Strategist

Chinese

戰略家

Kanji

戦術家

Biographical Information

Gender	Varies.
State	Varies.

Professional Information

Classification	Varies.
Affiliates	Varies.
Military Rank	Varies.

Media

Appearance

Manga Debut	Chapter 50
Anime Debut	Episode 17
Game Debut	Kingdom: Ikkitousen No Tsurugi!

“	Learn this lesson well, Warfare is not so simple that you can rely on just momentum alone.	”
—Gen Pou

Strategists or Strategical Type are specialists in using tactics to manipulate the battlefield to their thoughts and whims. Normally, strategists fight with their heads, rather than with martial might.

A strategist can be officially ranked as high as a Great General to as mundane as a Commander. They also plan in advance, such as viewing the battlefield just to grab the tactics they use and commanded it according to their ideas.

Abilities[]

Strategists are able to use the natural formations of any given battlefield to their advantage with the intent of minimizing causalities and using the least necessary manpower to slay their foes efficiently. Strategists are able to open gaps in enemy defenses through the use of clever manipulation and finish the enemy off with single, decisive, surprise attacks. As Mou Ten mentioned about Ka Ryo Ten, good strategists are able to conduct battles on a regional scale.

Advanced Strategies/Tactics[]

Ryuudou/Ryudoryoku[]

Only 2 people have been known to use the Ryuudou tactic - Go Hou Mei and Ri Boku, with the only one who has been able to accomplish it without viewing it being the latter. The only known military commander who has been able to counter the Ryuudou tactic was Duke Hyou, first retreating against Go Hou Mei when he used it, then solving the tactic with his personal guards of 25 or so men against Ri Boku's in Bu Pass.

Rindou[]

The Rindou is an odd tactic that even Qin Great General Mou Gou had only heard of through rumors. The only known user of it is Rin Ko of Ren Pa's Four Heavenly Kings, to slay General Ei Bi of the Mou Gou Army. It works by having 2 groups of cavalries run in circles for a long time, to goad the enemy into reinforcing the sides of their formation, when the true target is the center, or wherever the enemy commander lies. Rin Ko was able to break through the famous Ou Ki's defensive formations and even cut him with this tactic.

Assault Echelon Formation[]

The Assault Echelon Formation is an advanced form of Echelon formation, that was first used by Ri Haku, a well-known defensive general, against Mou Bu in the Battle of Bayou. In the battle against the Coalition Army, Shou Hei Kun told Mou Bu to use this tactic when Kan Mei commander-in-chief of the Chu Army finally came out. It involves using a diagonal formation to hit the opposing army, thus transmitting a shock wave throughout the entire line. Soldiers hit will move back 3 steps, then the next 2 steps, and so on. Enemies hit by both waves will be pushed 4 steps back. Though only a few steps, even a small disruption can cause whole armies to rout, and that is when your army charges in to eradicate the enemy. However, this tactic is difficult to perform by even the most skilled strategists, so this tactic is considered too impractical for use.

Snake[]

The Snake is a tactical formation used to envelop charging enemies, so they are trapped on all sides. It relies on the movement of the troops simultaneously to ensnare or surround their opponent as they make contact with the army using the formation. It is most likely named for its versatility on the battlefield in terms of the troop movements when using the move. The only known user of this formation in the series so far is Ri Haku.

Hourai[]

The Hourai is a tactical formation involving building human walls to block escape routes of the enemy. Shou Hei Kun used this tactic to entrap the Duke of Juuteki.

Shells and Joints Formation[]

Qin General A Kou used this tactical formation which was personally created by Ou Sen himself. This tactic is a defensive one built on counting joint defenses, with gaps for support units to be sandwiched between waves of walls.

Psychological Warfare[]

The most terrifying or horrific tool a Strategist or a Tactician can employ. Anything to unnerve or drop the morale of their opponents used just to weaken them.

The most prolific and accomplished user of the tactic was Kan Ki, such as massacring civilians (countless times), burning enemies alive (Kan Ki does this to Wei captives and during the Battle of Kankoku Pass), making an impaled human forest (to unnerve Kai Shi Bou's soldiers), making human arcs from corpses (against Ki Sui Army), disguises as enemies to infiltrate and kill officers (like they did to Gen Pou and Haku Ki Sai), and more.

Strengths and Weaknesses[]

A strategist's strength is all about planning.

First, planning the battlefield in advance by surveying the area where the battle will enable them to formulate a strategy to be used. Then, their logistics were a priority. Supplies were planned in advance to stretch their duration. Then, both there and their opponent's formations were also emphasized. In order to counter an enemy, they spy upon positions of their enemies. Lastly, at the heat of the battle, they appear just to raise morale to their troops.

Their weaknesses vary. One, if their logistics are cut off or their troops were in short of energy to do their bidding. Then, if an enemy caught the smell of their tactic, the enemy would conduct a counterattack or a counterstrategy against them. The strategist also requires range in order to focus, if an enemy came out of their safe range, the strategist either face them or retreat. Also, if the enemy is a fellow Strategist, they never guess what the enemy is thinking. If the enemy is an Instinctual Type, they need a counter in haste. And lastly, if their cards are out on the table, and nothing else is effective, they just broke down.

Key tips for Aspiring Strategists[]

According to Mou Ki, studying at strategist academies is the fastest path towards becoming a strategist.

One will always find their "aptitude" as a strategist tested on the first battle. There the strategist learns whether or not he possesses the "aptitude" to become a real strategist. Without that, the aspiring strategies will never be able to function as one matter how much talent they hold.

Students who are still tabletop tacticians do not truly know the horror of warfare. It is unclear whether or not they will be able to function even while enemies with killing intent march towards them, and so many aspiring strategists are slain because they are paralyzed in their first battle, unable to give orders and defeated.