This is the list of characters in Samurai Warriors. It should be noted that the same character can change depending on whether you are playing the first, second, third or fourth games in the series.
Of course, much like brother series Dynasty Warriors, don't expect historical accuracy either. Also, despite the fact that they are still pre-Meiji figures, the official localizations of the games use the Western name order, so that is how they will be listed here.
Note: With Samurai Warriors 5 being a Soft Reboot, all returning characters would have a separate page under the Samurai Warriors 5 character subpage. All SW5 information and applicable tropes should be placed on that page.
open/close all folders
Notable NPCs
Kennyo Honganji
- Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), Kirk Thornton (English)
Leader of the Ikko army opposing Nobunaga. He appears as a unique NPC like Ieyasu and Hideyoshi in 1, but unlike them he doesn't go on to become a playable character.
- Demoted to Extra: Not only does he not become playable in later installments like 1's other unique NPCs, but he has stopped appearing entirely.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: He doesn't appear in later games and is never even referenced.
- La Résistance: Leads the Ikko army against Nobunaga Oda, but is eventually forced to surrender.
- Nonstandard Character Design: He looks more like a playable character than a mook.
- Put on a Bus: Ever since 1, the Honganji have scarcely appeared and their role in conflicts has been conflated with the Mori, Saika and general peasant rebellions ever since. The Honganji eventually make their long awaited return to the series in Samurai Warriors 5, after 17 years.
- Warrior Monk: Yes, he is. He even carries a Dharma Wheel on his back.
- We Hardly Knew Ye: He only debuted as a UNPC back in 1 and hasn't been seen ever since. Even whenever there's a battle involve the Ikko army in the new installments, other generics take his place.
Hideaki Kobayakawa
Nene's nephew who infamously betrayed the Western Army at Sekigahara. Is portrayed as a naive, weak willed officer throughout the game and can even change sides more than once. He is also the adoptive son of Kobayakawa Takakage.
- Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: He can betray both sides at the Battle of Sekigahara, depending on how the battle goes. In the Western Army's case, historically Mitsunari bad-mouthed Hideaki for the failure of one campaign, which was the driving point of his betrayal.
- Humorously averted in Nene's dream stage, where he refused to side for either army and chose to serve Nene faithfully.
- Dirty Coward: When the Tokugawa troops shoot at his position he quickly betrays the Western Army in support of Ieyasu's Eastern Army, which was what also historically happened.
- Likewise, it’s also averted in Nene’s dream stage where he remains unfettered to the point that his attacker becomes bored at stopping their attempt.
- Leeroy Jenkins: Only in Nene's dream stage for 2:XL, after Nene defeated one of either Ieyasu or Mitsunari.
- Momma's Boy: He's shown to be really attached to Nene during her Dream Stage and refuses to side with anyone besides her. Not that we can blame him for that, especially due to fact that he also mentions that Nene isn't one to piss off in general...
- Historically, Nene is his paternal aunt. Hideaki's biological father, Kinoshita Iesada, is Nene's brother. Not to mention before making his decision to betray Mitsunari at Sekigahara, Hideaki consulted Nene for a consensus first before she told him to follow his heart.
- Non-Action Guy: During the scenarios of the Eastern Army, he waits in his fortress the whole time.
- In Nene's dream stage, however, it's Nene who urges him to stay. But after Nene defeated either Mitsunari or Ieyasu, he will eventually charge out to assist his auntie.
-
You Look Familiar: He looks like a generic "young" officer. - What Happened to the Mouse?: Disappears after Sekigahara and is never mentioned again (except for the fictional scenario "Siege of Edo Castle"). Historically, he apparently went mad before he died, and supposedly felt guilty over his betrayal. He also had no heir, so his clan was effectively disbanded and the rest of his fief was absorbed into the neighboring Ikeda clan.
Yoshihisa Shimazu
Yoshihiro's brother and one of the leaders of the Shimazu clan.
- Mask Power: His tall helmet includes a mask on his face.
- Older Than They Look: The generic model he's using would be at best a middle-aged man. But please take note that he's supposed to be the elder brother of Yoshihiro, who's a Cool Old Guy.
- You Look Familiar: Subverted in 2. He wears a mask, so it's hard for us to see his real face.
Ujimasa Hōjō
The elder leader of the Hojo clan, not as competent as Ujiyasu himself. Relies on Kotaro Fuuma and on the various traps of Odawara Castle.
- Body Double: In 2, in the stage "Odawara Castle Siege - East", both Ujimasa and Ujiyasu seen in the fortress are actually kagemusha prepared by Kotaro, the real ones appear outside the fortress to lead one last charge against the Toyotomi main camp.
