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.
Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Europe | Turns 1 to 100 and beyond | Highest tax income, university sites, recruitment depth | France |
| 2 | The Americas | Turns 1 to 60 for the opening land grab | Colonial income, plantations, staging ports | France |
| 3 | India | Turns 10 to 80 for a European intervention | Trade goods, high value regions, Maratha manpower | Great Britain |
| 4 | The trade theatres | Any turn once you have spare warships | Passive trade income and denial of rival income | Great Britain |
| 5 | The Warpath campaign | Standalone campaign, roughly 80 turns | Five native factions and their unique unit rosters | Great Britain |
Europe: Starting Area
The densest theatre, where most factions start and where wars escalate fastest because every border touches a rival. Technology, population and money all concentrate here, which is why losing your home regions usually ends a campaign.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 1 to 100 and beyond |
| Key Rewards | Highest tax income, university sites, recruitment depth |
| Recommended Build | France |
| Key Equipment | Grenadiers |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Three land theatres plus trade theatres. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to The Americas.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
The Americas: Early Game
Sparsely garrisoned colonies that generate income out of proportion to their defences, which makes them the easiest early conquest for a naval power. Native factions and rival colonists both contest the interior.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 1 to 60 for the opening land grab |
| Key Rewards | Colonial income, plantations, staging ports |
| Recommended Build | France |
| Key Equipment | Grenadiers |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Line infantry volley combat. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Grenadiers if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in India.
India: Mid Game
Home to the Maratha Confederacy and the Mughals, with large armies that are technologically behind European line infantry. European players usually arrive by sea with a small force and fight above their weight.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 10 to 80 for a European intervention |
| Key Rewards | Trade goods, high value regions, Maratha manpower |
| Recommended Build | Great Britain |
| Key Equipment | Grenadiers |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Line Infantry becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Real time naval battles for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
The trade theatres: Late Game
Four separate maps at the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Brazil and the East Indies where fleets occupy trade nodes to earn passive income. They are undefended by land, so a single squadron can flip an enemy's economy.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Any turn once you have spare warships |
| Key Rewards | Passive trade income and denial of rival income |
| Recommended Build | Great Britain |
| Key Equipment | Line Infantry |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Line Infantry should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Government types and revolution mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into The Warpath campaign.
The Warpath campaign: Endgame
The North America focused expansion included in the Definitive Edition, with the Iroquois, Cherokee, Huron, Pueblo and Plains nations as playable factions. It runs on its own shorter campaign rather than inside the Grand Campaign.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Standalone campaign, roughly 80 turns |
| Key Rewards | Five native factions and their unique unit rosters |
| Recommended Build | Great Britain |
| Key Equipment | Line Infantry |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Ottoman Empire for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Europe → The Americas → India → The trade theatres → The Warpath campaign. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Guides
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Overview
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Best Builds
- 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 Crafting Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
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