Sword Infantry

What does this unit counter?

Most sword units in general.

Counters to this unit type

The main units that counters infantry is pikemen, ranged and artillery: they have a bonus against them and are therefore extremly effective in melee against them. They can also form a phalanx which will negate your charge and deal damage to your unit.

A pike phalanx will counter infantry very effectively, in the same way as the hoplite phalanx.

Finally, due to their speed, infantry is vulnerable to missile fire, and especially artillery.

General playstyle and general tips

Those tips can be used when playing every infantry type listed below, but their effectiveness varies according to the type of infantry/faction being used.

Most sword infantry has a high morale flank damage value. Use that to defeat and rout your enemies. They are potent in a melee fight.

Factions

Greece

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
N/A	N/A	N/A

Commanders who can play them effectively

Leonidas
Miltiades

Alternative choice:
Alexander the Great

Roman Empire

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T1	Pedites	A flexible unit that can form a tight, disciplined formation.
T2	Milites	Resilient, well-trained infantry.
T3	Accensi	Roman training makes a formidable infantryman out of even the poorest soldier.
T4	Hastati	A well-equipped unit that supplements sword and shield with deadly javelins.
T5	Principes	Flexible, reliable infantry that can lead the charge or hold the line.
T6	Legionaries	The men who conquered the known world.
T6	Armoured Legionaries	Clad in the best Roman steel, these troops make an exceptional defensive unit.
T7	Centurion	The iron backbone of the legion.
T7	Veteran Legionaries	A wall of steel that will hold the line in the face of any foe.
T8	Socii Extraordinarii	Hand-picked form the best of Rome's Italian allies.
T8	Eagle Cohort	Legionaries will follow their Eagle into even the most dire of situations.
T9	Evocati Cohort	Some are happy to trade war for peace - but not these men.
T9	Praetorians	They will protect their Emperor from anything - when it suits them.
T10	Palatini	The Palace Guard are the extension of the Emperor's will and the instrument of his power.
T10	Imperial Guard	These men can make an Emperor - or tear him down.

Characteristics

Well trained, well armoured, with great weapons, these sword units are a flexible and reliable tool for a commander.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Germanicus
Scipio
Sulla

Alternative choice:
Caesar

Barbarians

Those melee infantry units are lightly armoured, better used for flanking and in the forest (they get a bonus there).

Sword Infantry

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T1	Tribesmen	A unit of life-long fighters capable of a ferocious charge.
T2	Woodmen	The woodsmen can burst from the forest in a sudden, surging charge.
T3	Warband	Oath-bound warriors with a vicious charge.
T4	Cherusci Warband	The fearsome victors of Teutoburg.
T5	Warriors	Brutal lives forge brutal fighters.
T6	Proven Warriors	Veterans of a lifetime of war, clad in the spoils of a hundred battles.
T7	Andartas Swords	The reason Victory is a woman.
T8	Chosen Swordsmen	Seasoned veterans wielding a variety of armaments; an inspiration to the tribe.
T9	Naked Warriors	What soldier's morale would not quail in the face of such brazen confidence?
T10	Oathsworn	Bound by unbreakable oaths, these elite, heavy-armed warriors are prepared to fight and for chief and tribe.

Characteristics

Fast and lightly armoured, those aggressive swordsmen have a great flanking damage and mobility, at the cost of armour.

Falxmen

Units

Tier	Unit Name	Description
T5	Falxmen	Armed with a terrifying curved blade these warriors can carve through armour and shields.
T6	Proven Falxmen	These men wield vicious two-handed swords that pierce armour and ignore enemy shields.
T7	Dacian Warriors	The lands beyond the Danube breed hardy, ferocious warriors.
T8	Cleavers	Strike with the force of the thunderbolt.
T9	Dacian Chosen	The enemy will fall like wheat before the scythe.
T10	Decebalus Gaurd	Decebalus stood firm in the face of tyranny - these men will follow his example.

Characteristics

Falxmen are an aggressive and mobile shock infantry unit that is very effective against armour. They, however, have no shield, which makes them vulnerable to missile fire.

They ignore enemy shield defence.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Arminius
Vercingetorix

Alternative choice:
Boudica

Carthage

Units

Tier	Unit name	Description
T4	Libyan Recruits	Cheap and effective Libyan mercenaries, paid to hold a sword and follow orders.
T5	Punic Mercenaries	Ruthless sell-swords from across North Africa.
T6	Iberian Rebels	Vicious tribesmen ready to bear a grudge.
T7	Libyan Infantry	Stand still too long and they will roll right over you.
T8	Insubres Swordsmen	Roman-hating swordsmen who make a formidable and unpredictable foe.
T9	Samnite Warriors	Rome's own 'bogeymen', out to cause trouble.
T10	Campaign Elites	You are in the presence of legendary victors.

Characteristics

Carthaginian swords are very different from one tier to another: overall, they are flexible, with a decent armour, and faster than their Roman counterparts.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Hannibal

Alternative choices:
Hasdrubal