How to use the Yumi Ashigaru,and Samurai

An In depth guide on how to use the Bow Ashigaru,and Samurai.

Introduction

Are you 25% Japanese? Looking at you Ashina.
Did you think that the Japanese are a Archer Civilization?
Is your Favorite Unit in Age Of Empires 3 as the Japanese is the Yumi Archer?
Then the Yumi is your waifu.

History

The Bow is the most oldest weapon in Humanity,same with the Spear,and the Sling,but the bow,and the spear is still in use,even in modern day,due to it's easy to use(Lighter Bow,not the Longbow/Yumi Bow).
the Yumi is Japanese For Bow,and it's made in the 3rd Century BC,the bow lenght varies from the short Hankyu,to the Longer Daikyu,the Daikyu length is around 2 Meters(The Longbow Length is 1.82 Meter).
The Bow is famed as the weapon of Cowards by the Weeaboo Americans,but Both Samurai and Ashigaru actually like this weapon.
For the Ashigaru,you're basically far from close combat,and only take part in skirmish.
As the Samurai,practicing the Bow is a Must,since the Bow is the symbol of the Samurai(not the Katana you Weebs),it's said that before a close combat battle,the Best Samurai from both side will do a Bow Duel(not a Sword Duel),since Bow Duel are not only fight between strength,it's a fight of timing,knowing the wind,and tireless practice.

Statistic

in Shogun 2,the Bow Ashigaru,and Bow Samurai are often just said to be,"This unit is cheap and weak,and this unit is Expensive,and strong",but now let's see their stats.

1.Cost
The Bow Ashigaru Cost 350 Koku,and 75 Upkeep,while the Oda cost only 300 Koku,and 55 Upkeep,the Chosokabe cost 300 Koku,and 70 Upkeep,and the Hattori and Ikko Ikki cost the same,but has 100 Upkeep.
The Bow Samurai Cost 750 Koku,and 150 Upkeep,the Chosokabe cost 600 Koku,and 125 Upkeep,the Hattori(You know the drill)200 Upkeep,the Ronin Cost 800 Koku,and 150 Upkeep.

2.Speed
The Bow Ashigaru is actually move faster,Running at the 2.09 Walking Speed,4.25 Running Speed,6 Charging Speed,1 Crawling Speed.(They only faster than the Yari Ashigaru when Walking)
The Bow Samurai,and Ronin has the Samurai Speed 2.00 Walking,3.75 Running,5.5Charge,1 Crawl.

3.Melee Stats
The Vanilla and Hattori has 2 Attack,2 Charge,1 Defense,and 4 Morale.
Oda and Chosokabe has 3 Attack,3 charge,2 Defense,and 4 Morale.
Ikko Ikki has 1 Attack/Charge/Defense,and 5 Morale.

The Ronin,Samurai and Hattori has 5 Attack,5 Charge,2 Defense,and 8 Morale.
Chosokabe has 6 Attack,6 Charge,3 Defense,and 8 Morale.

4.Ranged Stats
All Bow Ashigaru has 1 Armor,and 20 Ammo.
Vanilla and Hattori has 25 Accuracy/Reload.
Oda has 35 Accuracy,and 30 Reload.
Chosokabe has 30 Accuracy/Reload.
Ikko Ikki has 20 Accuracy,and 10 Reload.

All Bow Samurai has 4 Armor,and 25 Ammo.
Vanilla and Hattori has 40 Accuracy/Reload.
Chosokabe has 50 Accuracy/Reload.
The Ronin has 45 Accuracy,and 50 Reload.

5.Traits
All Ashigaru has the Hide in Wood,and Scrubs.

All Samurai has the Hide in Wood,and Scrubs,and has Morale Shock Resistance.

6.Ability
Both Bow Ashigaru and Samurai has the Fire Arrow,and Screen(you can make Wooden Wall when your Army is on the field for 2 turns(not moving))

Campaign Tactics

in the first phase,the Ashigaru are good at skirmishing,while the Samurai is better at killing.
But as the Campaign goes on,Certain types of Ashigaru,and Samurai will be born.

