"Everywhere the cats have been, there are layers upon layers of history - some known, some long-forgotten, and some discovered in the most unexpected ways - laid down by the paw steps of many generations. What shaped the lives of these proud and noble warriors? Come, walk among them for a while, and listen to their stories..."

— Narrator introducing in The Ultimate Guide, page 1

The Ultimate Guide is the sixth Warriors Field Guide. It features updated profiles and full-colored artwork about noteworthy characters in the series.

Dedication

Dedicated to the following Clanmates who have proved themselves to be the ULTIMATE Warriors Fans: Cameron Dresdner, Kelly Freer, Dailey Jackson, Ellie Lang-Ree, Cassidy Stoler, Danielle Truxhall, Audra Young.

Blurb

Step inside the Warriors world with the ultimate guide to the cats and Clans.

• Profiles on more than seventy-five of the most important warrior cats.
• An insider look at each of the Clans.
• Never-before-seen stories about how Bramblestar and Tigerstar received their nine lives.

And more!

Summary

Following the format of Cats of the Clans, this book features most of the cats mentioned there, alongside many new ones. All of them feature updated biographies, and some of them have even undergone changes in their artwork.

The book tells a story of each Clan and various cats from those Clans. It describes major events in the cats' lives as well as why the cat is special and the reasons behind the events. It doesn't give a bias, but makes suggestions as to different destinies to some characters if an event had not happened.

Format and content

Most of the book is of the narrator telling the stories in first-person view, however Bramblestar's Nine Lives: The Return of the Heroes and Tigerstar's Nine Lives: StarClan Makes Its Choice is narrated by the leaders receiving the nine lives. The Introduction is one page long, and each Clan introduction is two pages long. This is followed by two or three pages on a cat (or group of cats) that first features a full-color illustration then a descriptive text for the remainder.

Cats described

The Clans and the cats described in the book are as follows:

ThunderClan:

Bluestar; Pinestar; Goosefeather and Featherwhisker; Firestar; Spottedleaf; Graystripe and Millie; Sandstorm; Brightheart and Cloudtail; Yellowfang; Cinderpelt; Leafpool; Squirrelflight; Brambleclaw; Ashfur; Lionblaze; Hollyleaf; Jayfeather; Cinderheart; Dovewing; Ivypool; Briarlight.

ShadowClan:

Raggedstar; Sagewhisker; Runningnose and Littlecloud; Brokenstar; Nightstar; Tigerstar; Blackstar; Russetfur; Boulder; Tawnypelt; Flametail.

WindClan:

Tallstar; Onestar; Mudclaw; Crowfeather; Nightcloud and Breezepelt; Heathertail.

RiverClan:

Crookedstar; Mapleshade; Silverstream; Leopardstar; Oakheart; Mistystar and Stonefur; Feathertail; Hawkfrost; Mothwing and Willowshine.

SkyClan:

Cloudstar and Skywatcher; Leafstar; Echosong; Sharpclaw.

Tribe of Rushing Water:

Teller of the Pointed Stones; Brook Where Small Fish Swim and Stormfur; Crag Where Eagles Nest.

The Early Settlers:

Half Moon, also known as Stoneteller; Gray Wing; Clear Sky; Jagged Peak; Thunder; Storm and Turtle Tail; Tall Shadow; Dappled Pelt and Cloud Spots; Wind Runner; Gorse Fur; River Ripple; Moth Flight.

Animals Outside the Clans:

Ravenpaw and Barley; Princess and Smudge; Scourge and Bone; Sol; Rock; Fallen Leaves; Midnight.

The book also contains six maps - Forest illustration, Forest diagram, Lake illustration, Lake diagram, Gorge illustration, Gorge diagram - two stories on Tigerstar's and Bramblestar's Leader ceremonies and an excerpt from The Sun Trail.

Trivia

Author statements

• Vicky has stated on her Facebook that this book follows the "template" of Cats of the Clans, but contains updated summaries and histories for the characters mentioned, and also features new characters not shown in the previous book. Vicky has also said that this book is not a repackaged version of previous field guides, and contains all new material, save for some reused artwork.^[5]

Mistakes

A compiled list of the errors present in The Ultimate Guide can be found here.

Publication history

English editions

• The Ultimate Guide (EN), HarperCollins (hardcover), 5 November 2013^[6]
• The Ultimate Guide (EN), HarperCollins (e-book) 5 November 2013^[7]

Foreign editions

• Память племён (RU), OLMA Media Group (hardcover), 9 July 2015, translated by Veronica Maksimova^[8][9]
• Alt om kattene (NO), Juritzen jr. (hardcover), 12 October 2017, translated by Kari Wille Rekdal^[10]
• 终极指南 (CN), China Children's Publishing House (paperback), April 2022^[11]
• 얼티밋 가이드 (KO), Garamchild (hardcover, e-book), 30 December 2023, translated by Seo Hyun-Jeong^[12]
• Den ultimata guiden (SE), Bokfabriken (hardcover), 22 September 2025, translated by Elin Pirttimaa Rosén^[13]

Gallery

US covers

Foreign covers

See also

• The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition

External links

• The Ultimate Guide on Warriors official website (backup link)

