The Battle of Sekigahara
The Battle of Sekigahara is the fifth and final scenario of Act I: Japan in The Asian Dynasties, set in 1600. The mission follows Kichiro’s final battle beside Tokugawa against Ishida, while the story turns on Kichiro’s decision to leave his master after the fighting.
Scenario setting & objectives
Defeat Daimyo Ishida for the required objective and its 10,000 Experience reward. Optional goals target Daimyo Otani, the central Castle and a Coin Wagon sent to the eastern village; they award additional Experience and can change how much support or access is available. The side goals are separate tasks, so finishing the main battle does not require completing every one.
Mission approach
Secure the force needed to defeat Ishida first, then weigh optional rewards against the time and troops they cost. The eastern Coin Wagon can win village support, while the Castle and Otani objectives require separate attacks; avoid splitting the army before you know which approach is defensible.
Campaign role and narrative
The Battle of Sekigahara is the fifth and concluding scenario of Act I: Japan in The Asian Dynasties campaign. The historical setting is 1600, and the story follows General Kichiro after he has learned the truth about his family and his master. He chooses to fight beside Tokugawa Ieyasu for one last battle, even as he questions the loyalty that has shaped his life. The scenario begins with the "Out of the Fog" cinematic and turns that personal conflict into a battlefield decision: defeat Daimyo Ishida, while an optional intervention can cause Kobayakawa Hideaki to abandon the opposing alliance.
Objectives and forces
The primary objective is to destroy Daimyo Ishida. The map also offers three secondary tasks: assassinate Daimyo Otani of the Northern Clan for 6,000 experience, damage the central Castle for 2,000 experience, and send a Coin Wagon to the eastern village to gain its support. The player commands the Eastern Tokugawa Army as the Japanese civilization, starting in the southwest with Tokugawa Ieyasu, General Kichiro, a small group of Yumi Archers, and a working base. The Oriental Clan occupies a village in the southeast. Once its defenders are beaten, that settlement becomes an ally and contributes a Town Center, a Rice Paddy, and Villagers. The main opposition is Ishida's northern fortified base, while Otani's forces occupy western and eastern positions that obstruct the approach.
The battlefield and enemy alliances
Ishida's base is protected by military buildings and a Castle; attacking it immediately with only the starting force is costly. Otani's bases and the central fortification shape the routes between the player's base and the final target. Kobayakawa's contingent is positioned around the center and has a Castle, Morutaru, Incendiary Arrows, and Ashigaru Musketeers. Damaging the Castle triggers the betrayal event that changes this force's allegiance, so the secondary objective is also a way to weaken Ishida's coalition and gain an additional ally. The terrain is based on Honshu and a Trade Route runs from the southwest toward the north. There are eleven treasures distributed around the battlefield, including near the player's base, the allied village, and enemy positions. Treasures can supply useful early resources, but collecting them should not leave the base undefended.
Economy and approach
Start by keeping Villagers working while the heroes collect safe nearby treasures and the army secures the approach to the southeast. Capturing the Oriental Clan's village provides a second economic foothold; Rice Paddies are valuable because they can provide food and coin after local mines are exhausted. Shrines can help with population and resource income for the Japanese. Build the army in stages, using the available Trade Route and resource production to sustain reinforcements rather than committing the opening force to a fortified position. Clear nearby enemy pressure and secure the village before pushing north. A balanced Japanese force is better suited to the mission's successive fortified positions than a single unit type, and siege support is needed to break buildings and the Castle. Once Kobayakawa's Castle has been damaged and the clan changes sides, consolidate with the new ally and direct the combined force against Ishida.
Version and replay notes
The scenario belongs to The Asian Dynasties campaign and uses the Japanese civilization; it is not a skirmish map with standard victory conditions. Its mission layout, scripted clan relationships, and objectives are specific to the campaign. The Definitive Edition provides updated map and presentation assets, while the central objective and story remain recognizable. On replay, prioritize the eastern village and the betrayal objective if you want to reduce the number of hostile positions before the final attack. The optional Otani assassination and treasure routes add experience and resources, but the essential path remains building enough strength to reach and destroy Ishida's fortified base.
Mission sequence and tactical events
The opening economy matters because the scenario presents multiple bases and a large apparent army, much of which can change allegiance. Queue Villagers and use Tokugawa and Kichiro to collect safe treasures while moving the initial force toward the eastern settlement with the Coin Rickshaw. Clear the defenders, then deliver the wagon to the marked area to secure the village and its Ninja. The new foothold gives room to build the economy and use Rice Paddies when nearby mines run dry. Ninja can use stealth to reach Daimyo Otani for the optional assassination without fighting every guard on the route. The main turning point is the Castle in the center: damage it to trigger Kobayakawa's betrayal and gain the force and buildings that switch sides. Keep the acquired Morutaru safe and let their range contribute against enemy structures. Withdraw exposed units from northern positions if Ishida's army is about to overwhelm them, then reinforce from the captured bases. Yumi Archers and Naginata Riders form a useful core against the many Yumi Archers, but Hatamoto Samurai are especially dangerous to cavalry; use ranged siege troops such as Flaming Arrows against them. After consolidating the new allies, keep pressure on Ishida's buildings until his Castle is destroyed and the primary objective is complete.
Support Tokugawa and remove Ishida’s Daimyo
The fifth and final Act I: Japan scenario centers on defeating Daimyo Ishida for 10,000 XP. Kichiro remains with Tokugawa for one last battle before changing his mind and leaving, continuing the campaign’s divided loyalty story. Optional tasks can improve the position: assassinate Daimyo Otani for 6,000 XP, damage the central Castle for 2,000 XP and send a Coin Wagon to the eastern village to gain its support. Decide whether to pursue the side objectives before the main fight; the Coin Wagon route and Castle approach can expose forces to enemy attacks. Keep the army together for Ishida, and use the optional village support only if the delivery path can be protected. The mission follows the cinematic Out of the Fog and closes Kichiro’s Japanese campaign arc.