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“Well-armed and plentiful, these troops are effective at tearing down enemy buildings”

Pikeman is a level 6 standard Heavy Infantry unit unlocked in the Medieval Age. Its predecessor is the Phalanx and can be upgraded to the Halberdier. It is researched in a level 5 Blacksmith.

General Information[]

The standard Heavy Infantry's default A.I. or purpose is to destroy the closest building (excluding walls), but they may fight back when attacked by an enemy troop. They're excellent at taking down defensive Heavy Cavalry (noticeably on cavalry at an age lower than them) and are able to destroy buildings quickly. However, their disadvantages are that they have low health, meaning that they can be killed very quickly. They can get destroyed easily by Splash Damage Structures such as Catapults or Mortars and Multiple Target Damage Structures such as Redoubt or Machine Gun. They are also weak against other Heavy Infantry (and even Ranged Infanty} spawned by the City Center, Garrisons, Ambush Traps etc.

Historical Description[]

A Pikeman wields a long wooden spear with a metal head, ranging from 8 to 25 feet in length. Pikes first appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages. The order of battle of pikemen was reminiscent of the phalanx formation, where infantry wielding long spears would act as a deadly spear wall. When their detachment got isolated during battle, pikemen often deployed in squares, presenting a dangerously spiky front in all directions, making things particularly uncomfortable for cavalry. They saw use for centuries until the development of gunpowder firearms and cannons rendered the concept of men piled up making a tight melee wall obsolete.

Historical Description in Dominations:

A Pikeman wields a long wooden spear with a metal head, ranging from 8 to 25 feet in length. Pikes first appeared in Europe in the Middle Ages, and saw use for centuries until gunpowder rendered them obsolete. Pikemen often deployed in squares, presenting a dangerously spiky front in all directions, making things particularly uncomfortable for cavalry.

Visuals[]

Mediterranean: Like a Byzantine soldier, with bronze armour and a plume.

North European: iron armor, with long wooden spear with a steel knife at top

Oriental: Sort of like a mongol or hun warrior.

Attacking Strategies[]

  • If these units are used in large groups and not in heavy fire, they can be devastating and can destroy a base easily.
  • Catapults or Mortars, with their splash damage, are devastating against these units and can kill a group of them in a few hits if in the range of the impact. Spread the units around so that the mortar would have to hit each infantry to kill it and that its impact would not affect other infantry as well, or deploy a few Heavy Cavalry to destroy it.
  • Redoubts or Machine Guns buildings can likewise be devastating against these units, if it is not dealt with appropriately. Keep the units away from it until it is destroyed or position them to destroy it quickly.
  • If a group of these units are under fire from Catapults or Mortars or Redoubts or Machine Guns buildings, consider using war tactics such as Sabotage or Protect and destroy the buildings as quick as possible, or use Demolition beforehand to eliminate these threats. You may also consider using Heavy Cavalry or other units to destroy these threats early on.
  • The Missile Silo can eliminate a group of these units quickly. Don't group them together so much that will attract the Silo attacks. Or you could deploy them after the Silo is destroyed, sabotaged or distracted by other units with high HP.
  • Use Ranged Infantry or Machine Gun Infantry to support them, so they don't perish easily to defenders.
  • They can be used as a distraction for many defenses and can help protect ranged infantry such as Ranged Infantry from defenses.
  • A group of them can easily overwhelm single target defensive towers, but are vulnerable against machine gun buildings.
  • While using an army entirely composed with Heavy Infantry can decimate enemy bases early on, this strategy becomes less useful as you advance ages as your opponents will use more powerful defenses with AOE effect such as the Missile Silo.


Defensive Strategies[]

  • The level 5 Garrison can train up Pikemans to help defend the village from attackers. Put the garrison defended and inside walls: that way, the garrison can train Pikemans without getting attacked for a short amount of time. It is suggested that a garrison should be close to the Acropolis since training Pikemans would be quicker than usual; spawned defenders will also have increased hitpoints.
  • The level 2 Ambush Trap deploys Pikemans when triggered by enemy troops too close to it. It is suggested to put in areas where enemies may deploy Heavy Cavalry.


Trivia[]

  • Pikes were extremely long spears, particularly devastating against cavalry.
  • Pikes were first used in large scale warfare by Alexander the Great. They fell out of use for a time in European warfare during Rome's hegemony (Romans favored swords and close combat, and used armies mostly made up of infantry) although they eventually adopted them to help them deal with eastern and mongol armies. They were one of the most common weapons used in medieval and renaissance warfare, both on their own and in mixed units such as the Spanish Tercio. Pikes eventually fell out of use around the 1700's due to the invention of the bayonet, although certain armies were still using them as late as 1720's when even the most old fashioned generals were forced to admit the pike was obsolete.
  • The Confederate States of America (1862) attempted, unsuccessfully, to resurrect the pike as a main infantry weapon.
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