Notes and references

1. ↑ Revealed on harpercollinschildrens.com
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Revealed on the inside left flap of The Ultimate Guide
3. ↑ Revealed on the cover of The Ultimate Guide
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Revealed on amazon.com
5. ↑ Revealed on Vicky's Facebook
6. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.com
7. ↑ Revealed on harpercollins.com
8. ↑ Revealed on tdabris.ru
9. ↑ Translator revealed on loveread.ec
10. ↑ Revealed on juritzen.no
11. ↑ Revealed on taobao.com
12. ↑ Revealed on a book list by Garamchild
13. ↑ Revealed on bokfabriken.se (backup link)

e Warriors books
The Prophecies Begin (novel arc)	Into the Wild • Fire and Ice • Forest of Secrets • Rising Storm • A Dangerous Path • The Darkest Hour
The New Prophecy (novel arc)	Midnight • Moonrise • Dawn • Starlight • Twilight • Sunset
Power of Three (novel arc)	The Sight • Dark River • Outcast • Eclipse • Long Shadows • Sunrise
Omen of the Stars (novel arc)	The Fourth Apprentice • Fading Echoes • Night Whispers • Sign of the Moon • The Forgotten Warrior • The Last Hope
Dawn of the Clans	The Sun Trail • Thunder Rising • The First Battle • The Blazing Star • A Forest Divided • Path of Stars
A Vision of Shadows	The Apprentice's Quest • Thunder and Shadow • Shattered Sky • Darkest Night • River of Fire • The Raging Storm
The Broken Code	Lost Stars • The Silent Thaw • Veil of Shadows • Darkness Within • The Place of No Stars • A Light in the Mist
A Starless Clan	River • Sky • Shadow • Thunder • Wind • Star
Changing Skies	The Elders' Quest • Hidden Moon • Chasing Shadows • Guiding Light • False Dawn • Changing Skies, Book #6
Super Editions	Firestar's Quest • Bluestar's Prophecy • SkyClan's Destiny • Crookedstar's Promise • Yellowfang's Secret • Tallstar's Revenge • Bramblestar's Storm • Moth Flight's Vision • Hawkwing's Journey • Tigerheart's Shadow • Crowfeather's Trial • Squirrelflight's Hope • Graystripe's Vow • Leopardstar's Honor • Onestar's Confession • Riverstar's Home • Ivypool's Heart • StormClan's Folly • Darktail's Judgment • Super Edition #20
Novellas	The Untold Stories (Hollyleaf's Story • Mistystar's Omen • Cloudstar's Journey) • Tales from the Clans (Tigerclaw's Fury • Leafpool's Wish • Dovewing's Silence) • Shadows of the Clans (Mapleshade's Vengeance • Goosefeather's Curse • Ravenpaw's Farewell) • Legends of the Clans (Spottedleaf's Heart • Pinestar's Choice • Thunderstar's Echo) • Path of a Warrior (Redtail's Debt • Tawnypelt's Clan • Shadowstar's Life) • A Warrior's Spirit (Pebbleshine's Kits •Tree's Roots • Mothwing's Secret) • A Warrior's Choice (Daisy's Kin • Blackfoot's Reckoning • Spotfur's Rebellion)
Graystripe's Adventure	Graystripe's Adventure (The Lost Warrior • Warrior's Refuge • Warrior's Return)
Tigerstar and Sasha	Tigerstar and Sasha (Into the Woods • Escape from the Forest • Return to the Clans)
Ravenpaw's Path	Ravenpaw's Path (Shattered Peace • A Clan in Need • The Heart of a Warrior)
SkyClan and the Stranger	SkyClan and the Stranger (The Rescue • Beyond the Code • After the Flood)
The Prophecies Begin (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
The New Prophecy (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Power of Three (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Omen of the Stars (graphic novel arc)	Volume 1 • Volume 2 • Volume 3
Stand-alone graphic novels	The Rise of Scourge • A Shadow in RiverClan • Winds of Change • Exile from ShadowClan • A Thief in ThunderClan
Field Guides	Secrets of the Clans • Cats of the Clans • Code of the Clans • Battles of the Clans • Enter the Clans • The Ultimate Guide • The Warriors Guide • The Ultimate Guide: Updated and Expanded Edition
Special Editions	Into the Wild & Fire and Ice • Forest of Secrets & Rising Storm • A Dangerous Path & The Darkest Hour • Midnight & Moonrise • Dawn & Starlight • Twilight & Sunset
Educational guides	The World of Warriors Educator's Guide • The World of Erin Hunter Educator's Guide
Short stories, plays, and essays	After Sunset: We Need to Talk • After Sunset: The Right Choice? • Beyond the Code: Brightspirit's Mercy • The Elders' Concern • Spottedleaf's Honest Answer • The Clans Decide • Why is Jaypaw Blind? • Tigerstar: Heart of Evil? • The Curtain Falls: Choosing Which Cats Would Die • Unhappily Ever After? Ending the Doomed Romances • The Truth About Midnight • The Death of Bright Stream • The Longest Night • The Disappearing Herbs • A Fear of Fire • The Hidden Prophecy • Beyond the Fence • An Icy Plunge
Extras	Back covers • Box sets

e The Ultimate Guide chapters
Introduction • Bluestar Speaks • ThunderClan • The Return of Heroes • Blackstar Speaks • ShadowClan • StarClan Makes Its Choice • Tallstar Speaks • WindClan • Crookedstar Speaks • RiverClan • Cloudstar Speaks • SkyClan • Stoneteller Speaks • Tribe of Rushing Water • Half Moon Speaks • The Early Settlers • Rock Speaks • Animals Outside the Clans