Zhuge Liang "Master Strategist" Guide: 5 Star 5 Holy Sorcerer

Hero Review

Zhuge Liang Review: The Master Strategist Who Takes His Time

"Is Zhuge Liang the tactical genius your roster needs, or is his slow mana speed too much of a drag? We dive into his minion mechanics, fiend disruption, and whether he can still hold the line in today's fast-paced meta."

Read Full ReviewIn-Depth Analysis & Strategy

Special Skill

Martial Masterstroke

Mana Speed

Slow

Summons a Shu Soldier Minion for each ally with 16% HP and 17% attack inherited from the caster.
When summoned, the Shu Soldier Minion gives its owner the ability to counterattack with 60% of the damage received as long as the owner has a Shu Soldier Minion. This effect can't be dispelled.
Summons a Shu Guerrilla Fiend for all enemies. The Fiend damages the enemies with 75% attack every turn.
The Shu Guerrilla Fiend absorbs healing and disappears when it has absorbed 50% of its targets health.

⚡ Tile Breakpoints Guide

12Base Tiles

10% Bonus

11Tiles

Family Bonus

Three Kingdoms - Kingdoms

Bonus for 1/2/3 Unique Heroes:
2% / 4% / 6% mana each time a Minion is summoned for the Hero.
3% / 5% / 7% heal each time a Minion is summoned for the Hero.
Morale Boost:
Heroes belonging to this family as well as heroes fighting alongside with them receive additional perks in War of the Three Kingdoms:
+10% attack, + 3% defense, +7% health

Costume Bonus

Bonus Stats

Costume Bonus

attack

+35%

defense

+35%

health

+45%

mana

+5%

Reach the maximum level for this costume to unlock these bonus stats for the base hero and all their costumes.

Passives

No passives found

Aether Power

Fiend Resist

At the start of each battle, this Hero is immune to new Fiends for 6 turns.

In battles with multiple waves, the effect is refreshed at the beginning of each wave.

Talents

Class Talent

Master Delay

If this character dealt any damage by the end of its turn, 15% chance to activate the following effects:

Drop the mana generation of the target by 50% for 2 turns.
The target gets -20% attack for 2 turns.

Hero Coach Info

Ascension Support

Hero Coach Date

Available Since

Mar 14th, 2024

How it works

By utilizing the Hero Coach, you can reach the Maximum Ascension of a Legendary hero instantly. This bypasses the requirement for rare 4★ Materials (like Alpha Aethers and Damaskus Blades) and ignores the traditional leveling time.

Explore Full Coach Roster

Visiting Outfitter Info

Get this costume

Visiting Outfitter Date

Available Since

Nov 28th, 2025

How it works

The Visiting Outfitter is a recurring event that allows you to use Gems to buy the Oldest Missing Costume for a specific hero. This is a guaranteed way to unlock powerful Stat Bonuses and alternate skills for heroes already in your roster.

Explore Costume Catalog

Matching Legendary Troops

special_damage_reduction_legendary_troop

Royal Sorcerer

status_effect_defense_reduction_legendary_troop

Hunter Mage

Mighty Monk

Arcane Hunter

These troops provide full Class Synergy bonuses when equipped on Sorcerer heroes of the Yellow element.

Click here to view the full guide on how to obtain and best utilize these powerful troops!

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

By default, Zhuge Liang has Slow mana speed, requiring 12 tiles to charge. Equipping troops with a Mana Bonus can reach specific Breakpoints — the exact percentages where your tile count drops — allowing your hero to fire their special skill faster, with less tiles. Additionally, as a Sorcerer, this hero can unlock a +4% Mana Bonus through Emblems (Talent Tree). Also, with the Costume Bonus active, they gain an extra +5% Mana Bonus. These bonuses can significantly lower the troop level required to reach these breakpoints.

Standard12Tiles

Optimized10Tiles

status_effect_attack_addition_legendary_troop

5★ Mana Troop Set

8 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 28

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 1

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+14%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL N/A

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 28

Need Bonus:20%

Combined bonuses:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

5★ Mana Troop Set

12 Variants Matching

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 1

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+14%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL N/A

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 29

Need Bonus:20%

Combined bonuses:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Divine Wizards

Magic Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 11

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 1

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+14%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL 29

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 11

Need Bonus:20%

Combined bonuses:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Monastic Battlemages

Mana Troop

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

11Tiles

Required Level

LVL 17

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 1

Need Bonus:10%

Combined bonuses:+14%

Breakpoint Achieved!

Default12 Tiles

Optimized

10Tiles

Required Level

LVL N/A

4% Emblem + 5% Costume (9%):

LVL 17

Need Bonus:20%

Combined bonuses:+20%

Breakpoint Achieved!

