Characters / Samurai Warriors 2

Samurai Warriors Main Character Index
Samurai Warriors | Samurai Warriors 2 | Samurai Warriors 3 | Samurai Warriors 4 | Samurai Warriors 5

Introduced in the base game

Ieyasu Tokugawa

Voiced by: Joji Nakata (Japanese), Robert Martin Klein (English, 1 Xtreme), Vladimir Saklikov (English, 2), Dave Mallow (English, 3), Michael Johnson (English 2015 Anime), Niko Macoulis (German, 1), Bernd Kuschmann (German 2015 Anime), Son Jong-hwan (Korean, 1)

Born: January 31, 1543
Died: June 1, 1616

The Third of the Three Unifiers of Japan, closing out what Nobunaga started and Hideyoshi expanded. Ieyasu Tokugawa is a very patient man who values a slow and steady, one step at the time approach as a solution to most problems. As he wasn't playable in the first game, Ieyasu was at first a bit of a Smug Snake. However, he still talks about patience in the first game. In Xtreme Legends, he begins to show some competency here and there, and by the time of the second game, he is a very capable general and ruler indeed.

He uses a cannon spear (as in, a spear whose head can open on a hinge to reveal a cannon) as his weapon.

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• Action Dad: With his son being a playable character, expect him to be fighting along with him.
• Actually Pretty Funny: He can't help but feel amused when Sasuke called him 'big guy', even while his retainers (Tadakatsu, Naomasa, and Hanzo) are immediately offended about it.
• Admiring the Abomination: In the second game he's the only other character with a unique comment for Kotaro Fuuma, who becomes his boss in his Story Mode: despite the forced servitude and wariness, Ieyasu seems to be genuinely in awe of Kotaro's otherwordly skills.
• Animal Motifs: The Tanuki, in contrast to Mitsunari's Kitsune. In the first game, it was a turtle instead, reflecting his cowardly nature.
• Authority Equals Asskicking: He is one of the three unifiers of Japan, after all.
• Ascended Extra: From unique NPC in the first game, to fully playable by the second game.
• Batman Gambit: He correctly anticipates the uprising that results in the Siege of Osaka in 4, which gives him an excuse to crush the last pockets of resistance against his rule.
• Big Beautiful Man: Played for laughs in one DLC stage for 4-II, where Mitsunari was brainwashed into mentioning his love for Ieyasu's rotund belly.
• Butt-Monkey: In Yoshimoto's hypothetical route in Chronicles 3, he is forced to cater to his lord's ridiculous whims and repeatedly ends up suffering for it.
• Cool Helmet: Even Shingen is impressed by it.
• Early-Installment Weirdness: He appears as an NPC with a smug personality and few redeeming qualities in the first game.
• Energy Weapon: He can shoot laser beams from his spear.
• Fat Bastard: To his enemies, at least.
• A Father to His Men: He describes his retainers as his true greatest treasures. Mitsunari and, to a lesser extent, Yoshitsugu are bitterly aware about it and they acknowledge that this trait alone may make Ieyasu more of a worthy successor to Hideyoshi than anybody else.
• Heroic BSoD: Has a breadown in the aftermath of Mikataghara in 2, having seen many of his men giving their lives to ensure his safety by disguising themselves as him.
• Honor Before Reason: Averted. He is one of the people who point out Kanetsugu's hypocrisy regarding "endangering the people for the sake of honor"; he also deems people living in peace to be a bigger priority than honor.
• Joker Immunity: Most of the scenarios where you play as the Western Army at Sekigahara has him survive his defeat and being forced to run away.
• Large and in Charge: Subverted, he's surely bulky but also rather short, especially when compared to Honda Tadakatsu and Inahime.
• Long-Lived: The only one of the Three Unifiers to live through the Sengoku Period from its early days to its end; he died in his 70's roughly one year after the Osaka Campaign.
• Manipulative Bastard: In the "Rescue of Mitsunari" stage in 2, it's evident that the internal rebellion against Mitsunari was designed (or at least, supported) by Ieyasu. Averted in 2XL, where he admit he was preparing a plot but Kojiro's interference beat him to it.
  • Averted in 3, however, where the conflict stems from an internal quarrel over the succession line between Mitsunari and Masanori, Kiyomasa and the other Toyotomi retainers who dislike him. Heck, in some versions of the stage, Ieyasu even shows up as one of Mitsunari's rescuers!
• Nerves of Steel: No matter the situation, he keeps calm and attempts to maintain control of things. Yoshitsugu also notes that he is able to adapt to every situation, which was his key to victory in Sekigahara.
• Playing with Fire: Can shoot fire out of his cannon. The chosen element of his 4th weapon in 2 was even fire.
• Reasonable Authority Figure: Since his first playable appearance in 2.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The Blue to Mitsunari's Red, being the calmer and more patient one. His outfits even have primarily Blue color schemes.
• Shipper on Deck: In 4 he actively tries to set up Ina with Nobuyuki, and eventually succeeds.
• Smug Snake: In 1, where he was much less heroic and the only Tokugawa-aligned character was the ninja Hanzo.
• The Strategist: Becomes an extremely capable one as the series goes on, particularly in 4.
• Then Let Me Be Evil: In 4, Ieyasu is repeatedly accused of being too virtuous and asked if he is prepared to become a stone-hearted demon if that's what it takes to secure lasting peace. He ultimately takes these lessons to heart, ruthlessly pursuing his conquest of the land, but still displays honor and kindness to his men.
• Took a Level in Badass: Compare his characterization between the first and second games.
• Took a Level in Kindness: His characterization as a playable character completely drops the Smug Snake tendencies of the first game's portrayal and, while he was never a Bad Boss, makes him more caring to his retainers. Later games then make him much more kind and reluctant in general, and that he deems himself to be hated for all he's done for the sake of peace.
• Verbal Tic: Often about the virtues of "Patience", slowness and calm. Patience as a whole defines his character.
• Villainous Breakdown: In Yukimura's story mode, he'll freak out if the warrior manages to reach his camp.
• Well-Intentioned Extremist: In the first game, although smug and prone to leaving things in the hands of Hanzo, he nevertheless points out during the Siege of Osaka that he's not fighting simply for himself, but to secure a long era of peace for Japan. It goes to show much later as the series progresses.

Mitsunari Ishida

Voiced by: Eiji Takemoto (Japanese), Chuck Halliday (English, 2), Wally Wingert (English, 3), Ian Ferguson (English 2015 Anime), Benedikt Hahn (German 2015 Anime)

Born: 1560
Died: November 6, 1600

Toyotomi clan retainer and strategist, Ishida Mitsunari becomes Ieyasu's biggest rival after Hideyoshi dies. He would lead the pro-Toyotomi in the Battle at Sekigahara...and if you've been keeping up, know how that turns out...

Is armed with a general's tessen (iron folding fan).

