Wokou Ronin
Wokou Ronin is Heavy infantry in Age of Empires III, available from the Commerce Age; obtained through Tavern (Europeans), Monastery (Asians), Lombard (Italians), Wokou Junk.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 200 Coin
- Available
- Commerce Age · Tavern (Europeans) ; Monastery (Asians) ; Lombard (Italians) ; Wokou Junk
- Training
- 33 sec · 4 population · 40 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 400 hit points · 30% hand resistance · 5.0 speed · 12 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 25 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Cavalry; 1.5x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 60 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
Production is available through Tavern (Europeans), Monastery (Asians), Lombard (Italians), or Wokou Junk. It has 400 hit points. It moves at 5.0 speed and uses 4 population. Training costs 200 Coin; it takes 33 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 25 damage. Siege attack deals 60 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 2.0× against Cavalry and 1.5× against Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Use Wokou Ronin to meet Cavalry in melee or to exploit their 60 siege damage against an exposed structure. They cost outlaw resources and have no ranged attack, so protect the approach from artillery and ranged infantry. The unit is map- and building-dependent; recruit it when its 2× Cavalry bonus answers a real threat, not simply because the outlaw is available.
Outlaw profile and map access
The Wokou Ronin is a Commerce Age East Asian outlaw Heavy Infantry unit from The Asian Dynasties. It is available on Hokkaido and Honshu and can be hired from Taverns for Europeans, Monasteries for Asians, Lombards for Italians or a Wokou Junk. It costs 200 Coin, trains in 33 seconds and uses four population in the current profile. It has 400 hit points, speed 5.0, line of sight 12 and 30% hand resistance. The Ronin resembles a Landsknecht: a durable melee Infantry unit with an anti-Cavalry role.
Anti-Cavalry melee
The Ronin’s current hand attack has a 2.0× multiplier against Cavalry and 1.5× against shock troops. This makes it a useful answer to mounted units that reach the frontline, while its heavy-infantry classification helps it survive hand combat better than a ranged unit. It remains vulnerable to Light Infantry, counter-skirmishers and Artillery, which can damage it before it closes. Keep the Ronin behind a ranged line until Cavalry commits, then move it into the path of the charge. Its four-population cost makes it a poor unit to lose while chasing a retreat.
Outlaw upgrades and population cards
Compunction, Folk Heroes or Wild West upgrades the Ronin in Industrial and Imperial Ages. Outlaw Home City Cards such as Theaters or Atonement can reduce its population use by two, and outlaws receive combat improvements at age advancement under the relevant rules. The exact card and technology availability depends on civilization and deck. These bonuses can change the efficiency of a four-population mercenary-like unit, but the Ronin still costs 200 Coin and must be hired through an available outlaw source.
Japanese and revolutionary access
Japanese players can obtain Wokou Ronin after sending the Forty Seven Ronin Home City card, which converts their Castles into Ronin production. Lakota can receive them through Outlaw Band and Bandit Gang random outlaw shipments. Argentina and Maya revolutions can also receive Wokou Ronin in their outlaw shipment pools. These paths differ from hiring the unit at a Tavern, Monastery, Lombard or Wokou Junk. Check the selected map and civilization before planning a Ronin force, because the normal map pool is limited to Hokkaido and Honshu.
Version changes and battle use
Before update 13.27885 the Ronin used three population and did not have the current 2.0× Cavalry and 1.5× shock-troop bonuses. Its speed was 4.5 before update 15.59076. Older guides can therefore understate the current counter role or misstate population. In battle, use it to protect Skirmishers and Artillery from mounted attacks, and avoid sending it alone into ranged Infantry. Because it is an outlaw, Spies or similar mercenary-hunting counters can also threaten it; scout the enemy composition before committing a full population block.
Protect ranged units from Cavalry
The Ronin’s 2.0× Cavalry and 1.5× shock-troop hand bonuses make it a useful screen for Skirmishers, Artillery and other vulnerable ranged units. Keep it close enough to intercept a charge, but do not chase Light Infantry across the map. The Ronin’s speed is 5.0, so fast Cavalry can choose whether to engage. Use terrain and a second line to prevent enemies from simply riding around the Ronin and attacking the ranged army.
