| “ | Mounted Samurai with an aura that increases damage of cavalry. Comes with the Deflective Armor ability that periodically blocks attacks. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Uma Bannerman is a heavy melee cavalry unit in Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend that is unique to the Japanese at the Stable starting in the Feudal Age. It is based on a Mounted Samurai, with a special ability being an aura that increases the attack of nearby cavalry. Like the Mounted Samurai, it too possesses the Deflective Armor enhancement, and uses a naginata for charging and a katana as a melee weapon.
Compared to Mounted Samurai, Uma Bannermen have slightly lower statistics and are available an Age earlier. Like all Samurai Bannerman units, it is capped by the Bannerman build limit which can be increased by upgrading individual Town Centers. It requires at least one Daimyo Manor to increase the limit above the starting zero, before it can be trained. Bannermen are upgraded for free upon reaching the next age.
Ability[]
Deflective Armor (Passive): Blocks one melee or ranged attack, recharges in eight seconds when out of combat.- Uma Bannerman (Passive): Cavalry units (both melee and ranged) in a 6 tiles radius have +15% attack damage. Upon death of the Uma Bannerman, the aura effect lasts for 30 seconds.
Tactics[]
Statistically, the Uma Bannerman is similar to a Mounted Samurai. They have the same unique attributes and abilities, with the addition of being a Bannerman unit. They have higher hit points, but lower damage, allowing them to last longer in combat and provide their banner benefits.
Like all Bannerman units, they should be paired with the types of units they benefit. Uma Bannermen increase the damage of all cavalry (whether melee or ranged), including Horsemen, Mounted Samurai, and Onna-Musha. When killed, a Bannerman drops their flag and continues to provide offensive benefits for an additional 30 seconds, meaning focusing fire on a Bannerman is not as likely to swing the results of a battle.
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Archers, Horsemen, siege engines |
| Weak vs. | Spearmen, Crossbowman, War Elephant, Camel Riders |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
 Hit points
|
 Biology (+25%)
|
| Attack |  Tatara (+1) Hizukuri (+1) Kobuse-gitae (+1) Yaki-ire (+1)
|
| Armor |  Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Do-maru Armor (+10% while Deflective Armor is active)
|
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Attack |  Uma Bannerman Aura (+15%) Buddhist Conversion (+20% for 20 seconds)
|
| Movement speed
|
 Nehan Conversion (+25% for 20 seconds)
|
| Creation speed |  Yorishiro Bonus (+150%)
|
Dialogue lines[]
The Katana Bannerman, Uma Bannerman, and Yumi Bannerman share the same dialogue lines.
Changelog[]
- With patch 9.2.628, Uma Bannermen auras also benefit ranged cavalry, both their native Onna-Musha and foreign ranged cavalry units.
Trivia[]
- The symbol on the Uma Bannerman's sashimono is four cannonballs. The game files call the icon "bannermen_siege" suggesting that at some point in development, this banner was used for buffing siege units instead.
Gallery[]
