Grand strategy games, much like life itself, can be difficult. TheTotal Warfranchise encapsulates this difficulty by putting players in the shoes ofgreat generals and statesmenand tasking them with leading their chosen country to greatness. Fans of the series will undoubtedly know that this is easier said than done for certain factions.
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No matter the time period being covered, every game in the series has its collection of factions that are a challenge to master. Whether it’s due to a poor starting location, sub-par unit rosters, or being surrounded by a multitude of enemies looking for blood, theseTotal Warfactions have the toughest time trying to survive past the first handful of turns.
Updated July 26, 2025 by Mark Hospodar:Recently, Total Warfans received some disappointing news. Creative Assembly, the developers of the franchise, has announced the end of post-launch support forTotal War: Three Kingdoms. This decision was made due to the developers' desire to focus on the next entry in the series. Fans, however, are outraged, citing lingering of bugs and other issues that still affect the game. Playersvented their anger by review-bombingthe once well-receivedTotal War: Three Kingdomson Steam. In light of this development, we return to look at some of the greatest challenges the franchise has offered players.
15He Yi – Yellow Turban Rebellion
Total War: Three Kingdomshas quite a few contenders for the title of “hardest faction.” One of the more challenging starts, especially for beginners, is the He Yi faction. He Yi is part of the Yellow Turban Rebellion, a large-scale peasant revolt directed against the ailing Han dynasty.
He Yi has a tough early game. The Yellow Turban leaders are not popular, facing a lot of hostility from their many neighbors. Their strength lies with the common people, represented by their above-average population bonuses. Players need to capitalize on the replenishment buffs due to constant warfare being a fact of life.
14Roman Expedition (Independent) – The Last Roman
Reclaiming the lost territories of the Roman Empire is a challenging endeavor for Belisarius, even with the aid of Emperor Justinian. The expeditionary force is small, albeit built around a cadre of disciplined legionaries. Staying in the good graces of the Eastern Roman emperor guarantees a steady supply of much-needed reinforcements.
However, for players looking for an even greater challenge, there is the option to sever ties completely with the emperor. Doing so turns those welcome reinforcements into tough adversaries looking to cut Belisarius back down to size. Contending with the Eastern Roman Empire, along with the ever-present barbarian kingdoms, makes this a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
13Crooked Moon – Total War: Warhammer I & II
The Crooked Moon faction in bothTotal War: WarhammerandWarhammer IIsuffer from a rough starting position. Unfriendly factions nearby can make the early game quite challenging. Furthermore, Crooked Moon possesses a sub-par economy and weak starting units.
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Unlocking the faction’s better units isn’t straightforward. The player needs to conquer Karak Eight Peaks first, before the best units on the roster become available. Marching to Karak Eight Peaks is a long and dangerous journey, one that can easily spell the end forSkarsnik and his clan of Greenskins.
12The Ottomans – Empire: Total War
In the 18th century the Ottoman Empire was in the midst of a steady decline, especially compared to the emerging states of Russia, Austria, and Great Britain. The major European powers even gave the failing empire the derisive nickname “The Sick Man of Europe.”
Empire: Total Wardoes an admirable job of reflecting that situation. The Ottomans are diplomatically isolated, possess a poor economy, and have a unit roster that fails to measure up to its rivals. Added to that are provinces looking to revolt and a technology tree that is far behind the other European powers. Thus, restoring the former glory of the Ottoman Empire is a challenging undertaking.
11Achilles – Total War Saga: Troy
When fighting the mythical Trojan War, why not command the legendary Achilles himself? Achilles is a mixed bag inTotal War Saga: Troy,and that makes him a tricky faction to master for those unfamiliar with the game’s mechanics. He starts the campaign in an unfavorable position, surrounded by less-than-friendly neighbors. Grappling with these foes simultaneously can be problematic.
Achilles also utilizes his own unique personality system. Managing the hero’s temper can take practice. The angrier Achilles becomes, the more effective his army fights. However,, this comes at the cost of massive faction-wide penalties regarding population growth and the economy.
10Russia – Medieval II: Total War
The process of uniting the Russian people inMedieval II: Total Waris a laborious endeavor. Starting with the solitary province of Novgorod, it takes a while for the Russian juggernaut to get rolling. Its isolation serves as a double-edged sword. Although Russia isn’t immediately threatened by external enemies, the vast distances that players need to cover are a tactical nightmare for an army.
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Economically, Russia is also poor in the beginning. Vast wastes separate the disparate settlements and lack an abundance of resources. The late-game poses another problem in the form of the Mongols. Smart players need to take the necessary preparations to blunt the Mongolian doomstacks that appear at their appointed time. If they don’t, it’s easily game over for Russia.
9The Odrysian Kingdom – Total War: Rome II
Rome II: Total Warhas its fair share of difficult starting factions. One such example is the Odrysian Kingdom, an isolated faction that starts with only one province. The province itself, Odessos, is not a very good one at all. Lacking development, it requires substantial time and resources to build it into something actually beneficial to the economy and military.
Powerful neighbors in the form of the Hellenic city-states make the Odrysian Kingdom’s short-term survival a challenge. Their weak infantry units are no match for the fearsome hoplites utilized by Macedon. The kingdom is not very popular, making trade deals and treaties difficult to secure with other factions. Surviving the first handful of turns is thus a hazardous endeavor.
8The Uesugi Clan – Total War: Shogun II
The Uesugi ofTotal War: Shogun IIis yet another victim of poor geography and weak starting units. Not only does it take time to build up a sizable army, but it also takes even more time to transport that army to where it needs to go. By that point, the Uesugi’s enemies have already bolstered their defenses.
Quick expansion and the swift elimination of initial enemies are key inTotal War: Shogun II. The Uesugi clan is stymied in both those respects by its geography. Maintaining the clan’s sole vassal can be another problem as the daimyo’s subjects tend to break away at the first opportunity.
7The Seleucid Empire – Total War: Rome Remastered
The poor Seleucid Empire is often one of the first factions to be destroyed when controlled by the AI inTotal War: Rome Remastered.Human players stand a better chance, but the odds are still slim. The Seleucids are beset by four hungry and opportunistic enemies on their borders, namely Egypt, Armenia, Pontus, and Parthia.
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Playing as the Seleucid Empire is like trying to put out multiple fires at once. If each enemy can gradually be defeated in turn, the situation will eventually stabilize. However, surviving the onslaught is easier said than done. Players need to make the most out of their economy and smart battlefield tactics to make it through the first dozen turns.
6France – Napoleon: Total War
On the surface, the French Empire inNapoleon: Total Warseems like an unstoppable force. A superb military backed by talented generals, not to mention Napoleon Bonaparte himself, it’s a durable faction. Nevertheless, France needs that durability if it is to survive the Grand Campaign.
France must eventually contend with no less than four other European superpowers. One of these, Great Britain, is the unquestioned master of the seas. Defending hard-fought territory is a massive headache, as attacks can come from multiple directions at once. The Prussians, British, Russians, and Austrians all desire Napoleon’s head. Maintaining that head is no easy feat.