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• Adaptational Badass: In 4 and 4-II, he typically leaves battlefield when he's losing at Sekigahara, and Western's leadership tends to be transferred to Sakon or Yoshitsugu. In the anime, which is adapted from 4-II, Mitsunari goes Leeroy Jenkins to Ieyasu after receiving the news of Sakon and Yoshitsugu's death and eventually dies in Dying Moment of Awesome.
• Adaptation Relationship Overhaul: Historically, he has a very bitter and unhealthy rivalry with Kiyomasa and Masanori, hence why they end up opposing him as depicted in 2. Since 3, they become friends with different ideals with Masanori and Kiyomasa have Conflicting Loyalty while Mitsunari has Undying Loyalty to Toyotomi.
• Ascended Extra: He is a rarely seen generic in the first game. One notable appearance he makes is in Goemon's last story mode level in his upper path "Goemon The Wild" where he can be found as an enemy officer around the northeast corner.
• Animal Motifs: He refers to himself as the "Fox". His "helmet" has two spikes that resemble the ears of a fox.
• Brainy Brunette: His natural hair color is light brown, and he is Hideyoshi's top advisor.
• Breakout Character: After his debut, he rose into popularity among the female fans due to Tsundere personality. Because of this, he joins in Yukimura and Naotora as the one of Samurai Warriors representatives of Warriors All-Stars and is one of the eight characters who earned a deified form in Warriors Orochi 4.
• Broken Tears: In 4, after Hideyoshi's death.
• Characterization Marches On: In 4, he seems to have self-esteem problems which is unseen in the previous games. During Battle of Hiketa when he's cornered, he will lament something like how he can't believe he's still defeated despite his army heavily outnumbers Chosokabe Army, and then he also wonders if this is the limit of his ability. He also outrightly refuses Yoshitsugu's plea to retreat during Battle of Hiketa and Oshu's Punishment. Also during Battle of Oshi Castle, when Kanetsugu in his Innocently Insensitive mode said that Uesugi sides with the weak, Mitsunari will angrily asks "You said I'm weak!?" before Yukimura immediately calms him down.
• Combat Hand Fan: His weapon, which can also slice, dice and release explosive dust. It's also a legitimate weapon, unlike what you may think.
• Defiant to the End/Defiant Captive: Even when captured by Ieyasu's followers after the loss at Sekigahara, it was stated that Mitsunari even refused his very last meal before his execution historically, a fact mentioned by Keiji a cutscene in 2 just when Kanetsugu was snapped out of his moment of Driven to Suicide.
• Dragon with an Agenda: In Warriors Orochi 1, he seems to be loyal to Orochi and Daji. But, just like Cao Pi whom he'll work with, he has his own plan.
• Deadpan Snarker: EXTREMELY, really, he really gets several extremely sarcastic lines. One of his favorite victims is Nene. And there's one gem from Warriors Orochi:
  Sima Yi: Imbeciles!
  Masamune Date: Imbeciles!
  Mitsunari Ishida: I'm not saying it.
  • His moment with Nene however...
  Nene: "Don't give up Mitsunari!"
  Mitsunari Ishida: "Thank you my lady, for clarifying the obvious!"
• Dying Moment of Awesome:
  • In 4, after the defeat at Sekigahara, he could've escaped Eastern soldiers' pursue if not for rescuing a woman (implied to be his maid) from them.
  • In the anime, he dies in similar way to Yukimura's in Osaka: Charging at Ieyasu by himself when he is losing. Though unlike Yukimura, who is foiled by Nobuyuki, Mitsunari succumbs to his wounds before he reaches Ieyasu.
• Energy Weapon: One of his charge attacks until the fourth game, where it it still reappears in one of his new attack strings.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: He's seen in a far better light than his rival Ieyasu. This comes for a new attitude in Japan regarding his place in history, as many are beginning to look into him with different insights and changing prior concepts.
  • Subverted in Ieyasu's version of Sekigahara for 2, when he talks some sorts of We Have Reserves and care less for his followers in the Western Army.
• Honor Before Reason: When Toyohisa Shimazu in 2 suggests a night attack to weaken the enemy forces and assure victory, Mitsunari refuses wholeheartedly and tells him that there's no place for tricky tactics on the battlefield. The Shimazu answer by staying out of the battle alltogether. This was apparently what happened in real life as well.
• Insufferable Genius: even Kiyomasa doesn't bother to point this out at times.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He may be a jerk, cunning, Insufferable Genius, etc., but his genuine wish to maintain his departed lord's name must be respected. Historically, his jerkass attitude made him very unpopular among the retainers which is no surprise that many shifted to Ieyasu instead. Historians noted that he could have won Sekigahara if it weren't for his Fatal Flaw.
• Jerkass Has a Point: He is right to call out on Kiyomasa and Masanori for siding with the Tokugawa to protect the Toyotomi because after Sekigahara and when Ieyasu became Shogun, he proceeds to wipe out the Toyotomi in Osaka.
• The Lancer: To Hideyoshi in Samurai Warriors, and to Cao Pi in Warriors Orochi.
• The Leader: He leads the Toyotomi clan after after Hideyoshi's death.
• Pet the Dog: Has special conversation with Oichi in Shizugatake, and states he could've served under her if she was still Nagamasa's wife. True to history, the Ishida family was once retainer of Azai clan. In response to this, Oichi asked him to inherit Nagamasa's lands after her death.
• Precision-Guided Boomerang: He uses his fan like this in his musou attack.
• Pride: One of his FatalFlaws that actually tarnished his friendship with Masanori and Kiyomasa. And one of the biggest contributors to the Toyotomi's failure and loss in Sekigahara, as well as at worst his death. Even when Yoshitsugu already rebuked his attitude, Mitsunari was still acting unrepentant.
• Razor Wind: Some of his moves involve this, but his original Direction+R1 Type Action in the first two Warriors Orochi games takes the cake, and it was a pretty powerful attack in the first game before getting nerfed.
• Red Baron: Fox of Mt. Sawa.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The red to Ieyasu Blue. Even both are strategist, Mitsunari by far the most reckless and even his recklessness cost his death to himself and staining Toyotomi Honor in Sekigahara. Yet due to his personal problem brought to his decision and arrogance to think that the he is the one who are fit to succeed Toyotomi. Yet additionally, he uses red in his outfit schemes.
• Slice-and-Dice Swordsmanship: While not exactly a sword, his iron-folding fan is strong enough to use similar attack. It goes to the extreme in a cutscene where he cuts a tree limb with his fan!
• Spared by the Adaptation: In 4-II, he survives from being executed thanks to Sakon.
• The Strategist: A capable one when he isn't letting his emotions cloud his judgment; this directly contributes to his loss at Sekigahara against Ieyasu.
• Stuff Blowing Up: He can use powder and mines with his war fan.
• Super Mode: One of the eight characters to receive a Deification mode in Warriors Orochi 4. His form is based from Hermes, the messenger of the Olympians and the Greek god of wit, which suits him as he is a strategist who even outwits Ares. His Sacred Treasure is the Harpe, a sickle which he gave to Perseus to slay Medusa, and his deified Unique Magic lets him stop time and zips around his enemies and slashes them.
• Tragic Hero: For "Legend of Land United" in 4. See Trauma Conga Line below.
• Tragic Keepsake: In the anime, a piece of his broken headgear becomes crucial and is taken from one hand to another. First it's taken by Nene, then she gives it to Kunoichi, then Kunoichi gives it to Yukimura, who then asks her to keep it for him until he defeated Ieyasu in Osaka. Then, it becomes Kunoichi's Pocket Protector when she's shot by Tokugawa's riflemen.
• Trauma Conga Line: Oh dear lord, yes. Easily the worst of all the characters in 4:
  • First his mistrust of Ieyasu causes a rift between him and his childhood friends, Kiyomasa and Masanori, who think he's being pigheaded.
  • Then he watches his foster father, Hideyoshi, die.
  • After this when he states his intent to oppose Ieyasu, Kiyomasa and Masanori side with Ieyasu instead, seeing it as a better way to protect the Toyotomi clan.
  • Then at the Battle of Sekigahara he watches his only real remaining friends, Shima Sakon and Otani Yoshitsugu, die in front of him directly as a result of his bad decision making.
  • Following this Sekigahara turns into a complete disaster for the Western Army and Mitsunari, exhausted and defeated, stumbles away in the rain to try and regroup with his army.
  • Finally, Mitsunari is caught by Tokugawa forces and executed to save a peasant woman's life.
• Undying Loyalty: To the Toyotomi Clan.
• Ungrateful Bastard: See here. His "thanks" for being rescued are also rather sarcastic.
• Vitriolic Best Buds:
  • In the first installment of the crossover, he and Cao Pi are forced to work together by Da Ji in servitude to Orochi. They both chafe at working with a partner who shares the same general personality at first, but, upon each realizing that the other is also cleverly plotting to weaken the Serpant Army from the inside before crushing it in a rebellion, they manage to get along to splendid effect. By the final mission of the Wei campaign, the two are heaping affectionate abuse on one another all the time.
  • Unfortunately in the fourth installment, they're no longer friends due to the memory reset and despite they're working on the Olympians' side, they see each as bitter rivals. This is because Ares made a separate deal between Cao Pi and Hideyoshi, meaning the two never work together and the Olympians are watching their every movement. Even though it's revealed that Cao Pi is planning to destroy the Olympians' forces from within, Mitsunari never figures out and is surprised about this when Cao Cao receives a letter from his son, containing vital information on how to get close to Zeus. When Cao Pi joins the coalition, he and Mitsunari start talking to each other again in friendly terms.
• You Remind Me of X: In 4, Yoshitsugu mentions that Mitsunari reminds him of Nagamasa due to their resolve to resist against the era's flow. It's worth noting that historically Ishida clan is Azai's retainers until Nagamasa's death and they surrendered to Oda, where they served under Hideyoshi later.

Nagamasa Azai

Voiced by: Takayuki Sasada (Japanese, 1), Hiroshi Kamiya (Japanese, 2 onwards), Skip Stellrecht (English, 1), Jason Moran (English, 2), Darrel Guilbeau (English, Warriors Orochi), Spike Spencer (English, 3), Frank Behnke (German, 1), Park Man-yeong (Korean, 1)

Born: 1545
Died: August 28, 1573

Head of the Azai clan, Nagamasa is a man who fights for love and honor. He is conflicted between his love for Oichi and his loyalty to the Asakura.

As a playable character, his weapon of choice is a western cavalry lance.

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• Action Dad: He's a capable fighter and good father to his daughter, Chacha.
• Ascended Extra: He was a unique NPC in the first game and wielded a simple spear.
• All Just a Dream: His 2 story mode, in which he actually slays Nobunaga and unifies Japan after defeating a coalition composed of the Akechi, Hashiba, Shibata and Tokugawa forces.
• Anachronism Stew: Uses a medieval European lance in 1500s Japan, a type of weapon with a design unknown to that part of the world. Admitted even by the creators.
• Battle Couple: with Oichi.
• Chivalrous Pervert: This is what happens in SW2E.
  Nagamasa: Lady Noh, if I may make a suggestion. A woman of your beauty and stature should not dress the way you do. It's not right. It's... It's sinful.
  Noh: You think this dress is sinful? You should see what I'm wearing underneath...
  Nagamasa: [gulp] C-can... Can I? Please?
  • And you can see the video here!
  Random YouTube comment: So much for love and honor for Oichi.
  Another random YouTube comment: No wonder Nobunaga wanted to crush Azai.
  • He also wonders if he can have such a dress tailored for Oichi.
• Cloud Cuckoo Lander: In 2:Empires, he seems to ignore the fact that he looks as young as his grandson and accepts his grandson overjoyfully.
• Cool Helmet: Usually wears kabuto helmet.
• Cute Clumsy Guy: Trips over everything, though it's meant to be more endearing than annoying or funny.
• Death by Irony: He betrayed (i.e. backstabbed) Nobunaga at Kanegasaki, and his death in 4 is by a literal stab to the back from Nobunaga.
• The Dog Bites Back: In the second game final scenario, Nagamasa finally turns against the Asakura (whose leader Yoshikage had no trouble abandoning Nagamasa himself when things went south and kickstarted the whole mess with the Oda) and kill him.
• Go Out with a Smile: In Oichi's story in 2. Followed with Disappears into Light.... or rather, flower petals.
• Hair of Gold, Heart of Gold: His hair color is blond under that Cool Helmet, and he is very gentle and nice guy, especially to his wife.
• Honor Before Reason: So much that so in Oda's version of the Siege of Odani Castle, he's ready to kill his former wife Oichi to win.
  • Zigzagged in his own story for 2. After "defeating" the Oda in Kanegasaki, he left his service from Asakura and choose to fulfill his duty as Oda's in-law by fighting against Asakura and protecting Nobunaga alongside Oichi.
• Idiot Hero: In all his glory here: [1] and poor Kojirou isn't safe either... [2]
  • Rule of Three!!! poor Noh...
  • Also, in "Beauty Contest" dream stage between Oichi and Noh, he will appear to support his wife and prove Oichi's beauty with his strength, which makes no sense at all.
• Implausible Hair Color: In a Samurai Warriors 3: Empires event, Ina asks him why he's blond. Turns out he was just born that way.
• Jousting Lance: He wields a lance as a weapon to emphasize his dedication as a Knight in Shining Armor-type character. He mostly swings it around like a giant sword/cudgel but has plenty of stabbing attacks, including a move which impales a character and toss him away.
• Knight in Shining Armor: Before Muneshige, he was the most knight-looking character. One of his weapon is named "Oichi's knight".
• Lady and Knight: He is specifically designed to be a Knight in Shining Armor, so it's a given that he's the Knight while Oichi is the Lady.
• Non-Standard Character Design: Before becoming playable, he was one of NPC with non-generic design in the first game.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage: With Oichi, until it ends in Star-Crossed Lovers.
• Power Trio: With Takatora and Yoshitsugu in 4.
  • Before that, he forms the Justice trio with Ma Chao and Kanetsugu in Warriors Orochi.
• Running Gag: Seriously, this guy seems to be obsessed with "Spirits of Dead Women!" And "Bandits!" in SW2E.
• Sickeningly Sweethearts: Him and Oichi. Lampshaded by Hideyoshi on at least one occasion.
• Star-Crossed Lovers: With Oichi, more often than not.
• Tragic Hero: In practically every game, his story is usually played with tragedy.

Sakon Shima

Voiced by: Shinichi Yamada (Japanese), Tim Mahlin (English, 2), Steve Kramer (English, 3), Jeremy Schwartz (English 2015 Anime), Jochen Langner (German 2015 Anime)

Born: June 9, 1540
Died: October 21, 1600

A talented strategist who once worked with Shingen Takeda, before being employed by Mitsunari Ishida.

Wields a massive odachi greatsword with a broad blade.

