If you are playing Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, choosing the right Officer can make a huge difference in how easily you can handle battles. There are plenty of characters to choose from, and each one has a different combination of speed, damage, range, crowd control, and overall playstyle.
In this guide, we will go through the best Officers currently available and rank them into different tiers. I have focused on the starter Officers for now, so this list is especially useful if you are just getting started and are trying to figure out which character is worth spending your time learning.
Keep in mind that this tier list can change as more Officers are unlocked and properly tested. Some characters may become stronger once you get their 4th Weapons, while others require more practice before you can really get the most out of them.
Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered Tier List (October 2026)
For this tier list, I have divided the current starter Officers into three tiers: S-tier, A-tier, and B-tier.
S-tier Officers are the strongest choices and can perform extremely well in different types of fights.
A-tier Officers are also very strong, but some of them become much better once you unlock their 4th Weapons.
B-tier Officers aren’t necessarily bad, but they require more patience and skill to use effectively, especially when you start playing at higher difficulties.
S-Tier Officers
These are the Officers I would recommend the most right now. They offer a strong combination of damage, mobility, crowd control, or survivability.
Zhang He
Zhang He is one of the best Officers for beginners.
What makes him stand out is his combination of speed, damage, and crowd control. You can move around the battlefield quickly while still dealing enough damage to clear groups of enemies.
His claws are also extremely useful for staggering enemies and keeping pressure on them. His fast movement makes him comfortable to use in different game modes.
If you are still learning the game and want an Officer who feels fast and flexible, Zhang He is one of the first characters I would try.
Guan Yu
Guan Yu is considerably slower than Zhang He, but don’t let his slower movement fool you.
He has some of the strongest attacks in the game, which makes him extremely dangerous when you know how to position yourself. His ability to deal heavy damage also means you can get yourself out of difficult situations if you use his attacks at the right time.
The main thing you need to learn with Guan Yu is positioning. If you avoid getting surrounded and make good use of his powerful attacks, you shouldn’t have too many problems.
Sun Shang Xiang
If you are a new player and want an Officer with strong AoE and speed, Sun Shang Xiang is an excellent choice.
She can clear groups of enemies incredibly quickly and gives you plenty of freedom to play aggressively. Her speed also makes moving between groups of enemies much easier.
I particularly like her if you want to keep the action moving instead of slowly working through every enemy.
For beginners who want a fast character with strong crowd-clearing potential, Sun Shang Xiang is definitely worth trying.
A-Tier Officers
A-tier Officers are still very good choices, but they either have some weaknesses compared with the S-tier characters or require a little more investment and practice.
Xiahou Dun
Xiahou Dun might be the best all-rounder among the starter Officers.
He doesn’t specialize in one particular area, but that’s also what makes him so easy to use. He has good offensive potential, solid defense, and straightforward skills and combos.
If you are not sure what kind of playstyle you prefer yet, Xiahou Dun is a safe choice.
The downside is that once you become more experienced, you may want to switch to a more specialized Officer who excels in a particular area.
Zhao Yun
Zhao Yun is another well-rounded Officer and a very good option for beginners.
His spear gives him excellent range, allowing you to keep some distance between yourself and enemies. This extra reach is particularly useful when you are still learning how to position yourself during battles.
The trade-off is that his base damage and movement speed aren’t as impressive as some of the higher-ranked Officers.
Still, his range and versatility make him a reliable character to learn the game with.
Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu has a very versatile kit with good mobility and crowd control.
However, his combos can be a little tricky to master. Some of his charged attacks are easier to miss if you aren’t aiming properly.
Once you get comfortable with his attacks, though, you can adopt a much more dynamic playstyle. He is a good choice if you enjoy moving around the battlefield and switching between different attacks depending on the situation.
Huang Gai
If your main goal is simply raw power, Huang Gai is a strong choice.
His biggest weakness is his speed. He is slower than the Officers ranked above him, which can become a problem when you are fighting faster enemies or Officers that rely heavily on mobility.
However, if you can work around his slower movement and focus on making the most of his strength, he can hit extremely hard.
B-Tier Officers
The B-tier characters can still be useful, but they require significantly more patience and skill.
Zhang Fei
Zhang Fei has no shortage of power.
His ability to clear groups of enemies is excellent, and his Musou gives him even more potential when you need to deal with large groups or dangerous situations.
The main problem is his speed.
Zhang Fei is extremely slow compared with many of the other Officers. That can make it difficult to navigate the battlefield and avoid faster enemies.
If you enjoy powerful characters and don’t mind sacrificing mobility, you can still have a lot of fun with him.
Dian Wei
Dian Wei has a similar problem to Zhang Fei.
His power is impressive, but his speed is a major weakness. Moving around the battlefield can feel difficult, especially when you start playing on higher difficulties.
Because of this, you need to be much more careful about positioning and enemy placement.
If you are willing to spend the time learning how to work around his slow movement, Dian Wei can still be effective, but I would recommend easier and faster Officers for most beginners.
Which Officer Should You Choose?
If you are completely new to Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered, I would recommend starting with Zhang He, Sun Shang Xiang, or Xiahou Dun.
Zhang He is a great choice if you want speed and crowd control, while Sun Shang Xiang is ideal if you enjoy fast AoE attacks and aggressive gameplay.
If you want something more balanced and straightforward, Xiahou Dun is probably the safest option.
For players who prefer heavy attacks, Guan Yu is also an excellent choice. He is slower, but his damage makes up for it.
Final Thoughts
The current starter roster in Dynasty Warriors 3: Complete Edition Remastered has several good Officers, but they don’t all play the same way. Your personal preference will still matter a lot, especially once you become comfortable with the game’s combat system.
For now, Zhang He, Guan Yu, and Sun Shang Xiang are my S-tier picks because they offer the strongest overall combination of useful abilities and battlefield performance.
The A-tier Officers are still worth using, especially if you prefer a balanced playstyle. Meanwhile, Zhang Fei and Dian Wei can be rewarding if you enjoy powerful but slower characters and don’t mind putting in extra effort.
This tier list currently focuses on the starter Officers. As more unlockable Officers are tested, the rankings can change, so I’ll expand the list as more characters are properly evaluated.