Dynasty Warriors 4/Musou Mode

Musou Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4 has been given a tremendous overhaul, replacing preset scenarios for each individual with a kingdom-focused storyline instead. Players can now switch between different characters before battle and choose which stage to go through first. The locations of sub-officers can now be seen within the game's preparation screen.

Other factions other than the Three Kingdoms have their own scenarios as well, albeit smaller and more limited. Setting the difficulty level to "Easy" reduces the challenge ranking of these stages by 1 while "Hard" has the opposite effect.

Tales Stages
Tales stages are secret missions that occur between different chapters of a kingdom's Musou Mode. These battles are much smaller in size and have specific unlock requirements that need to be fulfilled. Note that the player is required not to skip any battles in prior acts unless stated otherwise.

Story Routes
The stories of each kingdom are divided into separate acts consisting of three different battles (two for most unaffiliated factions). Battles themselves are no longer self-contained to a single narrative. Instead, they now have an impact on the other remaining stages and affect how certain events may transpire. For instance, defeating a particular officer in one battle may weaken them greatly in another. Thus, players are encouraged to finish the minor stages first before participating in the main battle.

Exclusive to the Musou Modes of Shu, Wei, and Wu are multi-linear paths leading to alternate acts. What act the player is given depends on whether the fire attack at Chi Bi is successful or not. These separate routes may also lead to different tales stages as well.

Stages highlighted in red are mandatory battles that end the whole story segment when done first. In the case of the Three Kingdoms, completing these stages during the last act is necessary in order to unlock the final battle (highlighted in purple).

Shu
Initial Characters: Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Liu Bei

Wei
Initial Characters: Xiahou Dun, Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan

Wu
Initial Characters: Sun Shang Xiang, Sun Jian, Huang Gai

Lu Bu
Characters: Zhang Liao, Diao Chan, Lu Bu

Dong Zhuo
Characters: Diao Chan, Dong Zhuo

Yuan Shao
Characters: Zhang He, Yuan Shao

Yellow Turban
Characters: Zhang Fei, Zhang Liao, Zhang He, Zhang Jiao

Nanman
Characters: Meng Huo, Zhu Rong

Character Specific Requirements
The following characters can be unlocked in Musou Mode.


 * Zhao Yun, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong - Clear Shu Act II.
 * Huang Zhong, Wei Yan - Clear Shu Act III.
 * Yue Ying - Clear Shu Act IV.
 * Ma Chao - Defeat Ma Chao during the Campaign of Cheng Du.
 * Jiang Wei - Force Jiang Wei to surrender during the Battle of Tian Shui by luring him out, defeating his sub-officers, and having him meet Zhuge Liang.
 * Dian Wei, Xu Huang - Clear Shu Act I.
 * Xu Zhu - Clear Shu Act II.
 * Zhen Ji, Cao Ren - Clear Shu Act III.
 * Zhang Liao - Defeat Zhang Liao at the Battle of Xia Pi.
 * Zhang He - Clear 11 stages during Wei's Musou Mode.
 * Sima Yi - Clear Shu Act IV.
 * Lu Meng - Clear Shu Act I.
 * Zhou Yu, Sun Ce - Clear Shu Act II.
 * Sun Quan, Zhou Tai - Clear Shu Act III.
 * Taishi Ci - Defeat Taishi Ci and have him reappear as an ally during the Campaign for the Wu Territory.
 * Gan Ning - Defeat Gan Ning during the Battle of Xia Kou.
 * Lu Xun - Clear Shu Act IV.
 * Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao - Clear the Two Qiaos with both sisters kept safe.
 * Lu Bu - Clear Musou Mode with any faction.
 * Diao Chan - Clear Act I in Lu Bu's Musou Mode.
 * Dong Zhuo - Clear Lu Bu's Musou Mode.
 * Yuan Shao - Clear Wei's Musou Mode.
 * Zhang Jiao - Clear Musou Mode with every other faction.
 * Meng Huo - Defeat Meng Huo seven times (including in a duel) during the Nanman Campaign.
 * Zhu Rong - Defeat Zhu Rong in a duel during the Nanman Campaign.

Ending Requirements
Clearing Musou Mode allows players to watch one of four ending cutscenes for each faction. The type of ending received is determined by the player's overall performance during the entire mode, with each feat displayed in the form of a poem. These feats reflect the amount of enemies killed (Strength), the number of points gained (Mind), and the period of time spent (Speed), all of which are tallied on an average score.

Completing a specific number of battles (including tales stages) also affects which ending the player gets. The fourth endings in particular have additional requirements that have to be met before they can be unlocked. These are easily accomplished by playing under the lowest difficulty setting and using mounts for additional speed.


 * Shu - Force Liu Zhang to surrender in the Campaign for Cheng Du.
 * Wei - Prevent all three ploys in the Battle of Chi Bi.
 * Wu - Claim all three territories in the Race for the Nan Territory.
 * Lu Bu - Defeat all enemy officers in Lu Bu's Revolt.
 * Dong Zhuo - Defeat Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian once Li Jue begins retreating from Si Shui Gate.
 * Yuan Shao - Defeat Guan Yu in the Battle of Guan Du.
 * Yellow Turban - Ensure the survival of every allied officer in the Yellow Turban Rebellion.
 * Nanman - Ensure Wu Tugu's survival in the Battle of Cheng Du.