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• Adaptation Expansion: There's no historical record of him ever serving the Takeda clan. In fairness however, he is usually depicted as a ronin/mercenary of the Takeda, though instead of being paid with money, he's being "paid" with Shingen's knowledge of tactics and strategy.
• A Day in the Limelight: The primary protagonist of the Sengoku story in the second Warriors Orochi game.
• Badass Longcoat: Wears one in all of his appearances.
• BFS: Sakon's weapon of choice is a huge, broad-bladed odachi resembling a machete nearly as big as he is. In spite of the weapon's size, he's an all-rounded balanced character rather than a Mighty Glacier or a Glacier Waif.
• Blade Across The Shoulder: Even when mounted.
• Chivalrous Pervert: He flirts with many female characters, but not with Oichi (knowing her issues with Nagamasa and Katsuie).
• Cool Old Guy: Word of God says he was made to specifically fill this role.
• Dishing Out Dirt: In the fourth game, many of his attacks results in massive bursts of rock and soil from the ground, as well as his new elemental affinity gravitating towards this element.
• Dying Moment of Awesome: In 4, after being fatally wounded during Sekigahara.
• Elvis Impersonator: A result from the English dub of 2, which gave him a number of quotes from Elvis.
• Genius Bruiser: When not chopping people with his broadsword, he's fully capable of coming up with clever tactics courtesy of Shingen's tutelage.
  Sakon:" Brains and brawn... I've got it all!"
• Good Scars, Evil Scars: Has one on his left cheek.
• Jack of All Stats: Like Yukimura, Sakon can dish out good damage against officers and crowds using his sword, and he makes up for his shorter range with a variety of ranged specials.
• The Lancer: To Mitsunari. In the second game, he's this to Shingen during the latter's story mode.
• Older Sidekick: He is 19 years older than Mitsunari.
• Older Than They Look: Already 60 years old at Sekigahara.
• Rain of Arrows: Has a special ability that allows him to call for a barrage of musket fire from off-screen riflemen in most games.
• Red Baron: The "Rōnin of Yamato."
• Ship Tease: Subverted with Ina in the second game, as their interactions are not as blatant as the opening cinematic.
• Shock and Awe: Some of his moves, like one of his R1 skills. His directional R1 Type Action in Warriors Orochi 1 and 2 is unique in that it's more of yellow electricity than actual lightning.
• Spared By Adaptation: Although most stories generally portray his death in Sekigahara, Kiyomasa's story in 3 has him survive up to the Osaka campaign. In Kanbei's story however, his appearance is more of Back from the Dead.
• Sword Plant: His special attack has him repeatedly stabbing his sword into the ground, resulting in a massive cilindrical barrier that deals elemental damage (either Fire, Lightning or Ice) to all nearby enemies.

Yoshihiro Shimazu

Voiced by: Hisao Egawa (Japanese), Mark Skoda (English, 2), Jamieson Price (English, Warriors Orochi 2)

Born: August 21, 1535
Died: August 30, 1619

The old leader of the Shimazu clan, known as "Devil" Shimazu. He's a rival of Ginchiyo and the Tachibana Clan.

Armed with a large mallet.

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• Badass Army: The Shimazu Army utilized European-themed armor combined with CoolMasks, and specialized in ambush attacks.
• Badass Boast: "The Devil Shimazu shall pound your bones to dust!" Also, in the second game, when Toyohisa comments that Sekigahara resembles Hell, he boasts that Hell is where Devils like him are at home at.
• Badass Family: He and his brothers command the Shimazu Army in the Battle of Kyuushuu.
• The Big Guy: To Mitsunari and the Western Army, though he's a Sour Supporter who doesn't fully believe in his lord.
• Blood Knight: While he is pragmatic, cool-headed and always keeps the clan's well-being above all else, Yoshihiro greatly enjoys battle, especially if the odds are stacked against him. In his debut game, he even recongnizes that opposing the Toyotomi is impossible... but still decides to fight with all he has until he's satisfied and can join their ranks with no regrets.
• Collision Damage: One of his special attacks has him slamming his foot into the ground in a Sumo-like stance and shout "Meet the Devil!", causing him to be enveloped in a green aura that allows him to damage all enemies he runs into as if he's on horseback.
• Cool Helmet: Subverted. While he wears one in a cutscene in the second game, Ginchiyo promptly slices it in half with her sword.
• Cool Old Guy: Pretty awesome, in that a man his age is still smashing people into the ground, literally.
• Cool Uncle: For Toyohisa.
• Combat Pragmatist: The Shimazu as a whole will play dirty, using natural ground features, ambushes and traps to lay waste on enemy forces. In the second game alone Toyohisa suggests a sneak attack on the Tokugawa which is refused by Mitsunari and in the final scenario of Yoshihiro's campaign he waits until both the Eastern and Western armies are exhausted to revolt and attack them both.
• A Father to His Men: He's very close to his clan members and officers. When slain in Sekigahara in 2, he will even claim the responsability for their involvement and begs the player to let his brothers go free.
• The Gambler: His attitude towards battle is this: he frequently gives speeches about how he enjoys betting all he has on desperate situations and seemingly unbeatable odds, believing that the stakes are worthy such a risk.
• Genius Bruiser: Comes up with several strategies in the Battle of Kyuushuu and in his story version of Sekigahara (wherein he changes the tides of the battle against Ieyasu).
• Ground Pound: His Musou attack consists of smashing the earth in front with his large mallet. When his Musou is fully powered up he'll cause several eruptions all around him.
• Hypocrite: He scolds Toyohisa for losing his helmet, yet he also lost his to Ginchiyo in 2
• Implacable Man: In 2, when playing the Battle of Sekigahara on the Tokugawa side, turning the tide in Ieyasu's favor and hiring Kobayakawa will trigger the retreat of the Shimazu. However, Yoshihiro will go in Hyper mode and he will automatically route any NPC allied officer on his way, even if they're on the other side of the battlefield, which can actually turn what could be a triumphant Curb-Stomp Battle in a disastrous charge by a handful of officers.
• Kiai: "CHESUTOOOOOOOOO!". For those wondering, no, it's not gibberish or unique to him; it's a real-life quirk of Satsugu-hogen (the dialect spoken in Satsuma, where the Shimazu clan is based) and is a way to cheer on someone, an equivalent of "Ganbaruzo!" in Standard Japanese.^note Chesuto is a contraction of Tsuyoku suddo. Tsuyoku means "strong", while suddo is the Satsugu version of suruzo, the masculine form of suruyo, meaning "I'll do it".
• Kind Hearted Cat Lover: He has a soft spot for kittens. No, seriously! Here: [3]. The historical Yoshihiro even started a prayer service for his cats that continues up to this day.
• Large and in Charge: The leader of the Shimazu clan, and also the biggest of the family. Historically though he let his brother lead the clan in his stead.
• Long-Lived: He lived to be 84 years old, which is pretty impressive for the era. Historically, he died four years after the Siege of Osaka.
• Mythical Motifs: Out of all the characters bearing the moniker of Oni (himself, Katsuie, Hanzo, Naomasa), his is more pronounced and reinforced: he carries a giant blunt weapon, often compares unfavorable battlefield to a "Hell" he'd be at home in and his standard ultimate weapon is engraved with a Oni mask and bears the kanji for Oni on the flat sides.
• One-Man Army: He's an excellent crowd-clearer gameplay-wise, and in the Battle of Sekigahara, he routs every officer he comes across when he retreats if the Tokugawa gain the upper hand.
• Red Baron: "The Devil Shimazu" (Oni Shimazu in the original, though it's seemingly shared with his army).
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: Blue to Ginchiyo's Red: he's massive, brutal and older, but he's also craftier, more enigmatic and much more pragmatic when it comes to honor than the Tachibana.
• The Rival: to Ginchiyo in 2. Becomes downplayed with the introduction of Muneshige.
• The Starscream: In 2 he makes it clear that he doesn't really feel at home with the Western Army, and in Ginchiyo's campaign he betrays them to take over Japan for himself. In his own campaign, he turns against the Western Army during the siege of Edo and proceeds to defeat both the Toyotomi and the Tokugawa in order to take Japan for himself.

Ginchiyo Tachibana

Voiced by: Naomi Shindo (Japanese), Freya Ravensbergen (English, 2), Cindy Robinson (English, 3)

Born: September 23, 1569
Died: November 30, 1602

The last of the Tachibana clan (as she is quick to remind everyone), intense rivals with Yoshihiro Shimazu and a no-nonsense woman who doesn't pull any punches.

She wields a lightning-shaped sword wreathed in electricity.

---

• Action Girl: One of the more justified examples. She is the head of her clan after her father's death, and thus needs to be capable of defending herself. The production team notably designed her specifically to be the first proper swordswoman in the entirety of the series, both here and its sister series (being that she's an actual historical figure, and not a mythical one).
• Ancestral Weapon: She wields her father's sword, the famous Raikiri (Thunder Cutter).
• Apron Matron: Head of the Tachibana clan after her father's death, and ultimately leads alongside her husband.
• Battle Couple: with Muneshige, of course.
• Breast Plate: Averted; her armor is quite practical.
• Cleavage Window: In one of her alternate costumes in Warriors Orochi 2.
• Even the Girls Want Her:
  • During Gracia's Dream Stage in 2:XL, she is entranced upon meeting Ginchiyo and tells Magoichi Saika that she must surely be the most beautiful woman in Japan.
  • Inahime also appears to adore and respect her.
  • Okuni finds her voice attractive during their interactions in the second game
• Fiery Redhead: An auburn variant.
• Form-Fitting Wardrobe: In ''SW3''.
• Grudging "Thank You": If you aid her while she's struggling, she expresses her gratitude along the lines of "I didn't ask for your help! ...But thank you." This is also the case in Gracia's dream stage after the young girl saved her from being locked up by Mago.
• Hotter and Sexier: Her outfit in ''SW3''. If you look closely, her undershirt under her breastplate is semi-transparent and just barely shows her cleavage.
• Lady of War: More exact words couldn't be found to describe her.
• Lightning Bruiser: No pun intended, speed and fast attacks are her greatest assets: she can even imbue her sword with even more lightning to further accellerate her slashes.
• Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Toyed with. Muneshige is far from being exactly feminine, but the couple is really close to this trope.
• Meido: Her DLC outfit in 4.
• The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: Towards Yoshihiro. Downplayed in later titles, where there's less focus on their rivalry.
• Perfectly Arranged Marriage: With Muneshige. While aloof at the start, her ending for 3, shows that yes, the two are indeed Happily Married.
• Politically-Active Princess: After taking over the Tachibana clan following her father's death.
• Power Floats: She levitates when performing her musou attack.
• Proud Warrior Race Girl: She likes to remind others she is a Tachibana.
• Red Oni: To Yoshihiro 2, and to her husband Muneshige in 3.
• The Rival: The Shimazu clan, especially Yoshihiro. However, when forced to cooperate under Hideyoshi, and later under Mitsunari, they prove to be an effective team.
• Say My Name: "Not just any woman! A Tachibana!" This extends to her using "Tachibana" as a personal pronoun in the original Japanese script.
• Serrated Blade of Pain: Her weapon of choice, a blade shaped like a bolt of lightning. The directors have said that it is actually the legendary Raikiri, used by her father to cut down a thunder god and save his land from a terrible storm. No wonder it's constantly wreathed in lightning...
• Shock and Awe: Of course. She can launch balls of lightning, summon lightning bolts around her or create an electromagnetic shield around herself and can charge her sword with lightning for increased speed and elemental damage. Nine times out of ten, her ultimate weapons are predominantly lightning-elemental
• Shout-Out: Her armor in the latest SW games and Warriors Orochi 3 looks right out of Saint Seiya.
• Smells Sexy: Kojirou sees her as this in 2:XL much to Ginchiyo's disgust.
• Token Wholesome: Depending on the game, it is either downplayed or played straight.
• Tomboy: Mitsunari jokes that she's even stronger and manlier than him.
• Trademark Favorite Food: 4 shows that she adores mochi, to the point that her usual demeanor completely vanishes and has its place taken by that of an excited little girl when she's offered the stuff.
• Tsundere: Watch her interactions with her husband, it couldn't be any more blunt.
• Yellow Lightning, Blue Lightning: Her lightning attacks are yellow-colored in 2 and blue-colored in 3 and 4.

