A list of notable non-playable characters of the Wei Kingdom in the Dynasty Warriors series.
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Cao Ang
Cao Cao's first son who accompanied him to Wan Castle.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Does this at Wan Castle in order to help his father escape.
- Invincible Minor Minion: Him and Cao Anmin in 8 was present on the map since beginning but they were actually unkillable up until Cao Cao mentioned them and you're given an optional quest to save them from their deaths.
- Never Found the Body: In the game, he does not die onscreen if he is not saved. Historically, he's buried without a body since his body is never found among the fiery remains of Wan Castle.
- Weapon Specialization: In 3 and 5, Cao Ang wielded a spear. Since 7, it's a dao.
Cao Anmin
Cao Cao's cousin who accompanied him to Wan Castle.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Does this at Wan Castle in order to help his cousin escape.
- Invincible Minor Minion: He and Cao Ang in 8 was present on the map since beginning but they were actually unkillable up until Cao Cao mentioned them and you're given an optional quest to save them from their deaths.
Cao Shuang
A corrupt and cowardly Regent of Wei during the reign of Cao Fang, third Emperor of Wei.
- Adaptational Wimp: A pretty good administrator in Real Life, believe it or not. However, it was no secret historically that Cao Shuang ended up being a very corrupt regent when he was enlisted in the office.
- Dirty Coward: Even worse in 8 than he was in 7.
- Evil Counterpart: He's basically Liu Shan without his good qualities.
- General Failure: Reaches Millstone levels in 8. He ignores the advice of his trusted generals, who all suggested to fortify the main camp, and orders an attack on Shu's supplies? Surprisingly this comes back to bite him, even if it could have been interpreted as an attempt to ape his famous ancestors' victory at Guandunote .
- Hypocritical Humor: In 8, he constantly calls himself a 'fearless leader' while he's running away.
- Regent for Life: He was the regent of Wei until Sima Yi eliminated him note . Needless to say, he was historically corrupt due to the "wrong judgments" done on his academic friends.
- Smug Snake: When he isn't desperately calling for help, he tends to trumpet himself as the beacon of the Wei military—even when running from Shu ambush forces.
- Sucksessor: Cares more about hunting, drinking and carousing than actually ruling Wei. This might help explain the spectacularly shallow strategy he employs described under the General Failure heading.
- Took a Level in Badass: Is noticeably more confident and braver in the "Riot in Louyang" XL level. Though that may simply be because in this scenario, he actually has the upper hand over the Simas.
- Weapon Specialization: He wielded a dao in 7, but in 8, he has throwing knives.
Cao Mao
Cao Pi's grandson and fourth Emperor of Wei.
- Irony: His attempt to usurp Sima Zhao is oddly similar with Sima Yi's coup against Cao Shuang several years prior.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: In the same game, the reason he finally pulled up the coup himself is because Zhuge Dan has failed and was killed by Jia Chong.
- Man Behind the Man: In 8, it's revealed that he secretly backed Zhuge Dan's rebellion.
- Non-Standard Character Design: He is given a unique design which distinguishes him from many NPCs and his facial feature actually resemble Cao Pi's. Basically, he is Cao Pi with an emperor's robe and hat.
- Puppet King: Well, emperor, but the same idea, and he was fully aware of it. His coup is his attempt to free himself from this status and regain rightful authority over Wei.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: You gotta give the man the credit, despite his attempt ending in failure. He is one of very few NPC emperors who actually fight, and he was only 19 years old by the time he fought Sima Zhao.
- Rulers Prefer Swords: His weapon of choice in 7 and 8.
- Spared by the Adaptation: In Jin's hypothetical route in 8, he is kidnapped by Zhong Hui and stands down afterwards.
- Teen Genius: According to the Encyclopedia, he frequently held a debate with his advisors and often out-reasoned them.
Gongsun Yuan
A general of Wei who rebelled to found his own proto-kingdom. Has no known relation to Han warlord Gongsun Zan; his father was Gongsun Kang and his grandfather Gongsun Du.
