Total War: Shogun 2 Dragon War Battle Pack is a strategy add-on for the PC game Total War: Shogun 2. It adds six historical battles set during the Boshin War of 1868 to 1869, focused on the campaign led by Saigo Takamori and his Imperial forces against the Tokugawa Shogunate. These battles were originally part of the Fall of the Samurai expansion and now integrate directly into the base game for players who do not own that content.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on commanding armies in large-scale battles that blend traditional samurai tactics with the introduction of Western firearms, artillery, and naval units from the late 1800s. Players control Saigo Takamori's Imperial army across a sequence of engagements, managing unit formations, morale, and terrain advantages while facing Shogunate troops equipped with similar period weapons. Each battle emphasizes defensive stands, sieges, and naval assaults, requiring careful positioning of infantry lines, cavalry charges, and gun emplacements to overcome numerical disadvantages or fortified positions.
Mechanics include real-time command of mixed forces that combine melee specialists with ranged riflemen and early ironclad warships. The pack highlights the shift from feudal warfare to industrialized conflict, with players directing advances on Kyoto, assaults on castles, and operations to secure northern domains. Victory depends on coordinating land and sea elements while adapting to ambushes and defensive traps laid by opposing clans.
Game Modes
The Dragon War Battle Pack unlocks a dedicated historical battle sequence that plays out consecutively as a short campaign. This mode presents the six legendary battles in order, allowing players to follow Saigo Takamori's progression from initial clashes near the capital through final confrontations on Ezo island. No additional multiplayer or custom battle modes are introduced by the pack itself.
The battles function as standalone scenarios within the base game's historical battle system. They can be accessed and replayed independently after completion, providing focused practice on specific objectives such as repelling advances on Kyoto or capturing the star fort at Goryokaku.
The Six Legendary Battles
The sequence begins at Toba-Fushimi, where outnumbered Satsuma forces must hold against a larger Tokugawa advance on Kyoto over multiple days. Success here leads into the assault on Osaka Castle, the Shogunate's stronghold, which falls after the Imperial banner is raised.
Subsequent engagements move north. At Ueno, loyalist troops entrenched at Kan'ei-ji Temple near Edo require removal. The Aizu domain presents a deeper incursion into hostile territory filled with prepared traps. Naval action shifts to Miyako Bay, where the ironclad Kotetsu becomes the target of a raid by Ezo Republic forces attempting to seize the vessel. The campaign concludes at Hakodate, with divided Imperial units needing consolidation before a final push against the last Shogunate holdout.
Is It Worth Playing?
This pack suits players interested in the historical transition period of Japanese warfare and the specific story of Saigo Takamori's role in restoring imperial authority. It delivers a compact, narrative-driven experience through its six linked battles without requiring ownership of the full Fall of the Samurai expansion. Those who already own that expansion should skip the purchase, as the content overlaps completely.
The addition appeals to fans of Total War's battle-focused gameplay who want targeted historical scenarios set in the Boshin War era. It provides replay value through the ability to revisit individual fights and experiment with different army compositions using the era's distinctive weapons and units. Availability remains through standard digital storefronts for the base game, making it a straightforward way to expand the single-player historical content.
