Surprisingly good units

**Justinian II** · 07-05-2008, 02:21

Agrianikoi Pelekephoroi

I think they are just great. They are fast, can hurl their javelins a really long distance and are, most of all, apart-rippers of such godlike units like Thorakitai Argyraspides. You only have to keep them out of missile fire.

I don't think I've ever seen these guys; who gets them and where?

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-05-2008, 02:37

Originally Posted by Justinian II

I don't think I've ever seen these guys; who gets them and where?

Makedonia and Epeiros in Pella, Tylis and Demetrias. Need a L4 factional barracks for them.

**Cadwalader** · 07-05-2008, 12:30

Perhaps not that surprising, but I think most iberian units are brutal. That's why taking Iberia's been like shoving meat into a grinder in my Karthadast campaign. I can't wait to get them myself.

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-05-2008, 12:34

Originally Posted by Cadwalader

Perhaps not that surprising, but I think most iberian units are brutal. That's why taking Iberia's been like shoving meat into a grinder in my Karthadast campaign. I can't wait to get them myself.

If anything, Qarthadast's Iberian roster is better than the Lusotanni's.

**Ludens** · 07-05-2008, 13:09

Originally Posted by QuintusSertorius

Makedonia and Epeiros in Pella, Tylis and Demetrias. Need a L4 factional barracks for them.

Minor correction: they are available in Pella, Tylis and Serdike, not Demetrias.

**Tristuskhan** · 07-06-2008, 10:03

The only way I'm able to judge an unit "surprisingly good" is when I have problems breaking it...

For me the grand-champions are African Elite Pikemen. IA Karth-Hadasht fields huge numbers of them and when playing Ptollies I often see them inflicting huge losses to my Agema Klerouchon (attacking from the front) and Tindanotae (attacking from the rear). Tough nuts to crack...

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-06-2008, 11:38

Originally Posted by Tristuskhan

The only way I'm able to judge an unit "surprisingly good" is when I have problems breaking it...

For me the grand-champions are African Elite Pikemen. IA Karth-Hadasht fields huge numbers of them and when playing Ptollies I often see them inflicting huge losses to my Agema Klerouchon (attacking from the front) and Tindanotae (attacking from the rear). Tough nuts to crack...

They're elites; they don't really qualify as "surprisingly" so because they're supposed to be that good. That's why they're expensive and have high stats.

**Irishmafia2020** · 07-07-2008, 01:45

Ethiopian Spearmen and Arabian light archer/spearmen are both surprisingly good units on the Sabyn or regional roster. The Ethiopians are cheap, but fast moving, and amongst the best light infantry that I have played with. The Archer spearmen do double duty, and they are slightly better than the Persian variant.

Baktrian Hippies - probably the best medium cavalry in the game... they hit like light cataphracts in a charge, and they don't wear out as quickly.

Indo Hellenic Medium Skirmishers - specialized elephant killers who double as Thureophoroi in a pinch... not bad for the cheapest Indo-Greek unit! Indian Longbowman and Infantry guild warriors are also amazing regionals...

Equites Campanici - Campanian Cavalry, not bad for western regional cavalry. I certainly expected them to be garbage, not even equal to the successor cavalry. Actually they are a decent light cav, and my units of them tend to maintain their combat effectiveness (less than 50% casualties) through multiple battles. They have a weak charge, but are a good melee unit...

Indo-Iranian light cavalry - wow... a "light Cavalry" with a charge value of 32, and a melee value of 9. Plus they have high morale... These guys are the best light cavalry in the game... Just imagine what they could do if you got them out west...

Subeshi Archers - the infantry general's answer to those pesky horse archers. Seriously, they outrange HA's and have a high lethality, plus they are cheap and available from a level 1 regional barracks.... just make sure that they stand behind some spear men.

Peltastai - ummm.... I am embarrassed to say that i never really used these guys to their full potential. In all of my campaigns, I thought that they were basically useless, and irrelevant to the battle line. Only after reading about how great they are in other people's campaigns did I ever try to use them. Now I am a believer. For me, these are surprisingly good units - easily the equal of the archer-spearmen of the east.

