Gray Death: A Unit Overview

[gamegeek2]

An Introductory Guide to the Armies of the Arche Seleukeia

Part I: "Factional/Native" Units

Galatikoi Kluddolon (Galatian Shortswordsmen)
Relatively cheap and efficient, these guys are fast and a good replacement for 'flanking infantry' such as the Theureophoroi. Excellent versus most units the Hai and Pontikoi field early on, like Pantodapoi (Phalangitai). Don't count on them against easterners and the Ptolemaioi, though: their lack of armour really hurts against missiles.

Pantodapoi (Hellenic Native Spearmen)
Very cheap and crappy. Exceptional fodder; large shield and cheap cost. Never use unless absolutely necessary.

Akontistai (Hellenic Skirmishers)
"Javelineers" - Cheaper and overall more useful than Pantodapoi. Also very good as fodder and at providing mass javelin fire bound to kill something (hopefully not your own men). Still jack and should be replaced ASAP.

Hippakontistai (Hellenic Skirmisher Cavalry)
"Mounted Javelineers" - Their kopeis are ap, but weaker and less lethal than Eastern axes. Acceptable, but the Eastern versions are strictly better.

Toxotai (Hellenic Archers)
""Bowmen" - Though they are archers, they suck compared to the Persian ones with much longer range. The Persian Archer-Spearmen are at the same level regional MIC farther to the east, and do more damage with the arrow, have a decent spear for melee, and can shoot a few arrows before having to run back. Replace ASAP.

Peltastai (Hellenic Heavy Skirmishers)
"Pelta-men" - Fairly cheap to train and keep, these men are highly cost-efficient and, like the Galatian Shortswordsmen, are very good against your enemies in Asia Minor. Due to decent armour, they can also tangle in the war with the Yellow Fever, and are very good at running around phalanxes and sticking javelins in the pikemen's backs.

Sphendonetai (Hellenic Slingers)
"Slingers" - In EB, slingers are always useful, and these are no exception. They almost match nomad bowmen in range and are AP, making them useful against most types of enemies.

Hindus Patiyodha (Indian Longbowmen)
Powerful unit that deals good of damage at a satisfactory range. Poor versus nomads due to 35 less range but good versus anyone else. Note how they have a 7 damage AP sword with a .285 kill rate, highest in the game. Never underestimate these guys with the sword, and their bow is respectable as well. Also, they cost 1014 mnai. Wow. Amazing overall, use them often and well. Too bad the provinces they're in have ~15 units guarding them.

Iudaioi Taxeis (Caananite-Jewish Spearmen)
Strong unit for Asia Minor use, efficient and useful. A suitable replacement for Peltastai, they use a spear but have fewer javelins and less armour.

Pantodapoi Phalangitai (Hellenic Native Phalanx)
The backbone of your armies outside of Syria (and Aigyptos, if you capture it). Highly efficient unit; lots of men, phalanx ability, cheap, decent armor. And their AP axe means they aren't entirely screwed in close combat against something like Hoplitai. Use them, but don't rely on them too much; Pezhetairoi are (generally) better.

Pezhetairoi (Hellenic 'Alexandrian' Phalanx)
Pezhetairoi are voting property owners, and they form the backbone of your 'true' Hellenic-Alexandrian armies. They are reliable, well-armoured infantry with excellent morale. They can be counted on to consistently do their duty to the state, and rarely falter when well-supported.

Klerouchikoi Phalangitai (Hellenic Medium Phalanx)
"Colonist Phalangites" - Second-class unit compared to Pezhetairoi, but widely available and a definite improvement over the Pantodapoi variant.

Theureophoroi (Hellenic Spearmen)
"Theuros Bearers" - The main infantry companion to the Pezhetairoi, these men are well armoured and are good flanking infantry, with multiple javelins and a good melee attack and defense. They are also cheap and highly efficient. One of the best units for Asia Minor conquest, along with Peltastai.

Harmata Drepanephora (Scythed Chariots)
"Falx/Scythe-Bearing Chariots" - Just don't use them.

Prodromoi (Successor Medium Cavalry)
"Runners" - A cheap and fairly powerful shock cavalry unit that has its benefits even when more powerful heavy cavalry become available. 'Fast moving' and 'Very Good Stamina' coupled with good armour and a strong charge mean that they are excellent versus just about anything except prepared, heavier melee units.

