Daimyo's were always looking for more troops and an easy way to acquire them was to sign up local peasants. Although they have poor weapons and armour, they are so cheap you can easily create lots of them. They are therefore expendable, and can be used to draw enemy arrow fire, depleting your enemies arrows which may have been used on more expensive footsoldiers. With their long spears they are effective against weak cavalry troops, although they have low morale and easily flee the battlefield. This low morale affects the other units in your army, so it is wise to keep them at the back of your formations.