Mandate of Heaven Endings Guide – Choices

Mandate of Heaven immerses players in a complex narrative where every decision holds weight. Understanding the branching paths and their impact is vital to mastering the story, especially since early choices can drastically influence trust, guilt, and favor levels, which in turn unlock unique outcomes. The stakes make each choice feel personal and consequential, rewarding those who pay close attention.

The journey through Mandate of Heaven is defined by multiple endings, paths, and achievements. Navigating these requires insight into how choices unlock different branches and affect story progression. This section delves into the core framework of endings, choices, and branches players will face.

This guide is designed to help players understand how to unlock achievements, avoid bad endings and follow every possible route.

At the chapter’s outset, the Era of Great Strife achievement triggers, setting the tone for the challenges ahead.

Achievement: The Era of Great Strife unlocks when the chapter begins.

The Costly Jade

• Then I cannot afford it
• Do not worry, I know it in my heart

Two Possible Methods

• Following Commandant Chu leads to The Emperor’s Inner Servant
• Heeding Minister Xie leads to The Emperor’s Close Attendant

The Emperor’s Close Attendant

• Attempt to win over Eunuch Wen
• Choose brevity; loose lips bring trouble

The Emperor’s Summons

• Inquire about Yu Gon’s rebellious poem
• Claim to be dull-witted and unclear

Relationship With Yu Gong

• I know him but not close
• We are somewhat acquainted
• I do not know him

Whether Present or Not

Not being present results in a bad ending. Additionally, denying knowledge of Yu Gon while claiming presence triggers another bad ending.

Reason for Sparing Yu Gong

• Thought it was drunken bravado (unlocks Achievement Resourceful)
• I seek to arrest more traitors
• Harsh but useful advice

After deciding, the story advances into The Emperor’s Chess Game segment.

The Emperor’s Inner Servant

• Attempt to win over Eunuch Wen
• Keep it brief; loose lips bring trouble

Entering the Palace Late at Night

• Offer congratulations
• Plead on someone’s behalf

Method of Pleading for Mercy

• On the path to reclaim the people’s hearts
• About to gain a loyal and righteous man

Dealing With the Treacherous Official

• Accept criticism humbly (leads to The Emperor’s Chess Game)
• Spare and exile him (leads to The Emperor’s Chess Game)
• Sentence him to death (leads to The Emperor’s Thoughts)

The Emperor’s Thoughts

• Respond with logic
• Respond with feeling (increases Trust)

The Emperor’s Chess Game

• Win the chess game
• Lose the game (increases Trust)

The Erring Elder Brother

• Accuse someone from Qingzhou of stirring trouble (unlocks Achievement Unfathomable Mind of the Aged Emperor)
• Reduce elder brother’s honors (increases Trust)

Your accumulated Trust affects which version of the next scene unfolds, making relationship management critical.

The Scapegoat

• Expose her intentions (leads to The Pleading Chess Piece)
• Play along with her act (leads to Prince of Ning’s Warning)

The Pleading Chess Piece

• Save Guo Xuan
• Stand aside and watch

Having low Trust and allowing Guo Xuan to perish triggers a unique storyline segment.

Prince of Ning’s Warning

• Choose talents for the realm
• Claim no competition with elder brother (increases Guilt)

Achievement: Winds of Change is awarded upon completing this chapter.

Falling Rain

The complex web of alliances and personal choices intensifies in the Falling Rain chapter, where diplomacy meets family intrigue.

• Remain silent
• Congratulate elder brother (increases Guilt)

The Empress’s Pastries

• Recognize brother’s hard work (increases Guilt)
• Claim to have not eaten before arriving (decreases Guilt)
• Split the pastry in half

Chen Wan’er’s Thoughts

• Born a woman yet with lofty aspirations
• Born a woman, why not work the silken bloom

The Eldest Daughter of the Chen Family

• Ask why she refuses to marry
• Question her trust
• Offer assistance

You must select all three options in any order to progress.