Population and card efficiency
At four population, the Ronin is a substantial investment. Cards such as Theaters or Atonement and outlaw technologies can reduce population use by two, making the unit more efficient in a large late army. Those benefits depend on the civilization and deck, and they do not erase the 200-Coin purchase cost. Check the available card before choosing how many Ronin to train. A small group may be enough to deter Cavalry while leaving room for Skirmishers and Artillery.
Age upgrades and match timing
Compunction, Folk Heroes or Wild West can upgrade Wokou Ronin in the Industrial and Imperial Ages. Outlaw combat improvements at age advancement can further strengthen a group, and the Japanese Forty Seven Ronin card creates a separate Castle production route. If the match is likely to end before those upgrades pay off, focus on immediate counters instead of investing in a distant Imperial force. If the game continues, protect the Ronin and use age transitions to keep its anti-Cavalry job relevant.
Counter the outlaw
The Ronin is an outlaw as well as Heavy Infantry. Spies and other mercenary- or outlaw-hunting units can threaten it, while Light Infantry and Artillery can damage it before it reaches melee range. Avoid using Ronin as a general-purpose assault unit against a prepared ranged army. Let Skirmishers weaken the opponent, then use the Ronin to protect the formation from Cavalry or finish a target that has already been engaged.
Recruit only from an available source
The Wokou Ronin’s normal maps are Hokkaido and Honshu, and a Wokou Junk can provide a naval route. Japanese Forty Seven Ronin, Lakota outlaw shipments and Argentina or Maya revolutions are special alternatives. If none applies, do not assume a Tavern or Monastery will offer Ronin on another map. Confirm access before reserving 200 Coin, then include a unit that can protect the four-population group from ranged counters.
Do not fight at range
The Ronin has no ranged attack and only average speed. Use it to screen Cavalry in close combat, not to chase Skirmishers or stand under Artillery fire.
Protect its specialist role
The Ronin's costly, high-impact attacks reward using it against valuable targets instead of sending it into a mass of cheap infantry. Ranged Infantry and Skirmishers can pressure it before it reaches melee, while artillery can exploit its predictable approach. Use a screen to keep those counters busy, then direct the Ronin toward Heavy Infantry or buildings that justify its price. With the Wokou Pirate card, its population use falls from four to three; the discount improves army capacity but leaves its Coin price unchanged.
Use it as a deliberate breakthrough unit
A Wokou Ronin is most effective when a fight has already created an opening. Its high melee damage can remove a priority target quickly, but ranged Infantry can wear it down while it crosses open ground and Artillery can punish a predictable advance. Screen the approach with units that force those counters to reposition, then send the Ronin toward Heavy Infantry or another target worth its Coin investment. Do not leave it chasing light units across the map; its strength is decisive melee damage, not long pursuit. The Wokou Pirate shipment's reduction to three population improves army capacity, but it does not change the need for a frontline and careful target selection.
Asian mercenary heavy infantry
The Wokou Ronin is Heavy infantry available through European Taverns, Asian Monasteries, the Italian Lombard or a Wokou Junk in the contexts where those rosters are active. Its 25-damage hand attack has bonuses against Cavalry and Shock troops, and its 60-damage siege attack can pressure structures once the frontline is secure. At 400 hit points and 30% hand resistance, it is durable in melee, but four population and 200 Coin make each hire costly. Use the unit to anchor close combat and punish mounted units that enter its reach.
Training and engagement planning
A Wokou Ronin takes 33 seconds to train. Protect the mercenary building and reserve Coin for replacements before committing the unit to a fight. Its five speed allows it to move with the main army, but it should not chase fast ranged troops across open ground. Use infantry or ranged cavalry to control those targets, while the Ronin handles cavalry or Shock troops that make contact. Its siege attack is useful after defenders are occupied, but sending a small group to attack a fortified base exposes an expensive unit to ranged fire. Verify which access route is available for the selected civilization and map.