Japanese

An infantry civilization with strong Samurai and excellent fishing economy. Great for water maps and infantry rushes.

Difficulty: Medium Infantry

Civilization Bonuses

Fishing Ships

Fishing Ships have 2x HP and +2 pierce armor, work 5/10/15/20% faster

Infantry Attack Speed

Infantry attack 33% faster

Mill/Lumber Camp/Mining Camp

Mills, Lumber Camps, Mining Camps cost -50% wood

Unique Unit

Unit Age Cost HP Range Attack
Samurai Castle Age 60 Food, 30 Gold 60 Melee 12

Samurai are excellent at killing other unique units due to their bonus damage.

Unique Technologies

Yasama

Castle Age

Towers fire extra arrows

Kataparuto

Imperial Age

Trebuchets fire and pack faster

Build Orders

Men-at-Arms Rush

  1. 6 Villagers → Sheep
  2. 4 Villagers → Wood
  3. 1 Villager → Lure Boar
  4. 1 Villager → Build Barracks, then berries
  5. 3 Villagers → Berries
  6. Queue 3 Militia
  7. Upgrade to Men-at-Arms in Feudal
  8. Attack with 33% faster attack speed

Water Map Build

  1. Standard Dark Age into Dock
  2. Heavy fishing ship production
  3. Take advantage of 2x HP ships
  4. Transition to Fire Galleys/Galleys
  5. Land with Samurai + Siege

Strategy Tips

Strengths

  • Fastest attacking infantry in the game
  • Samurai counter all unique units
  • Excellent on water maps
  • Cheap economic buildings

Weaknesses

  • No Bloodlines for cavalry
  • Infantry still vulnerable to ranged units
  • No Siege Onager
  • Average on open land maps

Counter Matchups

vs Franks Halberdiers + Samurai, use speed advantage
vs Vikings Samurai crush Berserks, contest water
vs Byzantines Samurai beat Cataphracts 1v1