Total War: Three Kingdoms Heroes – Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong
When gamers get their hands on Total War: Three Kingdoms in a few weeks’ time, they’ll be able to choose between eleven different playable heroes in the game’s campaign. (The twelfth hero, Dong Zhuo, must be unlocked first.) These Total War: Three Kingdoms heroes range from lesser-known figures like Kong Rong and Gongsun Zan to those whose actions defined the era; Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and of course, Sun Jian, the man whose son, Sun Quan, who would go on to establish the kingdom of Wu. Creative Assembly has already released a trailer for Sun Jian, the Tiger of Jiangdong, but now fans can read much more about this famous hero.
The Twelve Playable Total War: Three Kingdoms Heroes – Sun Jian
Among the twelve playable heroes, Sun Jian is unique as the only member of the Sentinel class. Among the game’s five character classes, Sentinels have the highest Expertise, with reductions for building costs, easier access to shielded melee infantry, and defensive boosts for their troops. They are generally the best defenders and builders. However, Sun Jian is no cautious builder; the warlord is famous for his daring; “Fighting to end the chaos flooding through China,” says Creative Assembly; “Sun Jian has risked his life for the good of the realm on multiple occasions. Most famously, when fighting bandits at the Siege of Wancheng, Sun Jian placed himself at the head of his army and climbed the city walls alone, killing 20 men before the rest of his army flooded in.”
Although he is no noble – he is the son of a merchant – Sun Jian has become one of China’s most renowned generals. What sparks his family’s rise to power, however, is the discovery of the Imperial Seal. Held by the Han emperors, this seal was lost when Dong Zhuo destroyed Luoyang. It is said that whoever holds the seal will rule over China, and the seal was found amidst the ruins by Sun Jian…
Sun Jian’s Starting Point and Play-Style
Sun Jian begins play in Jiangling Commandery. However, this isn’t his starting territory, which is the neighbouring Changsha Commandery; players must guide his force through enemy territory and back to his homeland. Once he arrives, his first major dilemma concerns the Imperial Seal. Liu Biao will request it from you, and you must choose to either hand it over or refuse, which will make Liu Biao a foe.
Although Sentinels are typically defensive, Sun Jian’s play-style leans more towards attack. The more he proves his bravery with frontline victories, the better his unit replenishment rate becomes while in enemy territory. He can also use this mechanic to recruit mercenaries at a cheaper price and improve the satisfaction of his other characters. Interestingly, all of his units use the guerrilla formation. This means that they can deploy into battle faster and potentially overcome their enemies before reinforcements can arrive. This can be a risky approach, however. As an added bonus, Sun Jian’s ports boost commerce income throughout his territories.
The Children of Sun Jian
Although the Sun family would go on to establish one of the ‘three kingdoms’ of the era, Sun Jian sadly did not live to see it. In fact, he was killed in 193; just three years after the start of the Total War: Three Kingdoms campaign; the stories say that Sun Jian was crushed by rocks while pursuing Lu Gong during a battle. His eldest son, Sun Ce, went on to succeed him. Although Sun Ce was a highly capable military leader, he was assassinated just seven years later. As a result, his younger brother Sun Quan became leader of the family. It was Sun Quan who would go on to found the kingdom of Wu, becoming its first emperor, and who became rivals with both Cao Cao and Liu Bei.
Sun Jian’s Special Abilities
Four of Sun Jian’s special abilities have been revealed so far. Creative Assembly has yet to provide exact details of what each does, however.
- Flames of the Phoenix: “A devastating swing with the power of the risen inferno!”
- Impetuous Charge: “A reckless charge, inspiring but exhausting!”
- Tenacity of Steel: “The longer this warrior fights, the stronger they become!”
- The Tiger of Jiangdong: “Claiming ancestry with the renowned military strategist Sun Tzu, the fearless Sun Jian has war flowing through his veins.”