This Mandate of Heaven Guide covers every decision, consequence, achievement, fail state, and hidden condition across all chapters of Mandate of Heaven. Because many sections depend on Trust, Guilt, or Morale, each branch has been clarified to help you achieve full 100% completion.
Chapter 1: Rising Gale – Complete Paths
Achievement on chapter start: The Era of Great Strife
Certain early options are auto-translated, but their meaning is preserved below.
The Costly Jade
- Then I can’t afford it
- Don’t worry, I know it in my heart
Two Possible Methods
- Do as Commandant Chu suggests → The Emperor’s Inner Servant
- Do as Minister Xie suggests → The Emperor’s Close Attendant
Path: The Emperor’s Close Attendant
Early Choices
- Try to win over Eunuch Wen
- Be brief; loose lips bring trouble
The Emperor’s Summons
- Is this about Yu Gon’s 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
If you select I do not know him + Present, you get a BAD END.
Whether Present or Not
- Present
- Not present → BAD END
Reason for Sparing Yu Gong
- Thought it drunken bravado → Achievement: Resourceful
- Arrest more traitors
- Harsh but useful advice
All paths rejoin at The Emperor’s Chess Game.
Path: The Emperor’s Inner Servant
Entering the Palace at Night
- Offer congratulations
- Plead for someone
Method of Pleading
- Win back the people’s hearts
- Gain a loyal and righteous man
Treacherous Official
- Accept criticism → Chess Game
- Exile → Chess Game
- Execute → The Emperor’s Thoughts
The Emperor’s Thoughts
- Respond with logic
- Respond with feeling → Trust+
The Emperor’s Chess Game
- Win
- Lose → Trust+
The Erring Elder Brother
- Someone in Qingzhou stirred trouble → Achievement: Unfathomable Mind of the Aged Emperor
- Reduce his honors → Trust+
High or low Trust changes the next major route.
The Scapegoat
- Expose her → The Pleading Chess Piece
- Play along → Prince of Ning’s Warning
The Pleading Chess Piece
- Save Guo Xuan
- Let him die
Low Trust + letting him die provides a unique scene.
Prince of Ning’s Warning
- Select talents
- Never intended to compete → Guilt+
Chapter Achievement
Winds of Change
Finishing may show 98% if a Trust-based branch is missing.
Chapter 2: Falling Rain – Complete Paths
Heavily dependent on Guilt and whether Guo Xuan survived the prologue.
Marriage Alliance
- Remain silent
- Congratulate elder brother → Guilt+
Empress’s Pastries
- Brother has worked hard → Guilt+
- Haven’t eaten → Guilt-
- Split the pastry
Chen Wan’er’s Thoughts
- Lofty aspirations
- Why not work embroidery
Eldest Daughter of Chen
You must select all three:
- Why don’t you want to marry
- Why trust you
- What do you need me to do
Embezzled Supplies
- Mobilize troops → Suddenly Arrived Army
- Forget it → Let the Mistake Stand
Let the Mistake Stand
- Confess → BAD END
- Launch coup → GOOD END + Destined by Heaven
Guo Xuan must be alive to avoid coup BAD END.
The Suddenly Arrived Army
- Break out
- Surrender → Trust+
Thrown Into Prison
- See the Emperor
- Villain → Guilt-
- Silent → Guilt+
False Accusation
- Fear nothing
- Would you turn on me → Guilt+
Escape Blame
- All Chu Huan’s plan → Guilt-
- You lack the courage
- Brother spare me → Guilt+
Final Ultimatum
- Confess → Tumultuous Times
- Not my crime → BAD END if Guo Xuan is dead
Path to Break the Deadlock
- Eunuch Wen → BAD END
- The Empress
This Subject Has Something to Say
- Someone framed me
- Assist elder brother → Trust+
- Die for Father’s health
Reason for Deploying Troops
- Would not dare
- Hard to say → Trust- → BAD END + Achievement: Courage to Speak Frankly
- I had private motives → Trust+
Attribution of Troop Order
Several hidden branches depend on Trust and Guilt.
