Samurai Warriors 5 brings a fresh take on Koei Tecmo's iconic Musou genre. This time around, the Dynasty Warriors sibling gives Feudal Japan a more action-packed premise. In Samurai Warriors 5, players explore the stories of Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi - offering a more personal take on Japan's iconic Sengoku Period.
Given the more focused premise, Samurai Warriors 5 also has a character roster of 27 instead of the previous installment's 55. While this might seem like a huge reduction to playable characters, new features and a deeper story would see all of them get intertwined in the tale of Nobunaga Oda and Mitsuhide Akechi. However for beginners, just which characters should they prioritize using?
10 Sandayu Momochi
Previously just a generic bodyguard in Samurai Warriors 2, Sandayu Momochi finally becomes a playable character in Samurai Warriors 5. In history, Sandayu Momochi is famed for defying Nobunaga Oda during the Iga riots. He may have also been one of the leaders of the Iga ninja clan during the Sengoku Period.
As a character, Momochi excels in using the kusarigama. Harnessing the power of swift attacks and the shadows, he can attack enemies from afar with a whirlwind of attacks. He specializes in curving movements and slashes that hit foes around him and can juggle multiple foes when necessary. His mobility specialization allows him to maneuver the battlefield and face opposition as needed.
9 Shingen Takeda
Known as the Tiger of Kai, Shingen Takeda is known for his skill on horseback and his fame for commanding his own army of horse riders. He harbors immense hatred for Kenshin Uesugi for his "path of righteousness," and doesn't believe that the world cannot be controlled.
One of the faster-paced spear users in Samurai Warriors 5, Shingen Takeda specializes in quick juggles and crowd clearing. He possesses both a unique trait and a unique buff that empowers him naturally. Meanwhile, he also has a charge attack that can help him fulfill faster clears. A great all-rounder for newcomers looking for mobility, Shingen Takeda is the go-to spear user.
8 Tadakatsu Honda
Hailed as one of the beefier powerhouses of the franchise, Tadakatsu Honda returns with the mastery of the spear in Samurai Warriors 5. In the story, Honda serves as the hot-blooded and wilder counterpart of Ieyasu Tokugawa, who is both his friend and his superior.
Tadakatsu Honda already boasts a powerful nature in most of his other appearances. This nature is also heavily emphasized in Samurai Warriors 5, as moveset heavily relies on slightly slower and heavier attacks catered to fighting multiple foes at once. Despite the sheer size, Honda's combos can juggle opponents and send them flying faraway, avoiding any kind of unnecessary short-range counterattacks.
7 No
No became Nobunaga Oda's wife after his father, Dosan Saito or the Viper of Mino, thought of the action as a political move. And while her coldness had her resist opening up to Nobunaga Oda, events will soon realize her true feelings for her husband.
Utilizing a bow and arrow, No emphasizes area-wide ranged attacks. Her mastery over ranged combat allows her to dominate long-distance combat without risking her position. Moreover, her dash-attacks and combo rotation allows her to juggle opponents from afar with ease. She does lack flashy combat animations compared to her other counterparts, though.
6 Ieyasu Tokugawa
Ieyasu Tokugawa makes a comeback as one of the playable characters in Samurai Warriors 5. In this installment, Ieyasu is portrayed as the former hostage of the Imagawa family. The story chronicles his rise after his capture by Nobunaga Oda and his growth into becoming one of his most trusted comrades.
Sporting dual swords, Tokugawa Ieyasu boasts a fast-paced, AOE-reliant gameplay strategy. Thanks to his combos, Ieyasu Tokugawa can juggle single and multiple opponents in quick succession. These movements, coupled with high dashes and jumps, make Ieyasu one of the most mobile characters throughout the entire roster.
5 Hanbei Takenaka
History fans know Hanbei Takenaka as one of the greatest strategists who have ever lived. Once serving Saito Dosan, Hanbei eventually serves Toyotomi Hideyoshi as one of his most trusted advisers. Beginners who want a more defensive and supportive character will have fun experimenting with Hanbei's abilities.
Using his drum, Hanbei can create soundwaves that can affect either himself or his enemies. When used on himself, his drum can create a defensive barrier that can repel attacks from hordes of enemies. Meanwhile, his drum can also penetrate the defenses of archers and enemies.
4 Shikanosuke Yamanaka
Newcomer Shikanosuke Yamanaka is easily a popular pick among beginners in Samurai Warriors 5. He boasts a strong loyalty towards Mitsuhide, devoted to protecting him at all costs.
As a fighter, Shikanosuke uses dual swords that help him buff his attack and speed. In turn, Shikanosuke excels in facing huge swaths of enemies at once. His cheerful and active personality fits well with his playstyle, boasting Musou attacks that emphasize sowing chaos on the battlefield.
3 Mitsuki
Newcomer character Mitsuki already strikes an allure to Samurai Warriors 5 beginners due to her fast-paced approach to combat. Despite being a Koga kunoichi, Mitsuki shines with a cheerful and friendly personality. Story-wise, she grew up believing Oda Nobunaga is her father, and thus admires him greatly.
In combat, Mitsuki employs lightning-fast strikes with her battle gauntlets. Her multitude of buffs also allows her to contend with other weapon users, compensating for her rather low durability with immense speed. Being a striker, Mitsuki prefers one-on-one duels instead of team fights.
2 Mitsuhide Akechi
Being the secondary protagonist of Samurai Warriors 5, Mitsuhide Akechi is undoubtedly the opposite of Oda Nobunaga. Story-wise, this Warriors installment now expands Mitsuhide Akechi's backstory that eventually leads to his clash of ideals with his former comrade. In terms of combat, Mitshuide Akechi also boasts quite a flexible fighting style.
Unlike the straightforward Oda Nobunaga, Mitshuide Akechi boasts two fighting styles. His major playstyle consists of swift strikes with his katana, favorable for close-range encounters and boss fights. Meanwhile, his alternate style consists of a sword-and-gun combination, allowing him to fight across multiple distances.
1 Oda Nobunaga
Being the star of the show has its perks, at least in the case of Samurai Warriors 5 and Nobunaga Oda. Known as the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven, Oda Nobunaga serves as the primary protagonist of this Warriors installment. At his core, Nobunaga boasts quite a balance slate of statistics – fitting any form of playstyle.
For newcomers, Oda Nobunaga also boasts an easy combo chain that lets him strike foes at short and mid-range. This straightforward fighting style makes him a go-to player to make any first Samurai Warriors 5 playthrough a breeze. Not to mention, being so strong in the endgame, Oda Nobunaga is a must-play for completionists.