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Template:Infobox UnitThe Ikko-Ikki is an infantry Monk unique to the Japanese in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties.

Overview

The Ikko-Ikki has an ability to immediately return to their Town Center if defeated. They can also build Shrines, granting a safe and convenient way to claim remote animal herds. The Ikko-Ikki have access to many upgrades via the monastery, such as the bombardment attack, stealth, the dodge ability and sabotage. The Ikko-Ikki begin with the divine strike ability, which gives them a 25% chance to instantly slay any enemy with fewer than 30.0 hit points.

Use

  • One of the more clever uses of a Japanese monk involves their stealth and sabotage abilities for undermining unique structures such as Factories and enemy Wonders.
  • Japanese monks are also the only explorer type units to have the classification of Archer, allowing archer specific upgrades such as those from the Carib (x1.25 damage versus Villagers) and Seminole (+25% damage) to affect them.
  • If the card Mountain Warrior is sent they will receive twice the normal resources or experience for Treasures, which can be a significant early game advantage (has no effect on treasures adding a percentage bonus) depending on the nearby treasures.
  • The card Stream of Enlightenment will reduce the damage of nearby enemies by 7.5% per monk for a total of -15% if both are nearby. This nullifies Mansabdar unit bonuses entirely and still inflicts a 5% penalty while also reducing the unction advantage available to the Spanish.
  • When using divine strike, keep in mind that melee attacks are faster and will thus cause more frequent divine strikes. If the enemies are stunned and of a weaker variety, move the monks into melee range to quickly destroy them.

History

โ€œLike the yamabushi and the sohei, the ikko-ikki are an order of Japanese warrior monks devoted to a form of ascetic Buddhism, specifically the Jodo Shinshu, or True Pure Land Sect. This sect believed that all believers were equally saved by the grace of the Buddha.

The ikko-ikki lived for years as scattered mountain hermits until the fifteenth century, when the eccentric Jodo Shinshu abbot, Rennyo, established a temple in the Echizen province and began to rally the local citizenry behind him. Even though Rennyo was a pacifist, he advocated the use of pragmatic violence during dark times, such as the years of conflict that defined Japanโ€™s warring states period. With the support of villagers and ikko-ikki monks behind him, Rennyo led an uprising against the samurai rulers of Kaga province in 1488. His army claimed the region and declared themselves its rulers. This act represented the first time in Japanese history that a group of commoners ruled a province. For the next one hundred years, the ikko-ikki fought against and alongside many powerful daimyo, including Tokugawa Ieyasu, Oda Nobunaga, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi, depending on their aims. Occasionally, they even found themselves facing warrior monks of other sects in battle.

The ikko-ikki monks wore clothes symbolic of their origin as countryside mobs, with traditional monk robes and varying degrees and types of armor. Many wore helmets, while others opted for the straw hat and cloak of a peasant. Naginata remained very common along with a variety of other blades, and a limited number of firearms. As they charged into battle, the ikko-ikki often carried banners ahead of them proclaiming, โ€œHail to the Amida Buddha!โ€ and โ€œRenounce this world and attain the Pure Land!โ€
โ€

