Note: This game is also known as - Shin Sangoku Musou 5: Empires

Edit mode costumes - Successfully complete the indicated Mercenary missions in Empire mode to unlock the corresponding male and female costumes. Note: Complete the stages multiple times to unlock all the pieces.

Hawk/Owl: "Shao Hua Bandits", "Ju Zhang Bandits", and "Hei Shan Bandits"
Imperial/Princess: "Guard Lady Cai Wenji", "Accompany Lady Cai Wenji" and "Defend Lady Cai Wenji"
Knight/Unicorn: Successfully complete Empire mode.
Kung Fu/Summer: "Wu Tai Monk's Training", "Wu Tai Monk's Challenge" and "Wu Tai Final Trial"
Occult/Sage: "Stop Insurrection", "Suppress Insurrection" and "Crush Insurrection"
Tribal/Wildcat: "Tribal Encounter", "Tribal Invasion" and "Tribal War"
Water Dragon/Pirate: "Jin Fan Pirates", "Qian Tang Pirates" and "Bai Bo Pirates"

Bonus art - Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding artwork:

Other - All: Unlock all bonus material for Other officers.
Shu - All: Unlock all bonus material for Shu officers.
Wei - All: Unlock all bonus material for Wei officers.
Wu - All: Unlock all bonus material for Wu officers.

Easy costume pieces - Use the following trick to unlock all the costumes pieces without having to replay a level repeatedly. Play a level that unlocks the desired costume. Just before the level ends, select "Option", and save the game on file A. Complete the level to get a random costume piece. Then, save the game on file B. Load save file A, and you will be back on that level. Complete the level again to get another random costume piece. Save the game on file B, load file A, and repeat until all costume pieces are unlocked.

Diao Chan's Plan secret event - When you become a ruler in Empire mode, be wary of the officer Diao Chan. Staying true to her namesake and Story mode, she has only one reason to enter your employ. When obtained, and a message stating, "Hearing of your deeds...." or something to that effect, "...Diao Chan decided to join you", dismiss her. She will steal some of your officers in this random event that you cannot control or stop once in motion, saying "I can finally put my father's plan into action" or something similar. Note: If it instead states "Diao Chan entered your employ", the event most likely should not happen.

Lu Meng's Training special event - When in Ruler mode and you obtain Lu Meng, he asks you to leave on a journey to train and learn. You have no say in the matter, but for a few months, his troop count falls to 1 (as in just himself). You are free to use him, but this is not wise, considering the effects of troop numbers in battles, which is very important compared to Officer mode. When he returns, he obtains a second ability, "Flames" (though it may be random), and his troop count returns to normal.

Weapon upgrade ingredients - Use the following gems to create the corresponding weapon upgrade:

Imbue

Arrow Sight: 1 Steel; 1 Pure Sapphire
Balance: 1 Amber; 1 Pure Gold
Berserk: 1 Sapphire; 1 Pure Malachite
Concentration: 1 Ruby; 1 Pure Topaz
Fire Seal: 3 Moon Silver; 2 Moon Ruby; 1 Phoenix Feathers; 1 Star Ruby
Flash: 9 Star Topaz; 7 Dragon Scales; 5 Dragon Hair; 3 Dragon Claws
Guardian Spirit: 1 Moon Topaz
Ice Seal: 4 Moon Crystal; 2 Moon Jade; 1 Dragon Beard
Leech: 1 Agate; 1 Jade; 1 Pure Crystal; 1 Pure Ruby
Lightning Seal: 4 Moon Sapphire; 2 Star Diamond; 1 Dragon Liver
Mystic Seal: 2 Gold
Phantom Hand: 1 Ruby; 1 Pure Diamond; 1 Pure Steel
Swift Strike: 2 Moon Amber; 1 Moon Malachite; 1 Tiger Claws; 1 Dragon Jaw
True Musou: 2 Silver; 1 Moon Steel; 1 Moon Diamond
Wind Seal: 2 Moon Agate; 1 Star Malachite; 1 Dragon Heart

