Chronobomb's Guide to Retainers

[chronobomb]

So I have an incomplete list of retainers. Please Help make this list complete. This is also my first guide ever, so please critique.

It seems that you can actually get the same retainer twice. Especially with the monk's monkey. I have gotten it 3 times before.

The Daimyo gets special Legendary Retainers that are pretty rare and so far aren't available for anyone else. So either don't level the Heir till the old man dies or bump him off quickly to allow the heir to get these retainers and not the standard general's retainers.

Daimyo's Retainers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Koi Carp, Bakuto

+10 to Diplomatic relations

Chinese Courtier Thanks Hypersiege

+1 Daimyo's honor/+10 to Diplomatic Relations

Sword of Ameratsu Thanks Tarvu

Instills fear in enemies(reduces morale)/+5% to the inspire ability

Meijin

+1 to Damyo's honor/+1 to command when attacking on land

Yokozuna, Legendary Tea Master, Haiku Poet, Master Potter:

+1 to Daimyo's Honor

Exceptional Bodyguard

+1 Command during Ambush/-10% assassination attempt

Go Board

+1 Command when attacking on land

Legendary Koto Player, Legendary Biwa Player

+2 Morale to all units under command

Biwa Player, Koto Player:

+1 Morale for all units under this general

Shogi Champ

+ 1 Defense when attacking on land

Sekitori, Rich Merchant

+2 Happiness to province when present

Merchant, Rikishi

+1 Happiness to province where this man is present

Drinking Companion

-5% to assassinations/-1% to campaign movement range

Noodle Chef

-5% to assassination attempts

Hero Worshiping Boy

+2 Morale for general and Bodyguards

Flute Player

+1 Morale for general and bodyguards

Master Drummer

+5% to rally ability

Taiko Drum Master

+2% to rally ability

Master Drummer

+5% to Rally Ability

Oyabun

+2% to Inspire Ability

Boyhood Companion

-10% to assassination attempts

Groom, Armored War Dog

+1 Melee Attack for General and Bodyguards

Surgeon

+5% replenishment rate under this general's command

Doctor

-5% chance of death by natural causes

Taiko Drum Master

+2% to rally ability

Treasurer

+1% to trade income tariff's

Heroic Ashiguru

+1 Morale to all ashiguru units under this man's command

Favorite Mount, Battlefield Messenger

+1 to Charge bonus for all cavalry under this generals command

General's and Heir's Retainers

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Foxy Mistress, Gorgeous Mistress, Common Mistress

+1 Command when defending on land/-2% to campaign movement

Heroic Samurai

+1% to command when defending on land

Master Drummer

+5% to Rally Ability

Boyhood Companion

-10% to assassination attempts

Soldier Mistress, Discreet Mistress

-5% to Assassination attempts

Biwa Player, Koto Player:

+1 Morale for all units under this general

Hayashida Heihachi, Kyuzo, Kenjutsu Master

+1 Melee attack with Sword infantry under this man's command

Naganatajutsu Master

+1 attack to Naginata units under this man's command

Okamoto Kutushiro, Shimada Kumbei

+1 General's Loyalty/-1% to attrition losses

Banraku Puppeteer, Master Calligrapher

+1 to loyalty

Go Board:

+1 command when attacking on land

Master Mason

+1 to command when besieged

Master Architect

+1 to command when besieging

Chinese Pirate

+1 when Boarding enemy ships

Master Boyer, Yabasame Master

+5% to accuracy of Bow units

Jujutsu Master

+1 to command while ambushing

Shichiroji, Taiko Drum Master

+2% to Campaign Movement

Master Netsuke Carver

+1% to Campaign Movement

Master Bladesmith, Armored War Dog, Niten Ichi-ryu Duelist, Groom

+1 melee Attack for general and Bodyguard

Kikuchiyo

+1 Morale for all units under this man's command

Over Ambitious Mistress

-1 to loyalty/+5% to campaign movement range

Joro

+1 Morale all units under this generals command/-5% campaign movement

Master Armorer

+1 armor to genreal and bodyguards

Battlefield Messenger

+1 to Charge bonus for all cavalry under this generals command

Heroic Ashiguru

+1 Morale to all ashiguru units under this man's command

Kyudo Master:

+1 Accuracy for Bow Samurai under this general's command

Oyabun

+2% to Inspire Ability

Flute Player, Katayama Gorobei

+1 Morale for general and bodyguards

Drinking Companion

-5% to assassinations/-1% to campaign movement range

Metsuke

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Hanafucu Cards, Hunting Dog

+1 to cunning when apprehending

Yakuza

+1 to cunning when overseeing town

Kabukimono

+1 to cunning when overseeing town/+1 to cunning when overseeing armies

Chonin

+1 Cunning when counterspying

Duelist

-10% chance to be assassinated

Shogi Set

+1 Cunning when overseeing armies

Kumicho

-1 happiness in the province/+2 repression in the province

Disgraced Yakuza

+2 Repression in the Metsuke's current region (thanks Herr Shimmler)

