Masateru Sanada

Masateru Sanada is the brother of Nobutsuna Sanada and Masayuki Sanada and was a courageous Takeda commander that served both Shingen and Katsuyori. Like Nobutsuna, he was among the commanders killed at Nagashino.

Role in Games
Masateru often appears as one of the secondary Takeda cavalry commanders in the Oda side of Nagashino. In Samurai Warriors 2, Masateru will join Yukimura's charge to buy time for Katsuyori's escape. In 3 Masateru only appears during Kanbei Kuroda and Hanbei Takenaka's version of Nagashino and is stationed beside Nobutsuna just south of Katsuyori's camp. In 4, Masateru only begins mobilizing with Katsusuke Atobe once the Oda forces begin breaking the siege of Nagashino castle. In 4-II, Masateru will charge alongside Yukimura and Nobutsuna to protect Katsuyori's escape in Clash of Wills, Bonds of Fealty, and Sparks of Rebellion. At 5, Masateru leads the southern garrison's defense and will bar the Oda forces from reaching Nagashino castle.

During Spirit of Sanada, Masateru acts as Masayuki's hot-headed but compassionate second brother, being much rougher around the edges compared to both his brothers. He watches Masayuki's growth as a fresh recruit during the fourth battle of Kawanakajima and believes the Hōjō's familial bonds to rival that of the Sanada's. When Katsuyori takes over and becomes obsessed with living up to his father's reputation at Nagashino, both Masateru and Nobutsuna ask for Masayuki's help in remonstrating their lord for his sudden recklessness. During the open battle at Shitaragahara, however, Masateru is in charge of protecting Katsuyori, but the sudden emergence of Nobunaga's riflemen behind the enemy fences results in the death of many cavalry commanders, including Nobutsuna. By the time Masayuki arrives to reinforce his brother, Masateru will desperately be defending Katsuyori from Tadakatsu Honda. The remaining brothers soon fight their way to the Oda camp, before Masateru orders Masayuki to pull back and support Katsuyori and charges on his own to chase Nobunaga and give Masayuki time to escape.

The deaths of Nobutsuna and Masateru sends shockwaves through the Sanada retainers and lords of Shinano as they begin questioning Katsuyori's competence in protecting them. Their deaths also force Masayuki to take command of the clan.

Quotes

 * "And here comes Tadakatsu Honda. I have no strategies left, but I must stop him!"
 * "Forgive me, Masayuki, but I have to sacrifice myself as well. Look after Lord Katsuyori... Look after the Sanada."
 * "With so many rifles here... Nobunaga has ensured that the face of battle will never be the same again."
 * "Our brother recognized that, and sacrificed his own life to save our house."
 * "In order to reduce the threat to Lord Katsuyori even a little... But do you not think Nobunaga foresaw that, too?"
 * "Even if he did, Brother's death was worth something. We have survived, so we must prove that, Masayuki."
 * Masayuki Sanada and Masateru Sanada; Samurai Warriors: Spirit of Sanada

Historical Information
Masateru was born at Iwao castle, and like other children of vassals, was sent to be a page of Takeda Shingen. The Takeda family's record, the Kōyō Gunkan, states that Masateru eventually outgrew his role and formed his own independent family branching from the main Sanada family. He was also given personal command over 50 horsemen to supplement Nobutsuna's 200. Masateru earned fame fighting alongside his brother at the vanguard during the invasion of Suruga, and as part of the rear guard with Nobutsuna, and Naitō Masatoyo during the battle of Mimase Pass.

At Nagashino, Masateru attacked Sakuma Nobumori's camp at the Oda left and was slain. Masateru and Nobutsuna, who had also been killed at the battle, would have a monument erected in their memory after the battle.