Ming Imperial Court
Strength: Economic powerhouse with access to all troop types.
Weakness: Surrounded by enemies on all sides; campaign begins with a system taxed to its limits.
Guan Ning Defense Force (They were the garrison based on the Guan Ning Defense Line which guarded the Ming Empire against the Qing)
Shares the unit roster with the Ming Imperial Court.
Strength: Has access to all troop types. Superior cavalry.
Weakness: Limited economy, strong enemies close by.
Mu Family Army
They were a Muslim Chinese family who were responsible for guarding Yunnan near Burma and Vietnam.
Shares the unit roster with the Ming Imperial Court and has its own Southwest units.
Strength: Friendly relations with Western colonists. Skilled characters.
Weakness: Troops have low morale.
Zheng Family Army (Koxinga came from this family)
Famous for guarding the Ming Empire's southeastern coast, later resisted the Qing from Taiwan. Also kicked the Dutch out of Taiwan.
Shares the unit roster with the Ming Imperial Court and has its own unique units.
Strength: Strong ranged troops. Unique tough "Iron Troops" (Players of Age of Empires 3 will recognize these guys)
Weakness: Lacking in scouts and cavalry.
I'll start with the generic Ming Army roster. It is divided into a Northern Army and a Southern Army.
They're identical in stats, mostly.
Northern regions also produce an "Elite Standard/Picked Men" unit that are essentially elites.
There is also an Imperial group of units that presumably guard the capital and have the best stats.
Southern Swordsmen
Southern Spearmen
Northern Spearmen
Southern Pikemen
Imperial Pikemen
Southern 3-Eye Gunners
Southern Archers
Southern Javelineers
Elite Standard Pikemen
Northern Pikemen
Northern Swordsmen
Imperial Swordsmen
Brocade Guard
Elite Standard Swordsmen
Imperial Guardsmen
Elite Standard Horse Cutters
Northern 3-Eye Gunners
Northern Archers
Elite Standard Dismounted Archers
Imperial Marksmen
Divine Engine Gunners
Elite Standard Matchlocks
Northern Scouts
Southern Scouts
Leaping Cavalry
Border Garrison Lancers
Qin LiangYu's Bodyguard
Qin Liang Yu was a famous female general who defended the Ming Empire from the Qing.
Northern General's Household Guard
Imperial Scouts
Southern General's Household Guard
Elite Standard Lancers
Imperial General's Bodyguard
Ming Light Wagon Formation
Ming Heavy Wagon Formation
Governor-General's Bodyguard
YiDing Elite Cavalry
Northern Mounted Archers
Qin Army General's Bodyguard (Qin Army was another well known army of the Ming)
Elite Standard Horse Archers
Imperial Horse Archers
Border Garrison Horse Archers
Green Standard Bodyguard (if you switch to the Qing)
Crouching Tiger Cannon
Firangi (Portuguese) Cannon
Fire Rocket War Wagon
Ming Wugang Wagon
Siege Cannon
General Cannon
Red Barbarian Cannon
White Pole Soldiers (They served Qin Liang Yu, the female general)
Southwestern Hillmen Swords
The following units are Southwestern units available to the Mu Family Army only.
Southwestern Heavy Infantry
Southwestern Gunners
Southwestern Heavy Archers
Southwestern Gun Cavalry
Southwestern General's Bodyguard
Southwestern Heavy Cavalry
Southwestern General's Household Guard
Chin Tribal Warriors
(The Chin are also known as the Kuki today)
Miao Tribal Spearmen
Miao Crossbowmen
Chin Tribal Bowmen
The following units are unique to the Zheng Family Army.
Zheng Rattan Shield Spearmen
Tiger Guard Spears
Zheng Army Foot Guards
Tiger Troop Vanguard
Tiger Guard Polearms
Zheng Army Light Bowmen
Zheng Army Elite Matchlocks
Zheng Army Mounted Guards
Zheng Army Mounted Gunners
Seediq Warriors
Atayal Heavy Infantry (The Atayal are a group of Taiwanese aboriginals)
Atayal Javelineers
Dutch Mercenaries