- Combat Pragmatist: He's not above using tricks, traps and clones.
- Demoted to Extra: Before Ujiyasu appears, Ujimasa was always said to be the leader of Hōjō in the game (except in 2:Empires). But since 3, he's nothing more than just a subordinate officer under his father.
Not that anybody ever complained. - Dirty Coward: Ujiyasu's story in 3 shows us he was already like this even when his father was still alive, to the point Ujiyasu called him out on it. Averted in 4, he's much braver and readier to give his life for the sake of his family.
- Evil Old Folks: In 2. Unlike Ujiyasu, he's not often seen in a positive light. Subverted in 2:Empires where he uses a younger ('middle-aged') character model, though his personality isn't very different. Also subverted in 3, since he also uses a 'middle-aged' character model, though he's still a bit cowardly. Finally averted in 4, since not only is he not that cowardly or evil, he's also no longer using the 'old man' model.
- The Family That Slays Together: Always seen with at least one other Houjou member.
- Hollywood Old: Despite using the 'elderly' generic model in 2, he's actually only in his fifties by the time he died in Odawara. Doubles as Younger Than They Look. This is perhaps why Koei gave him a younger model as of 2:Empires, 3, 4, and onwards.
- Let's Get Dangerous!: While he's perhaps naturally a coward at some points, some versions of the Odawara stage still depict him as still fighting in his last stand, although he usually does this in Battle Couple fashion as mentioned above, usually with his son Ujinao.
- Took a Level in Badass: In Shu's gaiden in Warriors Orochi, if you save him (and his other subordinates, to an extent) pretty quickly, he finally shows some guts and continues fighting, and outright refuses to surrender to Orochi's army.
- In 4 he is a lot less cowardly and much more willing to fightalongside his family, to the point that he is one of the characters, along with Kai and Hayakawa, who wants to rush into a losing battle to save his brothers.
Yoshikage Asakura
The Daimyo of the Asakura clan and ally of Nagamasa. When he's attacked by Nobunaga, he joins forces with Nagamasa in order to stop the Demon King.
- Dirty Coward: Mostly in Nagamasa's story for 2. He's easily dispirited, even when his side is actually winning the battle.
- Epic Fail: In the final scenario of Shingen's campaig in 2, Yoshikage Asakura will suddenly appear as the leader of a third party made up by Oda Remnants allied with the Azai, Asakura and Tokugawa. Even if you don't bother to reach him and beat him into the ground, his only contribution to the battle is to charge at Mount Matsuo by the cliffside path, get stuck there because he has no way to bypass the cliff and then withdraw from the battle indignated, leaving his entire faction to ally with the Uesugi.
- Evil Old Folks: More or less just like the second game's Houjou Ujimasa. It's hard to see him in a positive light.
- Historical Villain Upgrade: Gets one in Nagamasa's and Oichi's story modes in 2. He's consistently portrayed as an imperious, overly cautious, and unreliable ally who retreats from battle with disturbing frequency and, with minor goading from Nene, is willing to outright betray the Azai. Downplayed in that his worst behaviour is confined to Nagamasa's stages, which are revealed to be All Just a Dream.
- Non-Action Guy: He rarely acts himself, and even withdraws from battle when Nobunaga is defeated, leaving Nagamasa and Oichi to face the Tokugawa alone.
- Red Oni, Blue Oni: The blue to the hot-blooded Nagamasa.
- Upper-Class Twit: Noble and rich, but also vain, pompous and with more bark than bite.
- We Have Reserves: In Anegawa in 2, Ieyasu acknowledges that the only advantage the Asakura have over them is the sheer number of troops and officers, forcing him to elaborate a strategy to hit Yoshikage's camp from behind with a sneak attack.
The Mino Triumvirate
A trio of samurai (Ujiie Bokuzen, Andō Morinari and Inaba Ittestu) who first served the Saito clan, and then Oda. They're sometimes met in Gaiden stages as bosses of a kind.
- Elite Mooks: They are officers, so are thougher than normal soldiers, can pose a threat and drop a unique item. They still never ger the honor of having unique models.
- Heel–Face Turn: From Tatsuoki Saito to Oda Nobunaga.
- Power Trio: Though they don't always work together.
- Quirky Miniboss Squad: In some stages they are fought as a sudden ambush.
- Weapon Specialization: They all use spears as their weapon.
Tatsuoki Saito
The final head of the Saito Clan of Mino. He is Hanbei's first master (and Nō and Nagamasa's nephew) and one of Nobunaga's first adversaries when he sets out to conquer Japan.
- Bad Boss: He does not have any interest in taking care of Mino and is outright dismissive of his retainers (and Hanbei in particular) when not under attack by the Oda.
