Manage Cathay’s campaign systems, make the most of provincial Harmony, and choose the right lord for your playstyle in Total War: Warhammer III. This guide covers Cathay’s unique mechanics — Harmony, the Compass, caravans, and the Great Bastion — and explains each faction’s strengths.
Quick answer
| What | Answer |
|---|---|
| Harmony effects | Yang boosts recruitment and research, Yin boosts construction and growth, balance boosts income and movement |
| Compass timing | Every 9 turns |
| Caravan recruitment | Caravan Lords |
| Bastion building limit | 3 buildings |
| Miao Ying bonus | Reduced upkeep for ranged units |
| Caravans and ogre mercenaries | More caravans, cheaper ogre mercenaries, and tougher melee units |
| Yuan Bo currencies | Steel and Stone |
Compass timing: recent patches may have changed this from 10 turns to 9 — always check the current in-game tooltip before planning around turn cycles.
Set up Cathay’s core campaign systems
Cathay’s campaign revolves around provincial Harmony, the Wu Xing Compass, caravans with unique Caravan Lords, and defending the Great Bastion against incursions. Here’s how you set up and operate each core mechanic:
- Buildings are either Yin or Yang, and you can switch most between them for a small gold cost 0:31
- Lowers recruitment cost, increases recruit rank/capacity, boosts research rate
- Lowers construction time/cost, increases growth and control
- Reduces army upkeep, increases income and movement range 0:31
- Once every ~10 turns — each direction has unique bonuses for your faction 1:01
- Three directions fill a bar while active, triggering additional buffs/debuffs on completion
- The Bastion progress bar fills over time; Compass settings and Bastion commandments slow it
- Bastion settlements only have three building slots 2:58
- Caravan Lords form trade armies for the Ivory Road system 1:59
- Their start army is determined by traits — some are tankier, others faster 1:59
The Bastion settlement building limit is typically 3 slots — treat this as approximate, since recent patch changes are not always fully documented. Confirm in-game before committing resources.
Use Harmony for growth, income, and recruitment
Harmony affects each province independently. The balance between Yin and Yang is dictated by your local buildings, and you can switch most between modes with a small gold payment. While a province is under development — constructing buildings or expanding — lean toward Yang for reduced construction costs and quicker growth. Once the province stabilizes, shifting toward perfect balance increases income and movement range, while Yin can be better for boosting recruitment options.
Most provinces will benefit from being set to Yang while you build out basic infrastructure. When it’s time to recruit armies, Yin improves control and replenishment. A perfect Harmony (balance) is optimal for income-producing provinces or those needing efficient movement and lower upkeep.
The right Harmony state changes with the province’s current role. Adjust it as you build, recruit, or shift priorities.
Choose Compass directions that match the current situation
The Wu Xing Compass is Cathay’s global faction mechanic. Every ~10 turns, you can redirect the Compass to grant specific bonuses, such as income boosts, attrition for hostile armies, growth, or defensive buffs.
Three of the four main directions — Great Bastion, Celestial Lake, Warpstone Desert — also fill a progress bar while active. Letting these bars fill can trigger further buffs or debuffs (for example, the Dragon Emperor’s Wrath inflicts heavy attrition on enemies beyond the Bastion for several turns 1:30).
For most of your campaign, it’s simplest to select one direction that fits your main need — extra gold, slower Bastion fill, faster recruitment — and leave it set until circumstances change. The best moments to swap Compass directions are when you’re about to build up an army or react to a major threat.
Compass turn interval may be 9 or 10 depending on game version. Always rely on the actual in-game timer shown in the Compass menu.
