Total War: THREE KINGDOMS opens in 190 CE with the Han dynasty coming apart and a dozen warlords convinced they can do better. Creative Assembly built the campaign around characters rather than armies: generals lead retinues of three units, hold court positions, form friendships and grudges, and walk out when you ignore them. Romance mode turns them into duelling heroes, while Records mode makes them officers with a bodyguard and nothing more.
Total War: THREE KINGDOMS 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 | Si Li | Turns 30 to 80 for most factions | Imperial legitimacy, central position, wealthy commanderies | Sentinel |
| 2 | Ji Province | Turns 1 to 40 for northern factions | Food and income, control of the north | Sentinel |
| 3 | Xu Province | Turns 20 to 60 | Trade income, coastal commanderies | Vanguard |
| 4 | Jing Province | Turns 1 to 50 for southern factions | Chang Sha, river access, southern expansion room | Vanguard |
| 5 | Yi Province | Turns 40 onward | Defensible terrain, sustainable income | Vanguard |
Si Li: Starting Area
The imperial heartland around Luoyang, held by Dong Zhuo and the Han Empire at the 190 CE start. Taking it is a statement of intent, and it puts you next to almost everybody.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 30 to 80 for most factions |
| Key Rewards | Imperial legitimacy, central position, wealthy commanderies |
| Recommended Build | Sentinel |
| Key Equipment | Sabre Militia Cavalry |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Romance and Records modes. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to Ji Province.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
Ji Province: Early Game
Rich, populous and Yuan Shao's power base in the northeast, which is why control of the north is usually settled early rather than late.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 1 to 40 for northern factions |
| Key Rewards | Food and income, control of the north |
| Recommended Build | Sentinel |
| Key Equipment | Sabre Militia Cavalry |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Five hero classes and Wu Xing attributes. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Sabre Militia Cavalry if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in Xu Province.
Xu Province: Mid Game
The eastern coastal province: wealthy, flat and difficult to defend, which makes it the ground that changes hands most often across a campaign.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 20 to 60 |
| Key Rewards | Trade income, coastal commanderies |
| Recommended Build | Vanguard |
| Key Equipment | Sabre Militia Cavalry |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Ji Militia becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master General retinues for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
Jing Province: Late Game
The large central southern province, contested between southern factions and anyone pushing down from the north. Sun Jian starts at Chang Sha inside it.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 1 to 50 for southern factions |
| Key Rewards | Chang Sha, river access, southern expansion room |
| Recommended Build | Vanguard |
| Key Equipment | Ji Militia |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Ji Militia should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Diplomacy and coalitions mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into Yi Province.
Yi Province: Endgame
The mountainous southwest, hard to invade and equally hard to break out of, which makes it a fine fallback base and a poor launch pad.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | Turns 40 onward |
| Key Rewards | Defensible terrain, sustainable income |
| Recommended Build | Vanguard |
| Key Equipment | Ji Militia |
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 Champion for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: Si Li → Ji Province → Xu Province → Jing Province → Yi Province. 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: THREE KINGDOMS Guides
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Overview
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Best Builds
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Tier List
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Walkthrough
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Beginner's Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Tips & Tricks
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Weapons Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Combat Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Boss Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Crafting Guide
- Total War: THREE KINGDOMS Classes & Characters
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