| “ | Ranged Samurai with an aura that increases damage of ranged infantry. Comes with the Deflective Armor ability that periodically blocks attacks. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Yumi Bannerman is a unique light ranged infantry unit in Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend that is only available to the Japanese at the Archery Range starting in the Feudal Age. It is described as a type of Samurai, but mechanically it is a foot archer like a Yumi Ashigaru, with a special ability being an aura that increases the attack of nearby ranged infantry. Like the Samurai, it too possesses the Deflective Armor enhancement.
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.- Yumi Bannerman (Passive): Ranged infatry units in 6 tiles radius have +15% attack damage. Upon death of the Yumi Bannerman, the aura effect lasts for 30 seconds.
Tactics[]
Statistically, the Yumi Bannerman is a much more powerful version of the Yumi Ashigaru. They have the same bonus damage against light melee infantry, but much higher hit points, damage, range, and armor. They also have the Deflective Armor ability, 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. Yumi Bannermen increase the damage of all ranged infantry, including Yumi Ashigaru, Handcannon Ashigaru, and Ozutsu. They do NOT benefit Onna-Musha, for whom Uma Bannermen should be used instead. 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. | Light melee infantry, Janissaries |
| Weak vs. | Horsemen, Lancers, Mangonels Javelin Thrower |
| Conditional matchups | Horse Archers, Crossbowmen, Handcannoneers |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Attack |  Steeled Arrow (+1) Balanced Projectiles (+1) Platecutter Point (+1) Incendiary Arrows (+20%, +3 siege damage vs buildings)
|
| 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) |
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Ability |  Siege Engineering (Can build Battering Rams and Siege Towers)
|
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Attack |  Buddhist Conversion (+20% for 20 seconds)
|
 Range
|
 Wall Defense (+1)
|
| Damage resistance | Wall Defense (-25% ranged, -50% siege)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Nehan Conversion (+25% for 20 seconds)
|
| Creation speed |  Yorishiro Bonus (+125%)
|
Dialogue lines[]
The Katana Bannerman, Uma Bannerman, and Yumi Bannerman share the same dialogue lines.
Trivia[]
- The symbol on the Yumi Bannerman's sashimono is a ring and a line, most likely representing an arrow and a Tsurumaki, which are rings made of woven rattan to wrap the bowstring of a Yumi longbow around when it is disassembled for storage.
- In real life, Hatamoto Samurai were flag bearers and had to ride horses so that everyone could see their banners, as well as rapidly bringing their banners to the new position. Being on foot was highly impractical.
- Due to the sheer status and prestige of both roles, samurai flag bearers were almost always also samurai cavalry archers, not foot archers. Which is also due to practical reason, as samurai who absolutely have to fight on foot would wield other weapons to defend themselves from enemy cavalry, not bows and arrows.
Gallery[]