See also

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer ยท Militiaman de Militiaman ยท Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman ยท Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman ยท Halberdier de Halberdier ยท Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer ยท Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher ยท Grenadier de Grenadier ยท Hussar aoe3de Hussar ยท Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon ยท Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer ยท Falconet aoe3de Falconet ยท Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin ยท Mortar de Mortar ยท Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon ยท Caravel aoe3de Caravel ยท Galleon aoe3de Galleon ยท Frigate aoe3de Frigate ยท Monitor aoe3de Monitor
3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior ยท Horse art de Horse Artillery ยท Petard aoe3de Petard ยท Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy ยท Native canoe aoe3de Canoe ยท War canoe aoe3de War Canoe ยท Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar ยท Sloop aoe3de Sloop ยท Steamer aoe3de Steamer ยท Battleship portrait Battleship
Age3DE Icon The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman ยท Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman ยท Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner ยท Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider ยท Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior ยท Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer ยท Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider ยท Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe ยท Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
Unique units
Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman ยท Ranger portrait Ranger ยท Rocket de Rocket
Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter ยท Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr ยท Doppel de Doppelsoldner ยท Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan ยท War wagon de War Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk ยท Janissary aoe3de Janissary ยท Ottomans azap portrait Azap ยท Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier ยท Ottomans deli portrait Deli ยท Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner ยท Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci ยท Great bombard de Great Bombard ยท Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir ยท Spahi de Sipahi ยท Galley aoe3de Galley
Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman ยท Cacador de Cassador ยท Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet ยท Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut ยท Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik ยท Cossack de Cossack ยท Oprichink de Oprichnik
Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero ยท Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief ยท Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout ยท Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner ยท Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger ยท Puma spearman de Puma Spearman ยท Arrow knight de Arrow Knight ยท Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight ยท Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight ยท Warrior priest de Warrior Priest ยท Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight ยท Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief ยท Aenna de Aenna ยท Tomahawk de Tomahawk ยท Forest prowler de Forest Prowler ยท Kanya de Kanya Horseman ยท Musket rider de Musket Rider ยท Ram aoe3de Ram ยท Iro mantlet de Mantlet ยท Light cannon de Light Cannon
Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief ยท Cetan de Cetan Bowman ยท Club warrior de Club Warrior ยท Wakina de Wakina Rifle ยท Axe rider de Axe Rider ยท Bow rider de Bow Rider ยท Rifle rider de Rifle Rider ยท Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler ยท Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master ยท Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple ยท Sentry cn jp de Sentry ยท Irregular cn jp de Irregular ยท Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu ยท Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman ยท Changdao de Changdao Swordsman ยท Arquebusier de Arquebusier ยท Steppe rider de Steppe Rider ยท Keshik de Keshik ยท Iron flail de Iron Flail ยท Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer ยท Flamethrower de Flamethrower ยท Hand mortar de Hand Mortar ยท Flying crow de Flying Crow ยท Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk ยท War junk aoe3de War Junk ยท Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin ยท Sentry IN de Sentry ยท Irregular IN de Irregular ยท Rajput de Rajput ยท Sepoy de Sepoy ยท Gurkha de Gurkha ยท Urumi de Urumi Swordsman ยท Sowar de Sowar ยท Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak ยท Mahout de Mahout Lancer ยท Howdah aoe3de Howdah ยท Flail elephant de Flail Elephant ยท Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer ยท Sentry cn jp de Sentry ยท Irregular cn jp de Irregular ยท Yumi archer de Yumi Archer ยท Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer ยท Samurai aoe3de Samurai ยท Naginata de Naginata Rider ยท Yabusame de Yabusame ยท Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow ยท Morutaru de Morutaru ยท Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo ยท Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa ยท Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi ยท Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi ยท Fune aoe3de Fune ยท Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune ยท Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief ยท Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui ยท Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman ยท Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman ยท Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner ยท DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior ยท Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca ยท Inca Maceman Icon Maceman ยท Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean ยท Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit ยท Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General ยท Us marine aoe3de Minuteman ยท State militia aoe3de State Militia ยท Regular aoe3de Regular ยท Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter ยท Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry ยท Gatlin de Gatling Gun ยท Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun ยท Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger ยท Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy ยท Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General ยท Padre revolution portrait Padre ยท Insurgente portrait Insurgente ยท Soldado portrait Soldado ยท Emboscador portrait Salteador ยท Chinaco portrait Chinaco ยท Desperado portrait Desperado ยท Vaquero portrait Cuatrero ยท Bandido portrait Bandido
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras ยท Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior ยท Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya ยท Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior ยท Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya ยท Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar ยท War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir ยท Fulani Fulani Archer ยท Raider aoe3de portrait Raider ยท Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight ยท Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi ยท Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier ยท Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere ยท Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard ยท Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone ยท Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer ยท Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave ยท Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard ยท Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank ยท Galleass portrait Galleass
Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master ยท Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller ยท Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel ยท Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower ยท Order galley portrait Order Galley ยท SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
Revolution Revolution
Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior ยท Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar ยท Californio portrait Californio ยท Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon ยท Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain ยท Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman ยท Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger ยท Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo ยท Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur ยท Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster ยท Gatlin de Gatling Gun ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Jagunรงo ยท Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero ยท Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco ยท Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero ยท Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary ยท Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter ยท San martin portrait San Martin ยท Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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