Kanetsugu Naoe

Voiced by: Masaya Takatsuka (Japanese), Alex Eberts (English, 2), Michael Lindsay (English, 3), Ian Sinclair (English 2015 Anime) Dominik Freiberger (German 2015 Anime)

Born: 1559
Died: January 23, 1620

The honor-obsessed retainer of the Uesugi clan who strikes up a very unlikely friendship with Mitsunari and Yukimura.

Wields a special sword and Ofuda talismans as weapons.

---

• Ascended Extra: He was a generic officer in the first game.
• Adaptation Expansion: Much like Yukimura and Shingen, his Real Life counterpart was still a kid during Kenshin's rule. In the games however, he appears in Kawanakajima when historically, he wasn't part of the Uesugi clan yet, let alone old enough to fight. However, unlike Yukimura, he is able to serve under Kenshin for a bit until the latter's death and replacement by Kagekatsu.
• Cool Sword: His main weapon, a tsurugi (straight sword). It's more powerful versions resemble some sort of buddhist praying tool.
• Cool Helmet: His helmet has the kanji for "love" on it in the third and fourth game, just as he did in history.◊ In the third game, it's implied that Aya is the one who designed the helmet for him. Possibly also a nod that historically Aya is the one who recommended Kanetsugu into the clan.
• Despair Event Horizon: When he finds out about Mitsunari's death. More notably when he fights for the Tokugawa. In his story mode, it leads to him being...
• Driven to Suicide: Keiji fortunately stops him.
• Expy: Many fans see him as the Samurai Warriors equivalent to Ma Chao with their white-colored outfit and their possession of a righteous-themed catchphrase (Kanetsugu's "honor" vs. Ma Chao's "justice").
• Foil: He was historically this to his lord Kenshin; where as Kenshin took up the motif of a god of war, Kanetsugu in turn had his divine motif cater towards love and peace.
• Flanderization: In 4, Kanetsugu is somehow more Hot-Blooded, compared with his appearance in the previous games where he's calmer. Also, he becomes the Comically Serious (especially regarding his Verbal Tic: Honor, Justice, Love, Righteousness, etc). For example, when Kagekatsu is worried that Kagetora seems to be more favored by Kenshin and Aya, Kanetsugu then appears and thinks Kagekatsu is thinking about the battle. He also becomes more Innocently Insensitive, such as when he tells Mitsunari that the Uesugi sides with the weak, prompting Mitsunari to angrily ask him if Kanetsugu thinks he's weak.
• Honor Before Reason: Another notable trait of his, but it at times often zigzags due to him also doubling as a strategist.
• Jade-Colored Glasses: In 4, he gradually gets a pair forced on him after Mitsunari is defeated at Sekigahara; and is wearing them fully once he accepts that slaying his only remaining true friend, Yukimura, is the only way to end the fighting.
• Honor Will Prevail: He is more or less Ma Chao's SW counterpart. If Ma Chao is about justice, then Kanetsugu is about honor.
• Love Freak: Due to Aya's teachings.
• Mr. Exposition: Carried on to the crossover.
• Open Mouth, Insert Foot: Sometimes he will say just the right thing to get him (or someone else) on the receiving end of Aya's "love".
• Paper Talisman: To compliment Kenshin's divine/buddhist motif, Kanetsugu wields a sword resembling a vajra and holds a set of paper talismans written with mantra which he can use to attack people, cause explosions, form a shield or even a purple field that slows anything touching it.
• The Power of Friendship: Never stops talking about it, to the point that even his own allies get fed up. Eventually, however, this is deconstructed, as those he talked about friendship with (namely Yukimura and Mitsunari) end up dead because of his ideals rubbing off on them. See Unwitting Instigator of Doom below.
• Power Trio: With Mitsunari and Yukimura. After Mitsunari's death, it's with Keiji and Yukimura.
• Taking You with Me: During Musashi's story in the second game, he lures Yukimura and Musashi inside of Edo castle... only to lock all gates and set the whole place ablaze.
• The Rival: To Masamune, based on history. It's toned down a bit in third game, though, where their rivalry is slightly healthier than in second game. Notably the Battle of Hasedo, where the two have their greatest clash has always been given two variations whenever its available - an escape for Kanetsugu, a chase for Masamune.
• Sore Loser: Arguably, his path in 2: after the Hasedo retreat and the death of Mitsunari at Sekigahara, he still gather all his loyal allies from the Uesugi and Sanada clans to sucker-punch the Tokugawa base at Edo and slay a weakened Ieyasu rather than accept defeat.
• Unwitting Instigator of Doom: In 4, it is implied that he inadvertently set up Yukimura and Mitsunari's tragic deaths after pushing his ideals of friendship and honor onto them; Yukimura became too fixated with the concept that he disagreed with Nobuyuki's plan to secure the Sanada lineage to help his friends. Meanwhile, Mitsunari ends up disregarding pragmatism in Sekigahara in the name of honor, which eventually sealed his fate in the battle.
• Verbal Tic: "Honor" and "Justice". In 4, there's also "righteousness".
• Wide-Eyed Idealist: Played with. Aya scolds him for this.

Nene

Voiced by: Wakana Yamazaki (Japanese), Erin Agostino (English, 2), Emily Bauer (English, Warriors Orochi), Jennifer Seman (English 2015 Anime), Silke Linderhaus (German 2015 Anime)

Born: 1546
Died: 1624

Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife, replacing Kunoichi as the ninja in the second game. Since she can't bear any child for Hideyoshi, she "adopted" the Toyotomi clan and acts as a mom to them all.

Her weapons are dual short swords similar to Kunoichi's daggers called Tobikodachi in the Japanese script.

---

• Action Girl: She's a ninja girl, after all.
• Almighty Mom: Invoked in her dream stage in 2. She basically tells everyone in both the Eastern and Western Armies that she's disappointed in them before kicking their sorry asses.
  Hideaki Kobayakawa: "Mother sure is strong. She's almost like a man."
• Apron Matron: In Hanzo's version of Osaka in the third game, she commands the Toyotomi Army instead of Hideyori.
• Battle Couple: with Hideyoshi.
• Beware the Nice Ones: She's motherly and sweet and usually good natured... and calls herself "the cutest little ball of rage and sharp edges" in 2:Empires. She'll give spankings to entire armies if she feels they're misbehaving.
• Beware the Silly Ones: The "silly" part is more evident in 2, and much less so in 3.
• Doppelgänger: She can turn into another nearby character. From Mooks, to Ninjas to other enemy officers.
• Composite Character: Although not outright stated, she essentially takes over Chacha's role in the anime, making it look as if she is Hideyori's biological mom.
• Cool Aunt: She is seemingly this to Kobayakawa Hideaki (her nephew), especially in 2 and Warriors Orochi 1.
• Disappointed in You: She essentially told everyone this in her dream stage in 2, especially Masanori Fukushima, Kiyomasa Kato, Ginchiyo Tachibana, Yoshihiro Shimazu, Ina, Ieyasu Tokugawa, Sakon Shima, Mitsunari Ishida, and the generic Tadayoshi Matsudaira.
• Dual Wielding: Like Kunoichi she uses twin daggers, though hers are somewhat different. The Japanese script calls them "Shuriken" rather than Kunai.
• Fuuma Shuriken: She can create one with her knives.
• Genki Girl: In 2, to the point that Ieyasu calls her "bundle of joy".
• Go to Your Room!: She says this to Ieyasu, of all people, after defeating him in her dream stage in 2, Melee at Sekigahara.
• Happily Married: Despite many of Hideyoshi's antics. Also, though the games do not state this, historically, after his death, Nene took a vow of chastity and never remarried.
• Hidden Depths: Her self-imposing Team Mom attitude is a bit sad once you remember that she never had children of her own.
• Highly-Visible Ninja: This give her some trouble during her failed night raid to Odawara in a cutscene during the third game. Hanzo called her out on this when he saved her from Kotaro's attempt to assassinate the lady ninja.
• Historical Badass Upgrade: In Real Life she was a politician. In Samurai Warriors, she's a kunoichi and does not tend to partake in politics whatsoever.
• Kunoichi: Generally speaking, she's designed to replace Kunoichi in 2.
• Idiot Heroine: Shows some shades of this in her dialogue events in SW2E.
• Leotard of Power: Her outfit in 3 incorporates one along with some pretty cool-looking shoulder and hip guards.
• Mama Bear: For Gracia in the younger girl's 3:XL story, where she helps Gracia escape when she's being pursued by Western army.
• Me's a Crowd: She can create clones of herself. Unlike Hanzo's, hers form a line extending behind her.
• Mood Whiplash: The Battle of Sekigahara is supposed to be intense. But once Nene enters the battlefield with her desire to spank EVERY SINGLE OFFICER in the battlefield, the battle suddenly loses all dramatic tension. Really, it's hard to not laugh every time you complete that battle's missions "Kiyomasa Kato has learned his lesson", "Masanori Fukushima has learned his lesson", "Sakon Shima has learned his lesson", "Ginchiyo Tachibana has learned her lesson", etc. Even Yoshihiro feels more amused rather than ashamed when he is defeated, he remarks he can't believe that an old man like him has been defeated by a little girl.^note Which is something strange to say, since Nene is only about a decade younger than him. Ieyasu also admits, after Nene defeated him and told him to go to his room, that "he's never been scolded like this in his entire life".
• Morality Chain: The usually cowardly Hideaki turns into a brave and loyal warrior when Nene is around.
• Parental Substitute:
  • Played for Laughs. She is the self-proclaimed "mom" of the Toyotomi Clan, particularly to Mitsunari, Kiyomasa, and Masanori. In her defense, they don't seem to mind (too much, at least).
  Nene: "I don't recall raising you to be such a rude boy!"
  Mitsunari: "Uhh, that's because you didn't raise me at all."
  (Warriors Orochi)
  • She is one for Chacha in Spirit of Sanada, along with Hideyoshi. According to them both, they do this for Nagamasa, Oichi, and Katsuie.
• Politically-Active Princess: Averted, while her Real Life self played this trope straight, her Warriors depiction does not participate in any political activities whatsoever.
• Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: She has dark hair and her beauty, at least, is noted by Nobunaga of all people. This is based on a real-life letter Nobunaga wrote to Nene, in which he praised her beauty and lamented that Hideyoshi did not show much care for her, since he had younger concubines.
• She's Back: She returns to Osaka for the final campaign in one alternate timeline in Chronicles 3 and makes an appropriately flashy entrance to get everyone's attention.
• Ship Tease: With Hanzo during the events of the Third game.
• Shipper on Deck: Along with Hideyoshi, she encourages Yukimura to befriend Chacha in Spirit of Sanada.
• Sideboobs: In 4, both of her default and DLC costume.
• Spy Catsuit: One of her alternate costume in Warriors Orochi 2.
• Stripperiffic: But her husband doesn't mind...
  • In this video, apparently Hideyoshi's the one who asked her to dress like that.
  • Okuni also notes that she loves Nene's "spicy costume".
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: She was designed specifically to replace Kunoichi in Samurai Warriors 2.
• Team Mom: Self-imposed on the Toyotomi clan. She even tries to "mom" her enemies. Also according to Word of God, she's designed to fill the role of 'cute mom'.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: With the exception of her dream stage in 2 and Gracia's story in 3:XL, Nene disappears completely without any explanation at all after Hideyoshi's death and during Sekigahara Campaign. Historically, Nene retired to a Buddhist monastery after Hideyoshi's death, where she lived all the way to 1624, nearly a decade after the Siege of Osaka. She still occasionally participated in politics, though; notably, she supported Ieyasu during his feud with her stepson, Hideyori.
  • She is conspicuously absent in the cutscene of Hideyoshi's death in 3, even though she appears in the cutscene immediately preceding this (the party celebrating Japan's unification). On the contrary, her "sons"—Mitsunari, Masanori, and Kiyomasa—are there.
  • In the anime and Spirit of Sanada, she deliberately leaves Osaka because she can't stand being in Osaka without Hideyoshi. In Spirit of Sanada, she even asks Chacha to come with her.