General Information

Hero Name

Zhuge Liang "Master Strategist"

Rarity
ElementHoly
ClassSorcerer
Mana SpeedSlow
Skill Types
Counterattackers Fiends Summoners Minions Summoners DoT Attackers
SourceThree Kingdoms Summon
FamilyKingdom Family
Aether PowerFiend Resist
CostumeBase
Release DateMar 14, 2022
Availability
Coach:Mar 14, 2024
HA10:Mar 14, 2024
Costume
Available

Ascension Requirements

Tier

Food

Materials

Tier 2Ascension Cost

273K

★★★

★★★

★★

Tier 3Ascension Cost

442K

★★★

★★★

★★★

★★★

Tier 4Ascension Cost

708K

★★★★

★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Limit Break Requirements

Tier

Materials

Limit Break 1Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 1 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★

Limit Break 2Unlock Cost

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

LB 2 LevelsTotal Cost

★★★★

★★★★★

★★★★

★★★

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Level				💪
4/80	710	879	1545	835
4/85lb1	765	947	1665	891
4/90lb2	876	1084	1905	1001

Strategy

Mana Node

Talent Level

Calculated Bonuses

Attack

+225 & +3%

Defense

+72

Health

+172 & +3%

Mana

+4%

Crit

+2%

Resource Costs

Emblems

1,740

Master

Food

6,041,800

Iron

6,041,800

+36

+15

+18

+15

+2%

+15

+3%

+18

+15

+36

+18

+3%

+4%

+50

Community Feedback

0 Strategists Contributing

Explore collective wisdom! Hero discussion and tactical reports have moved to our official Discord Community. You can still contribute intel here, but the main strategy hub has shifted!

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Overall Grade

Overall performance in the current meta

0v0%

Strong

0v0%

Average

0v0%

Weak

0v0%

Terrible

0v0%

Summon Value

Is this hero worth your gems and tokens?

Yes, Absolutely

0v0%

Only if you’re Pay-to-Win

0v0%

Yes, but only when featured

0v0%

Not Really

0v0%

Not at all

0v0%

Copies to Keep

How many copies are worth keeping and leveling?

None

0v0%

1 Copy

0v0%

2 Copies

0v0%

3+ Copies

0v0%

Limit Break Priority

Priority for applying Limit Breaks

LB2 (Alpha)

0v0%

LB1

0v0%

None

0v0%

Emblem Path

General emblem path preference

Sword path (Attack when possible)

0v0%

Shield path (HP and Def when possible)

0v0%

Node Strategy

Specific node priority strategy

Atk > Def > HP

0v0%

Atk > HP > Def

0v0%

Def > Atk > HP

0v0%

Def > HP > Atk

0v0%

HP > Atk > Def

0v0%

HP > Def > Atk

0v0%

Best Def Position

Best placement in a defense formation

Tank

0v0%

Flank

0v0%

Wing

0v0%

None

0v0%

Primary Use (Max 3)

Top scenarios where this hero excels

Raids/War

0v0%

Defense

0v0%

Titans

0v0%

Tournaments

0v0%

Events

0v0%

Farming

0v0%

Visual Design

What do you think of the visual design?

Amazing

0v0%

Refreshingly new

0v0%

It’s ok

0v0%

It could be better

0v0%

Very bad

0v0%

Discussion

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❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Zhuge Liang

What element and rarity is Zhuge Liang in Empires & Puzzles? +

Zhuge Liang is a 5 star Holy hero (Yellow) with legendary rarity.

What is Zhuge Liang's special skill? +

Zhuge Liang's special skill is called "Martial Masterstroke". Summons a Shu Soldier Minion for each ally with 16% HP and 17% attack inherited from the caster. When summoned, the Shu Soldier Minion gives its owner the ability to counterattack with 60% of the damage received as long as the owner has a Shu Soldier Minion. This effect can't be dispelled. Summons a Shu Guerrilla Fiend for all enemies. The Fiend damages the enemies with 75% attack every turn. The Shu Guerrilla Fiend absorbs healing and disappears when it has absorbed 50% of its targets health.

When was Zhuge Liang released? +

Zhuge Liang was released on Mar 14, 2022.

Which family does Zhuge Liang belong to? +

Zhuge Liang belongs to the Kingdom Family. Bonus for 1/2/3 Unique Heroes:. 2% / 4% / 6% mana each time a Minion is summoned for the Hero.. 3% / 5% / 7% heal each time a Minion is summoned for the Hero.. Morale Boost:. Heroes belonging to this family as well as heroes fighting alongside with them receive additional perks in War of the Three Kingdoms:. +10% attack, + 3% defense, +7% health

What is the mana speed of Zhuge Liang? +

Zhuge Liang has Slow mana speed.

Hero Review

Zhuge Liang Review: The Master Strategist Who Takes His Time

Special Skill

Martial Masterstroke

Family Bonus

Three Kingdoms - Kingdoms

Costume Bonus

Costume Bonus

Passives

Aether Power

Fiend Resist

Talents

Master Delay

Hero Coach Info

Hero Coach Date

How it works

Visiting Outfitter Info

Visiting Outfitter Date

How it works

Matching Legendary Troops

Mana Optimization Strategy

How it works

5★ Mana Troop Set

5★ Mana Troop Set

Divine Wizards

Monastic Battlemages

General Information

Zhuge Liang "Master Strategist"

Ascension Requirements

Limit Break Requirements

Stats & Emblems

Simulation: 0 Emblems

Community Feedback

Overall Grade

Summon Value

Copies to Keep

Limit Break Priority

Emblem Path

Node Strategy

Best Def Position

Primary Use (Max 3)

Visual Design

Discussion

Join the Hero Discussion

Council Login Required

❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Zhuge Liang