Basic Unit Statistics (can be modified by difficulty level, arts, skills, traits and retainers)
| Recruitment Cost | 1300 | |
| Upkeep Cost | 250 | |
| Melee Attack | 25 | 71% |
| Charge Bonus | 28 | 56% |
| Bonus vs Cavalry | 0 | 0% |
| Melee Defence | 10 | 28% |
| Armour | 9 | 60% |
| Morale | 40 | 80% |
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Excellent in melee.
- Excellent morale.
- Vulnerable to cavalry.
- Vulnerable to matchlocks.
Description
These masters of the sword are incredibly skilful in hand-to-hand combat.
This small group of skilled swordsmen know this and each has devoted himself to the perfection of his art. Their unbreakable morale and skill is legendary and inspirational. The controlled frenzy of katana sensei also adds to their ferocity, increasing their speed and power when fighting. However, their small numbers do mean they are more vulnerable to being outnumbered by an enemy unit. Embracing the way of the warrior is the path to enlightenment. Miyamoto Musashi (1584 - 1645) was one of Japan's most famous swordsmen. His exploits quickly became legendary and it is difficult to divide fact from fiction, especially as he recorded many of his own exploits in "The Book of Five Rings". This text was devoted to the strategy and the realities of battle but also chronicled many of Miyamoto's duels from his own perspective. Perhaps his most famous adversaries were the men of the Yoshioka School. After defeating the school's master, Yoshioka Seijuro, with a single blow, Musashi was challenged by Seijuro's brother, Denshichiro. Musashi killed Denshichiro with his own sword. After these killings, the Yoshioka planned to ambush the upstart with over 100 men. Unfortunately for them, Musashi did not follow the plan, and he killed the last remaining member of the Yoshioka family and forced their men to retreat. Following this utter humiliation the famous sword school closed its doors forever.