- Dirty Coward: In 3, spends most of the stage hiding in the castle or crying for Hanbei to save him once it catches fire. He gets a bit better in ''4'' though.
- Guest-Star Party Member: In Chronicles, he is playable during the Inabayama Castle Stage.
- The Hedonist: Would rather party with sake and women than anything else... to the point that Hanbei has to disguise himself as a woman to get an audience with him.
- Humiliation Conga: As a result, thought it also depends on whether you choose to fight or simply ignore him to go straight to enemy commander and end the stage. That said, it's more than likely you will have to defeat him every time he appears as he's quite active in the battlefield sooner or later, so you will encounter him regardless you like it or not. So his repeated defeat by your character will result in this trope.
- Recurring Boss: In 4, he appears in four Oda Story Stages in a row, the latter three of which have him joining whoever's opposing the Oda to get revenge for the Saito Clan.
- Ungrateful Bastard: In Chronicles, tells Hanbei not to let his "meager talents" go his head after his repeated successes against the Oda. Hanbei is not impressed.
Tadaoki Hosokawa
A samurai of the Eastern Army and husband of Gracia. Despite his cold and harsh behavior he genuinely loves his wife, but can't express his feelings very well.
- Battle Couple: Eventually him and Gracia at Sekigahara.
- Demoted to Extra: Sadly, after he got quite a spotlight in Gracia's story in 3:XL, Tadaoki is once again demoted to generic without any significant role in 4 and 4-II.
- Honor Before Reason: Believing that his family reputation is more important than his feelings, he refuses to support Mitsuhide Akechi at Yamazaki, causing his defeat.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He really loves his wife Gracia, but because of his complicated sense of honor and loyalty to Hideyoshi he ends up being abusive and harsh to her.
- Kick the Dog: He's often rude towards Gracia, but he really overdid it after the battle of Yamazaki.
- Knight Templar: At first.
- Love at First Sight: For Gracia.
- My Master, Right or Wrong: He's loyal to Hideyoshi, but his loyalty forces him to make hard choices.
- Non-Standard Character Design: He has a unique look in 3:XL.
- Pet the Dog: He eventually decides to follow his heart and support his wife's cause.
- Tsundere: Male example.
Terumoto Mōri
Grandson and successor of Mōri Motonari. Lord of Mōri clan before Motonari's introduction. Although technically he is still de facto leader of the Mōri clan after his grandfather's retirement from the world by Faking the Dead in 3, his lack of confidence and experience make him plead and drag his grandfather to return to the battlefield and retake the leadership.
After he finally suceeded his grandfather, he joined forces with the Toyotomi. And after Hideyoshi's death, he sided with Mitsunari's Western army.
- Characterization Marches On: Compared to his characterization in 3, he is a more confident general and loses most of his self-esteem problem in 4, mostly thanks to Takakage's guidance.
- Ensign Newbie: How he thinks he is in Motonari's story in 3.
- Heroic BSoD: A rather humorous one in Okuni's story for 3:XL, when Motonari finally agrees with Okuni that he really needs to "depart" and it's time for Terumoto to succeed him for real.
- Mythology Gag: Hyakuman-nin no Sengoku Musou invents new designs for most characters who were generic in the main series, but Terumoto appears almost identically to how he looked in 3.
- Non-Standard Character Design: In 3 he has a slightly different look to most generic officers. Also has slightly unique design for 4 and 4-II.
- Self-Deprecation: His lack of faith in his own abilities is the reason he pleads Motonari to return to the battlefield and lead the Mōri once more in 3.
- "Well Done, Son" Guy: Subverted in 3. He seems to be more interested in following and watching Motonari's great tactics rather than trying to get his own achievements to impress his grandfather. Motonari calls him out on this sometimes.
- You Are Better Than You Think You Are: Motonari constantly tells him this in various ways to give him some courage and confidence in 3.
Hideyori Toyotomi
- Voiced by: Hiromu Miyazaki (Japanese Chronicles), Kensho Ono (Japanese 2015 Anime), Brandon Mc Innis (English 2015 Anime), Benjamin Stolz (German 2015 Anime)
Son and successor of Hideyoshi. He was still very young when his father died, and during the problems between Ieyasu and Mitsunari (whom Hideyoshi appointed as regents) that led to the battle of Sekigahara. After Ieyasu defeats Mitsunari and becomes Shôgun, he opposes the Tokugawa Shôgunate to reclaim his father's reign. In response, Ieyasu seeks for total annihilation of the Toyotomi clan.
His mother is the daughter of Azai Nagamasa and Oichi, making him their grandson.
