Zhu Di Evony Guide 2026: Skills, Best Use & Build

Zhu Di Evony Guide 2026

Zhu Di is a specialist Subordinate City General in Evony: The King's Return.

He is designed to weaken enemy armies through debuffs rather than lead your main PvP march.

His main strengths are:

• enemy Ranged Troop Attack debuffs

• enemy Siege Machine Attack debuffs

• enemy Ground Troop Defense debuffs

• enemy Ground Troop HP debuffs

• additional troop-wide debuffs through Ascension

• Subordinate City utility at higher Ascension

Zhu Di should normally be used as a Sub City Mayor.

Is Zhu Di Good in Evony?

Yes.

Zhu Di is a strong Subordinate City debuff General because his base Special Skill immediately reduces several important enemy stats.

His Special Skill provides:

• Enemy Ranged Troop Attack -40%

• Enemy Siege Machine Attack -40%

• Enemy Ground Troop Defense -35%

• Enemy Ground Troop HP -35%

when he is leading the army.

Those are very useful debuffs for PvP, especially against Ranged, Siege and Ground-heavy enemies.

Zhu Di Best Role

Best Role: Subordinate City Mayor

Also Useful For: PvP debuff support

Avoid Using For: Main PvP Marches, Monster Hunting or Wall Defense

Zhu Di should be judged as a debuff General.

His job is not to create the strongest march.

His job is to make the enemy weaker.

Zhu Di Special Skill

Zhu Di's Special Skill is:

The Yongle Emperor

Reduces enemy Ranged Troops' and Siege Machines' Attack by 40% and reduces enemy Ground Troops' Defense and HP by 35% when General is leading the army.

This gives him useful coverage across three major enemy troop types.

The largest immediate value is against:

• Ranged-heavy enemy marches

• Siege-heavy enemy marches

• Ground-heavy defensive setups

Zhu Di Ascension

Ascending Zhu Di makes his debuff profile significantly stronger.

1 Star

• Enemy Troop Defense -15%

• Enemy Ranged Troop HP -10%

• Enemy Siege Machine HP -10%

2 Stars

• Enemy Ranged Troop Defense -30%

• Enemy Siege Machine Defense -30%

• Subordinate City Training Speed +15% when General is the Mayor

3 Stars

• Enemy Ranged Troop Attack -20%

• Enemy Siege Machine Attack -20%

• Subordinate City Death-to-Survival Rate +15% when General is the Mayor

4 Stars

• Enemy Ground Troop Defense -20%

• Enemy Mounted Troop Defense -20%

• Enemy Ground Troop Attack -40%

5 Stars

• Enemy Siege Machine Attack -30%

• Enemy Troop Defense -15%

• Enemy Troop HP -15%

His later Ascension levels are especially powerful because they broaden his debuffs beyond the base skill.

By 5 Stars, Zhu Di can affect:

• Ground

• Mounted

• Ranged

• Siege

• all troop Defense

• all troop HP

Zhu Di Specialties

Zhu Di has four debuff-focused Specialties.

Ranged Troop Defense

• Ranged Troop HP +10%

• Ranged Troop Defense +10%

Snipe

• Enemy Troop Attack -10%

Iron Warrior

• Enemy Wounded-to-Death Rate when attacking +10%

Jingnan Campaign

• Enemy Ranged Troop Attack -20%

• Enemy Siege Machine Attack -20%

• Enemy Siege Machine Defense -40%

• Enemy Siege Machine HP -40%

Jingnan Campaign is the standout Specialty.

It adds very heavy Siege debuffs while also further reducing enemy Ranged Attack.

Does Zhu Di Need Skill Books?

Not for his main Sub City role.

Skill Books do not improve the debuffs he provides as a Subordinate City Mayor in the same way they improve a field General.

That means you should not treat Zhu Di like a normal combat march General.

If you are using him properly as a Mayor, Skill Books are a very low priority.

Does Zhu Di Need Equipment?

Yes, but only if you are deliberately building Sub City debuff equipment.

For Subordinate City Generals, equipment can be useful because debuff gear can stack additional enemy stat reductions.

Good Sub City gear can add:

• enemy troop Attack debuffs

• enemy troop Defense debuffs

• enemy troop HP debuffs

This makes Zhu Di much more valuable when combined with purpose-built Sub City equipment.

Best Equipment Direction for Zhu Di

For a Subordinate City General, prioritise gear that adds enemy debuffs.

Achaemenidae equipment and other debuff-focused sets are commonly used for this role.

The exact pieces depend on which enemy troop stats you are trying to reduce.

The main principle is:

do not build Zhu Di for his own troop damage.

Build him to weaken the enemy.

Zhu Di as a Sub City Mayor

Zhu Di is strongest when assigned as Mayor of a Subordinate City.

As Mayor, he contributes his debuffs when the Sub City participates in battle.

At higher Ascension, he also gains Sub City-specific utility such as:

• Training Speed

• Death-to-Survival Rate

That gives him extra value beyond pure combat debuffs.

Zhu Di for PvP

Zhu Di is especially useful in PvP because his debuffs can reduce enemy strength before your main march trades damage.

His base kit is particularly effective against:

• Ranged marches

• Siege marches

• Ground-heavy targets

At higher Ascension, he also gains:

• Mounted Defense debuffs

• broader troop Defense debuffs

• broader troop HP debuffs

That makes him more versatile as he develops.

Zhu Di Against Ranged Troops

Ranged-heavy enemies are one of Zhu Di's best matchups.

His base Special Skill reduces enemy Ranged Attack by 40%.

His 3-Star Ascension can reduce it further.

His final Specialty also adds more Ranged Attack debuff.

That allows Zhu Di to stack a very large total reduction against enemy Ranged damage.

Zhu Di Against Siege Machines

Zhu Di is also extremely useful against Siege.

His base skill reduces:

• Siege Attack

and his Ascension and final Specialty add even more Siege debuffs across:

• Attack

• Defense

• HP

This makes him a strong choice for players who regularly fight Siege-heavy accounts.

Zhu Di Against Ground Troops

Zhu Di's base skill also reduces:

• Ground Troop Defense

• Ground Troop HP

and his 4-Star Ascension adds:

• Ground Troop Defense reduction

• Ground Troop Attack reduction

That makes him useful against strong Ground marches and Ground-heavy city defenses.

Is Zhu Di Worth Ascending?

Yes, if Subordinate City debuffs are an important part of your PvP setup.

His Ascension adds:

• more enemy Attack debuffs

• more enemy Defense debuffs

• more enemy HP debuffs

• Sub City Training Speed

• Death-to-Survival support

The higher stars make him much more versatile.

However, Ascending a Sub City General is still a major resource commitment.

If your main march Generals are unfinished, they may deserve priority first.

Is Zhu Di Worth Investing In?

Zhu Di is worth investing in if:

• you use Subordinate Cities actively in PvP

• you want stronger enemy Ranged and Siege debuffs

• you already use debuff equipment

• you can realistically Ascend him

• your main march is already well developed

He is less important if:

• you rarely use Subordinate Cities

• your Sub Cities do not participate in battle

• you are still building your first serious PvP march

• your premium resources are needed for higher-priority main Generals

TEBA Verdict

Zhu Di is a strong Subordinate City debuff General.

His biggest strength is the range of enemy stats he can reduce.

From his base Special Skill alone, he weakens:

• Ranged Attack

• Siege Attack

• Ground Defense

• Ground HP

and Ascension pushes his debuff coverage even further.

He should not be built as a main combat General.

His value comes from weakening the enemy while your real PvP march does the fighting.

For players with an established Sub City debuff setup, Zhu Di is a very useful specialist.