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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties. For other uses, see Samurai.

Powerful Japanese Samurai swordsman that inflicts area damage in hand combat. Good against cavalry and buildings.
—In-game description

The Samurai is a melee heavy infantry unit in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties that is unique to the Japanese and can be trained at Barracks, Atakebunes, and by Daimyos. It has a splash attack that harms multiple enemy units in one sweep of their sword and is one of the strongest non-mercenary melee infantry units in the game.

Overview[]

Unlike most infantry recruited at the Barracks, the Samurai takes two population slots. Samurai are deadly against cavalry, shock infantry and buildings, being able to kill large groups of cavalry and shock infantry, or high hit point buildings in mere seconds, and do OK against other heavy infantry if they aren't spread apart too much. Samurai should stay away from ranged infantry, which can kill them with ease, but if the Samurai get in close, they can easily wipe the Skirmishers and archers out with their area attacks, due to the low hit points of most skirmishers. The same goes for artillery, because of their low hit points and 75% ranged resist, and the Samurai's high hand damage.

Samurai are very similar to the German Doppelsoldner, although they are less useful against cavalry and shock infantry, have a smaller Area of Effect, slightly less hit points, and are slightly stronger against all other units and buildings. They also cost more food, but less coin, and have a 30% hand resistance versus the Doppelsoldner's 20%.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age III tech tree aoe3
Disciplined infantry Disciplined Samurai 200 wood
100 coin
Upgrades Samurai to Disciplined (+20% hit points and attack)
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Honored infantry Honored Samurai 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrades Samurai to Honored (+30% hit points and attack); requires Disciplined Samurai
Imperial Age
Exalted infantry Exalted Samurai 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Samurai to Exalted (+50% hit points and attack); requires Honored Samurai

Further statistics[]

As Samurai are unique to the Japanese, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Cavalry and shock infantry especially in groups, buildings
Weak vs. Light infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Maya Cotton Armor Maya Cotton Armor (+20%)
Infantry Breastplate Infantry Breastplate (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Zapotec Cult of the Dead Zapotec Cult of the Dead (+20%)
Carib Kasiri Beer Carib Kasiri Beer (+10%)
Master Lessons Master Lessons (+10%)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Mapuche Tactics Mapuche Tactics (+50% siege attack)
Incendiary grenades Incendiary Grenades (+15% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings)
Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Military Drummers Military Drummers (+10%)
Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Standing Army Standing Army (-25%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
Cost Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (-10%)
Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Other Clan Offerings Clan Offerings (every Castle spawns 1 Samurai; Consulate with Japanese Isolation)
Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

As Samurai are unique to the Japanese, only their cards and other civilizations' TEAM cards are shown in the following tables:

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Samurai
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Chinese Home City 1 (TEAM Yongle Infrastructure) TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Ships 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villagers, healing units, Envoys, and Disciples get +5% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +10% hit points; Dutch-only infantry get +15% hit points instead
Age II tech tree aoe3

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Ships 1 Native Scout; infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Ships 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villagers, healing units, and Envoys get +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Japanese Home City 2 (3 Samurais) 3 Samurai Ships 3 Samurai
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 2 (8 Samurai) 8 Samurai Ships 8 Samurai
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Japanese Home City 2 (5 Samurais) 5 Samurai Ships 5 Samurai
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 2 (6 Samurais) 6 Samurai Ships 6 Samurai
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Japanese Home City 2 (Samurai Damage) Samurai Attack Samurai get +20% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Sword saint Sword Saint Samurai get +10% hit points, attack, and speed, but cost +10%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 2 (Team Japanese Artillery Damage) TEAM Odzutsu Mortars Artillery get +10% attack; Samurai replace a building attack with a hand mortar attack with a range of 12 and get +2 Line of Sight; Incendiary Grenades can be researched at the Golden Pavilion
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +5% speed, +10 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military unit train time -20%, artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
Warring states Warring States Samurai, Daimyo, and Shogun Tokugawa get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
Swedish Home City 2 (TEAM House of Bernadotte) TEAM House of Bernadotte Heavy infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Iroquois[]

Card Description Age HC level
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Japanese Home City 2 (3 Samurais) 3 Samurai Ships 3 Samurai
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Japanese Home City 2 (8 Samurai) 7 Samurai Ships 7 Samurai; Samurai get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Japanese Home City 2 (5 Samurais) 5 Samurai Ships 5 Samurai
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Japanese Home City 2 (6 Samurais) 6 Samurai Ships 6 Samurai
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Samurai Attack Samurai get +20% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Sword saint Sword Saint Samurai get +10% speed, but cost +10%
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Onin war Onin War Infantry get +33% siege attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +10% speed, +20 Line of Sight and train units 100% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Warring states Warring States Samurai, Daimyo, and Shogun Tokugawa get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 3 (Dueling School) Dueling School Infantry (except Skull Knights), Old Han Army, and Territorial Army train time -25%; Black Flag Army, Standard Army, Ming Army, and Imperial Army train time -12%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 1 (Hand Infantry Attack) TEAM Hand Infantry Attack Hand infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • The Samurai has 28 hand attack and has no multipliers against villagers and Elephants.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

Trivia[]

  • The Samurai has attack voice lines in the game files but they are all unused. This was not corrected in the Definitive Edition, where they remain unused.
  • The Samurai is called ypKensei in the game files. Kensei was a Japanese honorary title for exceptional swordsmen.

History[]

The samurai were members of the Japanese warrior aristocracy who embodied the bushido code; they rose to power during the rival clan wars of the twelfth century. This bushido belief system - "the way of the warrior" - emphasized an unwavering loyalty to a master, the act of self-sacrifice, and an indifference to pain. From the twelfth century to the establishment of the Tokugawa shogunate in 1603, the samurai were the dominant social class in Japan, and many acted as knights in the service of the warring feudal lords.

After Tokugawa Ieyasu was declared shogun and began to consolidate power, the samurai were encouraged to leave their posts as village defenders and take more bureaucratic government posts in castle towns, earning government stipends to abandon their warrior ways. This was done to reduce the threat of masterless samurai, or ronin, who had become a threat to Tokugawa's dictatorship. However, the drastic culture shift did not sit well with many samurai, and former warriors eventually led the overthrow of the shogunate in 1867.

Gallery[]

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