Picts Melee Infantry

Black Blades

Historical accounts indicate that when Celtic forces fought, and in addition to the use of woad tattoos, they often wielded weapons and wore armour of unusual colours. This must have been particularly alien to the eyes of regimented Romans, when even a second's hesitation on the battlefield could mean the difference between life and death. Indeed, Irish tales from the time speak of warriors with "dark broadgreen javelins", "black, huge swords", and "blackened shields"; this indicates that blades may have been left unpolished and shields tarred for strength and, more importantly, waterproofing against the British weather. The initially unforeseen effect on the Roman invaders was soon turned to an advantage by the wiley Celts, who capitalised on their ferocious appearance, in combination with the element of surprise, to defeat the invaders.

Unit Name Black Blades

Main Unit Key att_cel_black_blades

Land Unit Key att_cel_black_blades

Naval Unit Key att_lon_heavy_tra_cel

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Melee Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 725

Recruitment Cost 725

Upkeep Cost 360

Melee Attack 55

Melee Damage 50

├ Melee Weapon att_spatha_heavy

├ Melee Base Damage 36

├ Armour-piercing Damage 14

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Attack Against Cavalry 0

├ Attack Against Elephants 0

└ Attack Against Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 40

Melee Defence 20

├ Base Defence 15

├ Shield att_round_large

└ Shield Defence 5

Armour 57

├ Armour att_leather_heavy

├ Armour Defence 20

└ Shield Armour 37

Health 100

├ Man Entity att_infantry_heavy

├ Man Health 90

└ Bonus Hit Points 10

Morale 108

Abilities

• Frenzy
  Improves a unit's attack capabilities for an extended period of time.
• Rapid Advance
  Improved unit movement speed over an extended period.

Attributes

• Berserk
  This unit can go berserk during the battle. This makes them uncontrollable, they will automatically attack nearby enemies.
• Guerrilla Deployment
  This unit can deploy outside of the deployment zone.
• Hide (forest)
  This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
• Scare (everyone)
  This unit frightens all enemy units.
• Immune to Fear
  This unit is immune to the fear effects of scary units.

Strengths & Weaknesses

No Strengths and Weaknesses

Requires Buildings

Lv. 0

Warlord's Keep (att_bld_barbarian_civic_chieftain_4) Level 3 Warlord's Castle (att_bld_barbarian_civic_chieftain_5_legendary) Level 4 Chieftain's Keep (att_bld_barbarian_civic_minor_chieftain_4_legendary) Level 3 Chieftain's Castle (att_bld_barbarian_civic_minor_chieftain_5_legendary) Level 4 Hall of Elders (att_bld_barbarian_civic_storyteller_4) Level 3 Mead Hall (att_bld_barbarian_civic_tavern_4) Level 3 Bards' Hall (att_bld_barbarian_civic_tavern_5_legendary_celts) Level 4

Garrison Buildings
x 1	Warlord's Castle (att_bld_barbarian_civic_chieftain_5_legendary) Level 4 Chieftain's Castle (att_bld_barbarian_civic_minor_chieftain_5_legendary) Level 4

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Picts Pictish Separatists