Mandate Order Retainers Guide – Hundred Schools Explained
Quick answer
Understand Mandate Order retainers and the Hundred Schools of Thought, including Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, Militarism, and Agriculturalism.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers connect Mandate Order's political identity to practical decisions about governance, agriculture, production, diplomacy, and war. Treat them as strategic commitments rather than passive bonuses.
| School | Broad focus | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Confucianism | Governance and social order | Population stability is the priority |
| Daoism | Balance and natural systems | You need an adaptive economy |
| Mohism | Engineering and defense | Production or fortifications lag |
| Legalism | Law and discipline | You are preparing for expansion |
| Militarism | Army and war preparation | A campaign is approaching |
| Agriculturalism | Farming and food security | Harvests are fragile |
How to Choose a Retainer
- Identify the current constraint: food, labor, production, order, or defense.
- Choose the school that addresses it directly.
- Check housing, salary, and resource costs.
- Assign the retainer where the effect changes an active building or army.
- Reassess after the next production or military cycle.
Retainers and Policy
A food-focused opening may benefit from Agriculturalism, while a threatened frontier may justify Militarism or Mohism. Confucianism and Legalism support different approaches to administration. Early Access balance is still changing, so a role-based comparison is safer than a permanent tier list.
FAQ
Which retainer school is best?
There is no confirmed universal best school. Match the retainer to the bottleneck you need to solve now.
Should I make a tier list?
Not yet. The roster and balance are still developing.
Choose your next move
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