Shipri Tukul (Babylonian Heavy Spearmen)
Strong multi-purpose unit, good for use throughout the empire. Not super efficient, but reliable and useful against most melee units; a spear for cavalry and a mace for armoured units coupled with good armour mean these guys are a tough nut to crack in melee, and are good nutcrackers themselves!

Galatikoi Kuarothoroi (Galatian Heavy Spearmen)
Not hugely efficient on the whole either, but powerful and flexible, like the Babylonians. They have heavy chain mail and a spear, but also a Celtic Longsword (like the nomadic one, .225 lethality rate; very good!) which is very strong versus units with less armour.

Hellenikoi Kataphraktoi
"Hellenic Fully Mailed (Soldiers)" - Cataphracts are extra-heavy cavalry, and these Hellenic ones are no exception. With heavy armour for both horse and rider, these men mount a terrible charge and are tanks reminiscent of the "Cataphracts" from vanilla. They have AP kopeis for melee, but these aren't consistently lethal; sticking to the lance is usually better. A powerful unit, but not as well-suited to flanking as the Hetairoi; they are more straightforward (quite literally!) and slightly slower.

Argyraspides (Hellenic Elite Pikemen)
"Silver Shields" - With large numbers of men, all well armoured and in the phalanx formation, these guys are ready to tackle anything front-on-front. With proper support, they are nearly invincible.

Thorakitai (Hellenic Heavy Spearmen)
"Armoured (Soldiers)" - Basically 'Cohors Reformata' who traded their spears for swords. Not as tactically flexible as the Theureophoroi, but more powerful and better armoured. Should be paired with Argyraspidai and/or Pezhetairoi as often as possible.

Lonchophoroi Hippeis (Hellenic Medium Cavalry)
"Spear-Bearing Cavalry" - Prodromoi are just better. 700 more cost, some armour, and stamina traded for an aspis shield and a one-handed lance. These guys are widely available but should be used as a last resort. They can't catch nomads like Prodromoi and don't hit as hard as Hetairoi or Khuveshavagan.

Hetairoi Aspidophoroi
"Shield-Bearing Companion Cavalry" - Basically upgraded peltasts on horseback for about 2000. Which is, of course, awesome. Should be paired with Regional Dahae + Parthian units as well as Prodromoi (or Khuveshavagan) to spell the demise of nomads' armies.

Elephantes Indikoi
Use these guys conservatively. Don't just run them into an enemy line; they will all die, and these guys are really valuable. Remember that they have archers and let them function like nomad noble cavalry; use missiles to disrupt a line and create confusion before moving in for the kill. They are expensive; don't throw mnai down the drain.

Toxotai Kretikoi
Cretan Archers. Also available as mercs, without having to sail to Krete and capture Kydonia. Awesome, as history and vanilla say. Except with armour. Light armour, but armour.

Toxotai Syriakoi
Syrian Archers. Simply an amazing unit, comparable to the Bosporans, Levantines, and Kretans. Being armoured in chainmail helps, even when you're a skirmisher. They can also put up a fight in melee, like the Kretans.

Thraikioi Prodromoi
See Prodromoi, but more expensive and powerful.

Elephantes Kataphraktoi Indikoi
Use them like the Shivatir-i Zrehbaran - Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee.

Hetairoi (Companion Cavalry)
Hetairoi were a class of nobles in the Hellenic world, and the Macedonian Hetairoi were an elite heavy cavalry as well. Alexandros spread this tradition throughout the Macedonian colonies of his empire, and the Khuveshavagan were a fine example of the adoption of Macedonian techniques. The Hetairoi, while expensive to train and maintain, are elite and able to smash any enemy from the flanks or rear and many from the front.

Hypaspistai (Hellenic Royal Guard)
Hypaspistai - "Large Shield Bearers" are a more efficient and heavily armoured version of the Galatikoi Kuarothoroi. Use them as such, but remember that they are Hellenic, and far more reliable because of this.

Pheraspides (Hellenic Royal Guard)
Pheraspides - "Shield Bearers" - make up another part of the Royal Guard. They are powerful and versatile shock/assault infantry, and should be used as such.

