The best bodyguards in Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered, for most players, are a Regular Bodyguard unit built around Defense: put growth into Defense and Rank first, then Life and Musou, give them bows or crossbows, and set them to the Shield order on Hard and Chaos or Support on easier stages. Built that way they survive long enough to matter, draw attacks off you, and never steal the kills your unlocks depend on.
That is our pick, though an all-out Attack unit works on easier stages. Below we cover how bodyguards work in the remaster, each part of the build, the alternative of using another officer as a Musou bodyguard, and the mistake that quietly ruins unlock runs. Every other guide for DYNASTY WARRIORS 3: Complete Edition Remastered is on our Dynasty Warriors hub.
How Bodyguards Work in the Remaster
The remaster uses the Xtreme Legends bodyguard system, which Koei Tecmo lists among the expansion’s additions as “bodyguard customization.” The basics:
- Camp is where you set them up. Koei Tecmo describes Camp, on the main menu, as the place to “change officer and bodyguard settings and prepare for battle.” In Xtreme Legends, names could not be changed once a unit was created, so name yours carefully.
- Two kinds of bodyguard. Before battle you choose either a bodyguard unit or a Musou bodyguard, a playable officer who fights beside you.
- Units grow with Merit. Regular Bodyguards earn their own Merit from battles, and the game has an achievement, “The Elite Eight,” for raising a Regular Bodyguard’s Merit to maximum. In Xtreme Legends, a unit started with two bodyguards and grew to eight as its Merit climbed.
- Growth can be set to manual. That lets you choose where each advancement point goes instead of leaving it to the game.
The Best Growth Build
Each time a unit gains enough Merit it earns an advancement point. In the original Xtreme Legends, each point went into one of four advancements:
| Advancement | What it gives | Cap |
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Higher maximum Life and Musou, and the unit attacks and blocks more often | 3 points |
| Life/Musou | Higher maximum Life and Musou | 11 points |
| Defense | Less damage taken, plus better speed and evasion | 11 points |
| Attack | More damage dealt | 11 points |
The original gave about 25 points in total, so you cannot max everything. We recommend Rank 3 and Defense 11 first, then splitting the rest between Attack and Life/Musou to taste. Four ways to split it:
- Hardy: all remaining points in Life/Musou. Best for Chaos.
- Versatile: 4 Attack, 7 Life/Musou.
- Balanced: 7 Attack, 4 Life/Musou.
- Offensive: all remaining points in Attack.
Rank matters more than it looks. In Xtreme Legends it did not just change a unit’s look: it raised their maximum Life and Musou and how often they attacked and blocked.
Best Weapon Type and Order
Weapon: our pick is bows or crossbows, which let the unit snipe officers from a distance and stay out of your way. Spears and pikes were the old area-of-effect choice on PS2, and spears on the Defense order are the melee option for Chaos.
Order: Xtreme Legends gave units four orders: Attack, Defense, Shield and Support. Here is what each did there, and when to use it:
| Order | What it does in Xtreme Legends | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Shield | Bodyguards only guard and never attack, with a Defense bonus | Chaos, unlock runs and weapon hunts |
| Support | Charge attacks only, and archers are targeted first | Normal and Hard with bow units |
| Attack | Bodyguards fight beside you | Easy stages and farming |
| Defense | Standard attacks only, no risky charge attacks | Spear units on harder stages |
Shield raises the unit’s Defense and has them surround you and block, which keeps them alive and out of your kills during fourth and fifth weapon hunts. On Chaos, build for Defense rather than Attack.
Weapons and Items for Bodyguards
- Bodyguard weapons drop in battle. Pick them up like your own weapons, then equip the best one in Camp.
- They can equip items. Bodyguards first got an item slot in Xtreme Legends, one item per unit. Huang’s Bow, which raises bow damage, is a natural fit for a bow unit; our item guide lists every stat item.
- Get the Bodyguard Manual. This red item lets bodyguards use charge attacks. It comes from the Siege of Hefei Castle on the Wu side, and the item guide has the steps.
- Luck may help drops. Whether Luck raises bodyguard weapon drops is not confirmed; our Luck guide covers what Luck does.
Musou Bodyguards: Using Another Officer
The other option is to bring a playable officer as your bodyguard. A maxed-out officer makes a strong escort for a new one, which makes early stages with a fresh character far easier. Pick an officer with high stats and a good weapon, since they fight with what they have.
The Kill-Steal Trap
Many unlocks and rare items need your officer to land the final blow: Lu Bu’s Red Hare Saddle, Dong Zhuo, Meng Huo’s seven defeats and Gan Ning’s surprise attack among them. Before any unlock or item run, switch the unit to Shield, which stops them attacking at all, so the final blow is always yours. Our Gan Ning guide and Lu Bu guide are two runs where this matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bodyguard build in Dynasty Warriors 3 Remastered? Max Rank and Defense first, then spend the rest on Life/Musou for Chaos or on Attack for easier stages. Pair it with bows or crossbows and the Shield or Support order.
Where do you change bodyguards? In Camp, from the main menu. Koei Tecmo says Camp is where you change officer and bodyguard settings before battle.
How many bodyguards can you have? Up to eight in a unit. In Xtreme Legends a unit started with two and grew to eight as its Merit rose, and the remaster’s achievement for a maxed-out unit is called “The Elite Eight.”
What does the Shield order do? Shield bodyguards only guard, never attack, and gain a Defense boost, which makes them tanks and stops them stealing your kills.
Can bodyguards use Weapon Fusion? Koei Tecmo has not said. Its description of Weapon Fusion covers moving elements and skills from spare weapons onto another, and does not mention bodyguard weapons.
Is a Musou bodyguard better than a unit? It depends on the officer. A maxed-out officer is a strong escort for a new character, but a well-built Regular Bodyguard unit on Shield is the safer choice on Chaos.