Chapter Achievement
Rain Beating on Duckweed
Chapter 3: Sea Dragon – Complete Paths
Favor becomes the central mechanic, and a full Favor+ chain is required for the main achievement route.
A Rare Family Banquet
- Sister is right
- Ignore sister
True Measure
- Watch
- Stop immediately
Jade Thumb Ring
- Still have it → Object of Great Value
- Gave it away → Subtleties of Attending
Subtleties
- Prepare modest gift → Humble Gift
- No gift needed → Empty-handed
Humble Gift
- That is the gift
- Hardly a gift → Favor+
Empty-handed
- Rebuke extravagance → Favor+
- Do not outshine brother
- Forgot → Favor-
Object of Great Value
- General can accept → Favor+ + Achievement: A Gift as Weighty as the Affection Behind It
- Deep meaning → Favor+
A Scholar’s Fervor
A hidden split occurs here depending on Favor.
Zu Yue’s Challenge
- Spar → Clash of Blades
- Put Yuanzhi forward → Talented Allies
Clash of Blades
- Pass some QTE → Debate
- Pass all → Favor+ + Achievement: Kung Fu Master
- Fail → BAD END + Achievement: Decency
Talented Allies
- Praise
- Remain silent
Debate on Northern Expedition
Choose every Favor+ option.
Zu Kun’s Verdict
- All Favor+ choices → Achievement: From Depths to the Deep → Sobering Soup
- Any Favor- → BAD END
Sobering Soup
- Drink
- Suspect
Chapter Achievement
The Trials Begin
Chapter 4: Broken Peak – Complete Paths
This chapter mixes QTE accuracy with the outcomes of earlier Liu trust and morale choices.
Truth About Reinforcements
- Pursue → BAD END + Master of Comic Banter
- Hold position
Struggling to Cope
- East → BAD END
- West → BAD END
- North → BAD END
- South → Achievement: Struggling Desperately
With low Liu trust → BAD END + Achievement: Fickle Hearts
A Losing Battle
- Burn granary → BAD END
- Fight to the death
Charge Into Enemy Camp
- Shoot Shi Lang → BAD END
- Shoot flagpole → Continue
QTE Combat
Most QTEs must be passed or a BAD END triggers. Two “hold button” QTEs appear consecutively with unique failure scenes.
Identity Question
- Prince of Xuan → BAD END
- Nobody → Achievement: Rebirth Through Destruction
Chapter Achievement
Break Mountains and Valleys
Chapter 5: Heaven’s Will – Complete Paths
Morale checks determine which advanced branches remain open.
What Are We Fighting For
All three choices are safe.
Urgent Missive
Both options must be selected.
Return to Capital
- Return now → BAD END
- Not that simple → Continue
Meaning of Decree
- Surely I inherit → BAD END
- Ning’s trap
Ministry of War Transfer
- Relinquish command
- Resist → BAD END
Divine Mandate
- Court ignores people
- Chen Dao blinds throne → Morale+
Calming Incense / Pressing Time
Two variant scenes depending on whether you allow the visitor in.
Meeting Shi Lang
- Agree → BAD END
- Refuse → Continue
Haggling
- Refuse → BAD END
- Accept → Continue
Urging Surrender
QTE required to advance.
Breaching the City
- Divert water → Morale+
- Full assault
Either path continues.
Evidence of Collusion
- Investigate
- Burn → Morale+
Unexpected Emissary
- Receive edict → GOOD END + Achievement: Between North and South
- Claim is fake → Move to forged decree route
Forged Decree
Low morale → BAD END
High morale → Continue
Advance or Retreat
- Retreat → Dilemma, then advance
- Advance immediately → Victors and Losers
Final Branches
Brothers
- We are brothers
- Make a move
Disposition
- Do not let me see him again
- Confine him
A Subtle Blade
- Is that what you mean
- Only Mrs Xie in this life → Ending + Achievement: Emperor Yang of Xuan
Chapter Achievements
- Receiving the Mandate in Response to Heaven
- Inquiring of Heaven’s Mandate