Minor Natives Guide

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Basic overview

The Zen can train Sohei units and they have 3 technologies. One slightly improves melee hand attack for heavy infantry units, another makes upgrades cheaper, and the last grants you a sizeable amount of experience points. You can have 15 Sohei for each Zen Trading post you have, and the Zen appear on two standard maps; Silk Road and Yellow River.

The unit – Sohei

The Sohei is a melee heavy infantry unit, so again I will up it to disciplined status and compare it with the Halberdier and Pikeman.

Disciplined Sohei

Cost: 55 Food, 40 wood (145 Villager seconds)

HP: 175 (140+35)

Speed: 5

Resistance: Hand 20%

Hand attack: 16 (13+3), ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 3.5x, Light Infantry x2.5)

Siege attack: 47 (38+9), ROF 3

Cover hand attack: 8 (7+1), ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 3.5x, Light Infantry x2.5)

Cover siege attack: 23 (19+4), ROF 3

Train time: 20

Veteran Halberdier

Cost: 50 Food, 70 coin (176 Villager seconds)

HP: 200

Speed: 4

Resistance: Hand 10%

Hand attack: 25, ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 2x, Light Infantry x1.5)

Siege attack: 36, ROF 3

Cover hand attack: 13, ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 2x, Light Infantry x1.5)

Cover siege attack: 18, ROF 3

Train time: 33

Veteran Pikeman

Cost: 40 Food, 40 Wood (128 Villager seconds)

HP: 144 (120+24)

Speed: 5

Resistance: Hand 10%

Hand attack: 9 (8+1), ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 5x, Light Infantry x3.5)

Siege attack: 38 (32+6), ROF 3

Cover hand attack: 5(4+1), ROF 1.5 (Bonuses: Cavalry 5x, Light Infantry x3.5)

Cover siege attack: 19 (16+3), ROF 3.0

Train time: 27

Analysis

The Sohei is a seriously strong unit. It is a good mix in between the Halberdier and the Pikeman. It has the speed and siege capabilities of the Pikeman, while not being too poor on the melee damage. It has higher melee resistance than either unit, and its multipliers are in between the two units. A very reliable unit and it is very capable of taking the role of a heavy infantry unit when needed.

Technology

Meditation

Cost: 350 Wood, 350 Coin

Effect: Gives you 1000 experience points

Comments: Strong if you need a shipment immediately. While in some cases in the later game it alone might not be enough to give you that shipment, it usually will be - and earlier on it may give you nearly two shipments. It should be saved however until you suddenly need a military-type shipment if you unexpectedly come under attack.

Master Lessons

Cost: 150 food, 150 coin

Effect: Melee heavy infantry unit damage is increased by 10%

Comments: Not as strong as the similar Zapotec technology, but still a worthwhile and cost effective boost for just the Sohei alone.

Meritocracy

Cost: 300 food, 300 coin

Effect: Unit upgrades are 20% cheaper

Comments: Not really worth it until age 4; and only then if you upgrade 3 or more units. If however you are using a few minor natives this technology becomes slightly more useful.

Summary

The Sohei themselves are very strong and reliable units, and are a lifesaver to civilizations who have difficulty dealing with hand cavalry. Even for civilizations with decent heavy infantry units, the Sohei can still stand up well. The technologies aren’t as good, but can be handy in select situations. Regardless, the Zen are well worth allying with if you have access to native cards or if you have problems beating heavy cavalry.