Overview
Unit Type
- Orochi Samurai are a special or elite-grade Japanese-themed infantry unit. They heavily emphasize melee engagement and excel at aggressive, precision strikes.
Playstyle Summary
- Orochi Samurai reward players who can time their attacks and abilities carefully to maximize burst damage and crowd-control potential. They’re strong in focused engagements but must be managed carefully to avoid being overwhelmed by larger groups or ranged units.
Key Characteristics
- High Burst Damage: Possess powerful openers or finishers that allow them to quickly eliminate priority targets.
- Counter-Attack or Punish: Typically feature at least one “counter” or “parry-style” ability that rewards timing and punishes enemy aggression.
- Decent Durability for an Elite Unit: While not as tanky as shielded heavy infantry, Orochi Samurai often have higher overall health and armor than standard or basic samurai counterparts.
Strengths
- Dangerous vs. Isolated Targets
- Orochi Samurai excel at quickly deleting small groups or single high-value targets (e.g., a hero, wounded cavalry, or glass-cannon units).
- Snowball Potential in Team Fights
- Their strong burst damage and potential crowd-control (via counters or stuns) can create chain reactions of kills.
- Mobility & Flexibility
- Faster than most heavy infantry, which lets them quickly rotate between choke points or flank an ongoing engagement.
- High Skill Ceiling
- Player skill with timing and positioning can make Orochi Samurai unstoppable in the hands of an experienced warlord.
Weaknesses
- Vulnerability to Ranged Fire
- Like many melee units, they can be thinned out easily by archers or muskets if caught in the open without cover.
- Cost in Leadership
- Because they are elite, you’ll generally have fewer total units in your army. Losing them carelessly can be a big blow to your overall team presence.
- Reliance on Timing
- If you miss key counters or engage too early/late, you may not get the intended value from their abilities.
- Limited Crowd Control Resistance
- While they can dish out a powerful counter, they typically do not have “ignore control” mechanics, making them susceptible to stuns or knockdowns from massed enemy skills.
Recommended Doctrine & Vets Setup
Unit Strategies and Tactics
- Flanking & Ambush
- Orochi Samurai shine when you catch the enemy off-guard or isolate a portion of the foe’s line. Use terrain, side alleys, or timed pushes to flank.
- Pair with Crowd Control
- While Orochi Samurai have a counter stance, they benefit tremendously if your allies have stuns, slows, or other forms of crowd control. This sets up perfect conditions for them to unleash heavy attacks safely.
- Hero-Killer Role
- In siege battles, a hero attempting to front-line near a breach or gate is a prime target. Activate your burst or stance as they engage, punishing them with lethal damage.
- Respect the Ranged Threat
- Always look for cover or wait until the enemy’s focus is elsewhere. If archers or muskets are shooting freely, your Orochi Samurai can be melted before making an impact.
- Use Counter or Parry Stance Reactively
- Don’t blow the stance too early. Wait until you see an enemy hero line up a big two-handed or polearm strike, or watch for cavalry charging. A successful counter can completely disrupt their momentum.
Formations & Positioning
- Column or Spread Out: For approaches under ranged pressure, use a looser formation to reduce casualties from artillery or archer volleys.
- Compact Formation (Before Engage): Once close, tighten the formation (or give the order to focus on a single point) to maximize your initial impact and reduce the risk of your unit getting strung out.
- Position Behind or Beside a Shield Unit: If your team has a strong front line (Imperial Spear Guard, for example), keep your Orochi Samurai behind them until an opening arises.
Synergies
- Shield or Spear Infantry
- These units create safe “walls” behind which the Orochi Samurai can stage.
- Once the enemies are engaged, have your Samurai slip around the edges to deliver the killing blow.
- AoE Artillery or Musket Units
- If you can keep the enemy bunched up, your artillery or ranged can soften them while your Orochi Samurai prepare to pounce.
- Support Heroes
- Heroes who can heal, shield, or provide buffs (for example, Longsword or some dual-blade heroes who provide infiltration synergy) help keep your Samurai healthy and unstoppable during fights.
Tips for Success
- Practice the Counter Ability
- The timing can make or break the Orochi Samurai’s potential. Do some “training room” style practice, or test them in less risky fights to master your reaction window.
- Micromanage Your Charges
- Because they are relatively quick, use Attack or Charge commands wisely to re-angle around the flanks of an ongoing brawl, especially if it’s a dense fight.
- Coordinate with Teammates
- Orochi Samurai benefit more than average from allied synergy—particularly stuns, knockdowns, or shield walls that pin the enemy in place.
- Watch Their Health
- If you see them getting focused, pull them back momentarily to regroup or find a new angle. Being overrun quickly wastes their high leadership cost.
- Hero Engagement
- Orochi Samurai can rip enemy heroes apart if you coordinate your own hero’s crowd control with their bursts. However, be mindful that a well-played enemy hero could also destroy your squad if you’re not ready with counters.
Conclusion
Orochi Samurai stand out as a high-risk, high-reward unit in Conqueror’s Blade. They thrive under a commander who pays close attention to positioning and precise timing of abilities. They are a force to be reckoned with in melee—capable of carving through key targets and turning the tide of battle—yet they can be punished heavily by mismanagement or focused enemy fire. Approach your engagements with caution, strike with precision, and use your Samurai’s potent counters wisely to see them at their deadly best.
Good luck on the battlefield!