- Sengoku Rance conquer order determines route flags, available recruits, and ending outcomes across the campaign.
- Secure the local region first: stabilize Oda territory before challenging Uesugi or Takeda.
- Defeat factions in event-critical order: conquest timing decides whether Kenshin, Yukimura, or Mouri Teru can be recruited.
- Keep one front active: expanding in multiple directions simultaneously exhausts gold, actions, and commanders.
- Save before faction wars: major battles and route choices are difficult to reverse without separate saves.
Why Sengoku Rance Conquer Order Matters
In Sengoku Rance, the sequence in which you defeat rival factions is one of the most influential strategic decisions in the entire campaign. The game combines a national map, turn-based territory management, and character-driven events, and the conquer order touches all three systems at once. Which faction you eliminate first changes which commanders you can recruit, which events remain available, and in some cases which ending the run can reach.
A first playthrough that attacks whatever province happens to be adjacent usually ends in an overextended army, exhausted action points, and missed character events. A planned conquest order keeps the number of active fronts under control and preserves the event chains tied to factions such as Uesugi, Takeda, Shimazu, and Mouri.
Video Highlights:
- Official trailer showing the strategic campaign map and faction layout
- Overview of Oda's starting position in central Japan
- Glimpse of major rival factions and battlefield scale
Each major faction fills a different role in the campaign structure, summarized below:
| Faction | Military Threat | Event Importance | Recommended Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashiga / Hara (early neighbors) | Low | Low | First target — safe opening expansion |
| Uesugi | Very High | Very High (Kenshin route) | Mid-game, after roster is ready |
| Takeda | Very High | High (Yukimura, faction route) | Mid-to-late, one front at a time |
| Mouri | High | High (Mouri Teru, western route) | Late, after a stable base |
| Shimazu | High | High (brothers' event chain) | Late, resolve events before final defeat |
| Hojo / Date | Medium-High | Medium | Flexible, based on map position |
Before committing to an offensive, decide whether the current run targets a standard conquest clear or a character route such as Kenshin or Mouri. Route-focused runs often need a faction kept alive long enough to finish its events, which inverts the normal "defeat them fast" logic.
Recommended Conquer Order for a First Playthrough
For a standard first campaign, the safest progression follows a simple principle: clear the immediate neighborhood, consolidate, then take on one major regional power at a time. This keeps the map shape defensible and gives character events time to fire between wars.
Stabilize the Oda base
Spend the opening turns building a reliable main army around Rance with durable frontline support and ranged damage from characters like Maria. Do not attack simply because a province is adjacent — check income, recovery, and pending events first.
Clear the nearest weak neighbor
Capture one practical adjacent territory to improve your defensive shape. Recover units afterward and review newly unlocked events before considering further expansion.
Consolidate the home region
Convert new territory into lasting strength: heal the main army, replace temporary units with long-term recruits, and develop a second formation if borders need simultaneous defense.
Engage the first major faction
Choose between the closer regional powers based on distance, army readiness, and route goals. Enter the war with a recovered formation and a reserve action for emergency defense.
Expand west and finish the campaign
Handle the western factions such as Mouri and Shimazu once the base is stable, resolving their character events before final conquest. Then complete remaining objectives and secure the ending.
A victory that leaves your main army exhausted can be strategically worse than delaying the attack by a turn or two. Never open fronts against Uesugi and Takeda at the same time unless your economy and roster can support both.
Faction-by-Faction Conquest Tips
Each major faction rewards a different approach. Match your army composition and pacing to the threat on the other side of the border.
Uesugi
- Kenshin is elite in field battles
- Do not approach with an exhausted army
- Complete Kenshin events before the faction falls for route outcomes
Takeda
- Strong cavalry pressure under Shingen
- Yukimura recruitment is event-sensitive
- Resolve Takeda events before final conquest
Mouri
- Western campaign anchor, Teru as key character
- Balance event timing with territorial progress
- Much easier with a stable, connected base
Shimazu
- Distinct brothers' event chain
- Event availability changes after milestones
- Inspect the event list when they enter the war
Hojo / Date
- Flexible mid-to-late targets
- Useful for map shape and income
- Standard preparation is usually sufficient
Early Neighbors
- Low-threat opening targets
- Build economy and army confidence here
- Finish quickly, then recover before next war
Battle preparation quality often matters more than raw army strength when facing the top factions:
| Preparation Item | Why It Matters | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Matching damage profile | Ranged/magic breaks formations melee cannot | ★★★★★ |
| Full recovery before war | Survives counterattacks from elite factions | ★★★★★ |
| Reserve action point | Enables emergency defense of exposed borders | ★★★★ |
| Separate pre-war save | Protects against irreversible route mistakes | ★★★★ |
| Second defensive formation | Holds borders during the main invasion | ★★★ |
Play toward the battle objective rather than maximizing damage. In scenarios that do not require total destruction, retreating or defending can be the correct decision and preserves your army for the decisive engagements.
Conquer Order and Route Outcomes
The conquer order interacts directly with the route system. Several endings depend not just on which factions fall, but on the order and timing of their defeat, and on whether specific character events were completed while the faction was still active.
| Route / Outcome | Conquer Order Influence | Key Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Standard National Conquest | Order affects events and ending flags loosely | Postponing character events indefinitely |
| Kenshin Route | Uesugi must survive long enough for her events | Conquering Uesugi too early |
| Takeda Route | Sensitive to event timing and key characters | Removing Takeda before events resolve |
| Shimazu Route | Brothers' chain must play out | Pushing to final defeat too fast |
| Mouri Route | Western progress must balance Teru's events | Rushing the final western battle |
Most failed routes are not caused by lost battles — they are caused by a faction disappearing before its character events were completed. Check the event menu after every major conquest and before ending each turn.
Before Every Faction War:
- Confirm the target faction matches your route goal
- Check all pending events for that faction's characters
- Verify the main army is fully recovered
- Create a separate save before the invasion
- Confirm no second front is exposed during the war
Resource Rules That Shape Your Target Sequence
Your conquer order is ultimately constrained by three resources: gold, action points, and commander availability. A sequence that ignores them will stall even with a strong roster.
- Gold: keep enough for recruitment, recovery, and urgent upgrades before each war.
- Action points: never spend every action on attacks — recovery and events are often worth more than one extra province.
- Commanders: distribute competent leaders across fronts instead of stacking them all in one army.
- Territory shape: a smaller connected territory is easier to stabilize than scattered provinces.
A smaller connected territory with defensible borders outperforms a sprawling, scattered one. Expand again only when the current front is stable.
FAQ
Q: What is the best conquer order for a first Sengoku Rance playthrough?
Start with the nearest weak neighbor, consolidate the home region, then fight one major faction at a time — typically the closer of Uesugi or Takeda first, followed by the western factions like Mouri and Shimazu once your base is stable. Prioritize a standard national conquest route for your first run.
Q: Does conquer order affect which characters I can recruit?
Yes. Characters such as Uesugi Kenshin, Yukimura Sanada, and Mouri Teru are tied to faction events and campaign outcomes. Defeating their factions too early, or before their events resolve, can permanently lock them out of your roster.
Q: Can I fight Uesugi and Takeda at the same time?
It is strongly discouraged. Both represent serious military pressure, and a two-front war against them usually exhausts your economy and commanders. Focus on one, consolidate, then turn to the other.
Q: How do I avoid missing route events while conquering?
Check the event menu after every major conquest and before ending each turn, complete character events as soon as they appear, and keep rotating saves before faction invasions and major decisions so you can compare alternate outcomes.