Monk

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Unlettered Samurai

-10% to assassination attempt

Nun

+2 Zeal when converting a province

Mirror of the Moon People

+1 Zeal when inspiring an army/-1 happiness in the province where this agent is

Mystic

+1 to zeal when converting agents

Pet Monkey

+1 Happiness in the province while present

Wise Elder

+1 zeal while converting a province

Ninja

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Poisoned Tanto, Shuriken, Boastful Samurai, Apocryphal Ninjato

+1 subterfuge when assassinating (thanks Daria)

Incredible Disguise, Townsmen Disguise, Madman Disguise, Tiger Claws

10% chance to avoid detection when unsuccessful

Blowpipe

5% chance to avoid detection when unsuccessful (thanks Daria)

Fugu Chef

+5% Critical Success Chance

Flash Bang Bomb

+5% avoid detection if unsuccessful/+1 subterfuge when assassinating

Unmannered Samurai

+2% to Campaign movement

Sushi Chef

+3% Critical Success Chance to Ninja's abilities

Missionary

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Jordan River Water, Jesuit

+1 Zeal when converting provinces

Church Notary

+1% to the Christian conversion rate/-1% movement on the campaign movement

Ashigaru Convert, Toledo Sword

-10% chance of assassination

Firebrand Preacher

+1% to Christitan conversion rate/-1 happiness to Buddhist population

Geisha Convert

+1 Zeal when converting a province/-1% to campaign movement

Psalter

+1 Zeal when converting an Agent

Reliquary

+2 Zeal when converting provinces

Samurai Convert

-1 happiness for the christian population/+1 zeal when converting provinces

Christian Confessor

+1 happiness for the Christian population

Tea Master Convert

+1 Happiness to Christian population/-2% to campaign movement

Geisha

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Maiko, Poison Collection, Bladed Fan, O-shoku

+1 Subterfuge to assassinations

Onsen Geisha

+1% success chance

Ainu Servant

+5 Map line of sight/+1 chance of escape when unsuccessful

Hangyoku

+1% chance to escape when unsuccessful

[skullman86]

One of my generals was given the option of choosing between Biwa player (+1 morale for army) and Joro (+1 morale for army -5% movement). I couldn't help but wonder if there were any other possible combinations out there that were seriously imbalanced, and it looks like there might be.

- foxy mistress vs heroic samurai
- boyhood companion vs soldier mistress vs drinking companion
- taiko drum master vs master netsuke carver

[Puzzlemaker]

Nice list!

[chronobomb]

There are several ways to seriously gimp yourself with retainers. Over Ambitious wife could cause your general to become a turncoat and be able to run away faster with your army. But please add any I am missing.

[TotalWarker]

Nice list mate, any chance you could make the character headings a bit bolder (or put the lists in spoilers for each character), the whole thing is confusing my brain a little

[walkerk19]

Nice list, usefull to know how many retainers and their effects are.

[Herr Shimmler]

Add Disgraced Yakuza for Metsuke - AFAIK it's +2 for repression in the region where Metsuke is.

[sanch]

For the Metsuke/Monk/Ninja what does the +1 do to cunning/zeal/subterfuge.. I understand the % chances of the other ones. But what does +1 cunning actually do in the game?

[chronobomb]

For the Metsuke/Monk/Ninja what does the +1 do to cunning/zeal/subterfuge.. I understand the % chances of the other ones. But what does +1 cunning actually do in the game?

Its provides the base chance/skill when the Metsuke bribes, apprehends, repress a region, or detects enemy agents. Higher the level makes it more likely to succeed.

[Xatham]

You should consider adding the missionaries too. They have quite different retainers.

[Death_Sheep]

Ahhh so many references to the Seven Samurai...

[Harry Lime]

Moved to Shogun: Gameplay & Strategy

[chronobomb]

You should consider adding the missionaries too. They have quite different retainers.

I have yet to use missionaries and would be glad to add them to my list if anyone wants to post them. Thanks for reminding me about them.

[Stil]

Awesome +rep

[Daria]

Got some more for ninjas....

Apocryphal Ninjato: +1 to subterfuge when assassinating. A single thrust and life is gone.

Blowpipe: +5% to the change that the ninja will avoid detection when unsuccessful. Nothing is what it seems.

Love the guide! If I see any new ones I will post em. ^^

[Gaizokubanou]

Bump this is very informative.

[tarvu]

Best retainer I have gotten so far:

Uesugi Kenshin (Daimyo)
Sword of Amaterasu:

Instills fear in the enemy (reduces Morale)
+5% to the effect of the inspire ability.

Maybe you should add Wives to this:

Beautiful Wife gives +1 Defense on land battles.
Greedy Wife gives +1 morale and +10% upkeep?
there are more, but right now I have all Beautiful wives and one Fecund wife.

[chronobomb]

I updated.

So far it seems that the real special retainers are restricted to only one and then you can't get anymore of the others. Like the Legendary Koto player. If it gives +2 to your entire army, or debuffs the enemy, you can only have one per general. Still testing.

[Abe86]

Does anyone know how your choice of retainers is determined ? Is it entirely random or does it depend on the provinces your control/buildings your have in your cities/actions on the campaign or battle map ?

Cheers !

[chronobomb]

The only action that reliably determines retainers is fleet battles. 70% of the times I gained a retainer that was admiral based retainer. Otherwise it seems completely random so far. In order to see what all the retainers were I just kept reloading before I fought and was able to get most of them after about 30 reloads.