The new Elite Samurai looks awesome, however after the latest patch, there is even less incentive to choose it over the Champion.
The anti UU specialty rarely comes into play, because you wouldn’t field “Militia style” units against most UUs in the game and when you do, for example against Karambits or Huskarls, (Japanese) Champions would also trade cost effective against these, while offering a better trade against the other units the opponent is using.
The Jaguar warrior was in a similar situation, but it got a big buff and is now (presumably, time will tell) a viable unit in a lot more cases than before.
For the Elite Samurai, the 1 permanent attack the Champion gained is already better than the 1 charge for the Samurai and the Champion got movement speed and cheaper upgrade path on top.
All of that being said: The Champion now costs 5 food more than before, while the Samurai is 5 food less. (Now S: 45F 30G vs. C: 50F 20G)
I think in Castle age the Samurai is now more appealing than before (especially since the value of gold and food is different in castle than Imp) however in Imp it clearly lost and in the overwhelming mayority of cases its better to go Champion than Samurai.
The charge on the Samurai is a nice nod to the fact, that the Katana is incredibly sharp, but quickly looses it sharpness with use, however I’d probably rather go with a higher charge attack with maybe longer reload.
Anyway I think particularly the Elite Samurai still needs a buff. What do you think?
Some changes to the charge, regular +3 dmg +8 range, elite +5 dmg 20 sec cooldown +10 range.
Make it work on buildings, why only units? would be hilarious for the opponent to see an army of samurais charging at their castle or TC once in range lol.
Increasing their charge range to quickly gain up on longbowman and plumed archers.
Speed them up by 40% instead 25%, to catch up to UU cavalry with husbandry, such as mamelukes, even mangudais or leitis; It’s kind of useless to do only one strike, also keeping the charge speed until the unit dies or changes target could force chipping away at these units possible.
Also making them scream " Banzai! " while charging like the meme video I found in the Steam videos section. Would be the cherry on top or just generic screams.
I know that people really want samurai to have the ratha treatment with a bow but I think this new mechanic is completely fine and would boost infantry usage, everyone wanted a charge feature for infantry and here it is in action.
I think it would be better if they designed the Samurai as a expensive very strong unit that demolish unique units, with both bonus damage AND defense against them.
are you think about charge speed when they near enemy 6 square, speed up and approach enemy fast it better số much. They are OP more than berber, wildroa .v..vv.. remove charge speed and new bonus
Yeah. Their food cost is swapped. So that’s 10 food advantage for E.Samurai.
I second that. Since Champion has 1 more PA over Champion, I will suggest Samurai gets 1 more MA to have a clear superiority in melee combat. And I will say the same for Vikings UU Berserk. Or maybe Vikings can lose Gambeson or Champion.
+5% attack speed over Militia line. And now that doesn’t have any impact as 2 attack difference is very big to overcome.
Samurai, as a counter to UUs, could reflect a portion of the damage back to ranged UUs. For example, 5% of the damage taken could be reflected back to the attacker. Automatically or with a UT to remplace the CA UT for example. Japanese are not supposed to be a defensive civ, but both of their UT are more defensive. Keeping the trebs unpack speed boost would be enough no ?
Japanese Samurai new UT
Kengeki Reflection : When attacked by ranged Unique Units, Samurai now reflect 5% of the damage received back to the attacker.
This ability applies to ranged UUs such as (or maybe exclude the siege/powder canon units)
Longbowman
Mangudai
Throwing Axeman
Rattan Archer
Ballista Elephant (???)
Organ Gun (???)
Janissary (???)
Chu Ko Nu
Arambai
Plumed Archer
Elephant Archer
Gbeto
Camel Archer
Genitour
Slinger (damn here is a problem, Incas would die hard vs Japanse)
Kipchak
Chakram
Urumi Swordsman
Not just Elite Samurai become more niche. Whenever militia-line get a buff, infantry UU get indirect nerf. Just allow Samurai to reduce damage taken from UU like Shotel vs cavalry.
Samurai serve as a deterrent against unique melee units, while Champions don’t. They have more HP, are faster, attack faster, and are easier to tech into and mass due to their quick training time.
I know it is extremely difficult, especially for nostalgia reasons, but the Samurai should probably lose their anti-UU role.
After all, the problem for the Japanese is that they have few options against the Skirms once in Imperial. But I have no idea how the new Samurai will help.
They already got two big buffs in the last two years. They have a full Barracks, Archery Range, good defenses, monks, navy, eco bonuses, and trebs. The Samurai work perfectly the way they’re supposed to. No point in buffing them further.
are you think about charge speed when they near enemy 6 square, speed up and approach enemy fast it better số much. They are OP more than berber, wildroa .v..vv.. remove charge speed and new bonus 
