DW5XL Xtreme Mode: Ling Tong stage 21-30

Dynasty Warriors 5XL: Xtreme Mode
Almost died at stage 30 lol, can't believe a bunch of horses almost did me in by blocking the Rage Token. That's what happens when you rely too much on Rage, I guess.

Here are some tips to help get you far in Xtreme Mode:

- Have a few throwaway runs first to build up your starting iron supply. I wouldn't attempt a serious run until your starting iron supply is at least 10,000
- In the first 30 stages, make it your life-or-death mission to get your weapon to 4th level and acquire the Token Pouch. During the unification battle (can be stage 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and so on), unleash your Rage on the commanding officer and kill him before his subordinates surround you.
- Don't rush the commanding officer on every stage, instead make the effort to kill his lower officers to get their loot which are ability-up items. Also, don't skimp on your spendings on ability-up items in shops.
- Steal the supply depot, execute a fire attack and defeating a band roaming the area are missions that give you access to a supply base full of iron and ability-up items. Make full use of these.
- Freeing Zhang Jiao, rescuing the meat bun merchant and raiding the small village are missions that restore your health. Use these instead of buying meat buns/ointment in the shop to avoid inflating their price.
- Avoid the invincible unit mission unless it gives you a Token Pouch. They're always more annoying than they're worth.
- ALWAYS buy mystic pouches in the shop. This is an excellent item that will never inflate as fast as your income can increase.
- ALWAYS buy an escort merchant. The point reward is insignificant in later stages, but that's an extra meat shield that will attract enemies' attacks away from yourself.
- NEVER buy Manacles. The extra money you'll get from this item isn't worth the money you'll spend later buying meat buns to heal your wounds.
- NEVER make Huang Gai or Zhang Jiao your follower. Huang Gai can decrease your health with his indiscriminate JC bombing, and Zhang Jiao is far more useful as a mission giver that can heal you and your allies 200 points.
- If employed as a follower, Zhao Yun, Xiahou Dun, Xiahou Yuan, Huang Zhong, Cao Pi, Zhou Yu, Zuo Ci and Sun Ce will sometimes give you a free Rage Token in the middle of battle, which is super helpful
- If employed as a follower, Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Jiang Wei, Zhu Rong, Xu Zhu, Pang Tong, Yue Ying, Xing Cai, Zhang He, Zhen Ji, Sun Shang Xiang, Xiao Qiao, Da Qiao, Diao Chan and Yuan Shao will sometimes invite a doctor to heal the whole party for 50 points each after a battle, which is kinda useful.
- Avoid Nan Zhong if there are better alternatives. Even if you yourself can avoid the poison mist, your followers' AI is too dumb to do so. Also, don't let your followers die in general. Training a new follower from scratch to reach your level can take 20+ stages.