I created this guide to document every choice, consequence and achievement in Mandate of Heaven. I am writing it from my own perspective as I play, explaining each branching path in a clear and organized way. All choices are listed from left to right exactly as they appear in the game. Some early choices were not translated at release, so I used image translation for accuracy. Later choices use live translation, which can differ slightly from what is shown, but the meaning remains the same.
Endings, Choices & Branches
This guide is designed to help players understand how to unlock achievements, avoid bad endings and follow every possible route.
Rising Gale
Achievement: The Era of Great Strife unlocks when the chapter begins.
The Costly Jade
- Then I cannot afford it
- Do not worry, I know it in my heart
Two Possible Methods
- Do as Commandant Chu suggests leads to The Emperor’s Inner Servant
- Do as Minister Xie suggests leads to The Emperor’s Close Attendant
The Emperor’s Close Attendant
- Try to win over Eunuch Wen
- Be brief, loose lips bring trouble
The Emperor’s Summons
- Is this about Yu Gon’s rebellious poem
- I am dull witted and unclear
Relationship With Yu Gong
- I know him but not close
- We are somewhat acquainted
- I do not know him
Whether Present or Not
Not present results in a bad ending
If you claim you do not know him and then choose Present, you also get a bad ending
Reason for Sparing Yu Gong
- Thought it was drunken bravado unlocks Achievement Resourceful
- I seek to arrest more traitors
- Harsh but useful advice
After these choices, the story proceeds to The Emperor’s Chess Game.
The Emperor’s Inner Servant
- Try to win over Eunuch Wen
- Be brief, loose lips bring trouble
Entering the Palace Late at Night
- I come to offer congratulations
- I come to plead for someone
Method of Pleading for Mercy
- About to win back the people’s hearts
- About to gain a loyal and righteous man
Dealing With the Treacherous Official
- Accept criticism humbly leads to The Emperor’s Chess Game
- Spare his life and exile him leads to The Emperor’s Chess Game
- Sentence him to death leads to The Emperor’s Thoughts
The Emperor’s Thoughts
- Respond with logic
- Respond with feeling which gives Trust increase
The Emperor’s Chess Game
- Win the game
- Lose the game which gives Trust increase
The Erring Elder Brother
- Someone in Qingzhou deliberately stirred trouble unlocks Achievement Unfathomable Mind of the Aged Emperor
- Reduce his honors gives Trust increase
Your Trust level determines which version of the next scene appears.
The Scapegoat
- Expose her intentions leads to The Pleading Chess Piece
- Play along with her act leads to Prince of Ning’s Warning
The Pleading Chess Piece
- Save Guo Xuan
- Stand aside and watch
Low Trust and letting Guo Xuan die triggers a unique scene.
Prince of Ning’s Warning
- Select talents for the realm
- Never intended to compete with elder brother gives Guilt increase
Achievement: Winds of Change unlocks at chapter completion.
Falling Rain
The Marriage Alliance of the Prince of Ning
- Remain silent
- Congratulate elder brother gives Guilt increase
The Empress’s Pastries
- Brother has worked hard these years gives Guilt increase
- Have not eaten before coming gives Guilt decrease
- Split the pastry in half
Chen Wan’er’s Thoughts
- Born a woman yet lofty aspirations
- Born a woman, why not work the silken bloom
The Eldest Daughter of the Chen Family
- Why do you not want to marry
- Why should I trust you
- What do you need me to do
You must select all three choices in any order.
Embezzled Supplies
- Mobilize troops immediately leads to The Suddenly Arrived Army
- Forget it, the risk is too great leads to Let the Mistake Stand
Let the Mistake Stand
- Go out and confess results in a bad ending
- Launch a coup results in a good ending and Achievement Destined by Heaven
- If Guo Xuan was not saved in the prologue, launching a coup leads to a bad ending
The Suddenly Arrived Army
- Take up arms and break out
- Drop weapons and surrender gives Trust increase
Thrown Into Prison
- I want to see Father Emperor
- You despicable villain gives Guilt decrease
- Remain silent gives Guilt increase
Sikong Zheng’s False Accusation
- Do you think I fear you
- Would you really turn against me gives Guilt increase
A Chance to Escape
- Yes, it was all Chu Huan’s plot gives Guilt decrease
- What, you do not dare kill me
- Brother, spare me this once gives Guilt increase
The Final Ultimatum
- Fine, I confess leads to The Tumultuous Times
- Not my crime, I will not confess leads to bad ending if Guo Xuan is dead. If alive, leads to A Path to Break the Deadlock
There is a second hidden branch, likely based on Trust or Guilt.
The Tumultuous Times
- We will hide our names from now on ending
- I am a Sikong ending
A Path to Break the Deadlock
- Eunuch Wen results in a bad ending
- The Empress leads to The Reason for Deploying Troops
The Reason for Deploying Troops
- I would not dare
- It is hard to say gives Trust decrease and a bad ending with Achievement Courage to Speak Frankly
- I did harbor private motives gives Trust increase
The One Who Deployed the Troops
- It was Chu Huan’s own initiative gives Trust increase
- It was my order
There are hidden branches, likely tied to Trust or Guilt.
