If you've been playing for a while, you know that grabbing Himiko Evony is one of those milestones that really ups your ranged game. She's been around for a bit, but even with the constant stream of new generals hitting the tavern and special events, she remains a powerhouse for anyone looking to melt enemy ground troops from a distance.
Let's be real, Evony: The King's Return is a game of numbers and incremental gains. You're always looking for that extra 5% attack or that slight bump in HP to win a trade. Himiko isn't just a minor bump; she's a massive sledgehammer when she's built correctly. If you're wondering whether she's worth the gold and runestones, the short answer is yes—but you've got to know how to use her.
What Makes Himiko So Good?
At the heart of any general's value is their main skill, and Himiko's "Queen of Yamatai" is a monster. It boosts ranged troop attack by 35% and increases ranged troop HP and defense by 20% when she's leading the army. Those are solid base numbers. In the current meta, where everyone is beefing up their ground defense to soak up hits, having a high-attack ranged general is the only way to break through.
What's interesting about Himiko is her versatility. While some generals are strictly for attacking cities, she holds her own in various PVP scenarios. Whether you're hitting a sub-city, fighting in the Battle of Gaugamela, or just trying to clear a tile, her buffs are consistent. She doesn't have those annoying "only when reinforcing" or "only when defending" caveats that make some other generals feel like a chore to manage.
Building the Perfect Skill Book Set
You can't just slap any old books on Himiko Evony and expect her to perform miracles. You need to play to her strengths. Since she's already boosting attack and HP, you want to double down on those.
The absolute "must-have" is the Ranged Troop Attack book. It's non-negotiable. After that, most players go for Ranged Troop Range Bonus. This is a bit of a debated topic among some circles, but honestly, hitting the enemy before they hit you is usually the difference between a win and a bad report. If your archers can start firing a split second earlier, you're mitigating a ton of damage.
For the third slot, people usually waffle between Ranged Troop HP or Ranged Troop Defense. Personally, I think HP is the way to go. In Evony, HP generally scales better for survival than defense does, especially when you're dealing with high-level players who have massive armor penetration stats.
The Importance of Specialties
If you're serious about using Himiko, you can't ignore her specialties. This is where the real grind happens, but it's also where she separates herself from the mid-tier generals.
Her fourth specialty, the "Queen of Yamatai" unique trait, adds another massive chunk of attack and HP. Getting her to the Gold level in specialties takes a lot of gems and runestones, but if she's your primary ranged march leader, it's arguably the best investment you can make. It's better to have one fully specialized general than four or five halfway done. The power gap between a "fresh" Himiko and a fully maxed-out one is night and day.
Gearing Her Up for Battle
When it comes to equipment, you're looking for the Ranged Attack and Ranged HP stats. For most players, the Dragon or Ares gear is the realistic goal. If you're a high-roller or have been saving your materials for years, moving into the Civilization gear (like the Plantagenet set) makes her absolutely terrifying.
The Bow is obviously the most important piece. You want to refine it until you see those high-percentage Ranged Troop Attack rolls. Don't settle for flat numbers unless you're at a much lower level. At the endgame, percentages are king. The Ring is another big one—look for the ones that offer Ranged Attack or Accuracy.
One thing people often forget is the Refine stats on the armor. While the weapon is for offense, your armor should be refined for Ranged HP. This makes your "glass cannons" a little less like glass and more like reinforced steel.
Pairing Himiko with Assistant Generals
The assistant general system changed the game, and for Himiko Evony, it opened up some crazy combinations. When choosing a partner for her, you have to make sure their skills don't conflict. If the skill is greyed out, it's not working.
A popular choice is pairing her with someone like Minamoto no Yoshitsune or Alfred the Great. These guys provide extra ranged buffs that stack beautifully with Himiko's base stats. Another interesting choice is Elektra, though most people use Elektra as a primary. If you have Himiko as your lead, look for an assistant that fills in whatever gaps you have—usually more attack or some added troop capacity to bring more bodies to the fight.
Is Ascension Worth the Cost?
Ascension (the red stars) is the newest mountain to climb in Evony. It's expensive, requiring fragments and a ton of Blood of Ares. For Himiko, the ascension buffs are actually quite good. They add layers of attack and defense that make her competitive with even the newest premium generals.
However, if you're a free-to-play player or a light spender, you have to be careful. Getting fragments for Himiko isn't always easy, depending on the current event cycle. If you can't get her to at least three or four red stars, you might eventually find that a more "attainable" general like Elektra (who you can get from the Tavern or Relics) might outpace her simply because you can ascend them more easily. But on a level playing field, a red-star Himiko is a nightmare for opponents.
Where She Fits in Your Strategy
Himiko is an offensive powerhouse. She's the general you send when you need to clear a wall or win a field battle against a ground-heavy march. In the current state of the game, many players lead with a massive ground march to soak up damage. Himiko's job is to sit back and pick that march apart before it can reach your front lines.
In SvS (Server vs. Server), she's great for hitting temples or taking out enemies during the throne war. Just remember that she's only as good as the layer you provide for her. Even a maxed-out Himiko will fail if you don't send enough "meat shield" troops (like ground and cav layers) to protect your archers.
Final Thoughts on Himiko
At the end of the day, Himiko Evony remains a staple for a reason. She's reliable, her buffs are top-tier, and she looks cool as the lead of a march. While the game will always introduce new "power creep" generals, the investment you put into Himiko isn't going to go to waste anytime soon.
She's a specialized tool. If you try to use her for a siege march or a mounted attack, you're going to have a bad time. But if you lean into her ranged strengths, give her the right books, and spend the time on her specialties, she'll be winning you reports for a long, long time. Just keep an eye on those fragments and make sure you're always working toward that next red star. Happy hunting out there!