- Heel–Face Door-Slam: Tried to surrender to Wei after his defeat, but Sima Yi ordered him to be executed instead.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Receives one from Sima Yi before he is dragged away to be executed in 7.
- Rulers Prefer Swords
- The Starscream: Rebels against Wei, declaring himself "King of Yan".
Wang Guan
Son of Wang Ling, a general of Wei who rebelled.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Tells his father Wang Ling that his actions against Sima Yi are only making Wu stronger. He does not listen.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Gets called out by his father and his brothers for siding with Sima Yi. Granted he tries to convince them to see things his way, but they all say that there's no turning back.
Wang Ling
A general of Wei who rebelled against Sima Yi.
- Et Tu, Brute?: Is shocked to see his son Wang Guang fighting on Sima Yi's side.
- Inspector Javert: Truly believes Sima Yi cannot be trusted after he has Cao Shuang killed.
- They Called Me Mad!: The men in Sima Yi's camp ridicule Wang Ling's decision to rebel against the Sima. Wang Ji comments that Ling possibly let his experience go to his head. Hu Zun argues that he wanted to replace Cao Fang with Cao Biao so that he could seize power for himself. Whereas the peasents merely view Wang Ling as a traitor to Wei.
- Well-Intentioned Extremist: Wants to get rid of Sima Yi for the sake of Wei and is willing to ally with Wu to do so.
Wen Qin
Another general of Wei who rebelled against Sima Yi and conspired with Wu.
- Covered with Scars: On his face. A unique trait to his generic character model.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: A lot more antagonistic in 8 than in 7.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Calls out Zhuge Dan for his recklessness endangering the rebels while Sima Zhao has proven to be the better man. He does not take this well.
- Weapon Specialization:
- Cool Sword: In 7.
Xin Pi
An advisor of Yuan Shao that later served Wei. He's Xin Xianying's father.
- Good Parents: He has been a good father to Xianying to the point that he encourages her to participate in several battles for Wei.
- Shell-Shocked Veteran: Depicted as such in Xianying's first stage, as his family (including his brother Ping) had been massacred by Shen Pei due to his defection.
Sima Yan
Son of Sima Zhao and grandson of Sima Yi. Shortly after his father's death, he overthrew Cao Huan and installed himself as Emperor, beginning the Jin Dynasty and bringing an official end to the Three Kingdoms era 14 years after his coronation.
- Demoted to Extra: In 8, not only his foundation of Jin is no longer shown in historical route, but also in hypothetical route Sima Shi ascends to the throne, which also most likely means that it's his brother Sima You, whom Shi adopted, who become crown prince and future emperor instead of Yan.
- End of an Era: His ascension to the throne signals the official end (of sorts) to the Three Kingdoms era. note
- The Faceless: He did appeared in the gameplay as a generic model. But in the cutscene of the seventh game's finale, his face is not shown and the players only saw his back. Weirdly enough, his hair color is black and doesn't inherit his father's light brown or his mother's blonde hair color.
- The Good Emperor: He is fondly remembered by China due to being able to finally end the decades-long chaos. Sadly, he subverts it later in his reign by both his extravagance and by appointing an inadequate successor.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: In 7, he overthrows Cao Huan and establishes Jin Dynasty via hostile takeover. Historically, he simply forced Cao Huan to abdicate peacefully and there's no resistance or military conflict between them, and Sima Yan treats Cao Huan with respect following his abdication.
- Older Than They Look: Downplayed. Sima Yan was about 30 when he took the throne, but he still uses the Young Strategist model in his appearances.
- Pyrrhic Victory: He does actually succeed where his predecessors failed and unifies China...for as long as he reigned. After his death, however, Jin fell into infighting that plunged China into centuries of civil war.
- The Usurper: He overthrows the last Wei emperor and installs himself as the first emperor of the Jin Dynasty. The irony of this is that Cao Pi did this before by ending the Han Dynasty and establishing the Cao Wei kingdom; about four and a half decades later, it's the other way around. note