Kotarō Fūma

Voiced by: Nobuyuki Hiyama (Japanese), David Rizk (English, 2), Bob Buchholz (English, 3), Ray Hurd (English 2015 Anime), David M. Schulze (German 2015 Anime)

Born: (Unknown)
Died: 1603

Kotaro Fuma is a Ninja of the Hojo clan, a sadist who scares even his own retainers. He doesn't seem to care about anything except spreading more chaos through the land.

His villainous role in third game is toned down, thanks to introduction of Kai and Ujiyasu for Hojo clan.

In battle he wields clawed armguards which somehow grant him the power to stretch his arms like tentacles.

---

• Animal Motifs: Wolves, which he emphasize by calling Hanzo a dog. Staying with the dog analogy, Kotaro as well is a "dog" to the Hojo clan, but one who does what he wants and that eventually turns on his owner on a whim. He even has wolves as pets.
• Ax-Crazy: This quote really tells you everything you should know:
  "Let's play a game: it's called "evisceration". Do you want to know the rules?"
• Back from the Dead: In Musashi's story mode in 2 he's visibly cut down by the swordsman and even gets a death animation (which otherwise only happens in Yoshihiro's story). The final movie has a still alive Kotaro fighting Musashi and seemingly surviving the clash.
• Bodyguard Betrayal: In the middle of his 2's story mode, after the Hojo is pretty much the sole ruler of the land, he decided to betray them simply because he's bored. The Hojo are understandably frightened by this revelation.
• Call-Back: The ninja spell he uses to lock the gates of Odawara castle in 2 is the same Hanzo used in 1.
• Casting a Shadow: Unlike Hanzo, he can cast his "waves of darkness" even during his normal and charged attack.
• Characterization Marches On: To a degree come 4. Since 4 doesn't have any alternative/what-if scenarios, Kotaro was seemingly mellowed. Much of his combat appearance dialogue is still about darkness and chaos in such, but his scenes with Ujiyasu and his clan paint a picture of him as a Token Evil Teammate. He has a deep respect for Ujiyasu but isn't afraid to comment on his actions good or ill; and his presence amongst the rest of the clan isn't met with any more dread than Hanzo is with the Tokugawa. He even continues to appear in support of Kai in the later stages after the Hojo meet their end at Odawara. In any battle where he's with the Hojo is usually met with commentary that makes it clear he's fully trusted by the clan to do what's necessary, all of whom have faith in his strength.
• The Comically Serious: Arguably inverted. As opposed to Hanzo's serious manner even in the times of non-seriousness, he tends to be rather chaotic even in serious times.
• Deadpan Snarker: For example, when he prepares to kill Nobunaga and his introduction is greeted by an Evil Laugh, Kotaro claims that he's "making me look sane by comparison."
• Demoted to Extra: Unfortunately, Kotaro doesn't get a story mode in 3.
• Early-Bird Cameo: In first game's Odawara stage, Hojo's ninja soldiers are named as "Fuuma Clan".
• Enigmatic Minion: Even in 3, he's still rather aloof and distant to his Hojo allies. In the Warriors Orochi games, it looks like he might very well be the most loyal minion to Orochi, but nope. This is lessened somewhat by 4.
• Even Evil Has Standards: In 4 to further cement his characterization having evolved somewhat, if selected during the Osaka Campaign (Legend of Sanada version, Toyotomi side) - he can encounter Lady Hayakawa, upon defeating her, the dialogue makes it clear that he spares her. The bit that's important- is that this line comes from KOTARO of all people:
  Lady Hayakawa: *surprised* Master Fuma? ...You're letting me go?
  Kotaro: *solemnly* ...It is too early for you to join Ujiyasu just yet...
• Evil Redhead: A nod to the rumor that Kotarou had deep red hair and was seven feet tall.
• Foil: To Hanzo, who is very loyal to his lord and pretty much has My Master, Right or Wrong tendency. Kotaro, on the other hand, is The Starscream in SW2, although this role is toned down in SW 3 thanks to Kai and Ujiyasu's introduction as playable. Also, in the respective game they made their debut, they're the only playable in their respective faction (Hanzo for Tokugawa and Kotaro for Hojo) and they're also pretty much a Hypercompetent Sidekick in their respective debut. Bonus points for the fact that their rivalry is actually based on history.
• For the Evulz: Come on! He went as far as to inform bandits about Nobunaga's death just so the chaos could erupt in that same night!
• Graying Morality: The third game and its expansion rounded him off and humanized him a little.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: Although he may not have been a nice man in Real Life, but he certainly wasn't a chaos-worshiping Troll.
• Hypercompetent Sidekick: He even realizes he is this in his story mode for 2, so he decided to betray the Hojo for his own fun.
• Improbable Weapon User: His gauntlets can stretch out like whips, which almost makes him look like a Rubber Man. This is also why his weapon isn't available for custom characters—it's really hard to render such deformations for every model. In the anime though, it is shown that only the gauntlets extend and move like whips.
• It Amused Me: In 2, most (if not all) of his actions are for his own amusement.
• Joker Immunity: In the second game, whenever Kotaro is fought in combat chances are he will simply retreat upon being beaten, regardless of context. They only two times he gets a dying animations are during the final scenarios of Yoshihiro and Musashi (and in the latter he still appears to be alive in the following FMV]].
• Large Ham: He even quotes Macbeth before dealing with Hideyoshi.
• The Man Behind the Man: He does this to Ieyasu, of all people, in the course of his 2 story mode.
• Neck Lift: He can grab an enemy and throw him away. At the end of 2 he grabs Hanzo like this before he can sneak attack him for hitting Ieyasu.
• Ninja: He is a ninja and leader of Fuuma ninja clan
• Obviously Evil: Subtle as a boulder to the face in 2. Subverted in later games after 2.
• Playing with Fire: He can summon and toss four blazing orbs of flame.
• Power Fist: He wears gauntlets in battle. He starts with standard ones and ends up with stylish gauntlets shaped like demonic masks.
• Recurring Boss:
  • In many other characters' story for 2, Kotaro apparently just loves fighting against your characters in any stage that take place after Hojou clan's defeat in Odawara. He appeared even if logically he (or whoever your enemy forces is) wouldn't fight for the same side! Playing Yukimura's story against Tokugawa in Ueda Castle? Kotaro fought you for Tokugawa (never mind that that's where his rival is). Playing Hanzo's story against Toyotomi in Osaka Castle? Kotaro fought you as Interloper. Playing Ginchiyo's story against Shimazu in Yamazaki? Kotaro fought you for Shimazu. Playing Magoichi's story where he ran away after assassinating Nobunaga? Kotaro fought you as Interloper. He just really loves fighting against you to bring more chaos!
  • Also applied in Warriors Orochi 1. In most stages, he fought for Orochi forces. There are few exceptions: Playing as Orochi-aligned Wei against Nene's Resistance in Ji Province? Kotaro fought you for the Resistance (and even allied with his rival, Hanzo). Playing as Orochi-aligned Wu against Mitsuhide's Resistance in Chang Shan? Kotaro fought you for the Resistance. Playing Shu story in the stage where Wei Yan pursuit Goemon and fought Goemon's miscreant cohorts along the way? Kotaro fought you for the miscreants! He even lampshades the ridiculousness of the last one:
  Kotaro: [annoyed tone] "Why would I fight for Goemon?" [sinister tone] "Ha, madness reigns!"
• Red Oni: To Hanzo's blue, even in their color schemes. Even his final weapon is an oni mask-shaped gauntlet.
• Ship Tease: with Kai in 3:XL.
• Token Evil Teammate: Among the Hojo., Thankfully, in 3 Ujiyasu keeps an eye on him.
• Troll: You just defeated the Hojo? Nope, just Kotaro's tricks. Oh, Nobunaga Oda came back to life! Hahah, no, it is just Kotaro messing with you
• The Rival: To Hanzo in most games. Also to Keiji exlusively in his story mode for 3:XL.
• Verbal Tic: If Kotaro is ever flanderized, he'll speak in nothing but synonyms for chaos.

Musashi Miyamoto

Voiced by: Hidehiko Kaneko (Japanese), Arron Wood (English, 2), Sam Riegel (English, Warriors Orochi)

Born: 1584
Died: June 13, 1645

The Greatest Swordsman in Japan, Musashi Miyamoto was specifically brought in to be the premiere swordsman of the game, as such the one and only Sword Saint of Japan gets an appropriate appearance as a nigh-invincible warrior. This version is a somewhat dialed back take on his pre-Kojirou unrefined battle-seeking youth.

Fights with two swords in a Daisho combo.

