Stay near your boy zhuge cause he needs constant support and youll want to be ready when he tries to bait sima yi. Ma dai or wei yan are your best picks here since theyre quick enough to handle everything thats coming. Stock up three musou bars, you'll definitely need em when those messengers start running

Take out siege weapons immediately, cause theyll just slow you down later when time really matters. Once sima opens his gate clear out everyone inside before heading back to the center plateau. The real trick is catching those messengers before they reach sima yi, so save your musou dash for when you really need the speed especially climbing those ladders. Bringing some healing items isnt a bad idea, particularly on harder difficulties

Something worth knowing - timing is absolutely crucial here. If youre too slow dealing with those messengers or let the siege weapons stay up too long, zhuge's probably not gonna make it. Watch the map carefully and always be ready to move