Adirim loyalists Spear Infantry

Sacred Band

The Sacred Band were a phalanx of veteran spearmen, raised in Carthage, and trained and armoured in Greek hoplite fashion. They were unique in that they were drawn from the populace of the city itself, rather than being allies, levied subject peoples or mercenaries; these were the groups that normally made up Carthaginian armies. Chosen from the nobility and wealthy citizens, they were well trained and disciplined. Thanks to their social status they could afford the full panoply of hoplite armour: a bronze cuirass, greaves and helm, and a hoplon shield. In the case of the Sacred Band these were predominately white in colour. Armed with hoplite spears, tipped with an iron head and bronze butt-spike for balance, members of the Sacred Band also carried straight swords. Renowned for their valour, even in defeat, the Sacred Band was expected to fight to the last, and did so at the Battle of the Crimissus in 340BC. Their numbers never recovered and in time the pressure of Carthage’s wars with Rome meant that the Sacred Band was superseded by mercenary armies, paid for by Carthage's trading wealth. These armies still had small numbers of Carthaginian citizens and Liby-Phoenicians, but the Sacred Band of old was no more.

Unit Name Sacred Band

Main Unit Key Car_Sacred_Band

Land Unit Key Car_Sacred_Band

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Spear Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 1170

Recruitment Cost 1170

Upkeep Cost 200

Melee Attack 42

Weapon Damage 29

├ Melee Weapon rome_spear_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 24

├ Melee Damage Ap 5

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 20

├ Bonus vs Elephants 20

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 22

Melee Defence 59

├ Base Defence 44

├ Shield hoplite

└ Shield Defence 15

Armour 105

├ Armour bronze

├ Armour Defence 60

└ Shield Armour 45

Health 65

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_hoplite

├ Man Health 45

└ Bonus Hit Points 20

Base Morale 70

Abilities

• Hoplite Wall
  The unit moves into close wall formation.
  Bracing, melee defence, shield strength
  Acceleration, speed

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.
• Formation Attack
  The unit will try to stay in formation when in melee.
• 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

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

Requires Buildings
Lv. 0	Royal Barracks (greek_military_heavy_4) Level 3

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Carthage Adirim loyalists Adirim Secessionists Punic Rebels
Hannibal at the Gates	Carthage (Hannibal at the Gates) Adirim loyalists (Hannibal at the Gates) Adirim Secessionists (Hannibal at the Gates) Punic Rebels (Hannibal at the Gates)
Imperator Augustus	Punic Rebels (Imperator Augustus)