Swordsman vs. Axemen? Why bother w/sword?

[dearmad]

I don't get it... why would you build swordsmen... they cost more, and die at the hands of axemen.

5+50% = 7.5 vs. 6?

Someone 'splain it to me... +10% attacking cities is nothin if you upgrade your AXEMEN to +25% vs. cities with a promo and they WILL get promod faster because they LIVE longer.

[James009]

If you upgrade your swordsman you get a +45% bonus v. cities. Don't have swordsman fight with Axemen.

[Akaoz]

Swordmen is what you need to kill archers in cities. Also they are good for killing non-meelee units everywhere.

[Dinner]

Swordsmen are good on attacking cities, axemen are good for attacking melee units, archers & longbows are good for defending against both.

[dearmad]

I'm still not convinced swordsmen are worth the extra 5 prod it costs and the extra nurturance they need to get promotions- since most units at that time are HH the axemen tend to see more action and more success in action...

[Cabbagemeister]

Depends on the situation. If your opponent is lacking copper and iron, go with swordsmen, because there won't be any axemen to fight. If your opponent only has copper, go wtih axemen, because you'll be facing a lot of axemen.

Something else to consider is that, from what I've seen, the AI doesn't tend to keep axemen defending in cities as often as it should. I usually see spears and archers in cities, and axemen mostly sent on couterattack missions.

[Solver]

Swordsmen are absolutely worth it, they decimate cities. City Raider I is +20%. Axeman with City Raider = 6 vs. a city. Swordsman with no promotions = 6.6 vs. a city. Swordsman with City Raider = 7.85 vs. a city.

Just don't let your Swordsmen be attacked by enemy Axemen. Yes, you can wage war with only Axemen with a good degree of success, but the Swordsman is great. If you're Aggressive, or are getting 6 XP thanks to Barracks/civics, then Combat I/Cover is better than City Raider I, BTW.

[Yaga]

Swordsmen are excellent in capturing cities, but have little else to commend them.

6 Praetorians (Rome's UU swordsmans) and 2 catapaults pretty much defeat any city in my path. Most recently, a +80% capitol defended by 8 longbowmen (though these Praes had two promotions each). I lost 1 Praetorian in the process.

Give it a whirl sometime.

[Nikolai]

I use both Swordsmen and Axemen, better to have a little of each unit type is my idea. And thanks for the tips Solver.

[Solver]

Swordsmen are very powerful with 4 Catapults. For most cities, 4 catapults will reduce their defenses in one turn, or certainly in two. And then the Swords can come in!

[LordShiva]

Originally posted by Oerdin
archers & longbows are good for defending against both.

Also against Tanks

[The diplomat]

All I know is that my swordsmen are great against cities. In fact, I always use a lot of swordsmen when attacking cities in the early game.

[spy14]

Originally posted by LordShiva


Also against Tanks

Truely.

Something the game misses though is that while axemen are very good againsnt infantry, they should have a disadvantage when against mounted units. A little tidbit i've picked up from RTW.

[Addled Platypus]

should this be moved to ?


strat & educate
https://<a href="http://apolyton.net...orumid=263</a>

[Dominae]

Swordsmen are a lot less potent when cities are defended with Axemen.

Swordsmen are far from useless, but they're certainly not great or essential.