Epilektoi Drapanai
(Dacian Elite Falxmen)These very skilled falxmen are the chosen men from the Drapanai units. Well protected, but more agile than the late Roman legionaries, these elites use the terrific cutting power of their falxes to disrupt the enemy lines, or to exploit the gap created by the regular Drapanai.
The exact origins of the Dacians are something of a mystery. Dacian lands were centred around the Carpathian Mountains but, unlike their Thracian neighbours, they seldom got involved in the conflicts of others. The Dacians fought almost entirely on foot, and usually looked to their Sarmatian allies when serious cavalry were needed. Many Dacian infantry fought as peltasts, equipped with javelins, short swords and oval shields, but they also fielded archers. However, the Dacians were most feared because of a weapon called the 'falx', which they used with deadly, limb-lopping skill. A two-handed sword with a forward-curving blade, a falx could cut a man in two from the top of his head to his breastbone. This weapon was so effective that the Romans improved their legionary armour to cope with it. The brow-ridge on later legionary helmets was there to stop a blow from a falx. Rome’s eventual victory in the Dacian Wars (AD101-106), celebrated by Trajan’s Column, finally dealt with the warlike Dacian tribes once and for all.
Unit Name Epilektoi Drapanai |
Main Unit Key Dac_Elite_Falxmen |
Land Unit Key Dac_Elite_Falxmen |
Naval Unit Key barbarian_transport |
Soldiers 200 |
Category Melee Infantry |
Class Melee Infantry |
Custom Battle Cost 1203 |
Recruitment Cost 1203 |
Upkeep Cost 241 |
Melee Attack 63 |
13 |
├ Melee Weapon falx2 |
├ Weapon Damage 13 |
├ Weapon Deadliness 0 |
├ Armour Piercing Yes |
├ Bonus vs. Cavalry 3 |
├ Bonus vs. Elephants 30 |
└ Bonus vs Infantry 1 |
Charge Bonus 20 |
68 |
├ Base Defence 52 |
├ Shield none |
└ Shield Defence 16 |
8 |
├ Armour arm4 |
├ Armour Defence 8 |
└ Shield Armour 0 |
20 |
├ Man Entity heavy_medium |
├ Man Health 20 |
└ Bonus Hit Points 0 |
Base Morale 65 |
Abilities
Epilektoi Drapanai- Stamina (average)
Governs how fast the unit tires and restores fatigue, and is dependent on type of unit, weight and approach to combat.
Attributes
- Hide (forest)
This unit can hide in forests until enemy units get too close.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Transport- Very poor hull strength
- Very slow speed
- Weak ramming
- Good charge and attack
- Good damage and armour penetration
- Weak defence
- Average morale
Faction Availability | |
---|---|
Grand Campaign | |
Imperator Augustus |