The One Who Deployed the Troops Part Two
I understand Your Majesty
Achievement: Rain Beating on Duckweed unlocks when Chapter 1 ends.
Sea Dragon
A Rare Family Banquet
- Your sister is right
- Do not listen to your sister
True Measure of One’s Capabilities
- Watch them fight another round
- Stop them immediately
Where Is the Jade Thumb Ring
- If you have the ring you go to An Object of Great Value
- If you gave it to Eunuch Wen you go to The Subtleties of Attending a Banquet
The Subtleties of Attending a Banquet
- Prepare a modest gift leads to A Humble Gift
- No gift needed leads to Empty handed
A Humble Gift
- That is exactly the gift I bring
- That hardly counts as a gift gives Favor increase
Empty Handed
- Rebuke Zheng’s extravagance gives Favor increase
- Do not dare outshine elder brother
- Forgot in haste gives Favor decrease
After any of these, you proceed to A Scholar’s Fervor.
An Object of Great Value
- A general can certainly accept it gives Favor increase and Achievement A Gift as Weighty as the Affection Behind It
- This jade belt hook carries deep meaning gives Favor increase
After this, you go to A Scholar’s Fervor.
A Scholar’s Fervor
Your Favor level determines a split here.
Zu Yue’s Challenge
- Spar with Zu Yue leads to The Clash of Blades
- Put Zhu Yuanzhi forward leads to Talented Allies by One’s Side
The Clash of Blades
- Pass some QTEs leads to The Debate on the Northern Expedition
- Pass all QTEs gives Favor increase and Achievement Kung Fu Master then continues to The Debate on the Northern Expedition
- Fail the QTEs gives a bad ending and Achievement Decency
Talented Allies by One’s Side
- Yuanzhi, well fought
- Remain silent
Then continues to The Debate on the Northern Expedition.
The Debate on the Northern Expedition
- Whether to launch
- Majesty already has his mind made up gives Favor increase
- The campaign is not about money or supplies
The Crux of the Northern Campaign
- The people will understand gives Favor decrease
- Such a thing surely will not happen gives Favor increase
- Make the people suffer a little gives Favor decrease
Responsibility for the Defeat
- Our dynasty will not be defeated gives Favor increase
- General Zu will never be defeated gives Favor decrease
- I am willing to shoulder this responsibility gives Favor decrease
You must select all Favor increase options for Father to agree and unlock the achievement.
Zu Kun’s Opinion
- If you earned all Favor increases: Achievement From Depths to the Deep then leads to Sobering Soup
- If not: bad ending
Sobering Soup
Drink it
Asking About Your Return
- This is a good opportunity
- I will not be gone long
Achievement: The Trials Begin unlocks at the end of Chapter 2.
Drawn Blade
The Youth in the Woods
- Spare his life, no need to chase
- Do not let him escape
The Kindness of the Former People
- Accept his goodwill
- Tell him to settle himself
The Situation in Yiyang
- Has the request for reinforcements been sent
- What is our army’s morale like
- How are the city’s grain reserves
- What do we know about Shi Lang
You must choose all four before continuing.
Former Officials of Xuan
- It is I
- State your business
Request to Enter the City
- Hear him out leads to The Imperial Heirloom Seal
- Refuse to engage leads to Execute the Traitor with an Arrow
Each leads to different scenes based on the previous choice.
The Imperial Heirloom Seal
- Host a banquet to receive them leads to Northward Advance Southern Return
- Execute him on the spot gives Morale increase then leads to Refugees Assaulting the City
- Drive him out leads to Refugees Assaulting the City
Northward Advance Southern Return
- Seal the news and retreat south results in a bad ending
- When did I say to bargain with Shi Lang gives Morale increase and Achievement Turning the Tables then leads to Refugees Assaulting the City
Execute the Traitor With an Arrow
- Pass QTE gives Morale increase
- Fail QTE
Then leads to Refugees Assaulting the City.
Refugees Assaulting the City
- Fire arrows gives Morale increase and leads to The Main Force of the Wuyou
- Do not fire leads to The Wall in Crisis
The Wall in Crisis
- Sally out for a decisive battle ending
- Act according to military orders gives Morale increase then fire arrows
The Main Force of the Wuyou
- East or West Plan for the Night Raid
- Send Zhu Yuanzhi
- Let Xie Xuan lead results in a bad ending from East
If West is chosen you always get an ending and Achievement Emperor Wu of Xuan.
Unexpected Reinforcements
- Welcome the militia into the city results in a bad ending
- Have the militia wait outside the city
Pacify the Righteous Fighters
- Personally go out to placate them results in a bad ending
- Privately court the militia leader
Liu Exposed
- Silence them
- We are new
Suspicion Toward the Righteous Army
- Wunu did not launch an attack today gives Liu Trust increase
- Many northern Xuan surrendered
Recruitment of the Righteous Army
- Order righteous forces to attack now
- Disband righteous forces gives Liu Trust increase
The Melody on the City Walls
- This tune is sorrowful
- Thank you for your help outside the city
A Formidable Enemy
- Perhaps
- I do not know
- It will
Achievement: Sharpening the Blade unlocks at the end of Chapter 3.
This route provides 100 percent completion.