Sima Yi

Sima Yi (onyomi: Shiba I) is an intellectual who is accredited as the ancestral founder of Western Jin. Once he agreed to serve the Cao family, he became one of Cao Pi's close friends and subsequently an influential figure in Wei, cunningly defending himself from his many detractors. Cao Cao and Cao Pi suspected that Sima Yi would never be satisfied serving under another, an opinion which would ring true years later when the Sima family reigned supreme after his death. Romance of the Three Kingdoms depicts him as a conniving individual who was intimidated and infuriated by Zhuge Liang's sagacity. His wife is Zhang Chunhua; Sima Shi and Sima Zhao are his eldest sons.

His Dynasty Warriors counterpart is affiliated with Wei until the inclusion of the Jin faction in the series's seventh entry. Gamecity's Dynasty Warriors 7 character popularity poll has him placed at sixth place. The Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends popularity poll has him as the eighth most popular character. In Famitsu's character survey, he placed eighth in the boss category. The latest poll for the eighth installment puts him in twenty-third. The character poll for overseas fans puts him in second place for the Jin division and thirteenth in the semi-final round.

In Kessen II, his height is 174 cm (half an inch below 5'9").

Role in Games

 * "I didn't think you were a mere slave to power."
 * Mitsunari; Warriors Orochi

Dynasty Warriors
Sima Yi is a scholar who thoroughly believes in his intellect. He appears sometime after Chi Bi (Guan Du in Dynasty Warriors 3 if playing as him) as the master strategist of Wei. After Cao Cao's death, he is often depicted as the leader for Wei and appears in many of the series' decisive battles. He stars in Zhuge Liang's Northern Campaigns, and he is known in most titles to see through Ma Su's plot at Jie Ting. He also correctly reads the sign of his rival's death at Wu Zhang Plains and orders the army to charge. Depending on the title, he may then live to suppress the remnants of Shu and Wu.

His Legend Mode in Dynasty Warriors 4: Xtreme Legends takes place at Mount Qi at the Shang Fang Yu/Valley. Thinking that Wei Yan will feed him with inside information, Sima Yi is led into one of Zhuge Liang's traps. Surrounded by archers and trapped in a fire attack, he is saved by rainfall. With the heavens on his side, he fights his way through perilous odds, which forces Zhuge Liang to issue an all-out attack. Slaying the Shu generals, Sima Yi is able to escape safely.

In Dynasty Warriors 5, Sima Yi was born from a prestigious family and studied his life to become a renowned scholar. Summoned by Cao Cao to join Wei, Sima Yi demonstrates his skills as main strategist at Fan Castle and ask Wu for reinforcements. He serves Cao Pi after his liege's demise and kills Ma Su at Jie Ting. During the conflict, he meets Zhuge Liang and deems the Prime Minister to be his greatest threat. However, when his rival perishes at Wu Zhang Plains, he fears nothing while he crushes the other two kingdoms. With Wei as the land's ruler, it's implied that he plans to overthrow his master in due time.

His Legend Mode in the Xtreme Legends expansion pairs him with Cao Pi and Xu Huang. The trio work together to punish the traitor, Meng Da, at Xin Castle. While he holds himself within the castle's walls, he forces several Wei generals to fight their master. Sima Yi notes their weakened resolve and orders his allies to spark mutiny among Meng Da's troops. Striking the final blow against Meng Da, the defector accuses Sima Yi for false loyalties before he dies. The strategist replies that he is only biding his time.

Cao Cao summons for Sima Yi's talents before the Battle of Chi Bi in Dynasty Warriors 6. Originally bored and unimpressed by the land's chaos, he becomes fascinated by Zhuge Liang's tactics and his experience in battle. As he spends more time with his master, Sima Yi begins to form his own ambitions and image for the land. Consumed with his inner desires, he loses interest with his rival and works to destroy the other two kingdoms. Although ordered to keep watch in Han Zhong for rebellion, Sima Yi stages a coup d'état at Xu Chang with Zhang He and others. Upon murdering Cao Cao, his lord expresses his wishes to make a land for the people with his dying breath. Sima Yi, though acting uninterested, complies with his master's ideals to an extent during his rule.

Dynasty Warriors 7 has Sima Yi appear as a minor character during the Three Kingdoms Story Modes as a supporter for Wei. During Wei's story, he appears as a strategist for Cao Cao during the conquest for Hanzhong. Feeling no remorse for Xiahou Yuan's death, he oversees the alliance with Sun Quan for the sake of slaying Guan Yu. He acts as the main commander at Fan Castle, directing Xiahou Dun's set of objectives on the field. During Shu's Story Mode, he appears as the commander at Wuzhang Plains. Sima Yi also joins the defense at Dongkou in Wu's Story Mode.

