Part 5

Understand unit stats in Total War: Three Kingdoms, including Missile Attack, Charge Bonus, Defense types (Armor, Shield, Skill), Hit Points, and Costs. Optimize your army.

This guide explains the various attributes and statistics for units in Total War: Three Kingdoms, crucial for understanding their performance in battle.

Key Unit Attributes:

• Missile Attack: The effectiveness of ranged weapons (javelins, arrows, bolts, etc.). Artillery has separate values for anti-troop and anti-building attacks. Missile attacks ignore target defense skill and some ignore armor. Gunpowder weapons ignore defense skill, shield bonuses, and 50% of armor.
• Charge Bonus/Powerful Charge: Extra attack power added when a unit charges, particularly significant for cavalry.
• Combat Bonus in Woods/Snow/Woods and Snow: A combat boost (likely defense) when fighting in specific terrain.
• Can't Hide: Applies to artillery and command units, meaning they are always visible to the enemy regardless of cover.
• (Very) Long Range Missiles: Indicates the firing range of missile units.
• Soldiers: The number of soldiers in a unit, dependent on the unit scale setting.
• Experience: Ranges from 0-9, indicated by chevrons (bronze 1-3, silver 4-6, gold 7-9). Each level of experience grants bonuses to melee attack and defense skill. Units can start with experience through recruitment buildings.
• Attack: The unit's overall offensive power. Melee attack and missile attack are separate values.
• Weapon Type: Categories include Crude, Light, Heavy, Missile, Artillery, Cannon, and Firearm.
• Defence: Comprises Armor, Shield, and Defense Skill. Frontal attacks use the full defense value. Side attacks reduce the shield bonus. Rear attacks target only armor, making them ideal for cavalry. Armor Piercing attacks ignore 50% of armor. Missile attacks ignore defense skill. Gunpowder attacks ignore defense skill, shield, and 50% of armor.
• Hit Points: The number of hits a soldier can sustain. Generals and their bodyguards have higher hit points.
• Cost: The recruitment cost for a unit.
• Upkeep: The cost per turn to maintain a unit. Militia units can have zero upkeep in specific cities.

Combat Mechanics:

• Ambushes can occur when units are hidden in woods, catching enemies in marching formation.
• Cavalry charges are particularly effective against the rear of enemy units due to defense mechanics.