Shogun: Total War is a challenging game which requires players to really understand the game's units and how best to use them on the field of battle.  This guide will help you to gain that understanding and will hopefully help you to achieve greater success on the battlefield.

Spear-wielding peasants, the Yari Ashigaru are the cheapest (and weakest) units in the game.  They are cannon fodder that can help take the heat off of your more valuable units.  Send them at archers to draw their fire and deplete some of their ammunition.  Use them to take the brunt of a cavalry charge - their long spears can help slow the charge.  They can also be useful as mop-up troops to finish off the enemy after your stronger units have done their damage.  One word of caution, though: their low morale causes Yari Ashigaru to be easily routed.  Do not place your other troops directly behind them in your formations, you don't want them bringing down the morale of your army as they go running back through your lines.

These samurai with spears will often form the main component of your armies.  Their spears, armor, and defensive rating make them highly effective against enemy cavalry.  They also make an excellent defensive screen for your weaker melee units such as archers.  Use them to absorb enemy charges or arrow attacks while your archers safely rain death down on your foes from behind the samurai shield.  Yari Samurai also come in very handy when you are on the defensive - they can be quite difficult to knock out of a good defensive position.

No-Dachi Samurai wield a heavy, two-handed sword which makes them devastating on the offensive, but weak on defense.  They are excellent in hand-to-hand combat, but can quickly be decimated under a barrage of arrows.  Hence, do not place them in your front lines where they will receive the brunt of the enemy's anger.  Instead, use them as reserves to break through a weak spot in the enemy's lines or to quickly stem a tide of enemy forces.  Keep in mind though that you may potentially lose a good portion of your unit when you do so, so use the No-Dachi wisely.

Warrior Monks are priests of Buddha who fight with righteous fury.  What makes them even more formidable is the fact that enemy Buddhist troops will be reluctant to attack the monks!  Their fanaticism also keeps them fighting in the face of heavy losses - monks are not easy to rout.  Their downside?  They are very expensive to obtain and their low armor rating makes them susceptible to missile fire.  Get them into close quarters and let them unleash the anger of their god.

The Naginata are built for defense, pure and simple defense.  Make sure any army you will use for defensive purposes has a good contingent of Naginata in it.  While they are not suited to leading a charge at the enemy, they may make a good addition to a conquering army if used in the right way.  Naginata in loose formation can absorb a lot of punishment when you have to face an army with a strong ranged weapon force, taking the heat off of your stronger units until they can move into position to attack.

Ranged units »