In Jin's Story Mode, he begins as Wei's Grand Commander. Shu, Wu, and Wei have lost many heroes due to the war, and their conflicts have lead to an uneasy stalemate. Sima Yi feels the land has become worse than before due to people constantly repeating the same tiring mistakes, deepening the warfare that continues to plague the land. He feels his talents should be used to attend to the wavering situation, but his duty instead dictates he attends to fruitless internal rebellions. Frustrated by witnessing generals act in the endless monotony, he spares no mercy to Gongsun Yuan when he attempts to plead for forgiveness, having him executed for his crimes. Reminiscing of his past battles with Shu, he realizes that Zhuge Liang was the only man worthy to face his intelligence. With his rival gone, Sima Yi feels his role in the wars are futile and withdraws his support for the current Wei emperor, Cao Fang. His retreat from politics allows Cao Shuang, Cao Fang's other influential supporter, to gain prominence in the court. When Cao Shuang orders a half-cocked invasion in Shu, Sima Yi entrusts his son, Sima Zhao, to stop it in its tracks. His son's stunning performance and Cao Shuang's incompetence to try to deal with rumors of Jiang Wei's invasion led to his family gaining a better reputation with those in Wei.

Coping with the fact that there are none living in the world who can match his intelligence, Sima Yi decides that it's his new goal to at least end the cycle of stupidity he despises. After Sima Shi reports that his father is suffering from an illness that doesn't allow for visitors, Sima Yi decides to use this opportunity to kill Cao Shuang. Abhorring Cao Shuang's selfish desires and petty excuses for Wei's future, he has the Grand Commander executed and reclaims his title. Not soon afterwards, Sima Yi and his sons march out to deal with Jiang Wei's invasion at Mt. Niutou. They return to learn of Wang Ling scheming with Wu in an attempt to lower the Sima family's favor to Cao Fang. Sima Yi leads his family to quickly deal with the threat and repels Wu's attempted invasions. Their efforts further instill the Sima family's reputation as an unshakable pedestal in Wei. The constant string of battles take their toll on his body, finally making Sima Yi bedridden with the illness he stubbornly kept hidden from his family. After he passes on the right to lead the family to Sima Shi, Sima Yi dies.

His first Legendary Battle lets players control his side of Wuzhang Plains present in Shu's Story Mode. Sima Yi's second Legendary Battle has him pit a contest between his family and the entire Zhuge family to prove who has the heftiest brainpower between them.

Wei's final chapter in Dynasty Warriors Next marks the appearance of Sima Yi. A contributor to Shu's downfall, he uses the alliance with Wu to have Guan Yu killed and ruins Ma Su's strategy by cutting off his water supply. His perspective of Wuzhang Plains has him predict Zhuge Liang's moves, debunking the latter's faked death and capturing the opposing army's headquarters. Still wary of the Shu strategist's plans, however, he allows his nemesis to retreat until they meet again at Chengdu. During Shu's final scenario, his ambushes mostly serve to distract the player while he sets forth to take their main camp.

Jin's chapter is dedicated to Sima Yi's own unification of the land. Remembering Cao Pi's last words to him, he and his followers stage a rebellion against Cao Shuang's faction to control Wei. With him at the helm, the kingdom is able to rebuild its military power. After having Sima Shi delay Wu's advance, he entrusts the invasion of Shu's capital to Sima Zhao who leaves nothing to chance for his father's well-being. Their conquest of Shu gives Sima Yi closure over his rivalry with Zhuge Liang. Eager to end Wu with his own hands, he personally thwarts the enemy's diversionary tactics and slays Sun Quan. He then forces the Wei Emperor to abdicate while establishing the Jin Dynasty to rule over the entire land. Having proved his belief that those with intellect reign supreme, he goes on to rally his troops outside the palace while doing his trademark laugh.

In the eighth installment, Sima Yi first appears in both Wei and Shu's story, often appearing to fight against Zhuge Liang during the latter's northern campaigns. In the alternate paths of both Shu and Wu, Sima Yi is often seen with his family defending Wei and loyally serving both Cao Cao and Cao Pi.

In Jin's story, Sima Yi starts at Wuzhang Plains, having heard of Zhuge Liang's passing. He, together with his family, charge and defeat the retreating Shu forces. Disappointed at the death of, perhaps, the only man that could truly challenge him, Sima Yi explains at how he and his sons need to hone their talents in order to gain supremacy over the untalented. He is once again angered by the increase of untalented men thinking highly of themselves, and is quick to put down Gongsun Yuan's rebellion. Shortly after he leaves his sons to work on politics, but after seeing Cao Shuang's incompetence, decides to temporarily rebel against the Cao. After killing Cao Shuang, he declares his retirement from politics, and soon disappears alongside his wife in Jin's story.

In the alternate path, he continues to live peacefully under retirement, however his retirement is cut short thanks to Zhong Hui rebelling, and is forced to put it down at the behest of his wife. He then defeats the traitorous general, and decides to once again reenter politics. Like many Jin officers, he participates in the final battle at Chibi.

In Shu's story, Sima Yi leads an assault unit at Chibi and meets Zhuge Liang for the first time. Just before retreating, Sima Yi alludes to Xu Shu having joined the Wei forces. In the historical route Sima Yi faces Zhuge Liang and the Shu forces at Wuzhang Plains. He falls for Zhuge Liang's faked death and is defeated by the Shu forces. This eventually turns into a victory for Sima Yi as Zhuge Liang indeed passes away during the fight. This ending leads directly to the Jin storyline.

