How to win at kibasen (mounted cavalry battles). A thorough guide to team assignments, horse formation, and tactics.

Be sure to speak up/reach out.

This may be the most basic aspect of a cavalry battle—so basic it might not even count as a “tip”—but calling out to each other is essential.

In particular, if an opponent gets around behind your horse, your chances of losing go way up, so the rider should keep a close watch on the surroundings and communicate the situation to the carriers.

It’s also good for the rider to tell the carriers which opponent to target and the overall plan of attack.

Meanwhile, the carriers should call out when they move to synchronize their actions, and when grappling with the opposing horse, they should keep communicating—whether to push or pull—so they can move steadily and in sync.

The jockey doesn’t lower his hands.

The second tip for cavalry battles is about the rider’s basic posture.

In cavalry battles, being attacked from above puts you at a serious disadvantage, so it’s important for the rider to keep both hands raised rather than lowered.

By keeping your arms up, you can maintain a constant guard and also switch to offense quickly.

Make sure to thoroughly adopt this as the fundamental stance for cavalry battles.

Divide roles between fast horses and tall horses

In team matches, the standard tactic is to build two types of mounts—one fast and one tall—and divide roles between them as you attack.

Earlier, we recommended arranging your riders to create both a tall mount and a fast mount; this directly connects to team match strategy.

First, the fast mount acts as a decoy, moving around to scatter the opposing team’s riders.

Then, the tall mount targets any rider left isolated and goes in to snatch their headband or cap.

Additionally, if you pair a fast mount with a tall mount and use the duo to pincer an opponent who’s become separated, your win rate will improve even more.

By maintaining a consistent strategy—from how you build your mounts to how you maneuver during the match—you should be able to steer the game to your advantage.

Aim for a mounted opponent whose horse is shorter than your own

If you’re unsure which mounted team to attack during a match, aim for one that’s shorter than yours.

This strategy is based on the premise of cavalry battles that attacking from above gives you an advantage.

Targeting a smaller team lets you strike from above, increasing your chances of grabbing their headband or hat.

It might sound a bit underhanded, but sometimes you have to get gritty to win!

Does not work on its own

From here, I’ll introduce the playstyle tips you should keep in mind to avoid losing.

First, it’s important not to act alone.

If you’ve already mastered the basics of attacking, you may know this, but a lone cavalry unit is easy to target—such as getting pincered—and is much more likely to be defeated.

Therefore, it’s best to avoid spreading out and advance the match by coordinating closely with your fellow cavalry.

Don’t confront them head-on.

While there are exceptions in one-on-one matches, in team battles it’s generally safer to avoid head-on collisions with the opponent’s mounted players.

As mentioned in the initial strategy of pinching the opponent with two riders, the key in team play is to coordinate with your teammates to attack together.

If you’re on a taller mount initiating the attack, approach from the opponent’s side or rear whenever possible and aim for their headband or hat!

Don’t leave an opening behind you.

Japanese school 🏃 Kibasen (cavalry battle) at an elementary school sports day

In a cavalry battle, attention tends to be focused forward, and since members other than the rider can’t look behind, it’s fair to say the horse’s weak point is its rear.

Therefore, no matter how heated the match gets, the rider should also keep an eye on the back and avoid creating openings.

If you notice an opposing mount approaching from behind, immediately call out to your team to change direction and avoid being attacked straight from the rear; this is recommended.