Mandate Order Retainers Guide – Hundred Schools, Policies & Best Early Choices
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Mandate Order retainers guide for Early Access: Hundred Schools of Thought, Confucianism, Daoism, Mohism, Legalism, Militarism, Agriculturalism, policy choices, early-game priorities and when to recruit scholars.
Mandate Order Retainers Guide
Retainers are one of the systems that make Mandate Order different from a normal city builder. They connect philosophy, policy, agriculture, production, diplomacy, defense, and war. In practical terms, a retainer should be chosen because your city has a real bottleneck, not because a tier list says a school is always best.
The current Early Access build is still changing, so this guide uses role-based advice instead of pretending the balance is final.
What Are Retainers?
Retainers are scholars and advisers connected to the Hundred Schools of Thought. Their value comes from steering the city-state toward a governing style: food stability, population order, engineering, military discipline, diplomacy, or production efficiency.
Think of each retainer as a strategic commitment:
Current bottleneck → School focus → Policy direction → Building or army impact
Hundred Schools Overview
| School | Broad focus | Use when | Avoid relying on it when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confucianism | Governance, order, people | Population stability and satisfaction matter most | You need immediate military pressure |
| Daoism | Balance, natural rhythm, adaptation | You want flexible recovery from seasonal or disaster pressure | You need a narrow production push |
| Mohism | Engineering, defense, public utility | Walls, towers, logistics, and defensive survival matter | You are racing for conquest |
| Legalism | Law, discipline, administration | Expansion needs tighter control and sharper priorities | Your population base is fragile |
| Militarism | Army, recruitment, war | A campaign or invasion is approaching | Food and manpower are unstable |
| Agriculturalism | Farming, food, rural stability | Harvests, food reserves, and population growth are fragile | You already have food but lack weapons |
Best Early Retainer Logic
Do not ask “which school is best?” Ask “what is stopping my city right now?”
| Current problem | Safer early direction |
|---|---|
| Food or harvest pressure | Agriculturalism, then logistics support |
| Population instability | Confucianism or a stabilizing governance choice |
| Repeated defensive threats | Mohism or defensive engineering |
| Army preparation | Militarism only after food and production are stable |
| Administration feels scattered | Legalism after the basic economy works |
| Seasonal or disaster uncertainty | Daoism if your build needs flexibility |
When to Recruit Retainers
Recruiting too early can distract from the basic economy. A good moment is after:
- Food and water are stable.
- Timber and storage routes work.
- The first production chain has a reliable input and output.
- You know whether the next problem is farming, defense, production, or army preparation.
Retainers and Policy
Retainers matter most when their school supports active policy decisions. If you recruit a military-focused adviser while the city cannot feed workers, the retainer is not solving the real problem. If you recruit an agricultural or governance retainer while enemies are already breaching the walls, the choice may be too late.
Use policy as a response to the next season, not a decorative bonus.
Retainers and Other Guides
- Use the Farming Guide if you are choosing retainers because food is unstable.
- Use Resources & Logistics if the problem is goods not moving.
- Use the Combat Guide if retainers are being chosen for defense or army timing.
- Use Beginner Guide if you are still in the first settlement cycle.
FAQ
Which retainer school is best in Mandate Order?
There is no confirmed universal best school in Early Access. Choose the school that solves the current bottleneck: food, labor, defense, administration, production, diplomacy, or army timing.
Should beginners pick military retainers first?
Only if the economy can survive recruitment. A military bonus cannot fix a city that lacks food, workers, storage, or weapon production.
Are the Hundred Schools a permanent build choice?
Treat them as a long-term direction, but do not overcommit before understanding your map and first shortages.
Should this page become a tier list?
Not yet. Once the roster and balance stabilize, a separate tier list may make sense. For now, role-based advice is safer and more honest.
Choose your next move
Related Guides
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