Total War: Pharaoh factions – all leaders and play styles
Total War: Pharaoh leads Creative Assembly’s strategy game series into a new and exciting era: the Bronze Age Collapse. This was a period of intense social, economic, and military change. A total of eight factions from three different cultures will be available to play in the base game.
You can seek to claim the Pharaoh’s divine authority as Ramesses, Seti, Tausret, or Amenmesse, compete for the Hittite throne as Kurunta or Suppiluliuma, or fight for independence as the Canaanites Bay or Irsu.
Ramesses is the game's poster boy, but it has more to offer than him.
Creative Assembly
Total War: Pharaoh’s map will span all the way from Egypt in the south to Anatolia in the north, where the Hittite empire’s heartlands are. Sandwiched between these two superpowers of the time are the Canaanites in the Levante, whose lands more often than not end up being used as the battlefield for the armies of the Pharaoh and the Great King.
Here’s everything you need to know about Total War: Pharaoh’s factions, their leaders, and how they play.
Total War: Pharaoh factions
Ramesses – The Paragon
- Faction: Egypt
In history, Ramesses III. is known as the last great Pharaoh of Egypt’s New Kingdom. He defeated the relentless invasion of the Sea Peoples in a succession of bloody battles, though ultimately could not stop Egypt’s subsequent decline. Still, his military triumphs are the reason why Egypt did not completely collapse like many other civilizations did at the time.
Creative Assembly described Ramesses as “ideal for new players” and gave the following information about his faction:
- Quick technological progress.
- Flexible and plentiful resources.
- Elite and adaptable unit roster.
- Strong medium infantry and archers.
- Charging war chariots.
- Losses are additionally damaging.
Ramesses starts out in Sinai on the border with Canaan.
Creative Assembly
Amenmesse – The Gilded
- Faction: Egypt
In history, Amenmesse was pharaoh of Egypt around ten years before Ramesses III. A lot of facts about him are disputed among scholars, so we don't know for sure if he was the son of Merneptah, his predecessor as pharaoh, or of Ramesses II. It's likely that he usurped the throne after Merneptah's death succeeding to the throne instead of crown prince Seti II. – another playable character in the game – or possibly establishing himself as an alternative ruler. In any case, he reigned for just three years.
Creative Assembly went for the family drama interpretation, casting Amenmesse and Seti II. as half-brothers and rivals. Amenmesse's play style is described as follows:
- Access to vast wealth.
- Safe starting position.
- Susceptible to rebellions.
- Very strong archers.
- Units are expensive.
As the Viceroy of Kush he'll start in the south of Egypt.
Creative Assembly
Tausret – The Strategist
- Faction: Egypt
The historical Tausret was likely the wife of Seti II. and ruled Egypt for around two years. As a daughter of Merneptah she was likely a sister to Amenmesse – yes, there are even more family ties to keep track of. Tausret originally acted as regent for her stepson before usurping the throne for herself after his death. Little else is known of her reign, though it seems like Egypt lost a lot of influence in Canaan during her time at the helm. Setnakhte, the predecessor to Ramesses III., seems to have overthrown her, leading to her and her stepsons rules being delegitimized under Ramesses' aegis.
Tausret's play style is described as follows:
- Defensive.
- Powerful economic and regional synergies.
- Early Nile access.
- Failures can quickly snowball.
- Best chariot faction.
- Strongest army composition with enough time.
Tausret begins the game in Upper Egypt – that's the southern half of the country.
Creative Assembly
Seti – The Brute
- Faction: Egypt
The husband of Tausret both in the game and in history, Seti II. seems to have been designed in contrast to his wife. Historically, he ruled for about six years following the death of Merneptah, during which he had to deal with the challenge to his reign by Amenmesse and a series of other plots.
Seti's play style is described as follows:
- Seeks to overwhelm opponents in battle.
- Quick and easy expansion.
- No interest in diplomacy (but a bonus to relations with Tausret).
- High numbers of cheaper, weaker units.
- Expendable units.
- Risks running low on units after losses.
Seti starts the game along the Nile in Lower Egypt.
Creative Assembly
Irsu – The Ravager
- Faction: Canaanites
Irsu is in many ways a mysterious historical figure that was fleshed out by Creative Assembly to serve as a playable character. It seems like he used the chaos of the civil war between Amenmesse and Seti II. to take control of some Egyptian territories. He apparently driven out of Egypt's possessions by Setnakhte, the father of Ramesses III.
Irsu's play style is described as follows:
- Sacking and plundering.
- Vast profits from battle.
- Little land ownership.
- Resources dry up if he stops fighting.
- Tough and heavy units.
- Strong armor.
- Fast recruitment.
Irsu can decide which empire to attack, but will be open on two fronts himself.
Creative Assembly
Bay – The Schemer
- Faction: Canaanites
Bay rose to prominence as a court official under Seti II. even though he was not an Egyptian. So great was his importance at the time that he was granted the right to construct a tomb for himself in the Valley of Kings alongside those of Siptah and Tausret. However, the chancellor would never actually find rest there, as he was executed by Siptah for unknown reasons before its completion. Bay and Irsu were actually assumed to be the same person for a while, but this misunderstanding of the sources has since been cleared up. It's likely that Bay was involved in some sort of palace conspiracy that got him executed.
Bay's play style is described as follows:
- Master of intrigues and court politics.
- Strong diplomacy.
- Often outmatched in battle.
- Strong ambush units.
- Access to Vanguard Deployment, Stalk, and Sneak.
- Weak face-to-face units and chariots.
- Can take units from others.
Bay starts on the Canaanite coast, putting him right between both great empires.
Creative Assembly
Suppiluliuma – The Defender
- Faction: Hittites
Suppiluliuma is last Great King of the Hittite Empire, having to contend against multiple threats at the same time. It seems like he had to abandon the capital at Hattusa after struggling with the Sea Peoples for some time and it's not known what end his rule found.
Suppiluliuma's play style is described as follows:
- Measured campaign pace.
- Frequent battles.
- Faces war on multiple fronts.
- Fragile economy.
- Lots of medium and heavy units.
- Powerful chariots.
- Strong defense, weak ranged options.
Suppiluliuma starts at Hattusa, the center of the Hittite Empire.
Creative Assembly
Kurunta – The Usurper
- Faction: Hittites
A warlike man with a lust for blood and glory, Kurunta is a force of chaos in the Hittite Empire. His persona in Total War: Pharaoh is mostly invention, for we know little of the actual ruler of Tarhuntassa aside from his rebellion against Hattusa.
Kurunta's play style is described as follows:
- Sabotage.
- Assassination.
- Good at plots.
- Exploits weakness outside of battle.
- Struggles in drirect engagements.
- Heavily armored troops, no ranged units.
- Mercenaries.
Kurunta starts on the southern coast of Anatolia.
Creative Assembly
It’s worth noting that the game’s Deluxe Edition contains three DLC packs adding new factions to the game, so the eight leaders in the base game are merely a starting point.
Make sure to check out our Total War: Pharaoh review and learn how to become Pharaoh and Great King. You'll also want to know about the best Total War: Pharaoh units as you embark on your campaign.
