Naginata vs. Katana/Yari

[nameless]

The Naginata unit intrigues me.

It's stated to be a heavy unit type that is versatile yet it sucks in either melee or against cavalry. Is there any reason to build these guys?

I only built them en-masse against Kyoto since they had so many samurai archers and the Naginata have the highest armor and good morale for breaking through.

I'm still getting my finger around the army composition. So far it's 2 Yari Cavalry, 2 Light cavalry, 6 Katana, 2 Yari spearmen, 2 Naginata, and the rest ashigara archers.

[Eien]

they are more like mediocre at both, they can take on both inf and cavalry, but not as good as the specialist.

[Death_Sheep]

I use them as the first wave of any assault. Their heavy armor is great for this, and they're versatile, which I like.

Second wave is spearmen, third is warrior monks. If this doesn't cause some damage, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

[Eien]

I use them as the first wave of any assault. Their heavy armor is great for this, and they're versatile, which I like.

Second wave is spearmen, third is warrior monks. If this doesn't cause some damage, I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

Assuming you playing as the Uesugi?

[Death_Sheep]

Assuming you playing as the Uesugi?

Yep. I have a replay of what I used to attack the garrison at Kyoto here: http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showthread.php?t=435834

[SonofSparta]

I have a question guys.

Is this Unit in the game?

http://www.totalwars.ru/encyclopedia...ro_uesugi.html

Uesugi Naginata Warrior Monk Hero

According to mine it's not, i can't find any reference to it at all.
Was this unit released as some sort of special edition dealio?

[Death_Sheep]

I have a question guys.

Is this Unit in the game?

http://www.totalwars.ru/encyclopedia...ro_uesugi.html

Uesugi Naginata Warrior Monk Hero

According to mine it's not, i can't find any reference to it at all.
Was this unit released as some sort of special edition dealio?

Its not in mine, and I have a Legendary Naginata Dojo.

Maybe I need to build up my temples...

I have heard its not in the game... Its definitely not in the final encyclopedia.

[SonofSparta]

Its not in mine, and I have a Legendary Naginata Dojo.

Maybe I need to build up my temples...

I have heard its not in the game... Its definitely not in the final encyclopedia.

Why the heck would they remove such an awesome looking unit?

[Strattios]

I only use them when assaulting castles. They aren't the best unit for anything else in my opinion. And my battles rarely last long enough for heavy main line infantry. A volley of fire arrows/musket fire followed by a No-Dachi charge will break most enemies, including Naginatas in moments. (Just have enough spear units on hand for any cavalry. I wont make that mistake again. )

[Slanderbot]

I really like the unit but I myself have had very little experience with them so far. however just from comparing hard stats in relation to how other units preform I just don't think they have much place anywhere. (in multiplayer)

I could maybe see them having a place in an army that focuses mostly on archery and flanking cavalry to control the map, as the naginata can easilly hold up any unit you come across in combat for a long time. They might not do a lot of damage, but they are pretty hard to move. Their only downside I could see is if they get to outnumbered or get hammered by gunpowder they will run away.

As a singleplayer component they could fulfill the role of absorbing a huge amount of arrow fire while your archers eat theirs alive, or for holding a choke-point, much like pikemen from Medieval2.

I will get back to you guys after I get some more experience with them though, they are a cool unit.

[Yarkis de Bodemloze]

Why the heck would they remove such an awesome looking unit?

Because they want to sell it as DLC?

[Aman the beast]

Naginata's are good for reserves use them to take out half depleted katana and No dachi. But i agree with the first wave of assuault tho.

[Gaizokubanou]

Naginata are actually pretty awesome unit. Their versatility and highest armor in game makes them best line holder.

OP your army composition is too varied for its own good. For more efficiency you should fill the ranks with Ashigarus with few addition of specialist of your choice, but it is not a good idea to go for more than 4 unit variation in army composition for campaign.

[Arksa]

45 morale...I'm trying to imagine the scenario where these guys will rout before they die.

[Geuvesa]

I am slightly taken aback by how...not quite negative but not positive the feedback for Naginata Samurai is. Personally I love the Naginata because of their versatility, I use them for everything Ashigaru I use for absorbing arrow fire and setting up the main battle line, Naginata are for helping the weak spots and holding enemy samurai in check, I love the versatility in a game that is so rock paper scissors!

[naro]

Their high armor is what makes them most useful in multiplayer i find. I usually stick them to anchor the flanks of a lone sword line of infantry. This allows me to spend extra on cavalry and add a few archers which i couldnt have afforded if i'd otherwise used the more effective katana samurai. The advantages of that setup is that i can manage in an archery duel, reasonably expect to win the cavalry fight and then proceed to bring my cavalry to bear on the opponents general or whereever my line is starting to break in melee. Disadvantages are that i'm usually out numbered in the infantry fight and if my ashigaru start to break it can start a chain rout.

I had a particularly close fight earlier where i came up against a rocket troop/katana samurai heavy army earlier. My line almost broke but killing his general and routing his katana samurai which were starting to break my left flank provided me with enough of a swing in morale to roll up the rest of his troops

[Radious]

Naginata is one of the best units in front line to draw fire from enemy archers - their armor is perfect protection so they have only few casualties from arrows.

[Nero Wulf]

I was looking around to see which unit that had the best armour and good against arrows. And I read the description to the Naginata Samurai
http://www.totalwars.ru/encyclopedia...a_samurai.html
"...and they have little protection against missile attacks"

Is this a typo or something?

[Cinnead]

I was looking around to see which unit that had the best armour and good against arrows. And I read the description to the Naginata Samurai
http://www.totalwars.ru/encyclopedia...a_samurai.html
"...and they have little protection against missile attacks"

Is this a typo or something?

No, I guess not.
When I first built Naginata Samurai in my campaign I got this little trailer explaining them.
Said something like : Good against cavalry and infantry, but weak to missile fire.

I found this very confusing as the demo actually told us to move in our Naginata Samurai first because they are good against missile fire

Something is wrong here

[Jack-El]

Maybe the game is trying to say that everything dies to missile fire, but Naginata are your best bet.

I don't think I've seen a single unit described as being strong against missiles. Maybe instead of firearms we should be importing shields. Preferably the ones used in RTW.