Taoyan the Merciless

Hero· Trident Infantry· 1 model at Ultra size

Grand Cathay

Health

4,588

top 39% of class

Armour

top 28% of class

Leadership

top 11% of class

Speed

bottom 12% of class

Melee attack

top 23% of class

Melee defence

top 1% of class

Weapon strength

160 base + 260 armour-piercing, +25 vs large

420

top 28% of class

Charge bonus

bottom 29% of class

Attributes

Causes Fear
This unit frightens all enemy units, reducing their leadership when nearby. It is also immune to fear. Fear penalties do not stack.
Expert Charge Defence
When bracing, this unit negates the charge bonus of any attacker.
Charge Reflection
When bracing, this unit causes additional damage when attacking charging enemies.
Encourage
This unit provides a leadership bonus to nearby allies. Units within range of both the Lord's aura and an encouraging unit will receive the larger of the two bonuses.
Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Immune to Psychology
The unit is immune to psychological attacks (Fear & Terror).

Abilities

Ultimate VerdictHex (Area) · -24 Melee Defenceactive
Fuelled by VengeanceAugment · +35% Armour-Piercing Weapon Damage, +35% Base Weapon Damage…passive
Will of the DragonsAugment (Area) · +4 Leadershippassive
WoundsHex · -10% Speed, -20% Armour-Piercing Weapon Damage…passive

Taoyan the Merciless skill tree

26 skills, line by line as the game lays them out. Hover a skill for the rank it unlocks at and its effects at each level.

Shang-Yang's Blade & Claw
Shang-Yang's Blade & Claw
- Melee attack: +6
- Melee defence: +8
- Speed: +10%
Though known for her deadly trident, Taoyan's proficient swordsmanship allows her deadlier speed in the cut-and-thrust of claustrophobic combat.
Wind Harmony
Wind Harmony
- Spell resistance: 10%
The turbulent Winds of Magic can do little harm to those who have found harmony amidst its raging currents.
Ranged Discipline
Ranged Discipline
- Missile resistance: 10%
The best way to repel the chaotic flurry of missile fire is to meet it with order, discipline, and a stalwart row of shields.

wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0
wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0
- Passive ability: ""
Fearsome Reputation
Fearsome Reputation
- Attribute: Unbreakable
- Melee defence: +5
- Hit points: +10%
Requires: wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0Taoyan lives by her bloodthirsty reputation, which has her enemies cower before her and those who fight in her name.
Root Out the Traitors
Root Out the Traitors
- Enemy Hero action success chance: -25% (enemy characters in region)
- Corruption: -3 (local province)
- Control: +5 (local province)
Requires: wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0"The remnants of the Children of Yin Quai will be chased down, put to trial, and punished unto their final breath. Let all would-be insurrectionists know it."
Ruthless Standards
Ruthless Standards
- Recruit rank: +1 for Jade Warrior units (Hero's army)
- Upkeep: -15% for Jade Warrior units (Hero's army)
- Local recruitment capacity: +1 (local province)
Requires: wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0The enemy are not the only ones to dread her, for Taoyan often triumphs by taking every possible liberty from the troops she serves with.
Not One Step Back
Not One Step Back
- Leadership: +8 for Jade Warrior units (Hero's army)
- Melee defence: +6 for all Jade Warrior units (Hero's army)
- Physical resistance: 10% for Jade Warrior units (Hero's army)
Requires: wh3_cp1_skill_cth_taoyan_unique_0"Let the Jade battalions know this: death awaits any who succumb to their cowardice."
The Iron Dragon's Enforcer
The Iron Dragon's Enforcer
- Ability: ""
- Attribute: Causes Fear for all units in army (Hero's army)
- Enemy leadership: -6 (enemy armies in local region)
Requires: Fearsome Reputation, Root Out the Traitors, Ruthless Standards, Not One Step BackFollowing Taoyan's instatement as a Lord of Shang-Yang, the Iron Dragon also sees fit to grant powers to exploit her infamy from punishing Cathay’s enemies.