Embezzled Supplies

• Mobilize troops immediately (leads to The Suddenly Arrived Army)
• Let the mistake stand (leads to Let the Mistake Stand)

Let the Mistake Stand

• Confess openly (triggers bad ending)
• Launch a coup (yields good ending and Achievement Destined by Heaven)
• Launching a coup without saving Guo Xuan results in a bad ending

The Suddenly Arrived Army

• Take up arms and break out
• Drop weapons and surrender (increases Trust)

Thrown Into Prison

• Demand to see Father Emperor
• Call someone a despicable villain (decreases Guilt)
• Remain silent (increases Guilt)

Sikong Zheng’s False Accusation

• Show no fear
• Question loyalty (increases Guilt)

A Chance to Escape

• Blame it on Chu Huan (decreases Guilt)
• Challenge with disbelief
• Ask to be spared (increases Guilt)

The Final Ultimatum

• Admit guilt (leads to The Tumultuous Times)
• Refuse to confess (leads to bad ending if Guo Xuan is dead; otherwise, progresses to A Path to Break the Deadlock)

A secret branch likely based on Trust or Guilt exists here, influencing further outcomes.

The Tumultuous Times

• Choose to hide identity from now on (ending)
• Claim to be Sikong (ending)

A Path to Break the Deadlock

• Choosing Eunuch Wen results in a bad ending
• Choosing The Empress leads to The Reason for Deploying Troops

The Reason for Deploying Troops

• Denial (“I would not dare”)
• Avoid direct answer (drops Trust and leads to bad ending; unlocks Achievement Courage to Speak Frankly)
• Admit hidden motives (increases Trust)

The One Who Deployed the Troops

• Claim Chu Huan’s initiative (increases Trust)
• Take responsibility yourself

Additional concealed branches appear, likely dependent on Trust or Guilt.

The One Who Deployed the Troops Part Two

Respond with understanding: “I understand Your Majesty.”

Achievement: Rain Beating on Duckweed unlocks at the conclusion of Chapter 1.

Sea Dragon

The Sea Dragon chapter explores familial ties and political maneuvers against the backdrop of strained relationships and court intrigue.

• Side with your sister
• Reject your sister’s advice

True Measure of One’s Capabilities

• Let them fight another round
• Interrupt the fight

Where Is the Jade Thumb Ring

• Possessing the ring leads to An Object of Great Value
• Having given it away sends you to The Subtleties of Attending a Banquet

The Subtleties of Attending a Banquet

• Bring a modest gift (leads to A Humble Gift)
• Bring no gift (leads to Empty handed)

A Humble Gift

• Confirm the gift matches the offering
• Play down the gift’s significance (increases Favor)

Empty Handed

• Rebuke Zheng’s extravagance (increases Favor)
• Ensure not to outshine elder brother
• Claim you forgot the gift (decreases Favor)

Regardless of gift choice, the narrative moves forward to A Scholar’s Fervor.

An Object of Great Value

• Offer the jade thumb ring (increases Favor; unlocks Achievement A Gift as Weighty as the Affection Behind It)
• Emphasize the jade hook’s meaning (increases Favor)

Your next destination is A Scholar’s Fervor after gifting.

A Scholar’s Fervor

Your Favor level impacts which branch unfolds at this point.

Zu Yue’s Challenge

• Spar with Zu Yue (leads to The Clash of Blades)
• Send Zhu Yuanzhi forward (leads to Talented Allies by One’s Side)

The Clash of Blades

• Successfully pass some QTEs (proceed to The Debate on the Northern Expedition)
• Pass all QTEs (increases Favor; unlocks Achievement Kung Fu Master)
• Fail QTEs (bad ending; unlocks Achievement Decency)

Talented Allies by One’s Side

• Commend Yuanzhi’s performance
• Remain silent

Both responses advance to The Debate on the Northern Expedition.

The Debate on the Northern Expedition

• Whether to launch the expedition
• Acknowledge that the ruler has made up his mind (increases Favor)
• State that the campaign is about more than resources

The Crux of the Northern Campaign

• Believe the people will understand (decreases Favor)
• Insist such misfortune won’t happen (increases Favor)
• Accept some suffering for the people (decreases Favor)

Responsibility for the Defeat

• Assert that the dynasty won’t be defeated (increases Favor)
• Support General Zu’s invincibility (decreases Favor)
• Take personal responsibility (decreases Favor)

You must select all Favor increase options for Father to agree and unlock the achievement.

Zu Kun’s Opinion

• If you earned all Favor increases: Achievement From Depths to the Deep then leads to Sobering Soup
• If not: bad ending

Sobering Soup

Drink it

Asking About Your Return

• See this as an opportunity
• Vow a brief absence

Achievement: The Trials Begin unlocks at the end of Chapter 2.

Drawn Blade

Drawn Blade starts with tense encounters in the woods where mercy and judgment collide.

• Spare his life, no need to chase
• Do not let him escape

The Kindness of the Former People

• Accept his goodwill
• Tell him to settle himself