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• Ascended Extra: In the first game he was just one of the four Swordsmen bodyguards, and even then you could change his name. The sequel makes him playable with his own story mode.
• Arrogant Swordsman: Thinks he's a better swordsman than anybody he meets.
  Miyamoto Musashi: Only one can be the greatest; Guess who?
  (When selected as a character)
  Miyamoto Musashi: I am invincible! (or literally, "I am unmatched!" in the Japanense dub)
  (When he defeats an enemy officer)
  • It carries over to his relationship with his allies: while most of the other officers will praise the player when he defeats a certain number of enemies or defeat an enemy officer, he'll still be cocky and smug.
  Musashi: I could almost learn a thing or two from you. Almost.
• Badass Longcoat: With the Kanji for "The Strongest In the Land" (Tenka Musou, lit. Unmatched Under Heaven) on its back.
• Blade Across The Shoulder: His idle stance has him pointing the smaller sword at the opponent while resting the bigger sword across his shoulder, ready to deliver the first attack.
• Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: Sadly, he doesn't appear in 3. In 4, although he does appear, he has no playable appearance in the story mode and only appears as NPC. Even worse in 4-II, where he doesn't appear at all in the Story Mode while Okuni and Goemon got playable appearance in Gracia's Story and a DLC stage, respectively.
• Early-Bird Cameo: He was supposed to appear in the first game as a playable character. Instead he can be selected as a "Kengou" type bodyguard along with Kojiro, Munenori and Tadaaki ^note  all famous swordsmen of the time. You can also find and equip the scrolls of his historical counterpart's 'Book of Five Rings' to make some of your elemental attacks randomly 1-hit KO mooks.
• Expy: Possibly not intentional, but he bears an extremely similar resemblance to Heishiro Mitsurugi's default appearance in Soul Blade
• Foil/Red Oni, Blue Oni: Naturally, as judged by their brief encounters in the fourth game's Chronicle Mode, both him and Munenori Yagyuu are sword saints who apparently in this series, refuse to use their swords to kill, but love a good fight in various ways. Musashi is no doubt arrogant and impulsive while being ready to fight at anytime, while Munenori is calm and relaxed as well as only drawing his sword when he deems it to be necessary.
  • Of course, he's also a foil to Kojirou; the former would rather protect and be showy with his sword skills, and the latter just wants to go on and kill for the hell of it.
  • Overall, tying in with the Arrogant Swordsman part above, he praises others for their technique more often in the crossovers.
  Musashi: Your form is excellent. (Or literally in Japanese: "Skipping out with good vibes, no?")
  (Warriors Orochi 3/Musou Orochi 2)
• Heroic BSoD: Suffers one after the defeat at Sekigahara, but eventually snaps out of it somewhat after saving some peasants from pirates. It takes the next battle after that to do the trick.
• Hidden Depths: While at first he appears as a very arrongant swordsman and nothing more, playing his story mode shows him as a compassionate man who's actually loyal to his lords and costantly doubts his skills, wanting to achieve greatness with his blades.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Despite his extreme arrogance giving a rather grating outward impression, he's a nice, good-natured man. He's flat-out honest in trying to master his sword in a way that doesn't involve killing and states he's still inexperienced in that field.
• Katanas Are Just Better: Subverted by his final weapon, which is composed of a huge oar-like suburitou (the weapon he used to kill Kojirou in Real Life) and a jitte-like sword (Musashi's father Munisai was a jitte master).
• Killing Intent: He shows off his mastery of this in one of his Chronicle Mode events. He can intercept a sneak attack with his eyes closed by sensing the attacker's, and can control his own well enough to scare off nearby animals if he wishes.
• Master Swordsman: Comes with the territory when you're the best swordsman there is of your time and age, period.
• "Not So Different" Remark: Does this to himself in 2, saying that in the end, even if he saved the villagers from the bandits, he's no different than them, being a strong person using his sword to slay weaker people.
• One-Man Army:
  • Easily one of the most powerful characters of all the games, along with Keiji and Tadakatsu. This is also the case in his dream stage, where you encounter most of the game's powerful characters and proceed to beat them up.
• Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: When you finish his dream stage.
  Miyamoto Musashi: I! Am! The! Greatest!
• The Rival: To Kojirou, despite Musashi not being as vocal about it as he is.
• Samurai Ponytail: Many portrayals of Musashi have this as an identifying trait; this series is no exception.
• Shockwave Stomp: Performs one for one for one of his special skills, which fills up musou much more on hit compared to all other attacks. Notably nerfed in 4 since it used to even fill up Musou on its own.
  • In Warriors Orochi 3 however, his new Type Action evolves into him sword planting his shorter sword into the ground for a quake that lifts him high into the air, along with:
• Sword Beam: This move being the finisher to the said Type Action. He also gains a spinning double-succession variation for his midair version. It becomes a lot more apparent in his new moveset for 4 (his new C5 attack), and for his new Musou Attack finisher.
• Status Buff: Gains one for his original C1-EX-Special Type Action in Warriors Orochi 1 and 2.
• Undying Loyalty: Somewhat in his story mode for 2, to Toyotomi clan and the other loyalist (such as even Kiyomasa of all people who is already has his own Undying Loyalty for Toyotomi). Musashi more or less started as mercenary, but most of his story mode revolved around his servitude for Hideyori's opposing Tokugawa shogunate.
• Walking the Earth: and learning how to be a better swordsman; culminates in deciding to protect people with his swords instead of killing them.
• Worthy Opponent: Considers Kojirou one.
• You Are Not Alone: Said this to Hideyori when Musashi rescued him from enemy ambush in his final story stage.
• Your Mom: In 2: Empires, his taunt is “Hey, your mama’s so fat, she’s got her own daimyo!”

Introduced in Empires

Katsuie Shibata

Voiced by: Eiji Takemoto (Japanese), Paul Kannaspuro (English, 2), David Lodge (English, 3)

Born: 1522
Died: June 14, 1583

A veteran retainer of the Oda clan, Katsuie wonders if an old-fashioned curmudgeon like him is even relevant anymore in the new era.

He wields a spear in Samurai Warriors 1-Samurai Warriors 2: Empires, and two axes in later games.

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• Arranged Marriage: With Oichi after Nagamasa's death. Worth remembering that in Real Life they were engaged to each other before she was married to Nagamasa to secure an alliance between the Oda and the Azai.
• Arrogant Kung-Fu Guy: Katsuie tends to be very conceited and arrogant, expressing overconfidence in his skills and treating even his allies with contempt (his rescue sentence most of the time is a "I didn't ask for your help!"). When he becomes playable he still retain some of his arrogance, even with his calmer, cooler character.
  Katsuie: "Another pathetic excuse for a warrior."
• Ascended Extra: From a Bodyguard in 2 to a playable character in '2:XL'. And before that, he was a generic officer in the first game.
• Badass Boast: In Warriors Orochi:
  Katsuie: "You pathetic gutter trash; You couldn't outfight my corpse!"
• Better to Die than Be Killed: His ending in 2:XL consists of him setting his castle on fire as he stays within.
• Boisterous Bruiser: His first portrait. He calms down considerably later. Originally was a Power-type character in Warriors Orochi 2.
  • Genius Bruiser: But now as he's portrayed, he can be quite smart, yet his main strategy is "attacking the enemy in front of you". He's also now a Technique-type in Warriors Orochi 3 instead.
• Brutal Honesty: His behavior towards Oichi after Nagamasa's demise. With a little of Pet the Dog added.
• Characterization Marches On: When he was NPC, Katsuie is a less-than bright brutish general (with some soft sides on Oichi). But when he becomes playable, he becomes a calmer mentor-figure for Toshiie, and that portrayal has stuck for his future appearances.
• Dual Wielding: from XL onward, he uses dual identical axes, each almost as large as him.
• Dumbass No More: In the first game, Katsuie's not very brilliant and quite arrogant, which also nets him getting called out by Kenshin for grasping the Idiot Ball when he falls for the latter's flood attack and fails to realize it was a trap. When he becomes playable he's much more level-headed and is shown to be much smarter, in spite of his straighforward strategies.
• Expy: As noted above (see under Toshiie), he shares many traits with another Takeda Shingen.
• Graceful Loser: For all his arrogance and brutality, when he's killed in 2 he tends to compliment his opponent and, if slain by Nagamasa, tells him to take care of Oichi.
• Having a Blast: In '2:XL' and onwards, one of his special skills allows him to create explosions around himself whenever he attacks, breaking down enemy defenses and damaging them. Often seen as a Game-Breaker, until it was revised since 3.
  • Also shows this in a few other moves of his, such as his new R1 Type Action in Warriors Orochi 3.
• My Master, Right or Wrong: Towards Nobunaga.
• Pet the Dog: His overall relationship with Oichi. He may not be as handsome as Nagamasa, but has a good heart nevertheless.
• Precision-Guided Boomerang: He can chuck his axes a fair distance via his C1, and they can often hit guarding enemies in the back if aimed well.
• The Rival: To Hideyoshi.
• Set Right What Once Went Wrong: In his Gaiden stage he arrives at Honnouji just in time to save Nohime, Ranmaru and Nobunaga, eventually killing Mitsuhide.
• Wrestler in All of Us: His grapple move allows him to suplex enemies and do other similar tricks. Has one in his old C5 and one of his old special skills.
• Zen Survivor: Katsuie is so politically apathetic that he's fine with going down with his castle once it becomes obvious to him that his era has passed.

Kojirō Sasaki

Voiced by: Yuji Ueda (Japanese), Antoine Yared (English, 2), Brian Beacock (English, Warriors Orochi 2)

Born: 1585
Died: April 13, 1612

Sasaki Kojirou is a skillful yet creepy swordsman who goes around killing people For the Evulz and is obsessed with giving Musashi a beautiful end.

Kojirō possesses a very long katana and can summon huge blades from the nether.