Run caravans safely and profitably
Sending caravans through the Ivory Road is Cathay’s main source of trade income and rare items. To keep your caravans alive and profitable, follow these steps:
- Caravan Lords have unique skill trees and are not recruited like regular generals 1:59
- Focus on Hidden Stores early and capacity/trade price skills later 2:28
- Build your caravan army strong from the start — they can’t be recruited via normal means
- Look for opportunities to trade cargo for units or avoid ambushes during runs
- Skills improve cargo limits and help replenish troops on the move
Hold the Great Bastion with the right settlement choices
The Great Bastion is Cathay’s wall against Chaos. Its progress bar fills over time, and when full, a Chaos incursion attacks. Managing Bastion settlements is crucial for holding the line:
- Bar fills gradually, triggering a Chaos invasion when maxed 2:58
- Compass Bastion direction and local commandments slow progress
-
- Restored: heals garrisons and armies
- Enhanced: speeds up army leveling
- Patrolled: slows threat and corruption
- Reinforced: increases settlement size more quickly
- When the bar fills, Chaos will attack — always keep a force ready to repel incursion 3:27
Play Miao Ying as the Bastion and ranged lord
Miao Ying leads Cathay’s northern provinces and has the best tools for holding the Bastion against Chaos invasions. Her armies are tailored for missile units and artillery defense.
- Her ranged units gain increased ammo for breaking attackers before they get close.
- Missile units in her own army pay 50% less upkeep, letting you field larger ranged forces.
- Her faction supports building focused missile and gunpowder armies for heavy defensive play.
- Her bonuses make her the easiest Cathay start for ranged and gunpowder armies.
Play Zhao Ming as the trade and mercenary lord
Zhao Ming controls Cathay’s western provinces and excels at trade, caravan management, and fielding mercenary and melee troops.
- He can dispatch an extra caravan and carry more cargo, making trade runs more profitable.
- Ogres hired as mercenaries gain improved melee stats and reduced upkeep, making his armies more resilient.
- All melee units in his faction gain increased armor.
- Melee units in his own army pay even less upkeep, supporting elite front-line compositions.
- His bonuses favor aggressive play and trade expansion.
Use Yuan Bo’s State of the Celestial Court and extra Compass options
Yuan Bo leads the Jade Court and introduces the Matters of State mechanic, along with expanded Compass directions. His campaign is more complex but offers unique strategic power.
- He starts with 2 tokens each of Steel and Stone.
- Spending one type (e.g. Steel) converts its capacity to the opposite (Stone) after several turns. Battle victories speed up token recovery.
- Fortress cities increase military and defense bonuses; commercial cities boost infrastructure and resources.
- Balanced actions use both Steel and Stone equally, keeping overall capacity constant.
- Yuan Bo can unlock 4 extra Compass directions by capturing and defending Lustria settlements for 5 turns after building relay landmarks.
- Capital city effects include increased research speed and greater astromancy (winds of magic and spellcasting).
- His own army pays reduced upkeep for DLC units and can store more Winds of Magic.
Also worth knowing
- Constant Jade Crossbow recruitment is a strong early army plan. Keep recruiting them for a reliable, strong core.
- Yin-Yin and the Monkey King campaigns are expected to play very differently. Their systems may diverge from classical Cathay; conversely, the Fire Dragon’s campaign is expected to be similar.
- Miao Ying’s campaign bonuses are considered simple. Compared to other lords, hers are powerful but basic — mostly focused on ranged units and defense.
- Cathay does not have a specific growth commandment. Growth comes from building choices and Harmony, not from governance edicts.
- This breakdown covers only Miao Ying, Zhao Ming, and Yuan Bo. Cathay has other possible lords (Yin-Yin, Monkey King), but their mechanics are not included here.
Frequently asked
Which Cathay lord is best for ranged armies?
Miao Ying is the strongest fit for ranged armies. Her armies give ranged units heavily reduced upkeep, and her faction also gives ranged units more ammo. That makes her the easiest Cathay start for leaning into Jade Crossbows and gunpowder.
What should I build in Great Bastion settlements?
Great Bastion settlements only get three building slots, so defense is usually the priority. The unique commandments there are Restored for healing, Enhanced for local army leveling, Patrolled for slowing threat and corruption, and Reinforced for faster growth in settlement size.
How does Yuan Bo's State of the Celestial Court work?
Yuan Bo starts with two Steel and two Stone tokens. Spending one type pushes capacity toward the opposite type after a few turns, and battle victories speed up token replenishment. The system rewards alternating actions to keep both currencies useful.
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