#2: Katana Samurai vs Naginata Samurai | 1 V 1 | Total War Shogun 2 Unit Comparisons

Hi everyone!
We'll be continuing our Unit Comparison Series on Shogun 2, and today
we have Katana Samurai versus Yari Samurai.
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[@vaughnrobbins9771]

Historically spear users would have destroyed the sword users. Range advantage, ease of use, more practical in a formation without shields etc etc etc.

[@ShinobiRanger]

Not exactly. Depends on where the battle is fought, how well trained are the troops, their morale etc. While you can keep your enemy at length with your spear, if the enemy gets past the spear point or just straight up cuts off the spear point, you're in big trouble.

[@kaijuslayer3334]

@@ShinobiRanger For Sengoku Japan, the polearm will more often dominate. The dominant weapon was the yari. Cause keep in mind, fights were often in tighter formations. How will you get behind a soldier’s spear when his comrades are behind and to his side with their own spears pointed out? The reason spears tend to be worse in practice for this game and other total war games is mainly balancing, as the game has a rock papers like effect with sword beating spear, spear beating cavalry, and cavalry beating sword.

[@ShinobiRanger]

@@kaijuslayer3334 so Sengoku Jidai battles were characterized by pike phalanx like warfare? The poorly trained Ashigaru engaging in such combat makes sense, but what about the Samurai? Did they also fight in dense formations or went one-on-one in hand-to-hand with other Samurai? Add to that the introduction of firearms, so are we getting close to pike and shot warfare?

[@kaijuslayer3334]

@@ShinobiRanger The formations were not as dense and formal as Europe’s, and they also lacked shielded users. But it was similar, as for the samurai. They often had Yaris as well, they were often in charge of a group of ashigaru in order to help maintain that formation. Of course, sometimes these formations could sometimes fall apart and become more disorganized. Hence why non polearm weapons like Nodachis still saw some usage.

[@vaughnrobbins9771]

@@ShinobiRanger The only group of people I can think of at the moment who had any success with sword formations was the Romans. But even still most people used spears, for the reasons I stated. If you pit a skilled spearman against a skilled swordsman it is entirely in the favor of the spear wielder. When you begin using formations, especially the kind the Japanese used, a spear is invaluable. Most samurai fighting on foot would carry a spear in addition to their swords simply because it is a much more practical battlefield weapon. It's very, very hard to get past a spear wall while using a sword, even if you get past one spear another will be stabbing at you. If you manage to cut the spearhead off, well there are still plenty of other spears to worry about that will defend against you. The best way historically to deal with a spear wall is to flank it or just lob a ton of projectiles at them(Depending on if they have shields). As for the Romans, the reason they could get away with shorter melee weapons was because of their massive shields and incredibly tight formation fighting. Even still I believe that they still used spears, at the very least they used pilum. I suggest watching some videos of spearmen vs swordsmen, you will see the clear advantage that a spear offers, I have even heard(although this may be exaggerated) that a spear user could take on three opponents wielding swords.

[@paulmualdeave5063]

Swords are the counter to spears in the game

[@bravomike4734]

"Our General is in grave danger my Lord!" Damn, jokes aside. I wasn't expecting the naganita to lose.

[@ShinobiRanger]

Apparently, having a blade with a sword handle is better than a blade on a stick 😂

[@KenhelExcallius]

Naginata are more of a good against everything type, can hold themselves against anything, cavalry, yari, archers, katana samurai can basically 1v1 every other infantry and win unless its no dachi charging at you, they cant take a few volleys of arrows as they will suffer heavy casualty and cavalry shreds them, so a really good anti infantry but wont recommend it to be the back bone of your army, just use naginata its not like you will meet matchlocks, its only weakness in your campaigns

[@ShinobiRanger]

@@KenhelExcallius Correct. Naginata samurai are way better than yari samurai, they're excellent arrow absorbers. But Katana samurai are excellent infantry, no dachi are better but they can be shredded by archers. Katana samurai have better armour and defence, so I recommend 4 Katana samurai, 2 naginata samurai and 2 naginata warrior monks for your front line. Subject to modifications of course.

[@bobwat2390]

I believe, in a straight 1 on 1 samurai fight, it goes like this: No-Dachi (banzai) > Katana > Naginata > Yari

[@ShinobiRanger]

@@bobwat2390 Hai, that's how the line goes.

[@promnightdumpsterbaby9553]

I love how useless spear infantry is in this game...yari ashigawru are the best unit in the game,especially if you recruit them from an armorer province with the extra plus 2 armor stack of the encampment armory.

