Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

10. Zhu Rong

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

The Dynasty Warriors series has amassed a pretty huge roster over the years, now totaling over 80 playable characters by the time of Dynasty Warriors 9. Considering the series is loosely based on historical events, and we mean loosely, there’s a lot of key figures and twists and turns that happen. Although a lot of it does come down to personal preference, even with the huge roster there’s a few mainstays that stand out above the rest. We take a look at some of the best Dynasty Warriors character to grace the series. 

Zhu Rong is an interesting outlier in Dynasty Warriors not connected directly to the war of the Three Kingdoms, like her husband Meng Huo. The pair is encountered during the Nanman Campaign, and they fiercely defend their home from outside invaders. Interestingly, in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms literature Zhu Rong is actually the only woman that fights, defeating two Shu generals in the process. In most entries she wields a giant bladed boomerang weapons, which gives her a unique moveset different from most characters.

This idea is carried over to Dynasty Warriors as Zhu Rong is an incredibly strong woman, who more often than not ends up pulling her husband out of danger. Her Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends depicts an event where Meng Huo is captured in Zhuge Liang’s camp. Single-handedly she sneaks into the camp, defeats Shu officers quietly, and breaks out her husband. Zhu Rong is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and one of the strongest women in the entire series.

9.  Zhou Yu

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Zhou Yu is easily one of the most brilliant strategists in the entire Dynasty Warriors series, and he’s a key character in the storyline of Wu. At the same time he’s also one of the original characters, featured in the series ever since the first Dynasty Warriors. Zhou Yu is acutely intelligent and well versed in both war and literature. As a childhood friend of Sun Ce and Sun Quan his loyalty to Wu is unquestionable, just as his skill in battle is. He uses a pole in battle, and while he might not be as physically strong as other characters his speed is his greatest advantage while playing, along with range.

Zhou Yu’s greatest achievement came at the battle of Chibi, one of the key conflicts near the end of the Han Dynasty. Through royal orders Cao Cao was pursuing Liu Bei to Changban. Liu Bei escaped and proceeded to form an alliance with Sun Quan and Wu. Zhou Yu creates a plan to use a fire attack to destroy Cao Cao navy, and when the two navies clash the plan is a resounding success. Through the combined effort of Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang the allied forces decimate Cao Cao’s forces and force him to retreat.

8. Zhou Tai

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

While Zhou Tai may not be as exceptional as other characters in terms of how he plays into the story, he’s easily one of the strongest characters in the series, not to mention the pure coolness factor he has. Zhou Tai goes into battle with a katana, which he uses to deadly effect by drawing and sheathing it repeatedly. He’s a faithful vassal of the Wu army, and is most often found at Sun Ce’s side protecting him.

Throughout the series he’s one of the longest-surviving Wu generals, making it all the way until some of the final battles where Wei unites the land. Interestingly, in the alternate history story in Dynasty Warriors 8 Zhou Tai helps Sun Quan escape the failed fire attack, and becomes the last remaining Wu general standing between Wei and his lord. That should be testament enough to his strength.

7. Wang Yuanji

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Wang Yuanji is a relative newcomer to the series, introduced in Dynasty Warriors 7 along with the expanded story of Jin. She was initially hired by Sima Shi to watch over Suma Zhao, but the ended up marrying Zhao eventually. Although the two butt heads for quite a while, she does come to truly love Suma Zhao and deal with his laziness. Wang Yuanji uses daggers to attack, which she throws in sets at enemies during battle. These daggers can cover a wide swathe of the area around her, and it also makes her attacks some of the flashiest around.

What Wang Yaunji is really instrumental for, however, is foreseeing Zhong Hui’s rebellion and helping to put a stop to it. Without her doing so, Jin may have fallen to Zhong Hui.

6. Xiahou Dun

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Xiahou Dun is a cousin of Cao Cao, and throughout the War of the Three Kingdoms he serves as the warlord’s right-hand man. The one-eyed general wields a broadsword in battle that he uses with ferocious tenacity. Although Xiahou Dun has limited range his attacks are incredibly powerful, making him easily one of the best characters for taking down enemy generals.

Throughout Cao Cao’s conquest of the land Xiahou Dun serves as his most trusted adviser, and an instrumental player in many key battles. In particular he played a large role in the battle of Wu Zhang Plains, which basically brought an end to Shu’s ambitions. As if you didn’t respect him enough Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends details how Xiahou Dun lost his eye by being sniped with an arrow…. before he yanks his eye out and declares revenge.

