Dynasty Warriors Origins: How to unlock Shu True Ending Route

After you complete Shu’s story in Dynasty Warriors Origins, you’ll have the opportunity to go back and play through a few key missions again, to unlock the True Ending. Each faction has its own True Ending Route, which will vary in length depending on the faction. Frankly, Shu has the shortest route, which kicks off incredibly late in the story. After unlocking this route, you’ll only have two or three battles left to go.

As I learned when interviewing Dynasty Warriors Origins’ Tomohiko Sho, there are more than just three endings, and we’ve uncovered how to get the True Ending Route for Shu. Here’s what you need to do.

Note: This does contain spoilers for Dynasty Warriors Origins.

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How to easily unlock the Shu True Ending Route in Dynasty Warriors Origins

First, you need to beat Dynasty Warriors Origins’ Shu story if you want to begin unlocking the True Ending Route. Then, return to the game, and enter Story Mode, from any of the inns in the game. Swap over to Shu, Chapter 5, and scroll down until you see the Golden Banner. This will ask if you want to play from the Battle of Changban and also has a cryptic hint to it.

For the first half of the battle, do things exactly how you're supposed to — you've played this map before. (Image via Koei Tecmo)

The cryptic hint, in this case, isn’t such a big secret. This is the battle where Liu Bei is fleeing with the peasants, and it’s up to you to get your allies to the escape route safely. However, to unlock the True Ending Route for Shu in Dynasty Warriors Origins, you need to instead focus on defeating Cao Cao.

I recommend playing on Historian, even if you’re a high rank (50-60+) because you’re going to have to solo Cao Cao’s Large Force and a ton of officers. I opted for the Wheel Weapon, because I feel it’s one of the best guard breakers, has tons of range and reach, and was the one I had the most affixes/stats for.

I also recommend starting with Zhang Fei as your Partner; it puts you right into the thick of the action. For the early parts of the stage, just defeat all of Cao Cao’s officers as normal, and recover all the Peasants. Get everyone together, so Liu Bei can start his retreat. Everything is still normal, so defeat all the sneak attacks that begin to show up.

Don't let anyone past the bridge. Take out the small packs, then go for the main force. (Image via Koei Tecmo)

Then you’ll have three forces pop up along the southwestern part of the map, stretching south. Ride down quickly and take the first of these out as well. By the time you clear the first enemy group, Cao Cao’s Main Force will have arrived. If you’re playing on Historian, feel free to leave now, and slay the groups that are coming south of the bridge.

The escaping party in Dynasty Warriors Origins isn’t in too much danger — Zhuge Liang has set up plenty of traps to deal with most of the Wei warriors. Clear the northern smaller packs, and then ride up to Cao Cao’s gigantic force. You’ll have to face down a Large Force, with plenty of generic and named officers.

Having lots of AOE attacks is going to help so much here. You’ve dealt with several Large Forces by now, so you know what to do — clear out as many soldiers and officers as possible, and interrupt their Grand Tactics. You aren’t going to have any backup here, other than your troops. I recommend Fire Arrow and Cavalry Charge, especially from a distance.

This part of the fight can be incredibly frustrating. Play safe, dodge, block, and spam those Bravery/Musou attacks. (Image via Koei Tecmo)

Pack lots of healing items, too. It’s very easy to get surrounded and attacked by lots of troops and officers at once. Mastery of the Dodge mechanic is going to be your savior here. If you can keep landing perfect dodges, you’ll stack tons of bravery to spam abilities.

Cao Cao’s Grand Tactics are Focused Fury (defeat two enemy officers) and Burning Ardor (defeat 250 enemies). Both are simple enough, but having Zhang Fei tag in for at least one of them will make things much faster. Just activate his Rage Musou, spam AOE attacks for free, and then Musou to wipe out 800-900 soldiers at once.

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That’s really all there is to this fight — you have to whittle your way through Cao Cao’s army and ultimately defeat him. It will get easier if you break his Large Force first, that’s for sure.

When he’s defeated, all that remains is to win the duel with your former ally, and that’s it! — you’ve unlocked the Shu True Ending Route in Dynasty Warriors Origins. You'll know it is activated when you see Fate Altered pop up on the screen.

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Dynasty Warriors Origins releases on January 16, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Windows. You can play a demo of the game right now, and learn more in our in-depth review.