Great Guard are a type of yari cavalry in Total War: Shogun 2.
Description[]
Only the very best samurai are chosen for this spear-armed cavalry unit. The presence of such revered warriors encourages nearby comrades.
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!
Strengths & Weaknesses
- Excellent on the charge and strong morale.
- Very good against other cavalry.
- Weak against yari and naginata units.
General Information[]
Great Guard are only available to the clan that has claimed the mantle of shogun by holding the region of Kyoto for four turns (one year of in-game time) or more. One unit of great guard, along with two units of yari cavalry, is automatically granted upon achieving this. Great Guard are statistically far superior versions of Yari Cavalry in every way, with melee and defense so high that they are suited to prolonged melee combat in the way Katana Cavalry are. In addition, their Second Wind ability allows them to maintain high stamina after prolonged running and/or fighting, as well as improving the stamina of nearby friendly units.
The Takeda Clan, despite having superior cavalry overall, do not have access to superior Great Guards. Game files indicate that they would have received a superior version of the unit with +2 melee attack, +2 charge (dismounted only), +1 melee defense, +1 morale and would have costed 1100/250 to recruit and maintain, respectively, but this was cut before release for unknown reasons and requires a modification to restore.
When trained by the Date Clan, great guards have +2 charge bonus.
| Total War: Shogun 2 Cavalry | |
|---|---|
| Spear Cavalry | Great Guard • Light Cavalry • Takeda Fire Cavalry • The Spears of Shizugatake • Yari Cavalry • Yari Dojo Cavalry |
| Polearm Cavalry | Naginata Warrior Monk Cavalry |
| Sword Cavalry | General • Katana Cavalry • Kiyomasa’s Katana Cavalry |
| Missile Cavalry | Bow Cavalry • Donderbuss Cavalry • Tokugawa Mounted Gunners • Yoritomo’s Yabusame Cavalry |