Shu's hypothetical route has Sima Yi arrive at Fan Castle alongside Xiahou Dun as the Wei forces are being driven back. They attempt to restart the failed flood attack only to withdraw. At Luoyang, Sima Yi springs a trap to divide the Shu forces lead by Jiang Wei. He also joins Wei's last stand at Xuchang where he is slain alongside Cao Pi and Zhenji.

In Wu's hypothetical route, Sima Yi and his family appear defending Runan from the Wu forces lead by Lu Su. Despite setting numerous traps and ambushes, Sima Yi is defeated and flees to Xuchang. Sima Yi fights the attacking Wu forces when they invade Xuchang but complies when Cao Pi surrenders. Sima Yi appears with his his wife and Li Dian as representatives of Wei at the banquet celebrating Sun Quan's new alliance between the three kingdoms.

Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed has Sima Yi appear in the Chibi campaign as an enemy officer. The player is tasked with keeping him from ruining Zhuge Liang's prayer ceremony.

Sima Yi's bond story starts off with him submitting to Cao Cao under the threat of death. Unenthusiastic at first, he starts to harbor ambitious ideas after working with Cao Pi to catch Meng Da. It grows to the point that he launches a coup against the incompetent Cao Shuang to centralize power for himself and his family. His story ends with Wang Ling and Linghu Yu plotting to oust Sima Yi behind his back only for him to hear wind of their true intentions.

Sima Yi's story in Dynasty Warriors 9 begins shortly after Xiahou Yuan's death at Hanzhong. With the soldiers in disarray, Sima Yi moves to help Zhang He gather the army's remains. Thanks to their stiff fight at Hanzhong, Guan Yu mobilizes his men to Fan Castle, and Sima Yi is sent to aid in the castle's defense while Hanzhong is given up.

Slaying Guan Yu at the end, Sima Yi briefly speaks with Cao Cao before his death, and the two speak about Cao Pi's growth. Sima Yi notes that while the prince has the same desire for peace, his methods are far different from each his father's. Shortly after their discussion, Cao Cao passes to illness. Hoping for a more aggressive stance against Shu after Liu Bei's death, Sima Yi proposes an invasion on five fronts while Zhuge Liang is sick. To his surprise, he finds his rival well and able, and Wu's halfhearted support eventually leads to a battle between them and Wu at Guangling.

After Guangling, however, Cao Pi falls ill and dies shortly after Cao Xiu's defeat at Shiting, and power is now in the hands of Cao Rui. Lamenting his lord's death, Sima Yi moves to disrupt his rival's northern campaign at Tianshui. While he is victorious, false rumors and jealous officials like He Yan slander Sima Yi into a brief retirement. As Zhuge Liang launches another campaign in Wuzhang Plains, Cao Rui secretly recalls Sima Yi back into action. Shortly after, Zhuge Liang dies in his final campaign.

Achieving even more success by suppressing Gongsun Yuan, Sima Yi's influence begins to threaten the Cao family, especially after Cao Rui's passing, and Cao Shuang leads an attack on Mt. Xingshi against Sima Yi's advice regarding the circumstances of the situation and both Cao Shuang and Sima Yi being assigned to look over Wei with Cao Fang still too young to claim the Wei Imperial throne yet. Predictably, though Wei secures Hanzhong, Cao Shuang wants to go all the way to Chengdu, but is finally convinced to withdraw by Xiahou Xuan. Nevertheless, he refuses to take responsibility of the loss and proceeds to waste the treasury on pointless hunts. Using his trip away as an opportunity, Sima Yi launches a coup d'etat, taking Luoyang, and capturing Cao Shuang. While Cao curses the strategist for attacking him even though he is an official of Wei, Sima Yi responds by saying that it is exactly because he is an official of Wei that he reprimanded the man. Not wishing to have Cao Cao and Cao Pi's work be in vain, Sima Yi executes Cao Shuang, with Sima Yi's eldest son, Sima Shi, delivering the executional blow to end Cao Shuang's life, even as Cao Shuang condemns them as traitors after the Wei Imperial throne he believes is rightfully his before being silenced.

Cao Shuang's execution, however, leads to a great uprising at Shouchun led by Wang Ling. Breaking the man's rebellion from within, Sima Yi triumphs and returns back to Wei. While many officials cower before him, he meets his sons to talk about the late Cao Cao. Surprised that his master, who knew fully well the strategist's own ambitions, still picked him for his talent, Sima Yi notes that Cao Cao's only miscalculation was Cao Pi's early demise. Learning from their mistakes, Sima Yi urges his sons to raise worthy heirs long after he is gone.

