Mauri (Imperator Augustus) Pike Infantry

Meroitic Pikemen

The thureos, a large oval-shaped shield, became common throughout the Hellenistic world from the 3rd century BC. Made from wood covered in hide, it differed from the earlier Greek hoplon in having a central handgrip, which was protected by a vertical spine running the length of the shield. This in turn could be further reinforced by the addition of a wide metal strip that protected the grip and the user’s hand. Inspired by the sub-rectangular and oval shields of the Celts, possibly through contact with the migrating Galatians, its usage seems to have spread through the Illyrian and Thracian tribes before it was adopted by the Greeks. Although large, the thureos was light in comparison to the traditional hoplon, and was adopted by heavily-armoured peltasts. Named after their shields, 'thureophoroi' could fight as common peltasts, skirmishing with javelins, but could also form up with their larger shields and longer spears in a similar fashion to a phalanx. The versatile and useful design of the thureos meant it was used by many armies, including the auxiliaries and cavalry of the later Roman Legions.

Unit Name Meroitic Pikemen

Main Unit Key Mro_Hellenic_Pikes

Land Unit Key Mro_Hellenic_Pikes

Naval Unit Key egyptian_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Pike Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 590

Recruitment Cost 590

Upkeep Cost 75

Melee Attack 27

Weapon Damage 29

├ Melee Weapon rome_pike

├ Melee Damage Base 20

├ Melee Damage Ap 9

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 5

├ Bonus vs Elephants 7

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 10

Melee Defence 52

├ Base Defence 31

├ Shield pikemen

└ Shield Defence 21

Armour 67

├ Armour padded

├ Armour Defence 37

└ Shield Armour 30

Health 65

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_heavy_pike

├ Man Health 50

└ Bonus Hit Points 15

Base Morale 45

Abilities

• Pike Phalanx
  The unit moves into a deep, close defensive formation.
  Bonus vs cavalry, bracing.
  Limited speed
• Steady
  Improves the unit's ability to endure enemy charges.
  Armour, melee defence
  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

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

• Good defensive unit
• Low damage but average armour penetration
• Average attack
• Normal morale
• Very vulnerable when not in phalanx

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Infantry Quarters (east_military_infantry_3) Level 2
Lv. 1	Royal Barracks (east_military_infantry_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Axum Blemmyes Meroe African Rebels Garamantia Nasamones
Hannibal at the Gates	African Rebels (Hannibal at the Gates) Garamantia (Hannibal at the Gates) Mauri (Hannibal at the Gates)
Imperator Augustus	African Rebels (Imperator Augustus) Axum (Imperator Augustus) Blemmyes (Imperator Augustus) Gaetuli (Imperator Augustus) Garamantia (Imperator Augustus) Gerrhea (Imperator Augustus) Himyar (Imperator Augustus) Ma'in (Imperator Augustus) Mascat (Imperator Augustus) Mauri (Imperator Augustus) Meroe (Imperator Augustus) Nabatea (Imperator Augustus) Nasamones (Imperator Augustus) Numidia (Imperator Augustus) Qidri (Imperator Augustus) Saba (Imperator Augustus)