At first glance, the Yojimbo might seem as a superior version of the Yabusame, but in reality, it plays more like a highly improved, mercenary version of the Cavalry Archer. The Yabusame itself is more comparable to a Culverin, as it has a very high bonus versus artillery combined with a good range and strong ranged resistance (50% to be precise).
On the other hand, the Yojimbo is meant to be a shock unit, quickly destroying enemy cavalry and artillery with arrow volleys and, when enemy light ranged cavalry or infantry arrive on the battlefield, going for the kill in melee combat, where they particular excel, as they have great hand resistance, combined with a strong attack, but most important of all, area damage.
Not unlike Cuirassiers or other cavalry in Trample Mode, this makes them excellent against masses of weak units, such as Streltsy or Otontin Slingers.
All in all, Yojimbos are spectacular mercenaries, but by no means should they replace Yabusames, as they are much more expensive and not as cost effective against artillery, while larger masses of light ranged cavalry may wreak havoc on Yojimbo.
Campaign[]
In the Japanese campaign, they are featured in the first scenario as woodcutters who were going to be executed for rebelling. When they are freed, they will make a remark about regaining their honor and join your forces.
For the Japanese, the Yojimbo can be trained at the Monastery in the Fortress Age with the "Atonement" Home City Card. Also, the Japanese have the "Hire Japanese Mercenary Army", "Hire Yojimbo Cavalry Archers", and "Recruit Wokou +7 Yojimbo" cards, which ship 5, 4, and 7 Yojimbo, respectively, and can be sent twice.
The United States can get Black Riders through the "Poker" Home City Card, in the pool of random mercenaries shipped, which also randomly enables them in Saloons.
Mercenary train time -15%, speed (except Napoleon Gun and Li'l Bombard) +7%; mercenary shipment arrive time -20%; enables Highlander to be trained at Barracks and Taverns, Royal Horseman at Stables and Taverns; Pikeman, Halberdier, Skirmisher, Hussar, and Ruyter cost +10%
Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa speed +5%, Line of Sight +10, training and research work rate +15%; land military train time -20%, artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
Colegio de San Nicolas
Delivers 1 Large Collection of Books (500 XP); unit Line of Sight +4; building (except Wall) Line of Sight +8; reveals enemy units' positions for 20 seconds
National Servant
Unit (except herded animals) hit points +10%; Padre heal work rate +200%
Imperial Age
Outlaw Combat
Outlaw and mercenary hit points and damage +15%; costs 500 coin
Mercenary hit points and damage +20%; enables Landsknechts and Jaegers to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns (for Landsknechts), and Galleons; enables Black Riders to be trained at Stables and Galleons
Delivers 13 random mercenaries; enables up to 3 random mercenaries at Saloons; costs 3,500 coin
Indiana Mobilization
Delivers 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game, including this one; unit train time, technology research time, Age up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Hamilton's Own
Delivers 2 Li'l Bombards and 4 Napoleon Guns; mercenary hit points and damage +25%; costs 2,500 coin
Imperial Age
Seminole Ponies
Delivers 9 Hussars; cavalry train time -10%; hand cavalry hit points and damage +15%, speed +5%
Imperial Age
"Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
"Hamilton's Own" is available upon selecting the New York Federal State.
"Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.
A yojimbo is a bodyguard or security warrior often hired from the ranks of wandering ronin, or masterless samurai.
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Trivia[]
The Yojimbo's bow does not look like an actual yumi, because its grip is located in the center of the bow instead of slightly towards the bottom.
The Yojimbo is the only cavalry archer that have area of effect hand attack.
Before the Definitive Edition, the Yojimbo were classified as gunpowder cavalry, despite obviously using arrows. While they were normally not affected by this classification, it prevented them from benefiting from any archer-related native upgrades, such as the Carib Garifuna Drums. Since the Definitive Edition, they are no longer tagged as gunpowder cavalry and are now tagged as archer, and therefore can benefit from archer-related native upgrades.
The Yojimbo bears physical resemblance to the fictional character Sanjuro from a 1961 Jidaigeki film with the same name.
Gallery[]
A Yojimbo under white background
An in-game Yojimbo
The Yojimbo Cavalry Archer's history portrait
It is possible the Yojimbo was based on Sanjuro from the namesake 1961 Jidaigeki film
Cavalry Combat
Liberation March
Riding School
Feudal Armies
Loyal Warriors
Cavalry Damage
Cavalry Hitpoints
Western Reforms
Acupuncture
Dutch States Army
Ignatian Spirituality
Outlaw Combat
Wanderlust
TEAM Cavalry Attack
Spanish Riding School
Improved Mercenaries
Adler von Lübeck
Sahelian Kingdoms
Dravidian Martial Arts
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
Schiavoni Swords
Bakufu
Hire Japanese Mercenary Army
Hire Yojimbo Cavalry Archers
Atonement
Recruit Wokou + 7 Yojimbo
TEAM Mustangs
TEAM Knights of the Round Table
TEAM Mariachi
Colegio de San Nicolas
National Servant
Outlaw Combat
Akincis
TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions
TEAM Spanish Inquisition
German Mercenary Contracts
Poker
Indiana Mobilization
Hamilton's Own
Seminole Ponies
Atonement
TEAM Cavalry Scouts
The Asian Dynasties[]