5. Cao Pi

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Besides Cao Cao, his son Cao Pi is probably the most important figure for the Kingdom of Wei. The character debuted in Dynasty Warriors 5, and his cold and arrogant attitude set him apart from the more noble characters of the series. Cao Pi is a calculating leader and tactician, who clearly believes himself above the rest of the rabble. He uses dual blades in battle that he can lock together into one dual-blade weapon, giving him tons of range and versatility.

Following Cao Cao’s death Cao Pi takes control of the Wei forces, and with the help of Simi Yi he breaks the forces of Wu and Shu and unites the land. Cao Pi becomes the emperor of the kingdom, and although Simi Yi tries to overthrow him, Cao Pi is able to defeat and capture the Wei strategist. Later on, of course, Simi Yi and his family would overtake the Kingdom of Wei and turn it into the Jin Dynasty, although this happened after Cao Pi passed and left things to his heir. Despite his ruthlessness, Cao Pi does show a gentle side to his wife Zhen Ji who he regards as his “Beloved.” Everyone else on the other hand is merely a pawn to him.

4. Sima Yi

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Sima Yi certainly isn’t the most likable fellow in Dynasty Warriors, after all his personality is that of an arrogant slimy snake. Still, his position is solidified because of his wit and guile which in the end essentially let him overthrow Wei and create a brand new dynasty to rule over China. Before the inclusion of Jin, Sima Yi was often depicted as the leader of Wei after Cao Cao’s death. Despite his ultimate confidence in his intellect he’s intimidated by the great strategist Zhuge Liang, and is furious when the rival bests him in any way.

Through cunning and careful planning Sima Yi eventually overtakes the other families in Wei and establishes Jin. This is done, in part, because of how maddened he is by the fact that no one in the world can match his intellect, since the death of Zhuge Liang. Because of this he decides to end the cycle of imbecility he despises, and destroys Wei. Although he originally used a fan as a weapon in battle, later entries would give him claws and a horsehair whip to use. No matter what weapon, he’s a versatile fighter that has a mix of ranged and close moves.

3. Guan Yu

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Guan Yu served as one of the three pillars of Shu, along with his sworn brothers Zhang Fei and Liu Bei. Even historically he’s a prominent figure, becoming known as one of the Five Tiger Generals through his renowned exploits in battle told through Romance of the Three Kingdoms, with embellishment of course. In Dynasty Warriors Guan Yu wields a giant crescent blade, and he’s one of the most fearsome characters in the entire series. With his striking outfit and beard, Guan Yu takes an assuming role on the battlefield and can cut through thousands of soldiers with ease.

Guan Yu serves as a key Shu general throughout the kingdom’s story, and many of his children like Guan Ping and and Guan Yingping, play important roles as well. At some point Guan Yu is defeated and capture by Cao Cao, then becoming a general for him. Later games, however, show Guan Yu betraying Cao Cao and joining back up with Liu Bei. This fearsome general is one of the few warriors in the Three Kingdoms who might be as renowned as Lu Bu.

2. Zhao Yun

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

The veritable poster boy of the Dynasty Warriors series remains one of its more memorable, and powerful characters. Zhao Yun is consistently one of the main characters of the series, and he takes the role of mascot for most cover art, opening cutscenes, and everything else. Much like his character in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Zhao Yun is portrayed as a paragon of justice and righteousness in Dynasty Warriors. He rides a white steed into battle with spear in hand, and his devastating moves can take down wave upon wave of enemies.

Throughout Shu’s story Zhao Yun takes center stage for the army’s defense and attack. A particular highlight of his involves his Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends. In it Zhao Yun charges through Wei lines alone at Chang Ban to rescue Liu Bei’s son, Liu Chan. While escorting the infant Zhao Yun defeated many key Wei generals, and escapes safely. Zhao Yun truly is inseparable from the Dynasty Warriors experience, and that alone makes him one of the best.

1. Lu Bu

Top 10 Best Dynasty Warriors Characters of All Time

Without a doubt Lu Bu is one of the greatest warriors in the Dynasty Warriors series, and was certainly the most feared in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. This imposing figure is nearly twice the size of a normal man, and he swings a massive halberd around in battle. While Lu Bu was originally part of Dong Zhuo’s forces, he split out on his own and tried to establish himself as an independent power, separate from the Three Kingdoms. Eventually, he and his forces were put down by Cao Cao.

Anyone that’s played a Dynasty Warriors game knows just how terrifying it is when Lu Bu stalks onto the battlefield. Allied soldier shriek in terror, and if you get the wise idea to try and defeat him you’ll be crushed easily. Many battles involve quite literally running away from Lu Bu and trying to retreat in time. However, once the tables flip and you get to play as Lu Bu it’s an empowering experience, and he very much embodies the one-man-army ideal that the entire series revolves around.