The Core Concept: What Makes a Location a “Key”?

Before we dive into the mountains and harbors of Taiwan, let’s get crystal clear on what we mean by a “key.” In grand strategy, not all territory is created equal. A key is a specific province, castle, port, or choke point that exerts disproportionate influence over a large region. Controlling it doesn’t just give you one more dot on the map; it unlocks multiple strategic options while severely limiting your opponents’. Think of it like a bottleneck in a highway system—whoever controls that single point controls all the traffic.

So, how do you spot a key? It’s not always the biggest city. I learned this the hard way early on, always beelining for the capital. Sometimes, a modest castle on a mountain pass is infinitely more valuable. You need to look for a combination of factors:

Geographic Choke Points: Narrow land bridges, mountain passes, or the only viable river crossing in a region. In Taiwan’s context, think of the central mountain range. There are only a few major routes through it. The settlements controlling these passes are golden keys.
Economic and Resource Hubs: Places that generate exceptional wealth, special resources (like unique trade goods in True Battle), or have high population growth. These keys fuel your war machine. A rich port city can fund multiple armies.
Military Recruitment and Veteran Units: Some provinces historically mustered specific, powerful troop types. In the Taiwan scenario, certain locations might grant access to specialized maritime infantry or local auxiliaries that are far more effective in the island’s terrain. Securing these spots early gives you a qualitative edge.
Political and Diplomatic Centers: A province that is the historical seat of a powerful clan or a vital trade partner. Holding it can make diplomacy with surrounding factions easier, or harder for them if you deny it.

Let me give you a personal example from a previous game. I was playing as the Shimazu in Kyushu. Everyone goes for the big prize of Hakata. I did too, and got bogged down in a costly siege. A friend who’s a history buff pointed out that a smaller castle to the north, controlling the strait, was the real key. I shifted focus, took it with a smaller force, and suddenly I could raid the entire coast, block enemy reinforcements, and Hakata fell much more easily later from isolation. That castle was the key to the region, not the obvious big city. This same principle applies tenfold in the compact, diverse terrain of Taiwan.

Applying the “Key” Theory to Taiwan’s Geography

Taiwan in 2025’s True Battle is a perfect sandbox for this theory. The island’s geography naturally creates distinct zones and clear keys. You can’t just march an army from the south to the north easily; you have to go through specific gates.

The first and most obvious set of keys are the major ports: Tainan (Fort Zeelandia), Takao (modern Kaohsiung), and Tamsui in the north. In my playthroughs, controlling Tamsui early was a game-changer. It’s not just a port; it’s the key to the fertile Taipei Basin and the primary gateway for trade and interaction with the Ryukyu Islands and Japan. Whoever holds Tamsui controls the narrative in northern Taiwan. Similarly, Tainan is the historical and economic heartland of the south. But here’s the pro tip: the key isn’t just the port city itself. It’s the combination of the port and the inland agricultural province that directly supplies it. You need to secure that hinterland to make the port truly sustainable and defensible.

The second, and perhaps more subtle, set of keys are the mountain passes and plains. The central mountain range splits Taiwan. The east coast is isolated. The key here is the handful of valleys and trails that connect the west coast plains to the east. Places like the Puli Basin or specific routes near modern-day Hualien become absolutely critical. If you control the west and secure these passes, you can contain any faction on the east coast with a minimal garrison, freeing up your main armies for other fronts. I once saw an AI faction on the east coast become a powerhouse because a human player ignored these inland keys, thinking the coast was the only border that mattered. Big mistake.

To help you visualize the primary strategic keys in the early game, here’s a breakdown based on their primary function:

From Theory to Campaign: A Step-by-Step Key Acquisition Plan

Okay, so you know what a key is and you can look at the map of Taiwan and point to them. Now what? You can’t grab them all at once. The art of the campaign is sequencing—knowing which key to take first, which to secure through diplomacy, and which to temporarily deny to others. This is where your expertise as a commander really comes into play.

Your opening 10-15 turns should be a focused land grab for your first critical key. Which one you choose depends heavily on your starting position. If you start in the south near Tainan, that’s your obvious first target. But don’t just march on the castle. Remember the principle: secure the hinterland first if you can. Raise a quick force, take the surrounding villages to cut off supply and support, then besiege the main prize. The Koei Tecmo official forums (though always check for the most recent True Battle developer diaries) often hint at the special bonuses for holding historical locations, which reinforces this key strategy. If you start in the central plains, your first move might be to

What exactly is a “key” location in Nobunaga’s Ambition, and why is it so important?

A “key” isn’t just any castle or town you capture. Think of it as the ultimate leverage point on the map—a specific port, mountain pass, or economic hub that gives you control over a whole region. When you hold a key, you’re not just getting one more province; you’re unlocking several strategic options for yourself while slamming doors shut on your rivals. It’s like controlling the only bridge across a major river; you decide who and what gets through.

In the Taiwan 2025 scenario, this concept is everything. The island’s geography, with its central mountains and key ports, naturally creates these bottlenecks. Mistaking a big city for the true key is a classic mistake I’ve made before. The real power often lies in a smaller fort that guards the vital route to that city.

How do I identify the most important “keys” on the Taiwan map at the start of a campaign?

You need to look at the map with a specific filter: ask yourself what controls movement and resources. The major ports like Tamsui in the north and Tainan in the south are obvious first-tier keys because they control sea lanes and rich farmland. But don’t overlook the inland choke points.

The passes through the central mountain range, like the area around Puli, are often the real game-changers. Securing one of these early can let you isolate the entire east coast with a single army. Check the terrain closely at the start—the spots where the roads narrow between mountains or at river crossings are your prime candidates.

I understand the theory, but what’s a practical first move to secure a key in the early game?

Your first 10-15 turns should be a focused sprint toward your nearest critical key. If you start in the south, Tainan (Fort Zeelandia) and its surrounding farmland are your target. But don’t charge the main castle immediately. A tactic that worked well for me was to quickly grab the smaller villages in the hinterland first.

This cuts off the castle’s supplies and support, making the eventual siege much faster and saving your troops for the next fight. The goal is to secure the complete “key area”—the main stronghold plus the territories that make it powerful—before your neighbors even realize what you’re doing.

With limited resources, how do I prioritize which “key” to go for first?

It comes down to your starting position and long-term goal. Use the table in the article as a cheat sheet. If you start in the north, Tamsui is a high-priority target to lock down trade. If you start centrally, securing a mountain pass should be your medium-to-high priority to divide the island.

I usually ask myself: “Which key, if I take it now, will give me the most options and cause the most problems for others?” Sometimes, denying a key to a potential rival is as valuable as taking one for yourself, especially in the 1550-1600 timeframe of the game where alliances shift quickly.

Can focusing too much on “keys” leave my other territories vulnerable?

Absolutely, it’s a constant balancing act. Committing your main army to seize a distant key can leave your home provinces exposed. The solution isn’t to avoid keys, but to manage the risk. Before I march, I make sure my borders are fortified with cheap garrison units and my diplomacy is stable—even a temporary truce on one front can free you up.

Also, not every key requires a full-scale invasion. Sometimes, allying with the faction that holds it, especially in the early game, is a smarter move. You can benefit from its strategic effect without the cost of a war, giving you time to consolidate your core lands first.