Special

Blizzard: 4 Star Jade; 4 Star Topaz; 1 Lion Tail; 1 Dragon Liver
Brace: 1 Ruby; 1 Pure Malachite
Double: 1 Malachite; 1 Pure Ruby
Falcon: 2 Star Crystal; 1 Star Gold; 1 Dragon Hair; 1 Dragon Tail
Fire: 2 Sapphire; 1 Pure Malachite; 1 Star Agate
Flames: 5 Star Steel; 2 Star Silver; 1 Phoenix Feathers; 1 Dragon Eye
Focus: 2 Jade; 1 Pure Gold; 1 Pure Crystal
Hide: 2 Diamond; 1 Pure Gold
Ice: 2 Gold; 1 Amber; 1 Pure Jade
Recover: 2 Star Amber; 2 Star Diamond; 1 Dragon Jaw; 1 Dragon Beard
Rockfall: 2 Ruby; 1 Pure Topaz; 1 Star Sapphire
Steal: 1 Topaz; 1 Pure Agate
Stun: 2 Agate; 1 Pure Ruby; 1 Moon Gold
Taunt: 1 Crystal; 1 Pure Silver
True Speed: 1 Malachite; 1 Pure Amber

Bladestorm: Hundred Years War reference - After completing Officer mode you will unlock a Knight armor set. It is the Paladin Set from Bladestorm: Hundred Years War.

Trophies - Successfully complete one of the following tasks to get a trophy:

A Challenger Appears (Bronze): Completed battle as a custom character.
Benevolent Ruler (Bronze): Completed battle as Liu Bei.
Brains and Beauty (Bronze): Completed battle as Yue Ying.
Bringer of Peace (Bronze): Completed battle as Cao Ren.
Cleared All Scenarios (Gold): Reached end of all scenarios.
Cleared Battle of Chi Bi (Silver): Reached end of Battle of Chi Bi scenario.
Cleared Battle of Guan Du (Silver): Reached end of Battle of Guan Du scenario.
Cleared Chaos (Silver): Reached end of Chaos scenario.
Cleared The Three Kingdoms (Silver): Reached end of The Three Kingdoms scenario.
Cleared Yellow Turban Uprising (Silver): Reached end of Yellow Turban Uprising scenario.
Cold As Ice (Bronze): Completed battle as Ling Tong.
Elegant Dancer (Bronze): Completed battle as Diao Chan.
Enchanting Beauty (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhen Ji.
Exquisite Flower (Bronze): Completed battle as Xiao Qiao.
Feared Throughout the Land (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhang Liao.
Fierce Barbarian (Bronze): Completed battle as Wei Yan.
God of War (Bronze): Completed battle as Guan Yu.
Gourmand (Bronze): Completed battle as Xu Zhu.
Grand Master (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhang Jiao.
Hot Blooded (Bronze): Completed battle as Sun Ce.
Jovial Warrior (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhang Fei.
Little Dragon (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhao Yun.
Loyal Companion (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhou Yu.
Man of Vision (Bronze): Completed battle as Cao Cao.
Master of Intrigue (Bronze): Completed battle as Sima Yi.
Master of Strategy (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhuge Liang.
Menace on the Battlefield (Bronze): Completed battle as Dian Wei.
Mightiest in the Land (Bronze): Completed battle as Lu Bu.
Mysterious Traveler (Bronze): Completed battle as Pang Tong.
Nanman King (Bronze): Completed battle as Meng Huo.
One-Eyed Wolf (Bronze): Completed battle as Xiahou Dun.
Paradise of Tyranny (Bronze): Completed battle as Dong Zhuo.
Pillar of Wu (Bronze): Completed battle as Huang Gai.
Proud Nobleman (Bronze): Completed battle as Yuan Shao.
Quick as Lightning (Bronze): Completed battle as Xiahou Yuan.
Refined Warrior (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhang He.
Righteous Crusader (Bronze): Completed battle as Ma Chao.
Rising Star of Wu (Bronze): Completed battle as Lu Xun.
Rough-and-tumble (Bronze): Completed battle as Gan Ning.
Seasoned Veteran (Bronze): Completed battle as Huang Zhong.
Silent Warrior (Bronze): Completed battle as Zhou T.
Son of the God of War (Bronze): Completed battle as Guan Ping.
The Warrior's Art (Bronze): Completed battle as Xu Huang.
Tiger of Jiang Dong (Bronze): Completed battle as Sun Jian.
Tomboy of Sun (Bronze): Completed battle as Sun Shang Xiang.
Triumph of Knowledge (Bronze): Completed battle as Lu Meng.
True Warrior (Platinum): Obtained all trophies.
Unlocked All Bonuses (Gold): Unlocked all bonus material.
Unrivaled Ambition (Bronze): Completed battle as Cao Pi.
Unwavering Honor (Bronze): Completed battle as Taishi Ci.
Young Tiger (Bronze): Completed battle as Sun Quan.