---

• Abhorrent Admirer: To Ginchiyo Tachibana in 2:XL.
• Adaptational Villainy: While historical records are foggy and Kojiro generally is portrayed as villainous or antagonistic, it's unlikely he wandered Japan cutting people to shreds merely for shit and giggles.
• Ascended Extra: From a generic bodyguard in 1 to a unique NPC and bodyguard in 2, to a Playable Character in 2:Empires and then on.
• Ax-Crazy: He is dangerously insane and cuts people to shreds merely for shits and giggles. In his debut in Musashi's campaign he even casually wanders Sekigahara and murders officers of both factions just because he could.
• Badass Longcoat: Red with a gold trim.
• BFS: His weapon is his signature Drying Pole nodachi. He also has his two massive broadswords.
  • Also slashes with an astral projection version of it as his R1 Type Action in Warriors Orochi 3.
• Blood Knight: He enjoys killing a little too much.
• Casting a Shadow: Gives off this vibe somewhat from his attacks; much more apparent with the new special effects on them in the fourth game.
• Counter-Attack: The signature special skill version of this technique turns into this in the fourth game.
• Dude Looks Like a Lady: Not as bad as Ranmaru, but still...
• Eerie Pale-Skinned Brunette: He has almost-literally white skin.
• Evil Weapon: Implied by his weapon set, which allows him to summon extradimensional giant swords out of thin air. In Musou Orochi Z, Benkei downright calls his weapon a "Youto" (a Japanese term for a cursed/possessed blade).
• Expy: He has been compared to Zhang He of Dynasty Warriors, albeit far less effeminate and more Ax-Crazy.
• For the Evulz: The real reason why he decides to help the peasants against the pillaging raiders in his story mode. But at the same time, due to him being a Blood Knight, he REALLY seems to hate it when people are "strong only in name".
• Freudian Excuse: However, his fourth game's chronicle mode gives it a more sad take on why he wanted to be a strong swordsman (with a bit of killing) in the first place; he used to be young lord of Kyuushuu until his family was ruined and killed, and Kojirou eventually changed his identity and started to walk his swordsman's way just to forget all of the pain (and also being uninterested in trying to bring back his clan through rebellion). The thing that hinted at his ties to such a past was his particular-style of swordsmanship that Munenori seemed to take note of.
• Guyliner: Has pale makeup and wears dark red lipstick. According to an optional dialogue line, he think it's fitting going to battle with your funeral makeup on.
• Hyperspace Arsenal: His two hidden swords pop out of thin air when he uses a majority of his charge attacks (or his dash attack and a few others). In this case, it's actually quite literal.
• Invisibility: Kojirou can use a prior special skill to become invisible and deliver deadly sneak attacks. He also had this has his C9 attack, only it was reworked in 4.
• Just Between You and Me: In Kyouto, Kojirou reveals the plans of the Tokugawa to Musashi; namely, that they intend to frame Hideyori. He does this purely so he can have a 'good' reason to cut Musashi down.
• Master Swordsman: Rivals Musashi as one of the best swordsmen in the land.
• Meaningless Villain Victory: He finally manages to kill Musashi at the end of his story mode. But by doing so, he loses possibly the only one who could ever match him. His expression seems to indicate this.
• Mind over Matter: How he moves his two hidden swords.
• My God, What Have I Done?: He seriously freaks out after he finally kills Musashi in his Story Mode.
• Neck Lift: A pseudo-version with his C6, where he reaches at his foe with his free hand to rip out their insides, healing his HP for a hefty amount; no longer counts as an "actual grab" in the fourth game (it levitates the target instead while still working like a grab overall) and no longer heals.
• No Celebrities Were Harmed: Has an alternate costume which make him look suspiciously like Michael Jackson.
• No One Could Survive That!: Somehow, in his own story mode, he survives being cut down by Musashi at Ganryuujima.
• Oddly Shaped Sword: His nodachi are rather normal, his extradimensional broadswords, on the other hand, are massive crooked metal monstrosities with sharp spikes.
• One-Man Army: In his Dream Stage both him and Musashi take on the armies of Hideyoshi and Katsuie, and later the Oda army. All by themselves.
• The Only One Allowed to Defeat You: How he sees himself towards Musashi. He probably believes the opposite as well.
• Psycho for Hire: For Ieyasu, who doesn't seem concerned about Kojirou's quirks as long as he does his job.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: He likes to throw these around like they're candy in his story mode for 2:XL. And it's actually quite rude that he even gives this to those who are obviously not in the same power level as him.
• The Rival: To Musashi.
• Samurai Ponytail: His hairstyle, though it's the more slender design.
• Signature Move: His Tsubame Gaeshi (Swallow Return) technique. Apparently, he has many variations of it where he shouts it "somewhat randomly" during specific attacks; it may as well be a direct nod to its endless interpretations in folklore since no one has seen the actual technique itself (though the most common variation is a back-and-forth-returning-slash version).
• Slice-and-Dice Swordsmanship: His style of swordsmanship in this portrayal of him is somewhat odd-yet-effective with a nodachi of all weapons; Kojirou is basically a fencer, holding the sword with a single extended arm to deliver multiple thrusts and rarely by slashing.
• Spam Attack: The few ending blows in his normal attack chain, and his Musou Attack being a wad of horizontal lightning-fast Tsubame Gaeshi that fire out Razor Winds at blazing speeds.
• Spared By Adaptation: In his story for 2:XL, he survived his defeat in Ganryujima. Historically, that's where he died.
• Spin Attack: Some of his attacks simply involve summoning his broadswords and spin them like propellers around himself.
• Time Stands Still: Somehow he can do this in a restricted area in front of him during the first part of his C8, but it's no longer the case in both Warriors Orochi 3 and the fourth game.
• Took a Level in Kindness: Similar with Kotaro, Kojiro is more humanized in 4. He even fought for the outnumbered Western Army in final/dream stage of Shimazu's story because he said it was fun.
• Wild Card: Nominally he's on the Tokugawa side, but in his debut in Musashi's story mode he's seen murdering officers from both sides on the battlefield.

Introduced in Xtreme Legends

Toshiie Maeda

Voiced by: Katsuyuki Konishi (Japanese), Dan Jeannotte (English, 2), Dave B. Mitchell (English, 3), Bryan Massey (English, 2015 Anime)

Born: January 15, 1538
Died: April 27, 1599

Retainer of the Oda clan and good friends with Hideyoshi, considers Shibata Katsuie to be his mentor. He's also the Poster boy for Samurai Warriors 2 Xtreme Legends.

Uses a sword and two spears to fight.

---

• Animal Motifs: The Dog, opposed to Hideyoshi's monkey. (It's a Japanese "Just So" Story.) Also, if you know his history well, you know that "Inuchiyo" is his childhood nickname. "Inu" means "dog" in Japanese.
• Anime Hair: Not as bad as his nephew's, but it's still there.
• Ascended Extra: Before the expansion of 2 he was just a generic Oda officer, often seen with Katsuie and playing an extra role in the battle of Shizugatake (where Hideyoshi can try to "persuade" him to ditch the battle sooner).
• Bling-Bling-BANG!: His armor in Xtreme Legends is gilded.
• Calling the Old Man Out: Gives Hideyoshi a sound thrashing after Hideyoshi defeats Katsuie in battle.
• Cool Uncle: Downplayed to Keiji. Likely because their historical-selves are aloof to each other. This is played up a bit more in 4, thankfully.
• Death of a Thousand Cuts: His Musou attack has him stabbing his spears at machinegun-speed right in front of him.
• Demoted to Extra: He has a story mode only in the expansion games of 2 and 3.
• Expy: His two spears, mannerism and relationship with Katsuie render him similar to another Yukimura.
• Happily Married: with his yet-to-appear wife Matsu. Implied with his dialogue to Hideyoshi in 3:Empires. The trope itself is really true to history, anyway. In 4, this is used when Toshiie is able to resist on Hideyoshi and Magoichi's offer to hit on ladies in a bar after battle, lucky him this spares him from Nene's wrath against two-timers in general.
• I Have Many Names: In the Japanese script he will occasionally refers to himself as "Yari no Mataza" (Mataza of the Spear, one of his historical names).
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: with Hideyoshi. In fact, he's the only one among Hideyoshi's retainers who can call him by name without any honorific due to their closeness.
• Hidden Depths: Despite his hot-blooded exterior and eager-self, Toshiie is well known for being quite down-to-earth and one of Hideyoshi's more friendlier vassals.
• Improbable Use of a Weapon: Only the Rule of Cool allows him to toss his spears as boomerangs at the same time.
• Innocently Insensitive: In 4, he cheerfully exclaims that they will crush the Saitou clan, forgetting that his lord's wife (Nouhime) was from the Saitou. This prompts Mitsuhide to shush him up.
• Light 'em Up: His True Musou attacks summons a rain of light beams on his foes.
• Multi-Melee Master: Relies mainly on his sword, but also uses two spears for his charge attacks.
• Noodle Incident: Apparently, before Okehazama, he did something that angered Nobunaga so much that Nobunaga banished him from the Oda Clan. Nobunaga forgives him and welcomes him back to the Oda after Okehazama under the pleading of Katsuie, Hideyoshi, and Keiji.
• Overshadowed by Awesome: In 4, it's made clear that he believes Keiji is better fighter than him.
• Shock and Awe: Has many thunder-related charged attacks.
• Say My Name: Expecially after his fourth and fifth scenarios.
  Toshiie:" KATSUIIIE!!!!"
• Serrated Blade of Pain: Subverted, while his main sword has a noticeable spiked edge, Toshiie isn't an evil man, disregarding his loyalty to Nobunaga and later Hideyoshi.
• "Well Done, Son" Guy: To Katsuie.
• "X" Marks the Hero: The Spears across his back forms an "X", and he's basically the poster boy of 2:XL

Motochika Chōsokabe

Voiced by: Ryōtarō Okiayu (Japanese), Bob Aubry (English, 2), Wally Wingert (English, 3)

Born: 1539
Died: July 11, 1599

Lord and hero of Tosa, as well as the daimyo of Shikoku. Motochika is a rebellious spirit known for never giving up; he 'resists until the very end.' In addition, he remarks often that he nevers wants to be forgotten by history, but at the same time is very big on moving forward.

In SW2: XL, he supports the Toyotomi and then the Western Army. Much of his story is focused on events concerning his son Nobuchika and Yoshihiro, and learning to deal with loss. He is shown to have a great liking for Ieyasu despite the man always being the enemy, and is profoundly affected by the events of Sekigahara.

In the third game, however, his story is very different. Set earlier in the era, it is focused almost entirely on Motochika's friendship with and support of Akechi Mitsuhide, and he often states that he acts at the soft-hearted Mitsuhide's 'strength.'

Motochika is a master musician who plays the shamisen... and also uses it as a weapon. This is achieved by utilising it as a club or playing certain notes on it to summon energy or water.

---

• A Friend in Need: This is basically his whole 3 story mode, the friend in need being Mitsuhide.
• Absurdly Youthful Father: His generic-faced son looks older than he does.
• Adaptational Attractiveness: Though necessarily ugly, his generic design before becoming a playable is a middle-aged man. Now as playable character, look at his picture above.
• Animal Motifs: He's known as 'the Bat,' a nickname courtesy of Nobunaga even historically.
• Ascended Extra: He was a generic officer in 2, usually appeared in Kyushu and Odawara. He also appeared as generic daimyo in 2:Empires.
• Berserk Button: The concepts of "destiny" and "fate" greatly discomfort him. The mere mention of "destiny" by Sima Shi in Warriors Orochi 3 was enough to make Motochika refuse to leave him alone until Shi admitted that destiny could be fought.
• Characterization Marches On/Early-Installment Weirdness: His characterization from his first playable appearance in 2:XL is quite.... different than his characterization in 3 and 4. Specifically, he had slightly darker personality in 2:XL. Also, he wasn't Mitsuhide's friend.
• Dark Is Not Evil: Despite being nicknamed "the Bat" and being quite gloomy, he's not a bad guy at all. He is far less gloomy in 3, although he does show a morally ambiguous side. For example in Kizugawa, upon confronting Magoichi who calls him out for letting Nobunaga execute rebels who already surrendered, Motochika flatly responds that sympathy isn't exactly something he needs to have in a time of war.
• Death by Adaptation: He passed away after Yamazaki for 3 during Mitsuhide's story and Gracia's story for 3:XL.
• Facial Markings: He has a tattoo on the right side of his face.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Mitsuhide in 3 and 4.
• Holding Hands: Connected to the example in Take My Hand!, Motochika's own words are: "I will not let go of this hand".
• Honorary Uncle: Appears to play this role for Gracia in 3:XL thanks to his friendship with the girl's father.
• Hotter and Sexier: Got a complete makeover from a skinny guy in 2 to show off the sexy chest in 3 onward. His 3 redesign and more association with marine also reminds of another Motochika.
• Killed Offscreen: in 4 his death is implied to have happened sometime prior Sekigahara; as Koshosho is shown to be fighting seemingly in his memory, to carry on his spirit of rebellion.
• Making a Splash: His Ultimate Musou summons jets of water from the ground, and a few of his charge attacks allows him to toss huge orbs of water at his foes.
• Musical Assassin: His weapon is shamisen which he can conjure energy or water while playing notes.
• Outliving One's Offspring: One of his sons, Nobuchika, was killed in Battle of Kyushu.
• Platonic Life-Partners: Despite his partner's nature, Koshoushou began to be genuinely fascinated with Motochika thanks to his rebellious spirit. And unlike what she did before to many other men before Motochika, Koshoushou sticks with Motochika and remains loyal to him for the rest of his life.
• Rebellious Spirit: His persona in this series is dubbed as such.
• Samurai Ponytail: Makes a glorious return in 4.
• Shockwave Stomp: His R1 Type Action in Warriors Orochi 3, where after a noteworthy jam session, he hops a few times in excitement and lets loose a launching Ground Pound.
• Signature Instrument: The shamisen which is also his weapon. He also plays with it during cutscenes.
• Roaring Rampage of Revenge: After his son Nobuchika performs a Heroic Sacrifice in Kyushu during 2. However, he decides to spare Yoshihiro's life.
• Stuff Blowing Up: He can release purple sound bubbles that he detonates with the shamisen.
• Take My Hand!: In Motochika's 3 ending he uses this to make a point of his support to Mitsuhide. Motochika fakes falling off a balcony, and Mitsuhide actually falls off trying to catch him. At this point Motochika grabs Mitsuhide by the hand, makes his point, and pulls Mitsuhide back up.
• Verbal Tic: Appears to be obsessed with being remembered, and often speaks of resistance and rebellion. He also utilises metaphors related to water and music quite frequently.
  "So be it." (or in Japanese: "Joutou.")
• Visual Kei: His character design is based from this style which explains his tattoos, his wild hairstyle, his clothes, his weapon and his rebellious spirit
• Vocal Dissonance: A man with fair features, but one of the deepest voices in the series.