During Zhong Hui's personal DLC, the general submits himself to Sima Yi during the revolt against Cao Shuang, and Sima Yi orders him to deal with Jiang Wei's forces at the border to prevent any attempt to take advantage of Wei's chaos. When Xiahou Ba attempts to escape, Zhong Hui offers to persuade him to return as the general wasn't at Luoyang when Cao Shuang was killed and couldn't immediately be linked to the Sima family, a proposition Sima Yi accepts. Following this incident, Sima Yi learns that Wang Ling is attempting to defect, something that grieves Guo Huai, but Wang Ling is defeated before he can make a rebellion by Zhong Hui.

Aware of Zhong Hui's ambitions, Sima Yi mirrors the late Cao Pi by encouraging Zhong Hui to pursue his own ambitions. When the general asks what of the strategist's sons, Sima Yi simply replies that if his sons cannot match Zhong Hui's talent, they are not the ones fit to rule the land. Like in the main story, Sima Yi passes away shortly after, leaving control to Sima Shi.

In Cao Pi's scenario, Sima Yi retains his position at the helm of Wei's western front during his lord's attack on the Wu forces at Yiling and the capture of Liu Bei at Baidi Castle. As Cao Pi begins marching for Shu from the south, Sima Yi predicts a rebellion from Meng Da and Xu Shu and promptly pulls his troops back, much to the suspicions of many Wei officers. To his delight, Cao Pi sees the true the intention of the strategist and assists him in dealing with the rebels before officially taking control of the battle against Ma Chao at Hanzhong. Following the fall of Hanzhong and the annexation of Shu, Sima Yi continues to support Cao Pi in his final expeditions against Wu. Like other key subordinates, Cao Pi orders them to do as they please should he meet an abrupt end.

He retains his role as a defender of Wei during Fa Zheng's personal DLC, still acting as the enemy commander in the altered Wuzhang Plains. During Lu Su's personal DLC, he acts as Cao Pi's main strategist and launches an attack on Jing Province in an attempt to turn the tide against the Wu and Shu forces.

Warriors Orochi
In the first game, Sima Yi serves Orochi faithfully, gladly breaking his bonds with Wei in spite of Cao Pi's desertion and will work alongside Zhuge Liang and Dong Zhuo against the prince at Yamazaki. He can join the Samurai forces during one of their gaiden stages. If the player successfully executes the two fleeing officers, therefore ruining Sima Yi's trap, he will be in awe of the coalition's genius and joins their cause.

Warriors Orochi 2 has Sima Yi first working for Masamune's army. During the Samurai storyline, he faces the Sakon's forces at Changban and is outwitted by Shingen. Impressed by Shingen's tactics, he decides to accompany them. In other faction story modes, he will survive to serve Orochi X. His dream stage teams him with Mitsunari and Masamune. The trio unite their strategies at Xia Pi to drive the coalition back.

Sima Yi is first seen in the past in Warriors Orochi 3. He and Cao Pi once led an army of followers to surround and defeat Da Ji at Tong Gate. Following this, Sima Yi mentioned that he was once stationed at Luo Castle but was surrounded by a demon army. Because of this, he requested for reinforcements from Guo Jia, who subsequently took control of the castle for Sima Yi. Like many other officers, Sima Yi was among those that went missing or were killed during the Hydra's appearance.

The Coalition forces under Sima Zhao and other Wei officers from the future soon arrive and aid Da Ji against the Wei army at Tong Gate. Although he and Cao Pi are genuinely convinced of the Coalition's intent, neither are able to provide direct support as they are key figures in Wei, but they do send Sima Shi, Xu Zhu and Mitsunari Ishida to join the Coalition. He later joins the other officers in aiding the Takeda-Uesugi alliance at Shizugatake, but is defeated once again. He fights against the Coalition a final time at Fan Castle, and after their defeat, Cao Cao allies himself with the Coalition and sends messengers to unite the other warlords. Joining Cao Pi and Sima Zhao at Hulao Gate, they are tasked with eliminating the Hydra's heads that have emerged in the area, where they are the first to utilize the Yashio'ori.

Upon learning that Guo Jia was nowhere to found in the future after he moved to Luo Castle, Sima Yi opted to have the Coalition's help in defeating the demon army at Luo Castle, thereby removing Guo Jia's reason to leave. Taking control of the Coalition in the altered Fan Castle, Sima Yi is able to see through Guo Jia's strategies and captures him after the battle. When Kaguya explains what they had done to keep him from leaving, Guo Jia is happy to join the Coalition.

As a member of the coalition in the future, he and Masamune seek to investigate a strange rumor of a "girl within a box" within the Yellow Turbans' possession. Their search leads to Gracia and Zhang Jiao joining humanity's cause. He also assists the coalition in locating Guo Jia's whereabouts in the past. Later Sima Yi and his entourage return to the past to search for Wang Yi, an acquaintance whose talents on the battlefield perks his interest for her recruitment. Although she is ashamed by her revenge marring his trust in her, Sima Yi is still adamant in his acceptance for her.

In the downloadable stage, "Domestic Disputes", Sima Yi stops various husbands and wives from arguing and has them work together to fight the demon army.

