In the Sengoku period, there were other Irozonae (colored arms) which were formed in a single color such as black or yellow other than red, but the red of the times came from cinnabar which was a high-quality product, and it also highly stood out in the battlefield, therefore, Akazonae were mostly elite troops led by a busho with outstanding bravery, and were passed down as a symbol of honor of bravery from generation to generation.
戦国時代では赤以外にも黒色・黄色等の色で統一された色備えがあったが、当時赤は高級品である辰砂で出されており、戦場でも特に目立つため、赤備えは特に武勇に秀でた武将が率いた精鋭部隊である事が多く、後世に武勇の誉れの象徴として語り継がれた。