There's 2 Upgrades that can benefit the Bow Ashigaru
1.Armor
With Armor Upgrade,the Bow Ashigaru will have a Decent 6 Armor,but you must use them to skirmish other bow unit,for the killing.
2.Accuracy
With the Accuracy Upgrades,you can have about 50 Accuracy,and Some General Retainers increace Accuracy to +10/+5/+10%.

There's 3 Upgrades for the Bow Samurai
1.Accuracy
You know how to count [Your Bow Samurai Accuracy]+25[Building]+Retainers.
2.Armor
This upgrade is kinda weak,since the Bow Samurai Armor,but having them in Siege Attack can be a good idea.
3.Attack
Just think of getting most of your friend arrowed by those Bow Samurai,and when you finally fight them in Melee,there's this guy.

Battle Tactics

as what described above,the Bow Ashigaru is good at skirmishing,because of their number,while the Bow Samurai are good at killing,but don't forget those Screen Ability,if you have them,try to fight in flat lands,better if you have a hill behind you,and put the wall straight,and then fill the gap with Yari Ashigaru that's ready to use yari wall,prepare your Bow Samurai at the hill,and your Bow Ashigaru to Skirmish.

in Siege Defense,having both of them doesn't matter,just kill every enemy in sight.
while in siege attacks both of them can be used together,try to use the Loose Formation,and let the Bow Ashigaru Takes hit,and the Bow Samurai to not take hits,and then follow up with the melee force once you or your enemy Archers are defeated/Ran out of Arrows(Even though you can pick one in the ground).
Also try to micro,so you don't waste your ammo on unit that has the "Fight to the Dead" Morale,usually stop firing at a Unit with 40 or Less man,since they're not dangerous anymore.

Ending

Now you know that the Samurai is a Bow Wielding Soldiers,that can still fight.
and now you question why the Longbow is Shorter than the Daikyu.

Tune in Next Timu~Desu to talk about the Yabusame,the most broken unit in Shogun 2.

[Jirdan]

Can I ask from what anime are the two last pictures? Thanks.

[Teutonic Ritterin]

ah,Don't worry about it.
Any Smart people is allowed,but I don't Really wanted to use Bow Cavalry(Yabusame) to fight Close Range,unless I upgraded them(Mostly Attack Upgrades).
Plus,Yabusame Don't need to fire Close,since it has that 60 Accuracy(Even More if you added upgrades),and the good way of using them is probably having 5 or more focus firing on one important unit(Probably Spears),and then do the Parthian Shot(Fire and Retreat),and after all of the arrows are fired,prepare them for close combat.

another use of Yabusame are probably to bait 3 or more unit with 1 Yabusame Unit,always works.

[ddpaule]

@Valentina sorry for being to much of a smart ass and flooding your guides.
>.< I just want to impress you and ashina >.<

[ddpaule]

Its also why yabusame cav is good it kills all range units in melee, can fire up close as to maximize damage, and has the speed to withdraw too. :)

[Teutonic Ritterin]

That's the Reason why you use the Bow Ashigaru as a Arrow Shield,and Bow Samurai as the Damage Dealer,Bow Ashigaru are Easily Replenished,thus losing a lot of them doesn't really pull you back.
Another Reason to use Bow Samurai is their Close Combat Skills,sure 5 Attack,and 2 Defense sounds weak,but that 4 Armor is what makes them good,Especially with attack upgrades.

[ddpaule]

Accuracy only matters at longer ranges, increasing it makes no difference if you are firing at near point blank dumberbuss range :) try it yourself if you don't believe.
Ashigaru actually damages more than samurai if you fire at dumberbuss range or less.(you have to put them in maximum witdth).
This applies to gun ashigaru as well except other units seems to damage more because of reload rate.

[Ashina]

"Are you 25% Japanese? Looking at you Ashina."
Dude,I love my Bow Units.