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Pontic Swordsmen PontusPontus Melee Infantry

Pontic Swordsmen

A volley of javelins announces these men; their swords eloquently make a general's point.

Employing Celtic shortswords or the xiphos, with its very similar blade-shape, these heavily-armoured elite swordsmen acted as frontline and shock infantry in Pontic armies. Garbed in scale armour and carrying thureos shields, they were equipped with javelins in addition to their swords. When charging or receiving a charge, they would throw their javelins at close range, draw their swords and attack before their enemy had chance to recover. This has led to them being referred to as imitation legionaries and the suggestion that they copied the fighting style of the Roman Legions. Over the course of the three Mithridatic Wars, waged between Pontus and Rome from 88-63BC, there was certainly time to recruit and reorganise the Pontic army on the Roman model. However, such infantry may equally have developed under the influence of the Celtic Galatian settlers or the Hellenic thorakitai, a more heavily armoured form of thureophoroi. Whatever the case, Pontic swordsmen were well disciplined and equipped, and highly effective in battle.

Pontic Swordsmen

Unit Name

Pontic Swordsmen

Main Unit Key

Eas_Pontic_Sword

Land Unit Key

Eas_Pontic_Sword

Naval Unit Key

persian_transport

Soldiers

160

Category

Melee Infantry

Class

Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost

700

Recruitment Cost

700

Upkeep Cost

85

Missile Damage

34

├ Missile Weapon

rome_javelin_precursor

├ Projectile

javelin_prec

├ Missile Damage

19

├ Missile Ap Damage

15

└ Base Reload Time

40

Accuracy

5

Range

40

Reload

0

Shots Per Minute

2

Ammunition

2

Melee Attack

30

Weapon Damage

38

├ Melee Weapon

rome_celtic_hellenic_sword_elite

├ Melee Damage Base

33

├ Melee Damage Ap

5

├ Armour Piercing

No

├ Bonus vs. Large

0

├ Bonus vs Elephants

0

└ Bonus vs Infantry

7

Charge Bonus

16

Melee Defence

72

├ Base Defence

37

├ Shield

thureos

└ Shield Defence

35

Armour

92

├ Armour

scale

├ Armour Defence

57

└ Shield Armour

35

Health

65

├ Man Entity

rome_infantry_heavy_fast

├ Man Health

55

└ Bonus Hit Points

10

Base Morale

50

Abilities

Pontic Swordsmen
  • Shieldwall
    The unit moves into a close formation and raises shields.
    Armour strength, bracing, melee defence, shield strength
    Limited speed
  • Use the Whip
    Improved attack and fatigue resistance for a short time.
    Melee attack, weapon damage, fatigue resistance
    Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

