Noriyori took about 30,000 horsemen (according to "the Chronicle of the Rise and Fall of the Minamoto and the Taira") from his army and drew up his battle lines on land to cut off the Taira's avenue of retreat, supporting Yoshitsune's army by shooting arrows long-distance from the cliffs.
範頼軍は3万余騎（『源平盛衰記』）をもって陸地に布陣して平氏の退路を塞ぎ、岸から遠矢を射かけて義経軍を支援した。