How Long Is Dynasty Warriors: Origins - Mission List And All Battles

Dynasty Warriors: Origins, similar to its predecessors, is set during the fall of the Han Dynasty in China. Featuring a semi-linear campaign where you play as an original character, the Wanderer, you must partake in dozens of battles to bring about a new age. Still, you might be wondering just how many hours you need to spend to get all the way to the conclusion. Here's our guide on how long it takes to beat Dynasty Warriors: Origins. Likewise, please be reminded that this article contains minor spoilers.

How long to beat Dynasty Warriors: Origins - Campaign length and mission list guide

Generally speaking, it should take roughly 25 to 30 hours to beat Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This assumes that you're playing on Wayfarer (i.e. Normal) difficulty and you're just focusing on main missions. Do take note, however, that missions have a suggested level requirement. As such, you still need to tackle side objectives to boost your character's capabilities.

Those who want to do the main missions and a bit of side content can expect around 30 to 35 hours of playtime. This includes completing a few skirmishes to increase your level, tackling the Shards of the Past side quest to unlock secret skills, and undertaking more battles in Chapter 3 before you make a pivotal decision (more on this later).

Lastly, completionists will be glad to know that it would take over 60 hours to unlock everything in Dynasty Warriors: Origins. This is because of the game's Story Replay function, Old Coins rewards, Altered Fates, and Ultimate Warrior challenges.

If you're trying to complete Dynasty Warriors: Origins, then it might seem like it has a linear campaign at a glance. This is primarily due to how Chapters 1 and 2 are structured. Early in the campaign, the Wanderer roams around partaking in battles as part of various volunteer and regional forces.

Prologue and Chapter 1 battles:

• First Battle
• Test of Zhang Fei
• Battle of Guangyang
• Battle of Yingchuan
• Battle of Wan Castle
• Battle of Guangzong
• Final Battle Against the Yellow Turbans and Zhang Jiao boss fight

Chapter 2 battles:

• Suppression of You Province
• Suppression of Liang Province
• Suppression of Jing Province
• Subjugation of the White Wave Bandits
• Protection of Wang Yun
• Rebellion of the Ten Attendants
• Assassination of Dong Zhuo
• Battle of Sishui Gate
• Battle of Hulao Gate

Then, come Chapter 3, you need to make a few pivotal decisions. We discuss these in detail in our Chapter 3: Cao Cao, Liu Bei, or Sun Jian guide, but here are some tidbits:

• You need to complete a certain number of battles for the three main clans/factions: Cao, Liu, and Sun. Advancing past a certain point while below this threshold prevents you from joining that faction permanently later on.
• There are also some moments when you have to choose between two sides, such as the Battle of Xu Province (Cao Cao vs. Liu Bei and Tao Qian).
• In the interlude between Chapters 3 and 4, you have to pick between the last remaining options. The Wanderer will be part of that faction for the remaining missions up to the game's conclusion.

In our initial playthrough, we opted to prioritize the Sun family for the most part, while also tackling missions for Cao Cao and Liu Bei. Then, when we got the Xu Province prompt, we sided with Cao Cao.

Later, when we had to choose between Cao Cao and Sun Jian, we decided to stick with the Sun family. Finally, when we finished the campaign, we opted to replay a branching path to try a few of Cao Cao's battles.

Chapter 3 battles:

• Sun force:
  • Assault on Nanyang
  • Siege of Fan Castle
  • Battle of Xiangyang
  • Battle of Xiaopei
  • Battle of Lujiang
  • Escape from Danyang
• Cao force:
  • Suppression of Yan Province
  • Battle of Xu Province
  • First Battle of Puyang
  • Battle of Yu Province
  • Second Battle of Puyang
  • Rescue of Emperor Xian
• Liu force:
  • Battle of Jieqiao
  • Battle of Beihai
  • Battle of Xu
  • TBD (multiple battles)

Chapter 4 battles:

• Sun force:
  • Battle of Niuzhu
  • Battle of Shenting
  • Conquest of Wu
  • Subjugation of Yuan Shu
  • Battle of Mt. Xisai
  • Suppression of Wu
• Cao force:
  • Escape from Wan Castle
  • Escape from Xiaopei
  • Battle of Xiapi and Lu Bu boss fight
  • Assault on Xiapi
  • Battle of Baima and Yanjin
  • Battle of Guandu
• Liu force:
  • Defense of Xiapi
  • TBD (multiple battles)
  • 1,000-Li March of Guan Yu

Chapter 5 battles:

• Sun force:
  • Subjugation of Lujiang
  • Subjugation of Huang Zu
  • Subjugation of Kuaiji
  • Final Battle at Xiakou
  • Battle of Sanjiangkou
  • Battle of Chibi
• Cao force:
  • Battle of Ye
  • TBD (multiple battles)
  • Battle of Huarong Path
• Liu force:
  • Battle of Runan
  • TBD (multiple battles)
  • Battle of Huarong Path

Those who want to put in more hours into Dynasty Warriors: Origins can do so by trying various side content. Here are some examples:

• Search for Memories/Shards of the Past - Complete this side quest to learn about the Wanderer's background and unlock powerful hidden skills.
• Old Coins - Amass this special currency to receive nifty rewards at the Shui Jing Retreat.

There are also others that you can tackle upon completing the campaign once. Doing so unlocks the Story Replay options and other mechanics:

• Story Replay - Allows you to replay certain restart points in the campaign. You may also redo one-off battles that you've finished beforehand.
• Altered Fates - Those familiar with Romance of the Three Kingdoms will know that a few important characters perish throughout the course of the story. However, you can replay these points to find ways to save them, which then unlocks secret cutscenes and endings.
• Ultimate Warrior difficulty and challenges - You can change to Ultimate Warrior difficulty, which makes enemies significantly tougher. Battles also have challenges only available with this difficulty selected, and these net you unique rewards, including mounts, weapons, and Old Coins.
• Weapon min-maxing - You may also upgrade and reforge weapons, strengthening them and assigning ideal perks.
• True Warrior rank - Once you get past level 81, you'll unlock True Warrior rank, which has additional skills/perks and bravery pips.

That does it for our guide on how long it takes to beat Dynasty Warriors: Origins. If you're just starting out, we recommend that you head over to our beginner's guide.