Thorakitai Agematos Basilikou (Hellenic Elite Spearmen)
"Armoured Guard of the King" - These are the best of the Hypaspistai, trained to imitate the "Dosidataskeli" of legend from Vasconia, in northern Hispania. Equipped with super-heavy chainmail (as opposed to the "Fish Scale" of the Vascoi), spears, and heavy all-metal 'solifera' like those reportedly used throughout the peninsula, these are some of the finest shock infantry in the world.

[Cbvani]

Wow - this is really useful for someone like me who hasn't played the A-S yet. Hmmmm..... I don't suppose you could do unit overviews for all the factions, huh? Bc that would be awesome.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Pantodapoi (Hellenic Native Spearmen)
Very cheap and very crappy. Never use unless absolutely necessary.

Useful during the time you don't have access to Persian infantry, those guys with their insanely large shields. Pantodapoi make excellent fodder, and bait though; well suited for withstanding enemy units long enough until you get yours in position, and good for preserving your more valuable units. Also they have fairly good garrison qualities; and actually don't rout too quickly.

Akontistai (Hellenic Skirmishers)
"Javelineers" - Cheaper and more useful than Pantodapoi. Still jack and should be replaced ASAP.

Useful on walls, and from similar well-defended positions: 240 javelins with some skill is gonna hurt substantially; no matter the foe (well save for the odd few).

Hippakontistai (Hellenic Skirmisher Cavalry)
"Horse Javelineers" - At least the Eastern versions have spears and/or AP axes. Utterly inefficient and worthless.

Cavalry Javelineers to begin with, and not as useless as you might think. They form a cheap and effective melee cavarly force, especially against rebels and similarly early-game-style armies: their kopis makes short work of enemy units in melee. They are basically average Jav-cav, on the better side of melee abilities, and on the worse for their javelins. Still, they make an excellent component for harrasment and pursuit if nothing else.

Toxotai (Hellenic Archers)
""Bowmen" - Though they are archers, they suck compared to the Persian ones with much longer range. The Persian Archer-Spearmen are at the same level regional MIC farther to the east, and do more damage with the arrow, have a decent spear for melee, and can shoot a few arrows before having to run back. Replace ASAP.

Correct, though you might want to be aware of the fact that this holds true in the East; when you get to the West you will find them particularly abundant in rebel armies, and AI ones. If nothing less you better keep some of them to set fire to enemy siegecraft, leaving the real work to your precious Eastern archers.

Peltastai (Hellenic Heavy Skirmishers)
"Pelta-men" - Fairly cheap to train and keep, these men are highly cost-efficient and, like the Galatian Shortswordsmen, are very good against your enemies in Asia Minor. Due to decent armour, they can also tangle in the war with the Yellow Fever, and are very good at running around phalanxes and sticking javelins in the pikemen's backs.

Add in that they are utterly reliable to the end: and that those are basically the best unit you can train, save perhaps for the cheap Pantodapoi Phalangitai or the Sushebi Archers. In any case you can use them in assaults on stone walls without worrying, and you'd be surprised at their melee capabilities in pitched battle.

Sphendonetai (Hellenic Slingers)
"Slingers" - In EB, slingers are always useful, and these are no exception. They almost match nomad bowmen in range and are AP, making them useful against most types of enemies.[/quote]

Hindus Patiyodha (Indian Longbowmen)
Powerful unit that deals good of damage at a satisfactory range. Poor versus nomads due to 35 less range but good versus anyone else. Note how they have a 7 damage AP sword with a .285 kill rate, highest in the game. Never underestimate these guys with the sword, and their bow is respectable as well. Also, they cost 1014 mnai. Wow. Amazing overall, use them often and well. Too bad the provinces they're in have ~15 units guarding them.

And that they have knack for appearing in rebellion! Another such unit, with much more range but less sword-skill (though respectable enough to chew up enemy medium cavalry!) are the Sushebi archers. Alexandreia-Eschate offers Sushebi Archers; as does Gava-Haomavarga, and of course Sulek and a few others...

Iudaioi Taxeis (Caananite-Jewish Spearmen)
Strong unit for Asia Minor use, efficient and useful. A suitable replacement for Peltastai, they use a spear but have fewer javelins and less armour.

Also they come fairly large units, making them excellent border-town garrisons: able to defend their town adequately, and maintain public order to boot at a cost which is almost zilch for their quality.

