The Samurai is countered by Knight, Arbalest and Scorpion. It is a Infantry / Unique unit, available to the Japanese.
- Class
- Infantry / Unique
- Available to
- Japanese
- Elite upgrade
- Elite Samurai
- Cost
-
45 
30
Samurai stats
The Elite Samurai upgrade changes the values marked below. Everything else — cost, class and the civilization bonuses that apply — stays the same.
| Stat | Samurai | Elite |
|---|---|---|
 Hit points | 70 | 80 |
 Melee attack | 10 / 1.9s | 12 / 1.9s |
 Pierce attack | 0 | 0 |
 Range | 0 | 0 |
 Melee armour | 1 | 1 |
 Pierce armour | 1 | 1 |
 Speed | 1 | 1 |
 Line of sight | 4 | 5 |
 Training time | 9s | 9s |
What counters the Samurai?
The Samurai is weak against Archery Units and Gunners.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Samurai even at a cost disadvantage. Soft counters win the fight through cost-efficiency or mobility, without a dedicated bonus.
| Counter | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
 Knight | hard | Bonus only applies vs. infantry – cavalry closes in |
 Arbalest | hard | Pierce damage |
 Scorpion | hard | Area pierce |
 Cavalier | hard | Bonus only applies vs. infantry – cavalry closes in |
 Cavalry Archer | soft | Kites |
What does the Samurai counter?
The Samurai is strong against Unique Units.
Unit lines the Samurai has a damage bonus against
Civilizations that improve the Samurai
17 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.
Armenians
- Fereters (unique tech): Infantry (except Spearman-line) +30 HP; Warrior Priests heal +100% faster
Aztecs
- Garland Wars (unique tech): Infantry +4 attack
Burmese
- Infantry +1/+2/+3 attack in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Celts
- Infantry moves +5/10/15/20% faster in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Stronghold (unique tech): Castles and Watch Tower-line attack +33% faster; Castles heal allied Infantry in a 7 tile radius
Dravidians
- Wootz Steel (unique tech): Infantry and Cavalry attacks ignore armor
Goths
- Infantry costs -15/20/25/30% in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Infantry +1/+2/+3 attack vs. buildings in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Japanese
- Infantry attacks +33% faster starting in Feudal Age
Khitans
- Lamellar Armor (unique tech): Infantry and Skirmishers reflect 25% melee damage back to the attacker
Koreans
- Ranged Soldiers and Infantry cost -50% wood
Malay
- Infantry armor upgrades free
Malians
- Barracks Units +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Mapuche
- Infantry, Slingers and Skirmishers +5/10/15 HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Romans
- Infantry armor upgrade effects are doubled
Slavs
- Druzhina (unique tech): Infantry deals trample damage
Teutons
- Barracks and Stable Units +1/+2 melee armor in Castle/Imperial Age
- Crenellations (unique tech): Castles +3 range, garrisoned Infantry fires arrows
Vikings
- Infantry +20% HP starting in Feudal Age
- Chieftains (unique tech): Infantry +5 attack vs. Cavalry, +4 vs. Camel Units; generate +5 gold when defeating Villagers, Trade Units and Monks
Wu
- Infantry regenerates 10/15/30 HP per minute in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
For the strategy behind these matchups — when to build counters, how to mix them and which civs do it best — see the Unique Unit Counters guide.
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