In Ultimate, Sima Yi continues to serve Wei, and helps Cao Pi attack the Oda forces at Nanjun after a fake Nobunaga accompanies and aids Da Ji. He also travels back to Fu Xi's past, and helps assist in rescuing the Heavenly Emperor when Orochi first spawned.

Warriors Orochi 4 places him and his wife as Wei's representatives in their alliance with the Date and the Oda. When Liu Bei's rebel army attacks Sima Yi and the Date, they are defeated by the sudden arrival of Zhuge Liang and Guan Yu's forces. After which, both parties pledge allegiance to Liu Bei's cause. Sima Yi later accompanies Liu Bei's men as they attempt to rescue Naotora and Yukimura from the strategist's children. He and Mitsuhide lead an army to rescue the Mystic Kaguya during one of the stages and manage to add her along with Zhang Liao, Ling Tong, and Gan Ning into their ranks. He later works alongside Cao Pi and Mitsunari at Guandu when Odin emerges.

In one of the side stages, he comes up with a plan to test his son, an idea supported by Tadakatsu, Zhang Fei, and Naotora, who want to challenge their respective children. He challenges Zhao by unleashing ambush troops hidden around him.

Dynasty Tactics
Dynasty Tactics has Sima Yi be Cao Cao's second strategist after Guo Jia possibly dies. In one scenario, while charged with Xu Chang's protection, Sima Yi betrays Wei and leads a group of rebels. After the rebellion fails, Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang, and Liu Bei are executed without trial.

Kessen
Sima Yi is a confident and talented magician for Wei in Kessen II. He serves as a strategist and adviser for Cao Cao. He is first seen strutting into Cao Cao's throne room midway through the game, wondering why he can't find the "great hero of the land". He bluntly ventures that Cao Cao is the cause of the land's natural disasters as they continue due to the conqueror's selfish desires. He states that the lord will lose to Liu Bei if this continues, which gets an angered response from Cao Cao. Sword drawn to the offender, he growls for his name to which Sima Yi politely bows and introduces himself. Cao Cao likes the sorcerer's fearless nature and recruits him on the spot. His battle strategy is one of the best ways to fend off an angry Ma Chao.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms
Within the Romance of the Three Kingdoms series, Sima Yi is among the best overall officers of the era with all of his stats save for War being within the 90's mark and is further distinguished in the series for possessing the highest Leadership stat, often 1 mark above either Cao Cao or Zhou Yu. Found as a free officer prior to the events at Guandu usually around Luoyang, later scenarios will have Sima Yi appear as a high-ranking officer of Cao Pi with whom he is specifically loyal to. In the fictional "Gathering of Heroes" scenario, Sima Yi is the leader of his own faction that is composed of his family members, Jia Chong, Jiang Ji, Yang Hu and Du Yu.

The fourteenth instalment in the series gives Sima Yi the unique character trait, Veracious which increases the length of time nearby enemy units are inflicted with status ailments. Sima Yi's unique battle tactic, Inscrutable Schemes inflicts several status ailments and decreases the morale of nearby enemy units.

Development
Tomohiko Sho was the main planner for Dynasty Warriors 3 and the one who redesigned Wuzhang Plains in this game. While he was reworking the stage, he wrote Sima Yi's quote for the cutscene where the player character taunts him to lower Wei's morale. Sho remarks that that one change solidified his personality for the rest of the series.

Personality
Originally introduced as a calm and gloomy strategist, Sima Yi eventually became a man who is more arrogant and conniving. He is known for his maniacal laughter and insulting friend and foe alike as "Fool!" or "Imbecile!". He doesn't truly believe in Cao Cao but is always eager to exploit every opportunity given to him. Prideful of his intellect and believing that he has an unsurpassed wit, he regards Zhuge Liang as a worthy opponent. In more recent titles, Sima Yi does show more genuine loyalty towards both Cao Cao and Cao Pi, deeming that the two were worthy of having him serve them. As a possible foil to Zhuge Liang's dragon motif, later games have others compare Sima Yi to a cunning wolf akin to his historical and/or fictional-self as nothing seems to escape his view.

As the series progresses, Sima Yi loses most of his original sinister aspects while his reasons for wanting to rule and welfare the land are more shined upon. Sima Yi solely believes in both true wit and talent being the qualities needed as opposed to a chosen birthright; this in turn makes Sima Yi feel that only a person such as himself can be trusted with the affairs of ruling the land, though he still retains his habit of looking down on others who fail to meet his standards and is not afraid to show his abrasiveness towards faulty logic.

While usually known to be contemptuous and seemingly shallow, Sima Yi can also be easily humiliated when he can't predict the results of his actions (and also causes him to be a bit overly cautious/defensive when deciding his strategies). This mainly occurs during the spin-off titles in the Dynasty Warriors series, such as the mahjong title and Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires. Recent titles has him display this feature openly with Wang Yi, or Wang Yuanji, since both women easily see through him. He is very proud of Sima Shi and Sima Zhao, though he is frustrated at the latter's lack of motivation. Sima Yi is quite fearful of his wife, as she can easily pressure him into making decisions which overall makes him rather henpecked, though he does know that she does have the best of intentions in mind. The eighth title also shows that Sima Yi shares his eldest son's love for meat buns.

