A bow cavalry is obviously different from a katana cavalry That said, as a general rule, stick to hit and run tactics and only commit cavalry to lengthy combat when your target is an archery unit. Again, there are different types cavalry each with their own skills and characteristics.
That said, in protracted combat they possess very little advantage. On the one hand their charges can be troublesome to sword infantry. If you find an enemy archery unit exposed, run it down immediately and watch the massacre ensue.Īs useful as cavalry can be, they are also endowed with a certain fragility of their own. Archery units in particular are vulnerable to cavalry. Their charges are devastating to ground units knocking most infantry off their feet and often causing instant death to at least a portion of the soldiers in their path. A cavalry unit can travel the same distance as an infantry formation in a mere fraction of the time, making them useful as quick reinforcements and for making split second changed to your battle strategy. Warriors mounted on horses, cavalry are some of the most valuable units in the game largely because they are fast moving. Even sprinting, they'll crawl across the map and possess the overall maneuverability. Infantry units are generally slower than dirt. As such it's best not to assault archer units unless you have a distinct numerical advantage. In the case of arches, while sword troops will decimate them up close they have no defense against them at range. If you enemy employs hit and run tactics they may be able to whittle your sword troops down. While a sword unit can hold its own against cavalry in a protracted battle, they are vulnerable to cavalry charges. Where their weaknesses lie is in fighting cavalry and archer units. Get your sword troops in there to counter. That said, if your enemy has a strong spear line. A Yari Samurai for instance will be able to hold its own fairly well against your basic Katana Ashigaru. Again, there is some variance from unit to unit. Sword units in general are strong against spear units. Pull that off and watch the enemy units crumble. The best way in our opinion to employ sword troops is to trick your enemies into committing against a defensive unit (spears!) and then hitting them from behind with a sword attack. Sword units work by fighting there way into and breaking up formations The point of a spear formation is to hold your foe off, keep them battering uselessly against a wall of spears. Whereas spearman are best used on the defense, the strength of sword units lies in their offensive capabilities. Sword Infantryįile:Samurai Retainers.jpg Samurai Retainers You can plan all the tricky maneuvers you want, but without a solid core to occupy an enemy force they'll count for nothing. In short, spear units are an essential part of any army. A Yari Samarai (yari meaning spear) for instance, can hold its own better in close combat as compared to more standard units like the Yari Ashigaru. It's also important to note that there are different types of spear units, with varying strengths and weaknesses.
They are weak to sword troops, and while their defensive skills will hold off most melee attackers, they are as susceptible to arrow fire as anything else. While they are superior defenders, their offensive capabilities are fairly average. Spear units are not without their weaknesses. Their defensive role is accentuated by the "spear wall" ability which packs them into a super tight wall of spears. A tightly knit wall of spearmen will halt an enemy charge and render cavalry all but useless. Any time you're on the defensive they're a necessity. Spear units come with some fairly clean cut strengths and weaknesses. You will have access to spear units from the word go, and throughout the course of the game they'll serve one of the sturdiest foundations for your armies.
If they die, you lose all their knowledge, skills and stat boosts. The entire unit doesn't need to be destroyed either. There is always a possibility that a general could be killed if sent into battle. Do not send them into battle against spear infantry, and be forewarned. They also share many of the same weaknesses though. Usually mounted on horseback, they can attack in the much the same fashion as cavalry. Generals can also be proficient fighters if the need should arise. These abilities and the various stat boosts a general provides can be upgraded as they gain more experience in battle. If you have a general with you, you can use their inspire ability to boost their morale and keep them in the fight. They're at their breaking point and ready to run away. For instance, say one of your units is low on morale. Outside of their very presence providing a stat boost to your units, they have access to special skills that can be a saving grace in the heat of battle.
Generals can be the most important units in your army.