Availability
Content pack: Total War: Warhammer III (base game). Immortal Empires ownership
- Total War: Warhammer III unlocks the base Grand Cathay roster with Miao Ying and Zhao Ming in Immortal Empires.
- Yuan Bo – Shadows of Change (or the original Shadows of Change) adds Yuan Bo, Saytang and its Cathayan additions.
- Bhashiva – Character Pack adds Bhashiva and the Tiger Warriors, with access to the core Cathay roster.
Factions and leaders
The Northern Provinces
Leader: Miao Ying.
Miao Ying rules the north and commands the defence of the Great Bastion. Her realm places the Storm Dragon at the frontier with Chaos.
The Western Provinces
Leader: Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming rules Western Cathay. The Iron Dragon is associated with alchemy and the trading world around the Ivory Road.
The Jade Court
Leader: Yuan Bo.
Yuan Bo directs a Lustrian expedition and uses Matters of State to shape armies, settlements and characters. Requires Yuan Bo – Shadows of Change or the original Shadows of Change.
Claws of the White Tiger
Leader: Bhashiva.
Bhashiva begins in the Vale of Titans. The Tiger Court and Iron Favour develop her mercenaries and Cathayan support. Requires Bhashiva – Character Pack.
Why choose Grand Cathay?
Cathay combines armoured infantry, missile troops, cavalry, artillery and magic. Jade Warriors give the army a dependable centre while ranged units work behind it. Fire Rain Rocket Batteries punish groups of infantry from a distance, making the protection of the gun line a practical priority.
Battlefield Harmony rewards the relationship between Yin and Yang troops. Position supporting units close enough to help each other rather than sending each regiment off to fight alone. A strong central formation still needs troops watching its flanks and artillery.
The empire beyond the battle line
The Great Bastion is Cathay's northern shield against Chaos. Miao Ying's identity and campaign are closely tied to defending it; Zhao Ming governs the west, where trade and alchemy shape a different introduction to the same race.
Caravans on the Ivory Road turn distant trade into an expedition with its own risks. The Wu Xing Compass gives the empire another strategic tool. Treat these systems as part of your campaign planning alongside settlements and armies, rather than spending all your attention on the next battle.
Dragons and their advisers
Miao Ying, the Storm Dragon, and Zhao Ming, the Iron Dragon, can fight in human or dragon form. Their shared race gives them an army language in common, but their realms and personal identities are distinct.
Alchemists and Astromancers are ordinary hero types. The former use Metal magic; the latter use Heavens. They support an existing army rather than opening a separate Legendary Lord campaign.
Yuan Bo leads The Jade Court through Matters of State and a compass expedition. Bhashiva leads a mercenary faction with the Tiger Court and Iron Favour. Saytang is a Legendary Hero who joins an army rather than leading a separate campaign.
Research and faction differences
Cathay's Military and Provinces technology trees support army development and settlement management respectively. Choose research around the campaign's next demand, rather than letting a long research queue decide the army's direction.
Bhashiva's Tiger Warriors do not use ordinary Battle Harmony themselves, although upgrades can let them support nearby Harmony units. Keep that distinction in mind when combining mercenaries with a traditional Cathayan line.
Selected roster
| Unit | Role | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Jade Warriors | Armoured melee infantry | Regular recruitment |
| Fire Rain Rocket Battery | Rocket artillery | Regular recruitment |
| Terracotta Sentinel | Construct monster | Base Cathay roster; construct recruitment |
Lords and heroes
Miao Ying
The Storm Dragon rules The Northern Provinces and defends the Great Bastion. Miao Ying brings a dragon's battlefield presence to Cathay's disciplined infantry, missiles and artillery.
Total War: Warhammer III (base game)
Zhao Ming
The Iron Dragon leads The Western Provinces. Zhao Ming joins Cathay's combined-arms army to a western realm shaped by trade and alchemy.
Total War: Warhammer III (base game)
Yuan Bo
Yuan Bo, the Jade Dragon, leads Grand Cathay's Jade Court, combining a Lustrian expedition with statecraft and a lord who fights as a sorcerer or dragon.
Yuan Bo – Shadows of Change / original Shadows of Change
Bhashiva
Bhashiva leads Grand Cathay's Claws of the White Tiger in Immortal Empires, pairing mobile Tiger Warriors with a campaign of mercenary oaths and earned Cathayan support.
Bhashiva – Character Pack
Alchemist
Alchemists are Grand Cathay's Metal spellcaster heroes. Their sorcery supports the army through spells that can help friendly fighters or punish an enemy formation.
Total War: Warhammer III (base game)
Astromancer
Astromancers are Grand Cathay's Heavens spellcaster heroes. They bring celestial magic to an army built around a protected infantry and missile formation.
Total War: Warhammer III (base game)
Saytang the Watcher
Saytang the Watcher is Grand Cathay's bow-armed Legendary Hero, a towering sentinel who adds heavy ranged attacks and construct support to an existing army.
Yuan Bo – Shadows of Change / original Shadows of Change
Character stories
Sources
- Immortal Empires DLC Ownership Guide — support.sega.com
- Yuan Bo – Shadows of Change — store.steampowered.com
- Bhashiva – Character Pack — store.steampowered.com
- Update 8.0 Patch Notes — community.creative-assembly.com
- Bhashiva Character Pack – What's Included — community.creative-assembly.com