He trusts Zhang He's versatility for his plans and relies on him during the later parts of the Three Kingdoms period. In his debut, Cao Pi shared a loosely trusted relationship with Sima Yi, and the prince refers to the strategist by his style name in the Asian scripts, though more recent titles give Sima Yi more loyalty to Cao Pi. Sima Yi is fascinated with Cao Pi's abilities and generally finds him a better ruler than his father. In the Warriors Orochi series, he offers special praise for Sakon, Kojirō, Gracia, Mitsuhide, Aya, and Kiyomori. Warriors Orochi 3 he shares additional rivalries with Masamune and Da Ji. Even in the said series, his selfish reasons for serving Orochi are not mentioned in the third title. One conversation has Masamune also specifically tries to scare Sima Yi into turning his head around 180 degrees according to a myth he overheard, which Sima Yi himself is greatly offended by.

In the fourth title, Sima Yi is constantly confounded by Hisahide Matsunaga's attempts to have him embrace being a "villain" and is unable to understand the daimyō's eccentricity. He sees parallels between both his wife and Aya, including their particularly harsh methods of discipline and overbearingness.

Character Symbolism
In the Japanese version of Dynasty Warriors 4: Empires, Sima Yi is given the nickname of "Brain of the Darkness" while the English version changes it to "The Strategist who Saw the Future". As a dominant ruler in Dynasty Warriors 5: Empires, he along with Cao Cao, Jiang Wei, and Dong Zhuo call their five greatest warriors the "Five Great Generals".

Sima Yi's fans (and later on, his horsehair whips) are named to contrast Zhuge Liang's throughout the Dynasty Warriors series, the most obvious example being the black fan he wields as his third weapon to contrast Zhuge Liang's white fan. His fourth weapon is originally named after the Qiongqi, a mythical beast in legends whose name literally means "Destitute Strangeness" that may ode to its one description of its appearance being a tiger with wings; thus, Sima Yi may be designated with the beast to contrast Zhuge Liang's nickname as a dragon. The original fifth weapon on the other hand, is a Japanese homophone named in ode to this which is rendered as "Qiong'gui" (lit. "Destitute Ogre") instead in pinyin.

His level 11 weapon is named after Suanxing, which is a name for the three-legged bird in Shan Hai Jing that literally means "Sour Interest". Within Chinese mythology, these birds are a symbol for the sun and were once responsible for dictating the path of ten suns in the sky. When all ten suns happened to pass over the land simultaneously, the lands were set ablaze. Since the birds travel west to make the sun set, it conflicts with Sima Yi's rival, whose same ranked weapon pairs Zhuge Liang with Qinglong of the East. Alternatively, it may be a reference to Sima Yi's relationship with Wei and his gradual departure from it.

The English translations for his claws in the sixth title are accurate, but they omit the personification attached to them from their original names. Within the Asian ports, each weapon is affiliated with a character that may be used for sound or musical rhythm. In other words, his weapons are meant to invoke the imagery of people screaming in agony, as though Sima Yi were conducting a "symphony" to their suffering.

The aforementioned conversation with Masamune in the third Orochi installment nods to the famous myth of Sima Yi being able to turn his head around 180 degrees akin to an owl, dubbed as the "wolf looks behind" (狼顧). Sima Yi was often symbolized with being a wolf who is able to gaze at anyone with eyes akin to an eagle, due to wolves that often turn own heads in a fashion to a degree of being completely aware of current events and surroundings akin to having eyes on the back of their heads.

Cao Cao himself wanted to see this rumor to be true or not according to one ancedote in Sima Yi's own biography in the Book of Jin, where he called out Sima Yi's name one time and the man then did the famed head-turn towards Cao Cao. That very event then cemented Sima Yi as "hiding a great ambition" with Cao Cao growing cautious of him, and with Cao Pi's later commentary adding that Sima Yi likely had no intention of staying as a mere servant during his life; even Cao Zhi expressed concern towards Cao Rui in a letter regarding Sima Yi.

Sima Yi's own ending in Dynasty Warriors 9 however, plays with head-turning-myth in full by having him possess great neck-flexibility, to the point of unhinging his own sons as they apparently did not inherit such a trait.

In the Asian ports of Warriors Orochi, Sima Yi personal item is Sima Fa or The Methods of the Sima, one of the seven military classics of ancient China. Sima Xian is not one of the argued authors of the work though Sima Ranju, a general of the Qi state, is among them. Whether he actually wrote the histories and theories within the documents are still unknown.

