The Japanese Fast Castle (FC) strategy has emerged as a powerful approach, allowing players to secure early map control and transition smoothly into Castle Age with a solid economy and strong military options. This guide walks you through the modern FC build, focusing on the Bannerman and Mount of Samurai to create early pressure, defend efficiently, and capitalize on mid-game power spikes.

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Build Overview

• Goal: Fast Castle with early map presence and relic control.
• Core Units:
  • Bannerman for early defense and tempo control.
  • Mount of Samurai to secure relics and raid efficiently.
• Follow-Up Options:
  • Expand with a Second Town Center (TC) for eco boom.
  • Transition to aggression if the opponent is vulnerable.

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Step-by-Step Build Order

Dark Age (0:00–2:30)

Villager Allocation:

• Queue villagers and send the first 2 to stone, 1 to gold, and the rest to sheep/food.
• Rally new villagers to food until you hit 6–8 on food.
• Send your scout to explore and steal enemy sheep if possible.

Tips:

• Aim to return with sheep by the 2:30 mark to avoid food disruption.
• Place your Storehouse near wood but also with farming in mind for later transitions.

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Feudal Age Transition (~2:35–4:20)

Resource Prep:

• Collect 225 stone, then move stone villagers to wood.
• Maintain 5 on wood for infrastructure (Stable, Tower, Houses).

Build Sequence:

• Hit Feudal Age around 4:20.
• Use 2 villagers to build a Stable immediately.
• Queue your first Bannerman by 5:05.
• Build a Tower to defend critical areas (e.g., gold or forward positions).
• Construct Houses as needed to avoid population block.

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Castle Age Transition (~5:30–7:30)

Eco Layout:

• Aim for 16 villagers on food and 10 on gold.
• If sheep run low, use Mount of Samurai to scout or hunt.

Gameplay Focus:

• Use your Bannerman to absorb pressure and keep your opponent on the back foot.
• Prep a Mount of Samurai squad for relic collection and continued pressure.
• Prioritize Monastery or Shinto Shrine placement near relics.

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Castle Age Execution (Post-7:30)

Strategic Options:

• Booming:
  • If safe, drop a second TC near a woodline or gold mine.
  • Scale into a strong mid/late-game economy.
• Aggression:
  • If the opponent is vulnerable or passive, ramp up military production.
  • Pressure key locations with Mount of Samurai or Bugas (vs spears/crossbows).

Map Control:

• Secure and garrison relics with your Shinto Shrine.
• Avoid unnecessary stone investment—expand only when eco permits.

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Key Tips for Mastery

1. Don’t Over-Defend
   Keep your defense minimal but efficient—just enough to hit Castle Age cleanly without delays.
2. Scout Proactively
   Use early scouting to adjust: add towers or adapt your unit mix depending on your opponent’s civ and approach.
3. Resource Balance
   Shift from sheep to farms or berries when needed. Maintain a healthy gold/food balance for continuous production.
4. Preserve Your Hero Units
   The Bannerman and Mount of Samurai scale well—avoid reckless trades and use them for harassment or map pressure.

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Example Timeline Summary

Time	Action Summary
0:00	2 to stone, 1 to gold, rest to sheep
2:35	Feudal transition, 225 stone goal
4:20	Hit Feudal, build Stable
5:05	First Bannerman trained
7:30	Castle Age transition with strong eco base
8:00+	Build TC or prepare military pressure
9:00+	Relic collection and map control with Samurai

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Final Thoughts

The Japanese Fast Castle strategy delivers a powerful blend of speed, defense, and flexibility. By focusing on early map control and relic dominance, it allows you to set the pace of the game and transition into a strong mid-game position. Refine your timings, scout wisely, and adapt your follow-up based on what you encounter.

Have questions or want to share your own results? Drop a comment below and join the conversation!

Good luck, commander—and may your samurai reign supreme! 🏯⚔️