[@ShinobiRanger]

No, Yari Ashigaru are not the best unit in the game. They are dependable levy troops yes, but not the best.

[@tenchimuyo69]

For some reason, yari samurai can't wall... contrary to history at that, as the yari is the primary weapon of the sengoku period. And there was definitely no reality where ashigaru could form a wall but samurai could not lol. But if they gave this ability to the yari samurai, they'd be pretty damn good. Possibly too good.

[@promnightdumpsterbaby9553]

@@ShinobiRanger They are when fully armored with a few ranks. Especially the long YA.

[@ShinobiRanger]

@@tenchimuyo69 I assume the reason Yari Ashigaru received Yari Wall ability was to enhance their fighting and survival skills. Any unit of foot Samurai charging headlong into a regular Ashigaru Yari Wall can break up the formation even if their charge is nullified. The Ashigaru have to break formation when they are attacked from the flanks and due to their crappy stats they die easily. Yari Samurai are portrayed as wielding shorter spears and seem to be skilled in their use, despite them being one of the worst Samurai units.

[@ShinobiRanger]

@@promnightdumpsterbaby9553 Even if they are having +5 armour and having XP ranks, they will be facing enemies with XP rank as well, and once the formation is breached, they'll start dying. Only Long Yari Ashigaru are OP, they can slaughter entire units charging them headlong. Again there's no correct answer here. People should use what they feel best for them.

[@erhanuzulmez]

With more angle and quality, that video can be lit.

[@helly9748]

You should do more of such videos and ig you are a Indian?

[@ShinobiRanger]

I will resume the series soon. Yes, I'm an Indian.

[@ShinobiRanger]

I will resume the series soon. Yes,I'm an Indian.

[@johndthottam]

ova FPS is runnin fram da battefield !! Shamefur dispray !!!

[@ShinobiRanger]

You do realize that you are watching a very old video? This is no. 2 and the latest one is in the 140ish range.

[@nivekzorantinez8872]

Naginata Samurai, few reasons why they're good. Surviving, taking aggro while other units retreat, attack archer units, set them behind archers because they can soak up archer fire. If you see Katanas, yeah-- they'll lose to them but what makes them great is they have melee defense to hold off the samurai while you get Yari Samurai or No Dachi to flank them and break em. They're a great infantry , can even take a charge from Calvary while Samurai cannot. They're a legit support tank unit-- Mixed best with a No Dachi Unit or Yari Samurai to set up flanks & soak up arrows better than any unit in the game. From my Experience. Just don't leave them alone with Katanas because they're just a support unit. Samurai go Slash, No Dachi Banzai, Archers go Brr-- Yari go poke. But Naginata.. Fight.

[@gabrielnguyen5580]

i was worried about the effects of fatigue but I guess they were fine lol

[@ShinobiRanger]

Fatigue mainly affects unit morale, speed and combat capabilities are also affected but morale loss is the most visible.

[@dabo5078]

@@ShinobiRanger Nope the developers had an oversight so nothing gets affected but morale for infantry. For calvary speed and combat capabilities are effected.

[@jojosico3205]

👍

[@Alelip1000]

designated

[@user-vd3tx2pm5r]

naginata logically the better weapon but here not damn i make lot of in game and know now useless xD japan fight i think first main base invidual skill becuse like duels so it's hard to say which one is better

[@ShinobiRanger]

I wouldn't say useless. They'll shred cavalry and are excellent arrow sponges. Useless would be more appropriate for Yari Samurai in the game. Historically speaking, spears were the main weapon of choice. Initially, bows and spears were used by the samurai during their early days. Naginata were used by the samurai women primarily. During the Genpei War, there was greater emphasis on skill due to the small numbers of troops involved. But by the Sengoku Jidai, increasing army sizes and increased reliance on Ashigaru meant reduction of emphasis on highly skilled troops. In the game, due to matched combat mechanics, it's akin to individual duels.

[@SVP-uy9qb]

These should be 30 sec shorts, not 4,5 min videos

[@ShinobiRanger]

Hmm you are right to some extent, haven't had the time to explore shorts.

[@Laevatheinn]

@@ShinobiRanger don’t

[@LordOverTheLightOfRa]

Its 2021 and you can barely run a 1 unit vs 1 unit fight on a 10 year old game AND its in a quality of 720p like jesus.

[@ShinobiRanger]

I have made a hardware upgrade very recently and I plan to resume the unit comparison series soon, let's hope there won't be any lag.

[@aname6794]

Dude no need to be such an ass about it.

[@kaijuslayer3334]

Mald harder

[@LordOverTheLightOfRa]

@@kaijuslayer3334 Will do.