Voice Actors

 * Paul Lucas - Dynasty Warriors 2 (English)
 * Lex Lang - Dynasty Warriors 4 (English-uncredited)
 * Richard Cansino - Dynasty Warriors 5, Kessen II, Warriors Orochi series; first and second games only (English-uncredited)
 * Kyle Hebert - Dynasty Warriors 6~8 (English-uncredited)
 * D. Padraic - Dynasty Warriors 9 (English)
 * Ralph Lister - Kessen 2 (English-uncredited)
 * Richard Epcar - Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (English-uncredited)
 * Xu Jianchun - Dynasty Warriors 3 (Chinese)
 * Jin Li - Dynasty Warriors 9 (Chinese)
 * Choi Byeong Sang - Dynasty Warriors 2 (Korean)
 * Lee Won-Jun - Dynasty Warriors 3 (Korean)
 * Jeong Myeong-Jun - Dynasty Warriors 4~5 (Korean)
 * Lee Sang-hun - Dynasty Warriors: Unleashed (Korean)
 * Kang Guhan - Romance of the Three Kingdoms: The Legend of Cao Cao (Korean)
 * Tsuyoshi Takishita - Dynasty Warriors and Warriors Orochi series; last work being Shin Sangoku Musou 7 Character Song Shu IV ~Jin~ (Japanese)
 * Ryōtarō Okiayu - Dynasty Warriors 8 Empires~9, Warriors Orochi 4 (Japanese)
 * Hirohiko Kakegawa - Dynasty Tactics series (Japanese)
 * Shinichiro Ota - Kessen II (Japanese)
 * Rokurō Naya - Romance of the Three Kingdoms drama CD series
 * Gō Shinomiya - Sangokushi Legion
 * Kotori Shigemoto - Youkai Sangokushi (Japanese)
 * Kenjiro Tsuda - Sangokushi Hadou (Japanese)
 * Katsuhiko Sasaki - Sangokushi Three Kingdoms TV series

Quotes

 * See also: Sima Yi/Quotes


 * "Fuhahahahaha! An obvious result for the leader of the Sima clan!"
 * "Mwahahahaha! For me to be able to gather this number of votes. Looks like in this world... not all are foolish commoners who couldn't measure my talent."
 * There are five options available during battle: fight, defend, flee, surrender, or death. Only one of those remains for Gongsun Yuan!"


 * "Your eyes... they burn like one who would stop at nothing to seize this land. In fact, you may be an even greater danger than Cao Pi."
 * "And what, may I ask, are you going to do about it?"
 * "You have to ask? I'm going to defeat you!"
 * Sun Jian and Sima Yi; Dynasty Warriors 5


 * "Hey you! Isn't the land big enough for the both of us?!"
 * "You simpleton! It will only be big enough when it is all mine!"
 * "Yeah, I thought so. Well, we'll just have to do something about that! For the land and those we swore bonds of friendship with!"
 * Meng Huo and Sima Yi; Dynasty Warriors 5: Xtreme Legends


 * "That Zhuge Liang never learns. Now he's gathered an army for another northern campaign..."
 * "There is something to be said for being persistent, but he just never gives up. But your tactics and my men will put an end to him at last."
 * "Indeed. This battle will determine once and for all who has the finer tactical mind."
 * Sima Yi and Zhang He; Dynasty Warriors Vol. 2


 * "Foolishness! You're saying that... the land can survive without the Han or the Emperor?"
 * "What good does your knowledge do you? Have you never questioned the antique structures of the past?"
 * Sima Yi and Cao Cao; Dynasty Warriors 6


 * "My lord, you're like ambition personified. Just how far are you intending on going?"
 * "You misunderstand me. My purpose is to rid the land of fools. That is all."
 * "Hahaha, I like your attitude. So for you, power is merely a bonus you get along the way? If so, then I'll do all I can to help."
 * Jia Xu and Sima Yi; Dynasty Warriors 7


 * "It seems the Shu forces have begun to retreat. Master Sima Yi, give us the order to pursue them!"
 * "No... We won't be chasing after them."
 * "...With all due respect, may I ask why, my lord? The Shu forces are in shambles thanks to your brilliant strategy. I believe we should finish them off."
 * "Yes, but we failed to kill Zhuge Liang. Things are more difficult as long as he's still alive. I'm sure this retreat is part of his plans."
 * Cao Ren and Sima Yi; Dynasty Warriors Next


 * "My lord husband... I heard you were ill."
 * "I feel terrible. I won't be able to get much done today."
 * "That is unfortunate. Well then, I shall bring you some of my special medicinal tea."
 * "Ugh... Anything but that. If that's my only choice, I'd rather admit that I'm faking it."
 * Zhang Chunhua and Sima Yi; Dynasty Warriors 8


 * "The great strategist...? But you've got such a mean, twisted little face..."
 * "Do you expect me to be angered by a taunt like that, you little fool?!"
 * "Oh no, I could never anger you. You're just the picture of serenity."
 * Hideyoshi and Sima Yi; Warriors Orochi


 * "Haha! Did you really think you could defeat me with such infantile tricks? Imbeciles!"
 * "Imbeciles!"
 * "I'm not saying it."
 * Sima Yi, Masamune, and Mitsunari; Warriors Orochi 2


 * "Sima Yi, I thought you of all people would be enjoying this more."
 * "Silence! If not for your meddling, I would have achieved a crushing victory."
 * Da Ji and Sima Yi; Musou OROCHI Z


 * "There is no shame in fearing me, Sima Yi. Why not disguise yourself as a woman and flee?"
 * "You must be pretty desperate to think I would respond to such taunts, Zhuge Liang."
 * Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi; Dynasty Tactics 2


 * "Lord Cao Cao, observe those around you. You have more loyal commanders than the sky has stars. They have pledged their lives to you yet you do not realize this. No, you're only thinking of yourself. Your glory, your supposed greatness."
 * Sima Yi; Kessen II

Gameplay

 * See also: Sima Yi/Movesets‎‎

Weapons

 * See also: Sima Yi/Weapons

Dynasty Warriors 8
Sima Yi now uses the horsehair whip as his default weapon in this title.

