Basic Unit Statistics (can be modified by difficulty level, arts, skills, traits and retainers)
| Recruitment Cost | 900 | |
| Upkeep Cost | 200 | |
| Melee Attack | 8 | 22% |
| Charge Bonus | 12 | 24% |
| Bonus vs Cavalry | 25 | 83% |
| Melee Defence | 9 | 25% |
| Armour | 9 | 60% |
| Morale | 10 | 20% |
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Bulletproof armour makes them very resilient against matchlocks.
- Heavier armour makes them slow.
- Very high armour and melee defence.
- Very good vs cavalry.
- Average melee attack.
Abilities
- Rapid Advance - Increases a unit's movement speed and charge bonus for a short period of time.
Description
It takes true samurai to charge into musket fire – and prevail!
Heavily armoured and highly trained, these spearmen are able to withstand enemy musketry and keep going forwards. Their heavy armour can keep out many bullets, but it makes them slow moving. However, their strength and offensive spirit more than makes up for that shortcoming: they really can charge musketeers with a good chance of success. Their spears also make them a formidable force against cavalrymen. Samurai armour was, and is, renowned for its beauty and intricate designs but, as warfare changed following the introduction of muskets, beautiful workmanship had to evolve. Leather layers in armour had been enough to protect against arrows, but bullets demanded new standards for armour. Like European armourers, Japanese smiths would prove their wares by firing bullets at it. Original pieces of the period still retain the "proof" dents from successfully keeping out a bullet. A sensible warrior bought or used armour only if it had such damage!