Best Unit in the game?

**The Stranger** · 03-19-2005, 13:22

yep i'll go for the spartans too

**Kekvit Irae** · 03-19-2005, 13:24

Spartans are my vote for best infantry, but I still stand by my Gothic Cavalry

**katank** · 03-20-2005, 03:24

With the 1.2 phalanx fix, they are more deadly than ever. However, they still remain horribly vulnerable to missiles and die in droves when hit by archer fire.

I personally vote for the humble spear warband as best unit due to the low tech requirement and raw combat power derived for the cost. Also note that lack of a secondary means they always stay in phalanx.

**Wishazu** · 03-20-2005, 03:41

i say spartans too. i disagree with the arrows thing, whenever i use greek hoplite troops they only suffer from archer fire if it is coming from their unprotected rear, anywhere else and my casualties are allways negligable. however, regular skirmishers using pila/javelins etc. are far more effective against a hoplite phalanx.

**Kaldhore** · 03-20-2005, 04:56

I just did a test, custom battle 1v1
Huge Units
Spartan v Urban Cohort.

I did 4 tests

Long phalanx formation for Spartans
Short *Square* Phalanx
No Phalanx Formation
Phalanx till flanked then standard.

I played the spartans for each battle.
Urban Cohort won 3 out of 4 times, and even then the spartans were down to 25 men.

So although I'd like to agree that spartans are the best.....Looks like the Urban Cohort stands up pretty well.

**Kekvit Irae** · 03-20-2005, 15:20

For raw statistical power, Spartans beat out nearly anything.
For power in numbers, you cannot beat the Spear Warband. That's how I conquered the world playing at Germania until I discovered the joys of the Chosen Archers and the Gothic Cavalry. A barbarian phalanx you can build right off the bat. Yummy.

**Craterus** · 03-20-2005, 16:41

best spearmen=spartan hoplites
best infantry=urban cohort/bastarnae mercenaries
best cavalry=cataphracts/armoured elephants/ sarmatian mercenaries
best missile unit=pharoahs bowmen
best missile cavalry=horse archers
best general=eastern general

those are my opinions on the best units in the game, thats my dream army!

**katank** · 03-20-2005, 22:16

Originally Posted by Wishazu

i say spartans too. i disagree with the arrows thing, whenever i use greek hoplite troops they only suffer from archer fire if it is coming from their unprotected rear, anywhere else and my casualties are allways negligable. however, regular skirmishers using pila/javelins etc. are far more effective against a hoplite phalanx.

This is not true for Spartans. Regular hoplites have about 7 armor compared to Spartan's 3. The Spartans do have 2 HP but with 2-3 regular archers focus firing on them, they get decimated before they even hit the battleline.

Besides, even if they are still standing, they are a lot less tough since often they survive with only one HP remaining and are no longer supermen.

**Sam Adams** · 03-21-2005, 09:45

armored elephants are clearly the best overall... they do everything and kill everything. They even batter wooden down doors for you!

failing that...

urbans. Not only are they tough, they get to throw two javelins and slaughter crap even before enganging. Plus they are way more mobile that phalanxs. Not quite as invincible on defense as a refused line of phalanxes supported by archers... but way way better on offensive and in cities.

**Shadar** · 03-21-2005, 13:28

Tossup between Urban Cohort and Spartans.

however, in the end, i would say Urban Cohort. I've done testing that those two pila make a HUGE difference between winning and losing. add some really damn nice stats and you've got an almost unstoppable unit against most infantry unless heavily heavily outnumbered. Then they can still do decently well!

**Wishazu** · 03-21-2005, 20:59

Originally Posted by katank

This is not true for Spartans. Regular hoplites have about 7 armor compared to Spartan's 3. The Spartans do have 2 HP but with 2-3 regular archers focus firing on them, they get decimated before they even hit the battleline.

Besides, even if they are still standing, they are a lot less tough since often they survive with only one HP remaining and are no longer supermen.

i still dissagree mate,ive never played anything other than greece online(except for egypt once or twice) and as soon as the enemy sees my spartans they unleash everything they have at them(missile wise) and my boys allways shrug it off :)

**katank** · 03-22-2005, 19:03

Originally Posted by Wishazu

i still dissagree mate,ive never played anything other than greece online(except for egypt once or twice) and as soon as the enemy sees my spartans they unleash everything they have at them(missile wise) and my boys allways shrug it off :)

That depends on upgrades. Spartans are quite vulnerable to missiles as their defense skill is about 11 IIRC and they have crazy attack. They are practically invincible in melee but die to lowly archers.

In Macedonian campaign, I maul the Spartan hop with just the 2 starting archers. By the time they hit my lines, there was about 25 left (majority with 1 HP). Triple shot militia hop wall delayed them and then 2 peltasts threw in a volley, a quick cav charge and they were all dead. I lost about 1 unit of militia hops and that was it.