Pantodapoi Phalangitai (Hellenic Native Phalanx)
The backbone of your armies outside of Syria (and Aigyptos, if you capture it). Highly efficient unit; lots of men, phalanx ability, cheap, decent armor. Use them, but don't rely on them too much; Pezhetairoi are much, much better.

Keep in mind their handy side-weapon, a vicious axe which is exceedingly more useful than what the Hellenic-style Phalangitai get. It is worth considering relying on them to form your backbone, and spending more on your flanks: if kept in phalanx mode the Pantodapoi will cut it before most enemies, save the odd few better phalanxes you will see - but the better phalanxes with perform a lot worse against the nomad-cataphracts and they will be a lot more expensive.

Pezhetairoi (Hellenic 'Alexandrian' Phalanx)
Pezhetairoi are voting property owners, and they form the backbone of your 'true' Hellenic-Alexandrian armies. They are reliable, well-armoured infantry with excellent morale. They can be counted on to consistently do their duty to the state, and rarely falter when well-supported.

Klerouchikoi Phalangitai (Hellenic Medium Phalanx)
"Colonist Phalangites" - Second-class unit compared to Pezhetairoi, but widely available and a definite improvement over the Pantodapoi variant.

Note that they will be as good as wasted against the heavy cavalry of the nomads, though! On the other hand they have a slightly better anti-missile qualities; and they will perform better when confronted with extreme odds, or lots of massed low-quality foes.

[Basileus Seleukeia]

Awesome guide! It will give new players some good ideas. I myself was totally baffled as I saw how many units the Seleukids can get in EB.
Btw, perhaps you should change "native units" to "factional units". Seems more logical, because if you think of Seleucid "natives" you think of Persians, Medes or Parthians.

[gamegeek2]

Part II: "Regional" Units

Gund-i Palta (Eastern Javelinmen)
Use like the Akontistai; only when you absolutely need to. Still a useful levy; 240 javelins usually kills something, if only due to sheer numbers.

Shuban-i Fradakshana (Eastern Slingers)
See Sphendonetai above.

Thanvare Payahadag (Persian Archers)
Cheap, and armed with a bow that barely outranges the nomads' and provide mass arrow fire at a low cost. Good unit (efficiency), especially versus horse archers, which cost twice as much and come in fewer numbers. Never forget that these guys can't really do anything in melee. They have some of the strongest bows (in terms of range) in the game, though; that makes up for it. And they only need a level 1 regional MIC, too (900 mnai).

Nizagan-i Eranshahr (Persian Archer-Spearmen)
I cannot praise them highly enough. While you deal with the Yellow Fever, these boys, cheap as they are, are the ideal weapon against nomads and poorly armoured infantry. Equipped with a spear and a bow with only 12-15.7 less range than nomads', these are good for most tasks in the East, a format of super-heavy units and units with almost no armour at all. A couple units of these guys can take down cataphracts in melee; I have seen and done it before (well, the cataphracts weren't charging and were tired...). At a cost of 618 mnai (155 upkeep), these guys are worth every (mina/mnes) you pay for them. Available at your local Eastern level 2 regional MIC.

Kapatuka Zanutesh (Cappadocian Hillmen)
Tabargane Eranshahr (Eastern Axemen)
Nearly identical units costing about 800, these are highly efficient, perfect for the Eastern and Asia Minor format dominated by missiles and general's bodyguards. They carry javelins to deal with the unarmored levies and axes for the real soldiers. Don't rely on them too much past the Caucasus; horse archers are murder for them. Use them for the cataphracts there, if you can catch them in melee.

Asabaran-i Harauvatish (Arachrosian Skirmisher Cavalry)
More efficient against armoured units than their spear-wielding cousins, these are cheap and effective cavalry. Like most 'Eastern' unarmoured units, don't over-rely on them against 'real' Hellenic soldiers. Not especially good at the charge, these guys fill the role of the Eastern axemen, omitting some defense skill and shield protection for speed. They javelin the levies and AP-axe the bodyguards.

Asiatikoi Hippakontistai (Eastern Light Cavalry)
A cheaper but weaker version of the Luk Epos (Gallic Light Cavalry). With speed, javelins, and spears, these guys are living hell for skirmishers. Charge heavy infantry only if they are about to rout or to push them to the point of doing so.

Nizakahar Aydruzi (Armenian Skirmisher Cavalry)
Similar to the A. Hippakontistai but less armour and more power in protracted melee. Not that they should be commited to it...

