The Yulan faction is probably the most ambitious DLC faction Songs of Conquest has released so far. After spending some time exploring everything it brings to the game, it’s clear that this isn’t just another kingdom with a few new units and a different coat of paint.
Yulan feels completely different from every other faction. At first glance, you might think you’re simply choosing between a handful of new units inspired by ancient Chinese mythology and history. Then you realize every major military building branches into three separate Houses, each offering unique unit variants, different essence generation, different abilities, and even different strategic identities.
The result is a faction that can feel overwhelming during your first few matches but incredibly rewarding once everything starts to click.
If you’re wondering which House to choose, which units deserve your resources, or why some Yulan troops seem weak until late game, this guide breaks down everything you need to know.
Songs of Conquest Yulan Guide – Best Units, Houses, Research
Most Songs of Conquest factions follow a fairly predictable structure. You recruit units, upgrade them, build around their strengths, and expand.
Yulan takes that formula and complicates it in a good way.
Instead of one fixed upgrade path, Yulan revolves around three competing Houses:
- House Shuan
- House Shen
- House Lee
Each House specializes in a different essence type and changes how several upgraded units function.
This means your decisions aren’t simply “Which unit should I recruit?”
The real question becomes:
“Which version of this unit do I want?”
That distinction completely changes how the faction plays.
Yulan Campaign and DLC Content
One thing many players immediately noticed about previous DLC factions was the lack of a traditional campaign.
The Yulan DLC addresses that complaint directly.
The expansion includes:
- A full three-map campaign called The Three Houses
- Six new Conquest maps
- Nine new Seekers
- An entirely new faction
- Multiple unique mechanics tied to House progression
Although the campaign only contains three maps, the developers have stated that each map is considerably larger than many campaign scenarios found elsewhere in the game.
Three Houses
Before discussing individual units, it’s important to understand the core philosophy behind the Houses.
House Shuan
House Shuan focuses on aggressive damage output.
Its units generally offer:
- Higher damage
- Lower health
- Lower initiative
- Arcana-focused gameplay
If you enjoy glass-cannon armies that hit hard and rely on offensive momentum, House Shuan is likely your best fit.
House Shen
House Shen sits comfortably in the middle.
You’ll typically find:
- Balanced statistics
- Creation essence generation
- Hybrid utility options
It’s arguably the easiest House for newer players to understand because it doesn’t heavily commit to either offense or defense.
House Lee
House Lee emphasizes durability and battlefield control.
Expect:
- Higher health
- Higher initiative
- Lower raw damage
- Order-focused strategies
Players who enjoy defensive formations and support-oriented armies will probably gravitate toward House Lee.
Early Game Units
Conscripts and Mandate Guards
Every Yulan army starts with Conscripts.
Like other basic infantry in Songs of Conquest, they’re cheap, numerous, and designed to overwhelm opponents through sheer numbers.
Once upgraded into Mandate Guards, their House selection becomes important.
A House Lee Mandate Guard behaves very differently from a House Shuan version despite sharing the same basic role.
House Lee variants become durable frontline soldiers.
House Shuan versions sacrifice survivability for considerably stronger damage output.
Grenadiers and Bomb Makers
Bomb Makers serve as Yulan’s ranged support troops.
What makes them interesting isn’t just their ranged attacks but their musical abilities.
Each House unlocks a different battlefield song:
Still Unbroken (Lee)
Provides defensive bonuses.
Raising the Sun (Shen)
Boosts offense and initiative.
Silk and Shells (Shuan)
Improves spell damage.
Because of this, Bomb Makers often contribute far more than simple ranged damage.
Riders Are One of Yulan’s Most Unique Units
When most players first unlock Riders, they seem fairly standard.
They’re cavalry units designed to charge into battle and deal increased damage while moving.
The real fun begins after upgrading them into Wind Riders.
Wind Riders gain:
- Ranged attacks
- Mobile firing
- Hit-and-run tactics
In practice, they feel almost like mounted archers.
You can move, attack, reposition, and continuously harass enemy formations.
It’s one of the most flexible units in the entire Yulan roster and probably one of the most enjoyable to use.
Huo and Joueru
The Huo can feel underwhelming early.
They’re fragile and don’t survive prolonged fights.
However, upgrading them into Joueru changes everything.
Joueru gain:
- Wait
- Essence Eater
- Retaliate First
These abilities allow them to act late in the round, strike at ideal moments, generate additional essence, and punish attackers before taking damage.
With proper research support, they become surprisingly dangerous despite their modest appearance.
