Total War: Shogun 2 1v1: Portuguese Tercos vs Ikko Ikki Matchlock Warrior Monks
Clan: Otomo vs Ikko Ikki
Difficulty: Medium
Note: *2 clan army defeated*
Unique to the Otomo Clan, Portuguese Tercos are similar to Matchlock Samurai, but with much better accuracy and reloading skill that are akin to the hero-tier Tokitaka’s Tanegashima. They also have better melee stats and far better armor, allowing them to fight far better in melee than other matchlock units. While they have fewer men per regiment than melee samurai, they compensate for this in most situations due to their initial volley of gunfire thinning out enemy numbers. Despite their superiority, Portuguese Tercos are also far easier to recruit than Matchlock Samurai, requiring only a Nanban Quarter (which can be obtained with no technological requirements), and a powder maker, a relatively low-tier siege building. In contrast, Matchlock Samurai require the late-game gunsmith building. Portuguese Tercos are the best matchlock infantry by a considerable margin, easily defeating the likes of other matchlock samurai or Matchlock Warrior Monks. Their armor makes them highly resistant to enemy arrow fire: they can simply march up to within firing range of Bow Ashigaru while barely sustaining any casualties, though more accurate archers may still pose some threat. Because of the powerful effect of their volleys, and their capable melee skill, they generally prevail or at least trade equally to Katana Samurai; defeating them is best accomplished through the use of heavy cavalry, from the flanks if possible. Like all other matchlock infantry, they have some difficulty effectively firing in hilly or broken terrain. Despite being foreign in origin, the game categorizes Portuguese Tercos as being "samurai". This means that they benefit from all tiers of the smithing line of buildings.
Unique to the Ikko Ikki, Matchlock Warrior Monks are the only warrior monks in Total War: Shogun 2 to use gunpowder weapons. Like other gunpowder units, they are well suited to fighting more heavily armored units. They compare most similarly to the Matchlock Samurai, but with superior range (thanks to their Increased Range ability), better accuracy, reload skill, and morale, but poorer melee attack and armor. They have better accuracy and reload skill than any other matchlock infantry except Portuguese Tercos and Tokitaka’s Tanegashima. Their poor armor, their fairly low number of men per regiment, and their relatively short range when compared to bows make Matchlock Warrior Monks particularly vulnerable to arrow fire; in addition, while they have better melee stats than some other matchlock troops, they are still far inferior to melee troops and suffer if their gunfire fails to ward off such units. Uesugi Matchlock Warrior Monks exist in the Kawanakajima historical battle, but are not featured outside of this.
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