Blade Master
Blade Master
- Melee attack: +5
This warrior is one with their blade; it is an extension of their will, making them a worthy foe in combat.
Devastating Charge
Devastating Charge3 levels
Level 1
- Charge bonus: +6
Level 2
- Charge bonus: +16
Level 3
- Charge bonus: +30
Requires: Blade MasterSome creatures charge home with such fury that the very ground shakes beneath their feet.
Full Plate Armour
Full Plate Armour3 levels
Level 1
- Armour: +3
Level 2
- Armour: +8
Level 3
- Armour: +15
Requires: Blade MasterFull-plate armour protects the wearer from head-to-foot. Many such suits are blessed or imbued with arcane abilities.
Hard to Hit
Hard to Hit3 levels
Level 1
- Melee defence: +3
Level 2
- Melee defence: +7
Level 3
- Melee defence: +12
Requires: Blade MasterHand-to-hand combat is a lethal match of cut and thrust. However, it’s not all about offensive strikes; parries and other defensive moves can also win the day.
Deadly Blade
Deadly Blade3 levels
Level 1
- Melee attack: +3
Level 2
- Melee attack: +7
Level 3
- Melee attack: +12
Requires: Blade MasterA deadly blade is especially lethal when in the hands of this master death-maker, killer and slaughterer!
Foe-Seeker
Foe-Seeker
- Ability: "Foe-Seeker"
Requires: Devastating Charge, Full Plate Armour, Hard to Hit, Deadly BladeFrom one bloodied, lifeless corpse to the next, this one is always looking for the next adversary to best.
Wound-Maker
Wound-Maker3 levels
Level 1
- Weapon strength: +5%
Level 2
- Weapon strength: +12%
Level 3
- Weapon strength: +20%
Requires: Foe-SeekerSuch is their power and ferocity, a wound-maker will ravage the foe, cutting and pulverising until there is only one exit - death.
Scarred Veteran
Scarred Veteran3 levels
Level 1
- Hit points: +3%
Level 2
- Hit points: +8%
Level 3
- Hit points: +15%
Requires: Foe-SeekerThe scars on this storied warrior reveal a veteran of many battles, a being not easy to kill and one worthy of respect and fear.
Fleet-Footed
Fleet-Footed3 levels
Level 1
- Speed: +3%
Level 2
- Speed: +7%
Level 3
- Speed: +12%
Requires: Foe-SeekerThose who are fleet of foot can reach the enemy faster.
Blade Shield
Blade Shield3 levels
Level 1
- Melee defence: +3
Level 2
- Melee defence: +7
Level 3
- Melee defence: +12
Requires: Foe-SeekerA blade that sings in defence will not let its wielder be penetrated.
wh3_dlc24_skill_all_all_self_colossal_strike
wh3_dlc24_skill_all_all_self_colossal_strike
- Ability: ""
Requires: Wound-Maker, Scarred Veteran, Fleet-Footed, Blade Shield

Training
Training3 levels
Level 1
- Training action: Unit experience gain is increased by an additional 10%
Level 2
- Training action: Unit experience gain is increased by an additional 20%
Level 3
- Training action: Unit experience gain is increased by an additional 30%
This champion extols discipline and fear away from the battlefield as much as on it.
Spread Control
Spread Control3 levels
Level 1
- Spread Control action: Control is modified by an additional 1
- Control: -1 (local enemy province)
- Control: +1 (local province)
Level 2
- Spread Control action: Control is modified by an additional 2
- Control: -2 (local enemy province)
- Control: +2 (local province)
Level 3
- Spread Control action: Control is modified by an additional 3
- Control: -3 (local enemy province)
- Control: +3 (local province)
The sight of this warrior, their stature, import or infamy, can have a calming effect.
Assault Garrison
Assault Garrison3 levels
Level 1
- Assault Garrison action: Additional 5% casualties inflicted
Level 2
- Assault Garrison action: Additional 15% casualties inflicted
Level 3
- Assault Garrison action: Additional 30% casualties inflicted
"If they know I'm coming then more's the better!"
Wound
Wound3 levels
Level 1
- Wound action: Additional 5% chance of wounding target
Level 2
- Wound action: Additional 12% chance of wounding target
Level 3
- Wound action: Additional 21% chance of wounding target
Such a champion will not bend or break, but slay in their Lord's name.
Assault Units
Assault Units3 levels
Level 1
- Assault Units action: Additional 3% casualties inflicted
Level 2
- Assault Units action: Additional 8% casualties inflicted
Level 3
- Assault Units action: Additional 15% casualties inflicted
Lying in wait, experienced and patient, striking when the foe least expects.
Specialist
Specialist3 levels
Level 1
- Hero action cost: -10%
- Hero action success chance: +1%
Level 2
- Hero action cost: -20%
- Hero action success chance: +3%
Level 3
- Hero action cost: -40%
- Hero action success chance: +6%
An expert in their craft, this Hero knows all the mistakes that can be made and how to best avoid making them.

Who can field it

The Northern Provinces

Where these numbers come from

Read from the game's database tables for patch 9.0 (main_units, land_units, battle_entities, melee_weapons, projectiles…) as published in the WH3-Dump export (commit 8a4f7e64). Formulas that turn table values into card values are checked against known units before they are shown — how we verify.