Total War: Warhammer 3 best Grand Cathay units
Grand Cathay has been an intriguing new addition to the world of Warhammer Fantasy made in Total War: Warhammer 3. While some background lore on this mighty nation of humans existed for many years, we are now finally able to interact with and play as some of the most important personalities of the Dragon Empire – first and foremost, of course, the dragons themselves.
However, even these powerful beings could not stem the tides of Chaos or Greenskins all alone, which is why the Dragon Emperor and his Moon Empress have united the people of Cathay into what is likely the most formidable realm of humans in the world. Commanding powerful troops in all categories, including strong gunpowder troops, flyers, and constructs, Grand Cathay is a foe that can’t be trifled with. Just like their society, their military works together under the banner of harmony between Yin and Yang, gaining great bonuses when deployed in the right formation.
There are many Cathay unit mods on the Steam Workshop that expand the faction’s roster a bit more, so we’d encourage you to check them out for an even more exciting line-up. As for their regular roster, we’ve collected the best Grand Cathay units in Total War: Warhammer 3 in this handy list.
Best Cathay units in Total War: Warhammer 3
Grand Cathay's armies march wherever their dragon lords command them.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay melee infantry: Celestial Dragon Guard
Only the most elite Jade Warriors are inducted into the ranks of the Celestial Dragon Guard, which acts as a powerful bodyguard and reserve unit. Wielding halberds, they are focused on taking down large foes and withstanding an enemy charge, dealing armor-piercing damage. Thanks to their own high base armor of 95 as well as their shields, they are quite tanky. It’s still wise to let them be accompanied by some cheaper infantry to act as a buffer against other threats so that the Celestial Dragon Guard can focus on what it does best.
The Celestial Dragon Guard are the Emperor and Empress' personal troops.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay ranged infantry: Celestial Dragon Crossbows
While Crane Gunners might have the range advantage, Celestial Dragon Crossbows are a lot more mobile and still pack amazing range and firepower for wielding non-gunpowder weapons. Their armor-piercing bolts are devastating and their own armor gives them an advantage in a duel with other ranged units. They can also arc their fire above friendly troops, making them easier to position than the gunners. Once their ammunition runs out, the Celestial Dragon Crossbows are capable melee troops thanks to their armor and shields.
Like the Celestial Dragon Guard, these ranged warriors are part of the Celestial Host.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay melee cavalry: Jade Lancers
Wielding Cathayan cavalry is always a little awkward, since their harmony mechanic favors close and static formations, but Jade Lancers are still a powerful shock cavalry unit that can flank enemy infantry with devastating consequences. Their anti-infantry bonus ensures that surprise attacks always have the intended effect. Thanks to their armor and shields they are quite sturdy as well. However, Cathayan cavalry can’t compete with most other elite riders.
Each city in Grand Cathay has at least one contingent of Jade Lancers to call upon.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay flying cavalry: Great Longma Riders
Each Longma Rider is a distant relative of the imperial family as dragon blood is required to ride on one of the majestic creatures. Possessing great speed and the ability to fly, Great Longma Riders are easily the best cavalry unit at Cathay’s disposal and can contend with other flyers. Being armored and shielded, causing fear, and having anti-infantry bonuses, they are perfect to wreak havoc on the enemy’s back line and flanks.
Riding a Longma requires dragon blood.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay war beast: Jet Lion
The Jet Lion is a little bit weaker in melee combat than the Jade Lion, but boasts more defense. Unlike its jade counterpart, it also doesn’t come with a breath attack. However, the Jet Lion has the Missile Mirror spell, which it can use to protect troops from incoming ranged fire, and has a Yin affiliation. Since you want it near the front anyway, this will provide balance for the Yang units on the frontline and you don’t have to worry about exposing your ranged units, which usually would need to be positioned further forward to generate those harmony bonuses.
Here's one kitty you may not want to pet.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay flying war beast: Onyx Crowmen
Onyx Crowmen are a much-needed addition to the Cathayan roster from Shadows of Change, enabling you to protect big flyers like the Sky-junk from swarms of Chaos Harpies or Fell Bats. Like other light flyers, they are perfect for harrying other flying units or beelining for exposed artillery, rendering it ineffective.
Onyx Crowmen serve as the Empress' spies and couriers.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay construct: Terracotta Sentinel
Terracotta Sentinels are terrifying foes for anything: Packing a base armor of 100, armor-piercing damage, and the ability to cause terror among the ranks, they are one of Grand Cathay’s aces in the hole. Don’t let them be surrounded, though, as their massive model allows a great many foes to attack them at the same time. If faced with anti-large troops, they go down surprisingly quickly that way.
Terracotta Sentinels stand guard for hundreds of years until a time of need arises.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay war machine: Zhangu War Drum
The Zhangu War Drum is a support unit for Cathayan armies, which is best placed right behind the fighting line. It provides passive buffs to leadership and spell casting, while having two active abilities it can use. One provides additional armor to units in the area around itself, the other buffs melee attack and makes units immune to psychology, ensuring they stand their ground in the name of their Emperor. A thematically cool as well as effective unit.
One War Drum hangs above each city gate in Grand Cathay.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay flying war machine: Sky-junk
An amazing piece of engineering, the Sky-junk is a flying artillery piece with amazing range and firepower that doesn’t need to worry about terrain. It has some self-defense capabilities in the air thanks to the Crane Gunners on board, but you should always escort them with a squad of Onyx Crowmen to ward off swarms of flyers. Sky-junks can go on bombing runs as well, raining down destruction on enemies below them. Like the Jet Lion, they are a great tool for supplying a line of Yang-affiliated troops with Yin to generate balance. As they are harmony amplifiers, Sky-junks even enhance the bonuses received from this mechanic.
Entire fleets of Sky-junks operate from bases on the Great Bastion to patrol the wastelands in the North.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay artillery: Fire Rain Rocket
Fire Rain Rockets pack less range and ammunition than the Empire’s Helstorm Rocket Battery, but have more firepower and shoot off flaming projectiles for extra damage. Being rocket artillery, they are somewhat inaccurate, so you should always focus your fire at large concentrations of enemy troops. For an artillery-focused army, build up a Lord Magistrate as a general and use his Inspired Marksmanship on the Fire Rain Rocket.
Brave oxen pull the Fire Rain Rockets into battle.
Creative Assembly
Best Cathay Regiment of Renown: The Grace of Quai Yin
The Grace of Quai Yin are a unit of Celestial Dragon Crossbows especially blessed by the Moon Empress. They have Magical Attacks, dealing enhanced damage with every volley they shoot, and come with an active ability bestowed on them by the Empress: The Mark of Yin reduces the targeted unit’s armor, missile resistance, and block chance to ensure its absolute destruction at the hands of The Grace of Quai Yin.
The Moon Empress' own crossbow unit packs devastating firepower.
Creative Assembly
For more on Total War: Warhammer 3, check out the best Chaos Dwarfs units and the best Dwarfs units as well.
