Ashigaru Missile Troops from Warlord Games

Ashigaru Missile Troops

The biggest change during the Sengoku period (1467-1603) affected the role of the rocket troops in battle. At the beginning of the period, they were all armed with the yumi (bow) and fought in coordinated units, peppering the enemy with their arrows. This bow, like the corresponding English longbow, required many years of training to perfect, but when used correctly, it was deadly. Because of the necessary training, there were never as many armed yumi troops as a daimyo might have wanted!

This would change with the introduction of firearms in 1543 via some Portuguese traders. It wasn't long before shrewd daimyos saw the opportunity they presented. As in Europe, the relative lack of training required to use such a daimyo meant that teppo (muskets) quickly replaced the yumi as the weapon of choice.

Since the Teppo had no gunpowder weapons for 60 years prior to their introduction, the number of Yumi on the battlefield was 4 or 5 to 1 greater, but the Yumi did not disappear; instead, there were always armed Yumi troops among the Teppo who helped protect them during reloading.

This product contains:
- 20 plastic Ashigaru with bow and arquebus
- Decal sheet with Takeda clan markings
-Brochure for the meeting
- Plastic bases

Models are delivered unassembled and unpainted.