Gracia

Voiced by: Jun Shikano (Japanese), Jasamine White-Gluz (English)

Born: 1563
Died: August 25, 1600

Daughter of Akechi Mitsuhide. A young girl who ran away from home to learn more about the West. First featured in Samurai Warriors 2: Xtreme Legends, she returns for Samurai Warriors 3: Xtreme Legends.

Gracia uses her fists enhanced by bracelets for a weapon, but her magic is her strong suit.

---

• Action Girl: Keep in mind that she fights bare-handed. The bracelets amplify her strength.
• Adaptational Angst Downgrade: In history, Gracia had a sad life where she was condemned as "the traitor's daughter" and remained in confinement for the rest of her life. She also secretly converted to Christianity despite Hideyoshi outlawing the religion and executing those who went against it. Her death is regarded as a tragedy where she had her husband's retainer kill her because she refuses to commit suicide which goes against her Christian faith. In games, Gracia is portrayed to have a positive outlook on life and prefers to uphold her late father's legacy rather than linger on his death. None of the characters were bothered about her being Mitsuhide's daughter while some became good friends with her. Likewise, she survives her historical death thanks to her friends and her conviction to fight.
• All-Loving Hero: Especially in her debut, though many other characters sees her as naive for this.
• Affectionate Nickname: Koshosho calls her "little one".
• Amplifier Artifact: Her bracelets are basically strengthening her fists, which is why a punch of seemingly harmless little girl like her can do some damage.
• Barrier Warrior: A consistent contender on her list of special abilities is invoking a barrier of some sort.
  • Warriors Orochi 2's version of it made of 3 small green diamonds which hurt any enemy who gets close to her.
• Beam Spam: Her musou, which you probably won't see much of given the stupidly powerful special attacks she has.

• Battle Couple: In the final stage for her 3:XL story with her unfortunately-still-generic husband, Tadaoki.
• Bound and Gagged: Happens off-screen to her in Hisahide's final story stage in 4-II. Once you defeat her, Hisahide orders his men to "tied her up and put her in the box".
• Boyish Short Hair: Averted in 2 and 3. Her hair is short, but she's still quite feminine.
• Break the Cutie: Often becomes this particularly in 3:XL ever since her father died.
• Calling the Old Man Out: In 2:XL she calls out Hideyoshi on siding against his former best friend Magoichi.
• Characterization Marches On: Compared to the previous games, she's much less naive and is more than willing to fight her enemies in 4. And depending on how you see this, she may also given an Adaptational Personality Change as she asks Koshoushou to teach her how to manipulate men. Also, she's not too saddened with her father's death and fairly quickly in moving on with her life.
• The Cutie: Perhaps the most prevalent example in this series.
• Daddy's Girl: In the games after Samurai Warriors 2.
• Disappeared Dad: Averted if you actually play her story mode: She and Mitsuhide instantly recognize each other on the battlefield, and during the Osaka Bay battle, she's concerned with her father's presence among the Oda troops. Also in the Saika Village, when Mitsuhide is defeated he says that there will be always a "home" for her if she returns. This is a plot point in her 3:XL story.
• Disney Death: In Ranmaru's story for 3:XL. Thankfully, he rescued her before she died in the burning temple of Honnouji.
• Does Not Understand Sarcasm: Lampshaded by Noh during their first meet in Osaka Bay.
• Elegant Gothic Lolita: Tends to dress in designs that are oddly anachronistic and very typical of Western wear, possibly to reflect aspects of the historical Gracia (see below).
• Even the Girls Want Her
  • In her dream stage for SW2XL, she manages to recruit other women to allied with her to punish Mago together. Sure, the other women may have their own motivation for Revenge on Magoichi, but it still takes some guts for a seemingly harmless young girl like Gracia to befriend ones like Tachibana Ginchiyo, Inahime, and especially Nouhime. Additionally, Okuni is also a sarcastic woman in that game. Only Oichi is sensible enough to be Gracia's friend at that time.
  • In the crossover, after the Shu army led by Xingcai and Ina saved her and her father, she says a very polite gratitude who managed to impress one random female character from Dynasty Warriors (plus Nu Wa, Himiko, and Da Ji) who later remarks either her beauty or her politeness. Even Zhenji and Zhurong who usually cocky, they become soft towards the little girl. And if it's Da Ji, that evil fox lady suddenly becomes Tsundere.
• Fairy Tale Wedding Dress: One of her DLC outfits in 4.
• Fanservice Pack: Is seen with Modesty Towel in a Furo Scene for 4-II.
• Fille Fatale: She shows interest in becoming one in 4 after meeting Koshoushou and frequently asks to be taught how to manipulate men. Played for Laughs in 4-II where she attempts to act flirty towards enemy officers like Koshosho did... only for the officer she hit on to act confused and ask if she's feeling ok.
• Fiery Redhead: She appears as redheaded, probably to emphasize her westernized image (as she converted into Christian in history), and she's definitely fiery and energetic.
• Girlish Pigtails: Possesses these in her design 4.
• Graceful Ladies Like Purple: Starting from the third game onward, her costumes feature a lot of purples.
• He Is Not My Boyfriend: Her response when Noh mocked her as Magoichi's girlfriend.
• Hey, You!: She's never addressed by her name (other than by narrator) due to the fact that "Gracia" is her Christian name and that aspect is excluded from the game. So, other characters tend to address her as Mitsuhide's daughter, girl, little one, etc.
• Historical Badass Upgrade: Her historical counterpart is just a decent normal person, not a warrior in the frontlines or has no fighting experience whatsoever, whilst this incarnation of Gracia is a capable fighter in her own right.
• Innocently Insensitive: In her SW2XL's dream stage, she doesn't seem to realize that considering Noh as her own mother is not very wise idea. Lucky for her, it's not enough to push Noh's Berserk Button, although the older woman shows a little bit of Tranquil Fury.
• Intergenerational Friendship: Downplayed with Chacha, who was historically 6 years younger than Gracia. Amusingly, Gracia is the less mature of the two.
• Japanese Christian: Strangely omitted as historically Gracia was born Akechi Tama, but later baptized by her maid. The only references to it were her clothing and one of her Musou attack which has her doing a prayer position.
• Japanese Pronouns: She is the only woman in the cast to use warawa, an outdated feminine pronoun which indicates highborn status. Lampshaded by Koshosho in 4, who teasingly calls her "warawa-chan".
• Lady of Adventure: See Walking the Earth below.
• Lethal Joke Character: Her basic attacks are weak, but she makes up for it with her special attacks. Her horseback attacks are powerful enough to rival Pre-DW6!Ma Chao.
• Meido: Her alternate outfit in Warriors Orochi 2.
• Missing Mom: While her mother, Hirokohime, is yet to be seen, Gracia briefly mentions her in Chronicles. Mitsuhide also makes reference about his wife in SW2:Empires. This wife is much likely Gracia's mother, since historically he is only Happily Married with Hirokohime despite having another, first wife (which is only Arranged Marriage without any happiness).
• Morality Pet: Becomes one for Ranmaru in 3:XL, to the point that he risks his life to save her from the burning Honnoji temple.
  • Also naturally thanks to her innocence, naivety, and The Power of Friendship, she often becomes this for several other characters. Namely Magoichi in 2:XL and 3:XL (although in the latter, their relationship is toned down a bit compared to the previous game). Kai and Nene who help her escape from Western army. Later in Sekigahara, thanks to Nene's connection and influence, Masanori, Hideaki, and several other officers also joined the Akechi rank to put an end on Battle of Sekigahara together.
  • In 4, she's also this to Koshoushou.
  • Surprisingly in Warriors Orochi 3 becomes one for Sima Yi. It helps that both of their voice actors were actually married in Real Life.
• Naïve Everygirl: Especially in her debut game, though sometimes she borders with Innocently Insensitive, especially around Ieyasu during Mikatagahara and Hideyoshi during both the battle of Osaka Bay and the assault on Saiga Village.
• Nice Girl: Too nice.
• The Nicknamer: She tends to nickname everyone when she first meets them. Most characters simply get their names shortened (such as "Mago" for Magoichi, "Ran" for Ranmaru, or "Sako" for Sakon), whereas others get hilarious nicknames: Motochika becomes 'Chop-socks' (based on his surname Chosokabe) and Koshoushou becomes 'Kosher-show'.

• Ojou: Lady of the Akechi and then the Hosokawa Clan.
• The Pollyanna: Most of the time, Gracia manages to recover surprisingly well from the horrible events befalling her.
• The Power of Friendship: Gracia is all about her pals.
• Rebellious Princess: Mitsuhide wishes she could just stay home and wait till dad comes home. Gracia would rather just hide in a box and join up in battle, much to Mitsuhide's concerns.
• Say My Name: "Mago! Mago! Mago!" and so on.
• Spared by the Adaptation: Her historical Suicide by Cop has been always omitted from the games. Gracia's story always seems to discuss how she survived this incident. In 2:XL, she encourages the Hosokawa clan's retainers to fight the Western Army back. In 3:XL, she escapes with the help from Kai, Nene, and ultimately the Not Quite Dead Mitsuhide. In 4-II, she escapes with the help from Koshosho in the latter's story, and all the female characters in her own story. In Spirit of Sanada she's helped by Chacha.
• This Is Unforgivable!: A more or less funny example in her dream stage once she realized Mago has tricked and used her.
• Token Wholesome: One of the few female characters who wear a modest outfit. Subverted with her alternate costumes, as she can wear Bao Sanniang's outfit in Warriors Orochi 3, while her DLC costume from 4-II has her dress as an extremely scantily-clad demon.
• True Blue Femininity: One of her DLC outfits in 4.
• Verbal Tic: Tends to add "nano ja!" to the end of just about everything she says.
• Walking the Earth: Her stories usually start when she wants to see the world and doesn't want to live a sheltered life.
• Womanchild: One DLC stage in 4 is about her father worrying that she never seems to mature as she grows older.

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