Onna Bushi

Samurai_Inf_Onna_Bushi Image

Basic Unit Statistics (can be modified by difficulty level, arts, skills, traits and retainers)

Upkeep Cost 0
Melee Attack 16 45%
Charge Bonus 16 32%
Bonus vs Cavalry 10 33%
Melee Defence 10 28%
Armour 6 40%
Morale 10 20%

Strengths & Weaknesses

  • Versatile infantry, good against cavalry and other infantry.
  • Weak against matchlocks.
  • Not as strong as more specialised anti-infantry and anti-cavalry units.

Abilities

  • Second Wind - This restores a portion of nearby units' stamina, allowing them to fight longer and harder.
(Click here to learn more about unit abilities)

Requires

  • Religions:

Description

These elite ladies are as deadly as they are elegant, and carry the fearsome naginata.

This unit is made up of women warriors armed with the naginata, a long pole arm that is tipped with a deadly curved sword-blade. These fearless samurai women have outstanding morale and excel in melee combat. They are most powerful against sword-armed infantry but if properly handled, they can execute devastating flank attacks against enemy spearmen as well. Because their numbers are few, the onna bushi can be swamped by larger, less skilled enemy units. Historically, Japanese women were trained to defend their homes in times of war but few took part in open battle. Those who did quickly became legends. In the "Heike Monogatari", an account of the Genpei War, Tomoe Gozen, a female samurai of the Minamoto clan, is described as "especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features". She was also recorded as being "a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot." She was one of the last warriors standing at the Battle of Awazu, even outliving her master who was struck down by an arrow during the fight.