Ikko Ikki

Ikko Ikki
Ikko Ikki Clan Mon
Daimyō	Shimozuma Jutsurai
Color	Orange/Black
Playable	Yes
Appears in	Grand Campaign
Emerges in	Kaga, Echizen
Bonuses	Monk Warriors

The Ikko Ikki are a faction in Total War: Shogun 2. It may only be obtained through the Ikko Ikki Clan Pack DLC.

Description

The Ikko Ikki, the “single-minded league”, are inspired by their faith, Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, the “true pure land”, a sect founded by the monk and philosopher Shinran. Unlike other Buddhist monks, Shinran married and many of his descendants have been the high abbots, or monshu, of the sect since. Rennyo, the most influential and persuasive of the high abbots, led his sect to Echizen after the Jodo Shinshu temple in Omi province was destroyed as a nest of heretics by Tendai monks. Despite this setback, Rennyo has made Echizen and Kaga provinces into strongholds of his faith. While largely a movement of peasants, inspired by a vision of paradise to create that paradise on earth, the Ikko Ikki are not without military skills. Members of the Shimozuma clan have acted as advisors and commanders for the Ikko Ikki. Shimozuma Rensu was, for example, a staunch supporter of the movement, and a military advisor to Rennyo. Rennyo professed a belief in non-violent action, but not in being defenceless. This explains why the Ikko Ikki can recruit superior warrior monks, and large, relatively cheap ashigaru units. The monks spread the faith; the people believe. The Ikko Ikki also rely on their appeal with the common people to spread the word and dissent in other lands. This makes them a threat to the established order of the great clans and their lords. A religious republic offers many attractions to the downtrodden, but not to the already mighty. Wherever they turn, the Ikko Ikki are likely to be opposed by the clans, and welcomed by the people, assuming the word is spread carefully first…

General Information

The Ikko Ikki have a strong military in both the early and late game: they have larger than average ashigaru regiments, which mostly overcome their inferior stats with their superiority in numbers. More importantly, the Ikko Ikki have access to Loan Sword Ashigaru, very strong early anti-infantry troops. Later in the game, the Ikko Ikki gain access to superior warrior monks. 

The Ikko Ikki's starting position is superb but precarious. It is one of the only clans to start with two provinces. Both of these starting provinces are excellent: Echizen has fertile soil and a coastal village, and also has the crafts specialty, giving it both a valuable trade resource and the ability to recruit superior archers. The second Ikko Ikki province, Kaga, has very fertile soil and a smithing tradition, making it an ideal province to train melee troops from. Both provinces are bordered by mountains to the south and the sea to the north, and their narrow width make them natural chokepoints to defend from. The Ikko Ikki also start with an Ikko Monk who can immediately start causing rebellions and converting provinces. Finally, the Ikko Ikki are relatively close to the trading node north of Honshu and can try to race to occupy it. However, the Ikko Ikki is surrounded by other factions, and have unfriendly relationships with most due to conflicting religions. Carefully choosing allies and vassalizing enemies can be key to controlling the number of conflicts the Ikko Ikki get embroiled in.

When controlled by the A.I, the Ikko Ikki are a particularly potent threat due to both their powerful early game armies as well as their unique religion.

The Ikko Ikki have unique monks that can spread their religion to other regions. They can also incite religious rebellions. Should these rebellions succeed in taking regions, they become Ikko Ikki regions rather than standard rebel regions.

The Ikko Ikki are the only playable faction that does not have access to Metsuke agents, giving them a severe income disadvantage.

Starting Provinces

• Echizen Stronghold
• Kaga Stronghold

Abilities

• Can recruit large units of ashigaru, weak but with high morale
• Cannot recruit metsuke
• Generals can convert provinces to the Ikko faith
• Can recruit superior warrior monks

Victory Conditions

Short Campaign

• Become Shogun by capturing and holding Kyoto
• Capture and hold 25 provinces, including the following: Echizen, Kaga, Mino, Omi, Settsu, Kyoto
• Complete by the end of your turn in: Winter 1575

Long Campaign

• Become Shogun by capturing and holding Kyoto
• Capture and hold 40 provinces, including the following: Echizen, Kaga, Mino, Omi, Settsu, Kyoto
• Complete by the end of your turn in: Winter 1600

Domination Campaign

• Become Shogun by capturing and holding Kyoto
• Capture and hold 60 provinces, including the following: Echizen, Kaga, Mino, Omi, Settsu, Kyoto
• Complete by the end of your turn in: Winter 1600

Trivia

• The Ikko Ikki mon is based on the mon of the Nanbu clan. Even though there was no relation between the two, it appears that the Ikko Ikki also used what is known as Turumaru Flag, a war flag depicting crane birds used by an Ikko Ikki contingent that supported Ishiyama Hongan-ji during the Ishiyama Hongan-ji War.