  • Disciplined
    This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
  • Hide (forest)
    This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
  • Resistant to Heat
    This unit tires less quickly in the desert.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Transport
  • Very poor hull strength
  • Very slow speed
  • Weak ramming
Pontic Swordsmen
  • Good attack
  • Average defence
  • Average damage but low armour penetration
  • Normal morale
Requires Buildings
Pontic Swordsmen Lv. 0 Holosideros Barracks
Holosideros Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_2)
Level 1
Hoplite Barracks
Hoplite Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_3)
Level 2
Civil Town
Civil Town
(greek_town_civil_3)
Level 2
Farming Town
Farming Town
(greek_town_farm_3)
Level 2
Market Town
Market Town
(greek_town_trade_3)
Level 2
Pontic Swordsmen Lv. 1 Royal Barracks
Royal Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_4)
Level 3
Civil Colony
Civil Colony
(greek_town_civil_4)
Level 3
Farming Colony
Farming Colony
(greek_town_farm_4)
Level 3
Farming Colony
Farming Colony
(greek_town_farm_4)
Level 3
Market Colony
Market Colony
(greek_town_trade_4)
Level 3
Garrison Buildings
Pontic Swordsmen x 1 Village (Amber Shore)
Village (Amber Shore)
(greek_amber_1)
Level 0
City
City
(greek_city_1)
Level 0
Inn
Inn
(greek_city_centre_inn_3)
Level 2
Pandocheion
Pandocheion
(greek_city_centre_inn_4)
Level 3
Slave Market
Slave Market
(greek_city_centre_slave_3)
Level 2
Wine Shop
Wine Shop
(greek_city_centre_wine_3)
Level 2
Wine Market
Wine Market
(greek_city_centre_wine_4)
Level 3
Village (Glassware)
Village (Glassware)
(greek_glass_1)
Level 0
Village (Gold Mine)
Village (Gold Mine)
(greek_gold_1)
Level 0
Village (Grain Fields)
Village (Grain Fields)
(greek_grain_1)
Level 0
Village (Horse Trainers)
Village (Horse Trainers)
(greek_horse_1)
Level 0
Village (Iron Workshop)
Village (Iron Workshop)
(greek_iron_1)
Level 0
Village (Lead Mine)
Village (Lead Mine)
(greek_lead_1)
Level 0
Village (Tannery)
Village (Tannery)
(greek_leather_1)
Level 0
Village (Loggers)
Village (Loggers)
(greek_lumber_1)
Level 0
Village (Marble Pit)
Village (Marble Pit)
(greek_marble_1)
Level 0
Village (Olive Grove)
Village (Olive Grove)
(greek_olive_1)
Level 0
Village (Murex Snail Farm)
Village (Murex Snail Farm)
(greek_purple_dye_1)
Level 0
Village (Silk Trader)
Village (Silk Trader)
(greek_silk_1)
Level 0
Village
Village
(greek_town_1)
Level 0
Village (Vineyard)
Village (Vineyard)
(greek_wine_1)
Level 0
Pontic Swordsmen x 2 Settlement (Amber Collector)
Settlement (Amber Collector)
(greek_amber_2)
Level 1
Polis
Polis
(greek_city_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Glass Blower)
Settlement (Glass Blower)
(greek_glass_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Trench Mine)
Settlement (Trench Mine)
(greek_gold_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Grain Farms)
Settlement (Grain Farms)
(greek_grain_2)
Level 1
Town (Horse Breeders)
Town (Horse Breeders)
(greek_horse_2)
Level 1
Town (Shieldmaker)
Town (Shieldmaker)
(greek_iron_armour_2)
Level 1
Colony (Armourer)
Colony (Armourer)
(greek_iron_armour_3)
Level 2
Town (Blacksmith)
Town (Blacksmith)
(greek_iron_weapon_2)
Level 1
Colony (Weaponsmith)
Colony (Weaponsmith)
(greek_iron_weapon_3)
Level 2
Settlement (Trench Mine)
Settlement (Trench Mine)
(greek_lead_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Open Air Tannery)
Settlement (Open Air Tannery)
(greek_leather_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Logging Camp)
Settlement (Logging Camp)
(greek_lumber_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Marble Quarry)
Settlement (Marble Quarry)
(greek_marble_2)
Level 1
Muster Field
Muster Field
(greek_military_1)
Level 0
Holosideros Barracks
Holosideros Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_2)
Level 1
Hoplite Barracks
Hoplite Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_3)
Level 2
Royal Barracks
Royal Barracks
(greek_military_heavy_4)
Level 3
Periokos Camp
Periokos Camp
(greek_military_light_2)
Level 1
Skirmisher Camp
Skirmisher Camp
(greek_military_light_3)
Level 2
Mercenary Camp
Mercenary Camp
(greek_military_light_4)
Level 3
Settlement (Olive Press)
Settlement (Olive Press)
(greek_olive_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Snail Vats)
Settlement (Snail Vats)
(greek_purple_dye_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Silk Caravan)
Settlement (Silk Caravan)
(greek_silk_2)
Level 1
Civil Settlement
Civil Settlement
(greek_town_civil_2)
Level 1
Farming Settlement
Farming Settlement
(greek_town_farm_2)
Level 1
Market Settlement
Market Settlement
(greek_town_trade_2)
Level 1
Settlement (Large Vineyard)
Settlement (Large Vineyard)
(greek_wine_2)
Level 1
Pontic Swordsmen x 3 Town (Amber Trader)
Town (Amber Trader)
(greek_amber_3)
Level 2
Megapolis
Megapolis
(greek_city_3)
Level 2
Town (Glass Maker)
Town (Glass Maker)
(greek_glass_3)
Level 2
Town (Shaft Mine)
Town (Shaft Mine)
(greek_gold_3)
Level 2
Town (Grain Irrigated Farm)
Town (Grain Irrigated Farm)
(greek_grain_3)
Level 2
Colony (Master Horse Breeders)
Colony (Master Horse Breeders)
(greek_horse_3)
Level 2
Town (Shaft Mine)
Town (Shaft Mine)
(greek_lead_3)
Level 2
Town (Leather Workshop)
Town (Leather Workshop)
(greek_leather_3)
Level 2
Town (Timber Yard)
Town (Timber Yard)
(greek_lumber_3)
Level 2
Town (Marble Cutter)
Town (Marble Cutter)
(greek_marble_3)
Level 2
Town (Mola Olearia)
Town (Mola Olearia)
(greek_olive_3)
Level 2
Town (Dye Works)
Town (Dye Works)
(greek_purple_dye_3)
Level 2
Town (Silk Market)
Town (Silk Market)
(greek_silk_3)
Level 2
Civil Town
Civil Town
(greek_town_civil_3)
Level 2
Farming Town
Farming Town
(greek_town_farm_3)
Level 2
Market Town
Market Town
(greek_town_trade_3)
Level 2
Town (Winemaker)
Town (Winemaker)
(greek_wine_3)
Level 2
Pontic Swordsmen x 4 Colony (Amber Road)
Colony (Amber Road)
(greek_amber_4)
Level 3
Metropolis
Metropolis
(greek_city_4)
Level 3
Colony (Master Glass Maker)
Colony (Master Glass Maker)
(greek_glass_4)
Level 3
Colony (Sluiced Mine)
Colony (Sluiced Mine)
(greek_gold_4)
Level 3
Colony (Grain Estate)
Colony (Grain Estate)
(greek_grain_4)
Level 3
Colony (Sluiced Mine)
Colony (Sluiced Mine)
(greek_lead_4)
Level 3
Colony (Master Leather Workshop)
Colony (Master Leather Workshop)
(greek_leather_4)
Level 3
Colony (Timber Trader)
Colony (Timber Trader)
(greek_lumber_4)
Level 3
Colony (Marble Architect)
Colony (Marble Architect)
(greek_marble_4)
Level 3
Colony (Olive Oil Trader)
Colony (Olive Oil Trader)
(greek_olive_4)
Level 3
Colony (Master Dye Works)
Colony (Master Dye Works)
(greek_purple_dye_4)
Level 3
Colony (Silk Road)
Colony (Silk Road)
(greek_silk_4)
Level 3
Civil Colony
Civil Colony
(greek_town_civil_4)
Level 3
Farming Colony
Farming Colony
(greek_town_farm_4)
Level 3
Market Colony
Market Colony
(greek_town_trade_4)
Level 3
Colony (Master Winemaker)
Colony (Master Winemaker)
(greek_wine_4)
Level 3
Faction Availability
Grand Campaign
Imperator Augustus