**QuintusSertorius** · 07-07-2008, 09:11

Originally Posted by Irishmafia2020

Peltastai - ummm.... I am embarrassed to say that i never really used these guys to their full potential. In all of my campaigns, I thought that they were basically useless, and irrelevant to the battle line. Only after reading about how great they are in other people's campaigns did I ever try to use them. Now I am a believer. For me, these are surprisingly good units - easily the equal of the archer-spearmen of the east.

It's their armour, the lethality of their sword and their stamina. It's a pretty lethal combination, especially because swordsmen are automatically 4 points of attack up on spearmen.

**gamegeek2** · 08-25-2008, 05:27

Yeah, all the greek units that cost around 1300 are excellent. I have to agree with the Keltohellenikoi Hoplitai pick for #1.

Also, I couldn't get an image, but the Cordinau Orca. Even though they're expensive, they're a great deal, and barely ever lose ANY fight with infantry or non-charging cavalry.

- Are a double-duty weapon against the Parthians and their nomadic buddies. Kill the horse archers both in melee and at range. Like their standard Persian Archer counterparts, great with levy phalanx.

- The Cretans' armoured Eastern counterpart. Just great all-around guys in your army, and, if moved to the east to fight the nomads, are simply AMAZING.

- Cost-efficient Greek dudes who can take javelins and throw them right back. They beat most everything that costs the same (except hoplites) and are just great utility guys to have around, even when you have Thorakitai.

- Just as cost-efficient as its lighter counterpart, it takes on most things its cost and wins handily. Also virtually impervious to most missiles from the front.

- Yeah. Available as an excellent mercenary and as cheap but highly effective multi-purpose cavalry around the Pontic steppe north of the Black sea and to the west in Skythia Minor.

**Celtic_Punk** · 08-31-2008, 11:51

Cladaca (Goidilic Light Infantry)-
When I did my Casse Migration to Northern Ireland (my place of birth

WOO!) These were pretty much my vanguard. They'll hold their own against pretty much anything the isles can throw at you. I didn't get to fight much of other cultures before the savefile was corrupted but i was very impressed. They are good skirmishers like most celt units and with their swords they are more than capable in close combat.

Ordmalica (Goidilic Shock Infantry)-
When Mark Hamil said to Jason Mewes in Jay n Silent Bob Strike back "don't fuck with the jedi master, son" I'm pretty sure he meant these guys. They will mess you up. Two handed axes are not something you wanna screw around with, they will chew a hole through the enemy's battleline like a hungry wolf in a room full of chickens.

Balroae (Caledonian Skirmishers)-
There's nothing a vicious Scotsman hyped up on amphetamines and hammered like your uncle can't do. Even though their primarily skirmishers, dont let that discourage you from letting them at the Romans legions. There was a reason Rome never went to Scotland. They scared them so much they built a wall and we're more than content at letting us Gaels kill ourselves then to be eaten alive by drunken naked Irishmen.

Peltastai (Hellenic Heavy Skirmishers)-
If your phalanx (classical or Makedonian) is failing, you need to plug a hole, or you just want to utterly crush the enemy with a decisive flanking manoeuvre, these guys are the men for the job. Making critical flanks are in their job description.(literally) they however are not supposed to hold the line. but they can! I have been well aquainted with fighting in cities, and when im forcing my way to the square, there are two units i cannot do without- Classical Hoplites and Peltastai. While i cycle my Hoplites out of the fight to rest, someone needs to take up the fight, and these guys can hold the line long enough for my men to rest up and cycle back in. dependable and cheap unit!

Somatophylakes Strategou (Baktrian Early Bodyguard)-
Yes yes yes, this is a SURPRISINGLY good units thread, but I've never been so impressed by a bodyguard unit. Even the Spartan bodyguards can falter. But these guys have never failed me. and if they do break, at least the enemy regrets engaging them. I have no problem racking up 350+ kills without losing more than 20! They suck up Persian arrows like a fatkid on cake, and come back out the otherside with the heads of them to prove it! If there's one thing I know... It's a bad day to be a Persian!

Thats the best of the cheap that have surprised me.
The best units I've encountered come from the Isles. and haven't even used their entire roster! the Goillic Cavalry is also a force to be reckoned with.