Creative Assembly and SEGA released Total War: SHOGUN 2 on 15 March 2011, opening the campaign in 1545 and handing every clan the same win condition: take Kyoto and hold it. Nine clans ship in the base game, each with one signature discount, from Shimazu katana samurai to Mori warships. Fall of the Samurai is a separate standalone expansion set during the 1860s Boshin War, so its Gatling guns and ironclads never show up in the Sengoku campaign covered here.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katana Samurai | S | Flanking archers, killing routing units and breaking enemy generals | The standard samurai melee unit, strong against other infantry and terrible against spears braced in a yari wall. |
| Yari Ashigaru | A | Anchoring the centre of the line and stopping cavalry charges cold | The cheapest infantry in the game and the answer to cavalry, because the yari wall order turns a rank of peasants into a hedge no horse will charge. |
| Bow Ashigaru | A | Volley fire from high ground and softening a line before contact | Cheap massed archers with poor accuracy and worse morale than bow samurai, made up for by numbers and the fire arrow order. |
| Matchlock Ashigaru | B | Punching holes in heavy samurai formations at short to medium range | Slow-reloading gunpowder infantry that hits far harder per shot than a bow but needs an unobstructed line of fire and dry weather. |
| No-Dachi Samurai | B | Shock charges into already engaged infantry and breaking a wavering line | Two-handed sword samurai with brutal attack and almost no armour, which means they win the first thirty seconds of a melee and lose anything longer. |
S-Tier: Katana Samurai
The standard samurai melee unit, strong against other infantry and terrible against spears braced in a yari wall. Shimazu get theirs cheaper and better, and every clan needs a katana dojo before recruiting them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Flanking archers, killing routing units and breaking enemy generals |
| Key Mechanic | Realm Divide |
| Recommended Build | Oda |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Katana Samurai: Pairs naturally with Oda thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Yari Ashigaru
The cheapest infantry in the game and the answer to cavalry, because the yari wall order turns a rank of peasants into a hedge no horse will charge. Morale is poor, so they need a general nearby and friends on both sides.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Anchoring the centre of the line and stopping cavalry charges cold |
| Key Mechanic | Chi and Bushido arts research |
| Recommended Build | Shimazu |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Yari Ashigaru: Pairs naturally with Shimazu thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Bow Ashigaru
Cheap massed archers with poor accuracy and worse morale than bow samurai, made up for by numbers and the fire arrow order. Chosokabe recruit them at a discount and with better stats than anyone else.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Volley fire from high ground and softening a line before contact |
| Key Mechanic | Ashigaru and samurai unit tiers |
| Recommended Build | Takeda |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Bow Ashigaru: Pairs naturally with Takeda thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Matchlock Ashigaru
Slow-reloading gunpowder infantry that hits far harder per shot than a bow but needs an unobstructed line of fire and dry weather. Rain wrecks their reliability, so never build a plan that depends only on them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Punching holes in heavy samurai formations at short to medium range |
| Key Mechanic | Ninja, Metsuke and Monk agents |
| Recommended Build | Chosokabe |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Matchlock Ashigaru: Pairs naturally with Chosokabe thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: No-Dachi Samurai
Two-handed sword samurai with brutal attack and almost no armour, which means they win the first thirty seconds of a melee and lose anything longer. Date field them cheaper and better, alongside a clan-wide plus 2 charge bonus.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Shock charges into already engaged infantry and breaking a wavering line |
| Key Mechanic | Castle sieges and province capitals |
| Recommended Build | Tokugawa |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using No-Dachi Samurai: Pairs naturally with Tokugawa thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Kyoto
- Yari Ashigaru → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Bow Ashigaru → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Katana Samurai → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Count your provinces from turn 10 onward. Realm Divide fires somewhere between 13 and 18 provinces, so keep two full stacks and a war chest ready before you take the province that crosses the line, because you will not get a quiet turn afterwards.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Total War: SHOGUN 2 Guides
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Total War: SHOGUN 2 Overview
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Best Builds
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Tier List
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Walkthrough
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Beginner's Guide
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Tips & Tricks
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Combat Guide
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Boss Guide
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Maps & Locations
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Crafting Guide
- Total War: SHOGUN 2 Classes & Characters
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- RimWorld Weapons Guide: strategy game with similar mechanics
