Matchlocks

I have an issue with matchlocks. During my Mori campaign, I started building Gunsmiths in useless territories in order to upgrade and use matchlocks effectively on the battlefield. Although they can deliver a decisive volley, under no circumstance they can beat an even 2-experience Bow Samurai when it comes to efficiency.

Archers in S2TW are a killer, but matchlocks are seriously underpowered because of their range. Even Matchlock Samurai.
I do prefer Imported Matchlock Ashigaru because of the bonus to Range and Accuracy, I think.

Thoughts on how to use them properly?

What about MP?

From a multiplayer perspective, the best use for matchlocks is destroying morale. If you put them in the front of your army, let them get a volley off, and move your melee line forward, the enemy will break much faster (if they haven't already, as ashigaru often do). Alternatively, let them fire into a melee fight already in progress. Sure, it will kill some of your own troops, but the morale penalty only affects the enemy, and so usually makes them rout pretty quickly. Lastly, they're great for taking out generals, hero units, and other small, high value targets. One volley is often enough to cut their numbers by more than 50%.

Good post, thanks for the info. Matchlock Samurai IMHO are only marginally more effective than the Ashigaru but nevertheless they inflict a bit more damage.

I still prefer Bow Warrior Monks + 4xp + whistling arrows.

I have only very limited experience, but matchlocks seem fantastic on castle defence. Samurai often break before getting up the ramparts.

More generally, someone at TWC did some testing of ranged weapons. It was rather like what I did with bow samurai vs bow ashigaru in the Confucian Academy but also including monks and matchlocks. Matchlocks came out top in terms of lethality (vs advancing melee infantry) iirc.

Play Oda.
As soon as you get the ability to produce Matchlock Ashigaru get barrack's or hunting lodges.
Suddenly your playing NTW.

I remember taking on the... I can't remember the name... its the "original shogun" faction, with all there fancy High-XP samurai archers and melee units. And me with about 12+ units of Matchlock Ashigaru with 2 XP and improved accuracy, two cannon units two fire mangonels, and about 1/4th mile of open field.
Poor lads, they never stood a chance. A iron tube with a lead ball and some powder and that brought an end to a lifetimes training in a massacre that lasted 9 minutes.

Matchlocks I think are more effective because of the morale effect and not there killing power like bow monks.

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Originally Posted by Tsavong

Matchlocks I think are more effective because of the morale effect and not there killing power like bow monks.

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Overall, I find Bow Monks much more efficient, particularly if you own a province with a Sanctuary. :grin2:

I used to use imported matchlocks for their morale effect, and of course they're fun and cool. But honestly, I'd just rather have a ton of bow samurai.

Matchlocks are great for castle defense, but fess up now ... while castle defenses are usually hella fun, it shouldn't happen often if you're playing the game right.

It's just a hassle to micromanage them alongside all your bow sammies, shrug.

Actual matchlock samurai take way too long to be able to make, unless you want to play a sandbox game.