Historical Information
Sima Yi began his career as Secretary of Literature under Lord Cao after the pacification of the north. His first military assignment was against Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Sima Yi’s strategies were a success and Lord Cao was greatly impressed.

After Cao Cao, and his son, Cao Pi passed away and Cao Rui stepped up to the throne, Zhuge Liang started his expeditions to the north. In 227, Meng Da attempted to defect back to Shu. After hearing this, Cao Rui sent Sima Yi to Xincheng to stop Meng Da from defecting. The battle killed Meng Da in the process and Sima Yi was given much praise. Starting from the year 228, Cao Zhen led the defense against Zhuge Liang while Sima Yi led the strategies for the battles.

In the year 230, Cao Zhen passed away and Sima Yi took command against Zhuge Liang. Also in 231, Sima Yi finally faced Zhuge Liang's armies in battle. Sima Yi was mocked by his generals during the battle for not facing Zhuge Liang's men directly in battle. Furious, Sima Yi sent his men but was defeated easily. Sima Yi didn't falter and waited for Zhuge Liang to retreat. Indeed, Zhuge Liang retreated due to lack of supplies and Zhang He was sent by Sima Yi but was killed at Mumen Trail after being ambushed by Zhuge Liang's men.

In 234, Zhuge Liang began his final expedition to the north and met Sima Yi's men at Wuzhang Plains. During this time, Zhuge Liang sent a message to Sun Quan to attack Hefei in which Sun Quan accepted. Zhuge Liang attempted to force Sima Yi out of the Wei's main camp but none of the attempts worked. Sima Yi's men were getting impatient and Sima Yi requested to Cao Rui to engage the Shu forces. In response, Cao Rui sent one of his strategists, Xin Pi, to tell them to be patient. In time Sima Yi sensed that Zhuge Liang wouldn't live long due his rival's attempts of forcing him out of the camp. Sun Quan was defeated at Hefei due to a mysterious plague causing his men to fell to illness. Wu's defeat caused Zhuge Liang stress and fell to illness in Autumn 234 and died weeks later.

Sima Yi sensed his rival's death and quickly attacked the Shu's Forces. Even though they were quickly charging to the Shu's main camp, Sima Yi felt that Zhuge Liang's death was fake and ordered his men to go back to camp and Shu retreated safely.

During the Reign of Cao Fang; Sima Yi was appointed as Prime Minister and received the Nine Dignities from Cao Fang. Sima Yi placed his sons Zhao and Shi in high positions and took away power or killed anyone who still supported the Cao Family. Also during Fang's reign, Sima Yi started a rebellion which caused Wei's regent, Cao Shuang, to step down. Sima Yi took position as regent later on and his sons, after his death, gave high contributions to Wei including Shu's fall during Sima Zhao's reign in 263.

As regent, he quelled a rebellion led by Wang Ling assisted by Wu at Shouchun. After the long battle, Sima Yi fell ill and Sima Shi became his heir to his position.

Sima Yi died in 251 AD and was succeeded by son, Sima Shi. Fourteen years later, his grandson Sima Yan usurped the throne and established the Jin Dynasty.

An extremely common myth about Sima Yi out of him being too untrustworthy was him being able to turn his head all the way around akin to an owl (180 degrees), which was often used as a form of negative connotation to tie him to being akin to a wolf who could gaze at anyone with the eyes of an eagle (pertaining to the fact that nothing seems to escape his perception).

Other rumors in regards to Sima Yi's motivations were often referring to him as a selfish man, yet there was fairly clear evidence in historical texts with him being fairly close to Cao Pi as well as emphasizing with the common people in their plights. It is also safe to say that the rivalry between him and Zhuge Liang wasn't as existent as fictional works make it out to be.

Gallery
Warriors series=

Trivia

 * In Koei-Tecmo's Tokyo Game Show 2015 Cosplay Contest the cosplayer Hinagiku cosplayed as Dynasty Warriors 8 Sima Yi and won the Koei-Tecmo special award.
 * His nickname with Japanese Dynasty Warriors fans is "Shibaiderman" (シバイダーマン, Shibaidāman; its Chinese/English reading would be "Sima Yi-derman"), a portmanteau of his name and "Spider-Man" as a result of his weapon in Dynasty Warriors 6 looking like strings sprouting from his fingers.