• Units

Uesugi Spear Cavalry

Great Guard

These elite warriors ride heavy horses, and their power in full charge is focused to deliver a devastating spear attack, crashing through many enemies with ease. Great guard samurai have high morale and great prestige, making them inspiring to nearby friendly units. The guard are vulnerable to missile attacks. Spearmen, the other great danger to cavalry, can be flanked by a careful guard commander and then smashed by the guards’ heavy charge.

Historically, the Tokugawa created several guard units during and immediately after their rise to the Shogunate. The “oban” or great guard were the personal bodyguards of Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1590. By 1600, these guards had multiplied with many “kumi” or companies in existence. Additional guard units were also raised: the “Ryoban” or "Two Guards of the Body Guard" and the "Inner Guard". There was another force called the "Honourable Body Guard" who only guarded the Shogun at night in Edo. A generation after the Sengoku Jidai, the “Goshinban” or "Honourable New Guard" were added to the roster, although this may have been to keep troublesome younger members of samurai families out of trouble and under the Shogun’s eye!

Unit Name Great Guard

Unit Key Cav_Spear_Great_Guard

Soldiers 80

Category Cavalry

Class Spear Cavalry

Multiplayer Cost 1300

└ Multiplayer Limit 2

Recruitment Cost 1200

├ Recruitment Turns 3

└ Unit Limit 2

Upkeep Cost 300

Melee Attack 15

└ Melee Weapon spear

Charge Bonus 35

Bonus vs Cavalry 15

Melee Defence 5

Armour 7

Horse Mode shogun_horse_samurai

└ Mount Armour 6

Morale 15

Abilities

• Second Wind
  This restores a portion of nearby units' stamina, allowing them to fight longer and harder.
• Wedge Formation
  Trained to charge in a wedge formation in order to better penetrate enemy formations

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Excellent on the charge and strong morale.
• Very good against other cavalry.
• Weak against yari and naginata units.