Armoured Ronin vs Ashigaru: Picking Test of Honour Metal Minis
By Sarissa Precision Ltd – Sarissa Precision Limited | Published: 2026-11-04
Category: Comparisons
Compare the Test of Honour Armoured Ronin and Ashigaru with Bows and Muskets on cards, role, and painting effort, so you can choose the right metal miniatures for your warband.
Quick answer
Choose the Armoured Ronin if you want a single dishonourable character with card support for underhanded play; choose Ashigaru with Bows and Muskets if you need four missile troops and trait cards to build a combined-arms core. Both are metal Test of Honour miniatures, so the real decision is role and card package, not material.
Single character vs missile unit: the core trade-off
The Armoured Ronin is one metal miniature with three cards (Recruitment, Skill, Dishonour). That package is built around a lone kanabō-wielding fighter who benefits from dishonourable deeds. The Ashigaru set gives you four metal miniatures (two bow, two musket) plus three Trait cards, so it adds numbers and ranged attacks rather than a single combat piece.
In practice, the Ronin asks you to commit points and table space to one model with card-driven tricks; the Ashigaru spread risk across four models and give you board control through shooting. Neither is a direct upgrade over the other—they fill different slots in a warband.
Card support changes how each option plays
The Ronin's Recruitment, Skill, and Dishonour cards are designed to help him get away with dishonourable deeds. That means his value depends on you actually using those cards, not just fielding the model. The Ashigaru's three Trait cards include options like Protect the Muskets, which helps archers and gunners work together. If you prefer straightforward shooting phases over card combos, the Ashigaru are easier to run.
Consider your existing deck: if you already lean on dishonour effects, the Ronin slots in naturally; if you are building a combined-arms force, the Ashigaru traits reward you for mixing bows and muskets.
Painting and modelling effort
The Ronin wears a mino (straw rain cloak) over his armour, which gives you a large textured surface to paint—rewarding for a character piece but slower than a uniform ashigaru body. The Ashigaru set includes both bows and muskets, so you get some pose and equipment variety across four models, but each figure is simpler than the Ronin's cloak-and-club silhouette. If you want one display-quality centrepiece, the Ronin is the pick; if you want a playable unit finished quickly, the Ashigaru are more efficient.
Trade-offs to weigh
- Model count and table presence: The Ronin is one model; the Ashigaru set is four. If you need to fill out a warband with bodies or threaten multiple lanes, the Ashigaru give more board coverage per purchase. Count your current model count before buying—one Ronin won't fix a shortage of activations.
- Card dependency: The Ronin's three cards are central to his dishonourable playstyle; the Ashigaru's three Trait cards enhance unit coordination. If you dislike card-driven tricks, the Ashigaru's straightforward shooting may suit you better. Check whether your local meta or playgroup uses the relevant card mechanics heavily.
- Assembly and painting time: The Ronin's mino cloak adds a large textured area that rewards careful painting but takes longer; the Ashigaru are simpler troops. Choose based on whether you want a character project or a unit ready for the table. If you have a tournament coming up, the Ashigaru are faster to finish.
Product facts
- Test of Honour - Armoured Ronin: Contains 1 Armoured Ronin metal miniature plus Recruitment, Skill, and Dishonour cards. The card package is part of the product, so budget list space for those cards, not just the model.
Test of Honour - Armoured Ronin - Test of Honour - Ashigaru with Bows and Muskets: Contains 2 Ashigaru with bows, 2 with muskets, and 3 Trait cards. You get a small missile unit out of one box, and the traits support mixing bows and muskets.
Test of Honour - Ashigaru with Bows and Muskets
Who should pick which
Best for
- Players who want a single dishonourable character with card tricks: Armoured Ronin
- Players building a combined-arms core with bows and muskets: Ashigaru with Bows and Muskets
Not for
- Anyone needing multiple models from one purchase: the Armoured Ronin (single model)
- Players who prefer purely card-combo characters over ranged units: the Ashigaru set
