Seleucid Spear Infantry

Shield Bearers

Meaning shield bearer or shield carrier, the Macedonian hypaspist developed out of the foot squires of the Companion cavalry. Rising to prominence under Alexander the Great, these chosen foot soldiers were equipped more like their hoplite predecessors than the new sarissa-armed phalangite infantry of the Macedonian phalanx. Armoured in linothorax, a cuirass of linen reinforced with metal, and a helmet, greaves and the apsis shield, they were more heavily equipped than their phalangite counterparts. Even with the increased weight, the shield bearer’s armament of spears and short kopis swords made them more flexible in battle than the less manoeuvrable phalangite. Because of this they usually guarded the vulnerable flank of such sarissa-armed phalanxes and, as an elite body, held the place of honour on the army’s right flank between the phalangites and the Companion cavalry. Alexander’s hypaspists influenced the adoption of such units by many of his Successors, and their use continued within the Macedonian army for quite some time. Eventually the shield bearer role developed into a rank of lower staff officers spread throughout the army, reporting directly to the king.

Unit Name Shield Bearers

Main Unit Key Gre_Shield_Bearers

Land Unit Key Gre_Shield_Bearers

Naval Unit Key greek_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 950

Recruitment Cost 950

Upkeep Cost 100

Melee Attack 31

Weapon Damage 32

├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 21

├ Melee Damage Ap 11

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 17

├ Bonus vs Elephants 19

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 27

Melee Defence 84

├ Base Defence 58

├ Shield hoplite

└ Shield Defence 26

Armour 127

├ Armour bronze_elite

├ Armour Defence 84

└ Shield Armour 43

Health 80

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy

├ Man Health 60

└ Bonus Hit Points 20

Base Morale 65

Abilities

• Hoplite Wall
  The unit moves into close wall formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Acceleration, speed
• Square
  The unit moves into a close square formation.
  Bracing, morale, melee defence
  Can't move
• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.
  Speed, acceleration, charge speed
  Exertion: fatigue

Attributes

• Expert Charge Defence
  This unit’s melee attack and damage are increased against charging enemies.
• Disciplined
  This unit does not suffer a morale penalty when the general dies. It can also rally after routing more often.
• Encourage
  This unit provides a morale bonus to nearby allies.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Very poor hull strength
• Very slow speed
• Weak ramming

• Very good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Good morale

Requires Buildings
Lv. 1	Royal Barracks (greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Macedon Macedonian Nobles Seleucid Seleucid Nobles