Naginata Rider
Naginata Rider is Japanese hand Cavalry from The Asian Dynasties, available in the Commerce Age. It costs 100 Food and 100 Coin, trains in 40 seconds, has 300 hit points and moves at 6.75 speed. Its mobility and bonuses against Infantry and Artillery make it a flanking unit, not a replacement for anti-cavalry troops.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · Stable; Fort; Daimyo; Atakebune
- Training
- 40 sec · 2 population · 20 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 300 hit points · 30% ranged resistance · 6.75 speed · 15 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 28 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 1.5x vs. Infantry; 0.67x vs. Heavy infantry
- Siege attack
- 22 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
- Trample attack
- 20 damage · 2.0 attack interval · bonuses: Same as hand attack
Role & counters
The Naginata Rider’s hand attack deals 28 damage every 1.5 seconds, with a 1.5 multiplier against Infantry and a reduced 0.67 multiplier against Heavy infantry. Its 22-damage siege attack reaches 6, and its 20-damage Trample attack affects an area. The unit also has 30% ranged resistance and uses two population. Move around the front line and direct Riders toward exposed ranged units or artillery; Ashigaru Musketeers or Samurai can occupy defenders while the Riders take a side route. Avoid head-on charges into anti-cavalry troops, and do not mistake the Infantry bonus for a bonus against every infantry class.
Training & availability
Japanese; The Asian Dynasties; trained at a Stable; hand Cavalry; bonus damage against ranged infantry and artillery; threatened by dedicated anti-cavalry and ranged cavalry.
When to field it
Train Naginata Riders when the opponent depends on ranged infantry or artillery that can be reached safely. Their 6.75 speed helps them flank and raid, but their 100 Food and 100 Coin cost and two-population use make a failed engagement expensive. Avoid chasing Dragoons and other ranged cavalry across open ground or committing them as the sole frontline against Heavy Infantry. Combine them with Japanese units that can hold the center and protect their approach.