Asiatikoi Hippeis and Asabaran-e Madaen (East Medium Cavalry)
[Haven't used them much. Would like others' opinions.]

Galatikoi Lavuotuxri (Galatian Heavy Cavalry)
Way-overcosted Brinhentin. Khuveshavagan are a cheaper and strictly better unit. Not worthless; heavy cavalry never is. But overcosted.

Khuveshavagan (Kinsmen Heavy Cavalry)
Very good, to say the least. Fast, hardy, very good charge, and last in melee.
Not to mention their "Excellent morale" and 25 defense, 16 of which is armour. Very low cost (for heavy cavalry of their caliber) - about 3500 (~875 upkeep, give or take). Only drawback is their specific provinces in the vast regions of the East. Thankfully, the recruitment viewer can show you where they are, hiding out in their Level 4 Regional MICs.

EDIT: Thanvare Parsig (Persian Heavy Archers)
Not really that heavy, but decent in melee, have better armour, and the same bows as their lighter brethren. A good unit overall.

[anubis88]

Asiatikoi Hippeis and Asabaran-e Madaen (East Medium Cavalry)
[Haven't used them much. Would like others' opinions.]

well.... they are a solid unit.... i think they work much like the greek citys horse.... nothing special
I prefer to use podromoi... I think they are more expensive but they are waaaaay better

[Victor1234]

Great analysis. I agree with you on chariots, as I had the misfortune to try out a unit which promptly lost men, ran amock, and caused more casualties for me than the enemy did...

I've also had some battles in the east with Asabaran-e Madaen (Median Medium Calvary). They are not so great, as among other things, they are in fact a light calvary unit, which I learned much to my surprise during a battle against a far superior force, after having stacked 4 units worth to make up a heavy calvary contingent in an army. They take casualties very easily and have a nasty habit of cutting and running.

Thanvare Parsig (Persian Heavy Archers): Also have the longest range of any of the archer units I've commanded so far, even out-shooting my slingers on many occassions (who usually pack the longest range)

Pantodapoi (Hellenic Native Spearmen): Are very good for garrison duties in non-essential fronts. Cheap and 60 men to a unit!

Shuban-i Fradakshana (Eastern Slingers): Have a better missle attack value than the Hellenic slingers, which means they (should) do more damage.

Usually Theureophoroi (Hellenic Spearmen), Prodromoi (Successor Medium Cavalry) and Sphendonetai (Hellenic Slingers) form the backbone of my early armies (I don't really like phalanxes that much...) until better units come along. These units are amazing and cost-effective for the early game, so I usually fight all of my battles with these and whatever local mercenaries I pick up, while later on I form a seperate stack of Hypaspistai (Hellenic Royal Guard), Pheraspides (Hellenic Royal Guard) and Hetairoi (Companion Cavalry) just for RPing reasons.

[Tellos Athenaios]

Asiatikoi Hippeis and Asabaran-e Madaen (East Medium Cavalry)
[Haven't used them much. Would like others' opinions.]

well.... they are a solid unit.... i think they work much like the greek citys horse.... nothing special
I prefer to use podromoi... I think they are more expensive but they are waaaaay better

I wouldn't prefer to use Prodromoi over the Median Medium Cavalry: the latter are not only cheaper, but they get that axe which is what basically all Eastern cavalry was famous for... The Asiatikoi Hippeis aren't really worth it: a worse version of the Medians, but at roughly the same cost IIRC. Widespread unit, though.

Eastern Slingers are also a distinct notch better than Sphendonetai (much tighter formation too!), and seem to outpower some eastern archer types as well.

[anubis88]

well i mainly use my cavalry for devastating charges, not for melee...
Here the podromoi are much stronger than the medians imho

[Tellos Athenaios]

I use my cavalry to catch and kill enemy cavalry, and only then charge in the back of enemy infantry.

[gamegeek2]

Asiatikoi Hippeis are about 1450 mnai I think. Not very expensive.

[Belisarius12]

this thread i a great help

[Gebeleisis]

cant this be updated for other factions too :D?

[Hax]

Harmata Drepanephora (Scythed Chariots)
"Falx/Scythe-Bearing Chariots" - Just don't use them.

I killed Ptolemaios' entire bodyguard (100+ men) with these guys. They can prove effective, but know how to use them.