New patch broke Shogun 2's Kisho Ninja.

[IGdood]

A lot of people seem to see the stats and go "Whoa, these guys must be elite!" True, 1 ninja can defeat any other soldier (save for heroes), but you only have 60 ninjas while there's 200 ashigaru/160 samurai/120 ronin, whatever.

They can deploy anywhere and don't drop to their deaths as much whilst climbing walls. That's their advantage. They have high-accuracy fire bombs and unlimited blinding grenades. They're a support unit and can really assassinate generals if used well.

[6Bagheera9]

I just played a campaign battle as Tokugawa and used a unit of Kisho Ninjas very successfully. Place them in trees behind then enemy deployment zone or well off on either flank. Don't start off any attacks with them, lead with beefier units and then send in the ninjas right when their battle line is fully engaged. In my battle I charged their right flank with some yari cavalry and then slipped in my ninjas behind them. Firebombed their archers and then flash bombed some yari samurai that tried to chase them off. Flash-bombed units receive heavy penalties to melee attack and ranged accuracy and a unit of ninjas can hold off quite a few blinded units. In my case the ninjas routed the yaris with about 30% casualties. Its also worth noting that the stealth run ability also gives a bonus to melee attack and charge, this will take down generals if you get the drop on them.

[Evanescent]

The problem is that the unit stats are slathered over with a rich chocolate fudge. Regular Kisho Ninja have 3 whopping morale, a crap reload + accuracy, and their special variants have 2 ammunition. The unit itself in its original, un-fudged stat, has its uses on the battlefield... I understand that. But the stats fudge-up makes them near useless.

I think the two ammunition is not as serious as the morale... Since ninjas don't really sit there and bomb the enemy all day. However, 3 morale...

...

Seriously, they rout after receiving a charge from a half-dead unit of Yari Ashigaru, or a volley of arrows. Oh, and did I mention the sound of hooves approaching gives them heart attacks?