Is Japanese good against Malians?

Japanese wins 54% of 5,550 ranked games against Malians (Japanese is favored).

How do I beat Malians as Japanese?

Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine Raid the cattle and Ranches; cattle are slow and Ranches are wood Against Sofa and Archers: Spearmen and Crossbows

When does Malians attack?

4:55 — Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins · 10:30 — 20 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30 · 12:15 — Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Japanese vs Malians: how to win the matchup

Playing Japanese against Malians, you win 54% of ranked 1v1 games (5,550 games). Here is how to beat Malians, what they do and when.

Japanese is favoredJapanese guide Malians guide Malians vs Japanese

Win rate by rank

bronze
64.8%
284
silver
56%
686
gold
53.3%
2,208
platinum
54.8%
1,252
diamond
50.2%
627
conqueror
53.3%
386

How to beat Malians

Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine
Raid the cattle and Ranches; cattle are slow and Ranches are wood
Against Sofa and Archers: Spearmen and Crossbows
Against Javelins: Horsemen and Knights. Against Musofadi: Archers
Scout: second Pit Mine, Stable count, Mills making cattle, second TC

Units that work against Malians: Spearmen · Crossbowmen · Horsemen · Knights · Archers

When Malians hits

4:55Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins
10:3020 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30
12:15Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Japanese strengths to lean on

Safe, strong economy: Kura makes free farms and the Daimyo boosts farms
Mounted Samurai are very strong in Castle
Yumi Ashigaru are cheap and fast, and Bannermen give a damage aura
The Shinobi scouts, sabotages and assassinates
Best win rate in this group

Japanese weaknesses Malians can punish

Fast Castle leaves him with few units between 5:40 and 8:00
Deflective Armor got nerfed (15-second cooldown)
Weak against Macedonian Dynasty, Ayyubids and Golden Horde

Strongest Castle Age armies (simulator)

Japanese: Veteran Samurai + Veteran Spearman (0.8)
Malians: Veteran Mansa Musofadi Warrior (0.53)

FAQ

Is Japanese good against Malians?: Japanese wins 54% of 5,550 ranked games against Malians (Japanese is favored).
How do I beat Malians as Japanese?: Hit the Pit Mine and the houses around it, that's the gold engine Raid the cattle and Ranches; cattle are slow and Ranches are wood Against Sofa and Archers: Spearmen and Crossbows
When does Malians attack?: 4:55 — Feudal: Stable and Sofa raids, or Donso and Javelins · 10:30 — 20 Sofa and 12 Archers with upgrades at 10:30 · 12:15 — Castle: lots of Archers and Sofa, raiding and expanding

Data from the open game data (aoe4world/data), patch 16.2.10884, public ranked statistics, and Layla Coach's battle simulator. Layla Coach is an independent tool, not affiliated with Microsoft, Relic Entertainment or World's Edge.