The Skywatch Units
If there is one building that showcases Yulan’s creativity, it’s Skywatch.
Yi Archers
Base Yi units are straightforward ranged attackers.
Their upgraded forms become completely different depending on House selection.
House Shuan Yi
Gains a repel shot.
Enemies can be pushed backward several hexes.
This creates powerful positioning opportunities and can completely disrupt enemy formations.
House Shen Yi
Creates obstacles on the battlefield.
Think of it as a mini terrain-control ability.
House Lee Yi
Uses Piercing Arrow.
This removes a significant portion of enemy resistances, making targets vulnerable to both physical and magical damage.
Every version serves a completely different purpose.
Tan Dragons
The upgraded Tan units may be the most specialized troops in the entire faction.
House Shuan Tan
Can teleport.
Excellent during sieges and mobility-focused battles.
House Shen Tan
Applies powerful venom damage over multiple turns.
Ideal for sustained damage.
House Lee Tan
Boosts nearby allies with additional movement.
Acts as a support-oriented battlefield coordinator.
Fang and Fenghuang
Every faction has that one unit that immediately grabs attention.
For Yulan, it’s the Fenghuang.
Before upgrading, Fang units already provide:
- Inspiration
- Fortune support
- Strong frontline presence
After upgrading, they become Fenghuang.
Essentially Yulan’s version of a mythical phoenix.
Their signature ability allows them to leave the battlefield temporarily before crashing back down with an explosive attack that damages nearby enemies.
They’re durable, mobile, and capable of influencing entire engagements.
Few units in the faction feel as impactful.
Transcendents Explained
At the top of Yulan’s military hierarchy sit the Transcendents.
Unlike many faction capstone units, each House version fulfills a completely different role.
Shuan Transcendent
Acts as an offensive spell-powered juggernaut.
Key ability:
- Arcana Blast
Strong area damage and excellent spell resistance.
Shen Transcendent
Focuses on disruption.
Key ability:
- Cloud of Insects
Reduces enemy initiative and weakens formations before combat begins.
Lee Transcendent
Functions as an elite support tank.
Key abilities:
- Protect
- Aura of Peace
Enemies deal minimum damage while nearby allies gain defensive benefits.
This unit completely changes the flow of battles.
Why Research Is Essential for Yulan
This is the single biggest mistake new players make.
Many Yulan units seem average when viewed without upgrades.
Research completely transforms them.
Some of the most important upgrades include:
Ethereal
Available for several elite units.
Provides:
- 50% melee resistance
- 50% ranged resistance
This effectively doubles survivability in many situations.
Double Strike
Tan units become significantly more threatening once they can attack twice.
Extended Range
Grenadiers start with limited reach.
Research dramatically improves their battlefield effectiveness.
Eternal
Arguably one of the strongest upgrades in the faction.
Fenghuang units return to the recruitment pool after death.
This allows extremely aggressive play because losses become far less punishing.
Best Yulan Seekers
While every Seeker has potential, a few stand out immediately.
Li Jinhai
Excellent for early-game snowballing.
His bonus damage to Human units greatly improves:
- Conscripts
- Mandate Guards
- Riders
- Yi Archers
One of the strongest starting options.
Shang Shan
The campaign protagonist.
Specializes in Grenadiers and makes their mobility-focused playstyle significantly stronger.
Minister Xiaoming
Perfect for players who enjoy Joueru strategies.
His abilities turn them into devastating shock attackers.
Yubo the Howler
Potentially incredible during long matches where Transcendents become the centerpiece of your army.
Lady Lee
One of the most interesting late-game Seekers.
Additional troop capacity scales exceptionally well with a strong economy.
The Shen Berserker Specialist
If there’s one Seeker likely to dominate future balance discussions, it’s this one.
Granting Berserker to Fang and Fenghuang units creates absurd offensive pressure while Eternal research helps offset the downside.
The combination is incredibly powerful.
Yulan is easily one of the most mechanically complex factions in Songs of Conquest.
At first, it can feel like you’re managing three separate factions disguised as one. Every House changes your army composition, every major unit has multiple identities, and research matters far more than it does for many other factions.
But that’s also what makes Yulan so satisfying.
The faction rewards experimentation. It rewards planning. Most importantly, it rewards players willing to think beyond simple unit stats and build around synergies.
If you’re looking for a faction with depth, replayability, and enough strategic variety to keep you busy for dozens of hours, Yulan might be the best DLC faction Songs of Conquest has released so far.