Civilization 5 Japan - Leader: Oda Nobunaga
Civ Bonuses, Strategies, Unique Units and Buildings
Civilization Name: 
Japan
Civ Leader: Oda Nobunaga
Civ Bonus: Bushido:
Units fight as though they were at full strength even when damaged.
Unique Unit: Samurai:
Requires Steel Tech, Iron Resource, Upgrades to Rifleman
Samurai are just like Longswordsman but get the Shock I promotion, increasing combat potential 20% in open terrain. Add in the Generals II upgrade, which increases the likelihood a great general will be born.
Unique Air Unit: Zero Fighter:
Requires Flight, Steel Resource. Upgrades to Jet Fighter
The Zero tears up other fighters. It gets a combat bonus of 100% vs them. Take control of the skies then lay in with bombers also worthy on the defense.
Strategies/Ideas:
This is one of the Civilizations that gives me such a poor opinion of Montezuma. Their special is incredible for the warlike. Fighting at full power when damaged helps a ton at the very start of a game for taking out barbarians. It'll then help for your first wars, and the Samurai will cleave a path to many victories in the hands of a thoughtful player. The Zero should see plenty of use. You'll want to defend your skies and clear out enemy fighters so your bombers can make runs. The Zero will do this job well. Still, the Japanese really shine earlier in the game and after the Samurai you're left lonely and feeling a little lukewarm. But still attacking at full power.
| Sid Meier's Civ 5 is a deep strategy game. I created these individual Civilization Guides to highlight the strengths of their specials and unique units. If you have an opener or tip for playing this Civ that you would like to share with other readers, please use the comments form below. Some Guides are in need of update and will be improved to a new standard of quality or altered to reflect gameplay changes in G&K and Brave New World. | ||||||
| America | Arabia | Assyria | Austria | Aztec | Babylon | Brazil |
| Celts | China | Dutch | Egypt | England | France | Germany |
| Greece | The Huns | Inca | India | Indonesia | Iroquois | Japan |
| Korea | Maya | Mongolia | Morocco | Ottoman | Persia | Poland |
| Polynesia | Portugal | Rome | Russia | Shoshone | Siam | Songhai |
| Venice | Zulu | |||||
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6Albeit not obvious Japan's bonuses make it extremely well-rounded since a minimal defence can keep out poachers as you focus heavily on the victory type of your leisure.
And the culture bonuses can come in very handy.
(Also take note of the samurai ability to build "work boats"/water resource improvements without expending the unit)