- Adapted Out: Despite being one of the most important figures in the Osaka campaign, he never made an appearance in Spirit in Sanada because the spinoff never made his mother, Chacha, one of Hideyoshi's concubines. Strangely enough, he only gets one mention by Hidetada in the epilogue.
- Driven to Suicide: In Hanzo's upper path in 1. Also happens in the anime.
- Ensign Newbie: He is still merely a teenager when he becomes head of the Toyotomi clan, and when he opposes the Tokugawa shogunate.
- Mind Screw: In SW2 Empires, likely Played for Laughs, when he greets Oichi — who looks younger than him — and addresses her as his grandmother. Oichi is understandably shocked and confused.
- Morality Pet: To all of the Toyotomi retainers who remain loyal to him until the very end in Osaka, especially Yukimura.
- Nonstandard Character Design: He gains a fully unique appearance in the anime, which in turn is imported into the games in 4-II.
- The Remnant: His Toyotomi forces in Osaka Campaign are mostly what is left of the Toyotomi.
Hōjō Saburō a.k.a. Kagetora Uesugi
Ujiyasu's seventh biological son and Hayakawa's younger brother. He becomes a political hostage to the Uesugi as a part of a peace treaty. The idea of being abandoned by his biological father upsets him to the point he wishes to commit suicide. Kenshin stops Saburō from throwing his life away and gives the sullen lad a place to call home by adopting him, and gives him the name of Kagetora (Kenshin's own birth name, no less). Moved by Kenshin and Aya's kindness towards him, he wishes to repay them.
- Happily Adopted: While not so happily at first, Kenshin and Aya's kindness to him change his mind and makes him likes to become part of Uesugi.
- Non-Standard Character Design: In 4, he has a unique design.
- Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: The sensitive guy to Kagekatsu's manly man.
- Sibling Rivalry: with Kagekatsu, especially after their adoptive father's death.
- Thicker Than Water: After Kenshin's death, he and Kagekatsu fight over the lordship of the Uesugi. While Kagekatsu is backed by Kanetsugu and the Sanada clan, Kagetora has the support from Aya and his biological family, the Hojo. Unfortunately, it doesn't save him from death.
- The Unfavorite: After he becomes political hostage to Uesugi, he thinks he is this in the Houjou, leading him to commit suicide. Fortunately, Kenshin and Aya stop him.
Jōun Takahashi
Muneshige's biological father and Ōtomo clan's loyal retainer. He is one of the greatest warriors to have ever lived in Kyushu. He is also known as "The Wind God".
- Cool Helmet: His unique design in 4 has him wearing a winged helmet.
- Non-Standard Character Design: He has slightly unique design, namely his Cool Helmet is only exclusively designed for him.
- Red Baron: "The Wind God"
- Worthy Opponent: Yoshihiro and Toyohisa consider him one, and he is one of the supreme commanders and the Final Boss in Kyushu Chapter in 4.
Lady Muramatsu
- Voiced by: Ayaka Maeda (Japanese)
The eldest daughter of the Sanada Clan, and the big sister of Nobuyuki and Yukimura. She only appears in Spirit of Sanada.
- Cool Big Sis: Yukimura often goes to her for advice and tells her he feels strengthened by her words.
- Non-Standard Character Design: Out from the female NPCs, she has a very unique character design and like Kagetora Uesugi and Hideyori Toyotomi, she plays a unique role in the game.
- Plot-Relevant Age-Up: Like Chacha, she goes from childhood to adulthood in the game's second arc but is never portrayed any older than that.
- Rebellious Princess: Downplayed. As the daughter of a samurai she shouldn't be seen outside of Sanada Castle, but her free spirit often drives her to sneak out and visit the town. Otherwise she remains a very proper lady.
- She Is All Grown Up: Her elegant stature as a child matures even more once she reaches adulthood, though she still likes to tease her brothers.
- Yamato Nadeshiko: Grows up to become one of the most proper non-Action Girl ladies in the series.
Naiki Takanashi
A humble kinsman and eventual retainer of the Sanada clan, he was created specifically for the Sanada Maru taiga drama and appears in a near identical form in Spirit of Sanada.
- Audience Surrogate: Given how he appears from start to finish in Spirit of Sanada, he often relays and narrates on the events unfolding in a way the player can relate to, as an observer.
- Canon Immigrant: Never seen in previous samurai warriors, came straight to Spirit of Sanada with his likeness captured from the NHK taiga drama.
- Go Out with a Smile: His fate, happy to help the Sanada one last time.
- Undying Loyalty: For reasons unknown, he has been with the Sanada for at least 54 years, unquestionably following the clan even at its lowest times.
