Dynasty Warriors: Origins: Unlocking the Shu True Ending

Unlocking the true ending for Liu Bei's Shu faction in Dynasty Warriors: Origins requires a bit more than just completing the campaign. After finishing the Shu campaign, you'll gain access to replayable stages. Look for a gold banner next to "The Battle of Changban"—this marks the stage with the alternate ending. Normally, you help Liu Bei escape while Zhang Fei holds the line. However, for the true ending, you must defeat Cao Cao himself.

This is no easy feat. You'll be facing Cao Cao's army largely alone, embodying the series' iconic "1 vs. 1000" challenge. Failure to defeat Cao Cao before Liu Bei falls means restarting the mission. To increase your odds, consider these strategies:

Lower the Difficulty: Set the game to Historian mode. While it might seem easier, the sheer scale of the battle makes this a wise choice to improve your chances of victory.

Choose Your Partner Wisely: Selecting Zhang Fei as your partner offers a significant advantage, placing you closer to the main battle and minimizing travel time.

Master the Musou Rage: Be prepared to unleash your Musou Rage when Cao Cao's army launches its Grand Tactics—one requiring the defeat of two officers, the other, 250 soldiers. A weapon like twin pikes can help expedite the soldier-slaying portion.

Once Cao Cao's army is routed, defeating Cao Cao himself should be more manageable. After this pivotal battle, a few more missions await before you witness the Shu true ending.

Congratulations! You've unlocked the true ending for Shu in Dynasty Warriors: Origins, available now on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.