Shaolin Temple
Asian religious Minor civilization from The Asian Dynasties. Ally at its site with a Trading Post or Inca Tambo. Maps: Central Plain, Manchuria, Mongolia, Silk Road and Yellow River. It combines fast native infantry, an economic technology and two military improvements.
Settlement & allied options
Rattan Shield is fast hand shock infantry with ranged resistance and no built-in bonus multiplier; it reaches archers, skirmishers and artillery, but heavy infantry is dangerous. Definitive Edition limit: 16 per site. Clenched Fist (200 Wood, 200 Coin) gives ranged infantry +25% hand-attack damage; Caroleans and hand skirmishers except Urumi Swordsmen receive +10%. Wood Clearing (200 Food, 200 Coin) adds +20% Villager gathering from trees and Mango Groves. Dim Mak (300 Wood, 300 Coin) gives Rattan Shields +50% damage.
Units, technologies & maps
Wood Clearing helps once sustained Wood demand rises, especially if workers cost Wood. Clenched Fist strengthens ranged infantry when cavalry reaches it. Use Rattan Shields to flank and remove exposed light troops, not trade head-on with heavy infantry. Dim Mak suits continued recruitment. The 16-unit cap and current classification refer to Definitive Edition; older values differ.
When to ally
Rattan Shields use only one population and move quickly, so they can screen a slower ranged force or reposition toward a structure. Dim Mak raises their attacks directly, while Clenched Fist modifies melee attacks for its named classes; do not count Clenched Fist as an increase to their ranged damage. If the army is primarily using its ranged weapons, spend on the correct unit or economic improvement instead.
Rattan Shield is a fast close-combat screen
The Rattan Shield costs 50 Food and 60 Wood, trains in 30 seconds and has 185 hit points, 20% ranged resistance and 6.25 speed. It deals 16 hand damage and 10 siege damage. Its resistance helps against ranged fire, but it has no listed ranged weapon; use its speed to close, screen the army or pressure a structure rather than leaving it in an open ranged exchange.
Unit-specific and class-wide improvements
Dim Mak increases Rattan Shield damage by 50% for 300 Wood and 300 Coin, researched in 10 seconds. Clenched Fist costs 200 Wood and 200 Coin and increases all melee attack damage of Ranged Infantry by 25%; Caroleans and Hand Skirmishers instead receive 10%, with Urumi Swordsmen excluded from that latter group. It changes melee attacks, not ranged damage. Wood Clearing is an economic option: for 200 Food and 200 Coin it increases Villager gathering from trees and Mango Groves by 20%. Choose the military upgrade matching units already fielded, or the logging bonus when Wood gathering can continue.
Holy-site access and map scouting
A Trading Post or Inca Tambo at a Shaolin Temple holy site unlocks the alliance and its technologies; the Native Embassy is another Rattan Shield training route. Sites are listed on Central Plain, Manchuria, Mongolia, Silk Road and Yellow River. Check the match layout and protect the site before committing resources to Dim Mak or the longer Wood plan.