ordnance, naval, agriculture, industry and philosophy lines. |
How to Play Russia
Russia focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Research through gentlemen and schools rather than raw numbers, and Foot Artillery is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire is a specialized option in Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | First Rate ships of the line | The heaviest warships in the game with over 100 guns, capable of breaking any smaller ship in a broadside exchange. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Government types and revolution | Every faction runs an absolute monarchy, a constitutional monarchy or a republic, and rising unrest can trigger a revolution at home. |
How to Play Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: First Rate ships of the line and Government types and revolution pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with France: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Great Britain once you understand core mechanics and have access to Line Infantry
- Keep a Prussia setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Ottoman Empire for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- Build schools before extra barracks in your first ten turns. Technology gaps in this era are brutal, and an army of 1700s line infantry fighting 1760s troops loses even at two to one odds.
- Form square the moment enemy cavalry commits, not after contact. Square trades firepower for a defensive bonus that makes a charge suicidal, and switching back to line takes only seconds once the horses veer off.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Guides
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Overview
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tier List
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Weapons Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Crafting Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
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