How to win legendary mode [tiny guide]

[YassirX]

Its easier then I've first thought it would be. Playing as the Date you get a smith at your starting location and better no-dachi units. Your task should be to be able to recruit those as soon as possible, while on the other hand, the smith will be upgraded to maximum. This way the no-dachi get +3 armour, which causes them to have a total amount of 5 armour in the game.

One unit of my no-dachi can kill 4 opponent yari batallions, because of there banzai charge they can catch up archers pretty easy. Even cavalary are no match, after their charge which causes some damage, they do fall like flies. The only problem are katana-units, but the AI rarely recruits them and expecially in the early game you will only face 1 or 2 of them.

So Basically all you have to do is have about 10 no-dachi in your army, rest should consist of cavalary to take down archers and the general.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

...and the pic above was with a wrong army composition -> too many archers, who run out of ammo after some time. Each No-Dachi killed about 600-700 units in that battle.

[Sinan]

Its easier then I've first thought it would be. Playing as the Date you get a smith at your starting location and better no-dachi units. Your task should be to be able to recruit those as soon as possible, while on the other hand, the smith will be upgraded to maximum. This way the no-dachi get +3 armour, which causes them to have a total amount of 5 armour in the game.

One unit of my no-dachi can kill 4 opponent yari batallions, because of there banzai charge they can catch up archers pretty easy. Even cavalary are no match, after their charge which causes some damage, they do fall like flies. The only problem are katana-units, but the AI rarely recruits them and expecially in the early game you will only face 1 or 2 of them.

So Basically all you have to do is have about 10 no-dachi in your army, rest should consist of cavalary to take down archers and the general.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

...and the pic above was with a wrong army composition -> to many archers, who run out of ammo after some time. Each No-Dachi killed about 600-700 units in that battle.

Excellent. I'm just playing a Date campaign and I was thinking armored Date No Dachi are the way to go. What about their low defence ? Don't they take a LOT of casualties because of that ?

[YassirX]

As the AI mainly field Yari-Spear as their basic infantry the low melee defence is not a problem, when you use banzai and charge into them about 40-50 yari, they die just because of the carge of 2 no-dachi unitcards. Also be aware not to charge with all of them, charge with 2 units and after that charge with the next unit, this way you can make the biggest impact. Their low defense is only noteable against katana-units, which as I've said are rarely recruitet by the AI.

In Siege-Battles you should make sure to have 2 yari in your army who absorb the arrow fire and burn down the gates in lose formation, so your no dachi dont take too mutch casualties, as they are still quite fragile to missiles.

If you fight against an AI army with katanas you should still have your cavalary (katana-cavalary do this job best) to kill them, so they dont reach your no-dachi. You can also use your cav to kill the enemy general, who is unguarded most of the time. There is one thing everyone should keep in mind: On legendary the AI gets bonuses and you cant save, thats right, but the AI behaviour stays the same.

...and there is one golden rule: NEVER auto-calculate.

Another funny thing I've encountered: The AI does change formation depending on your attacking location in a battle, so if your cavalary is going to the flank the AI will automatically will try to make the flank secure, so when you attack with one cav on the left side the right side will be unguarded (and the general will be easily attackable), also the center will be more fragile for your no-dachi, of cause, you would need to attack immediatly after the AI changed the formation.

[Sinan]

Thanks. What do you think about doing a top level weaponsmith instead of armorer ? that would make them even more deadly BUT they would be just as susceptible to missile fire as ashigaru.

[YassirX]

Thanks. What do you think about doing a top level weaponsmith instead of armorer ? that would make them even more deadly BUT they would be just as susceptible to missile fire as ashigaru.

I've thought about that too but as the no-dachi allready have a high melee-attack it makes sense to go for more defense, remember: "The chance of winning lies in your offense, but invincibility can only be obtained by your defense."

The effect you would gain from stacking your melee attack higher is quite small in contrast to the effect you would get from the armour upgrade. Armour does not only provide you from missile fire, it also makes you less vulnerable from melee hits!

[King_Azzole]

Date is all about the charge. I did the weapon smith route and you can savage a unit with a head on charge with maxed out weapons. There is really no need for armor when you can hit the enemy so hard, he doesn't even swing back. I pretty much steam rolled my way through half of Japan. The No-dachi just cut their way through everything.

[YassirX]

Date is all about the charge. I did the weapon smith route and you can savage a unit with a head on charge with maxed out weapons. There is really no need for armor when you can hit the enemy so hard, he doesn't even swing back. I pretty much steam rolled my way through half of Japan. The No-dachi just cut their way through everything.

Thats right, but you cant charge the whole time. Every unit may charge once, at least till their target is death. Having more amour makes sure you get lesser loses after the charge, the +3 melee-attack you get from the weaponsmith does not effect the charge, "attack-bonus" is reliable for the charge damage, not melee-attack.

[King_Azzole]

The point is, the charge gives you a huge edge, both morale and casualty shock wise, and then your high attack bonus shocks em even more as they lose casualties rapidly. I have steam rolled over every army this way. They usually break a few seconds after impact. There were a few battles where my no-dachi were "stopped" for a bit, but they never lost enough men to enter the red.

[Sinan]

My questions is: how do we know for sure that armor also prevents casualties in melee and is not just a buff against arrows ?

[Dodge]

Here is a question:

With armour upgrades from the weaponsmith, do the troops look different on the battlefield like in Medieval 2?

That was my question.

[YassirX]

Here is a question:

With armour upgrades from the weaponsmith, do the troops look different on the battlefield like in Medieval 2?

That was my question.

I did not encounter any armour/weapon changes.

[Dodge]

I did not encounter any armour/weapon changes.

Ruddy hell