Epirus Pike Infantry

Hellenic Royal Guard

Elite pikemen, the various Hellenic royal guards were modelled on a combination of their hoplite forebears and the Alexandrian pike reforms. Trading the traditional spear and hoplon for the longer sarissa and smaller shields mounted on their wrists, they were undoubtedly better equipped and to a more uniform standard than their counterparts, probably being comparable to the lochagos, or file commanders, of other phalanx armies. Kept and maintained at the king’s expense, royal guards were both highly drilled and disciplined. This close association with the king extended to their dwelling place, such units being garrisoned in or near the king’s palace or sleeping in the palace courtyards. Inspired by the elite units of Alexander, such as the hypaspists and Silver Shields, the concept of elite foot guards may have originated with the squires and armour bearers of the Companion cavalry.

Unit Name Hellenic Royal Guard

Main Unit Key Gre_Royal_Guard

Land Unit Key Gre_Royal_Guard

Naval Unit Key pel_transport

Soldiers 160

Category Melee Infantry

Class Pike Infantry

Custom Battle Cost 1260

Recruitment Cost 1260

Upkeep Cost 200

Melee Attack 46

Weapon Damage 28

├ Melee Weapon rome_pike_elite

├ Melee Damage Base 24

├ Melee Damage Ap 4

├ Armour Piercing No

├ Bonus vs. Large 0

├ Bonus vs Elephants 0

└ Bonus vs Infantry 0

Charge Bonus 13

Melee Defence 38

├ Base Defence 28

├ Shield pikemen

└ Shield Defence 10

Armour 90

├ Armour bronze

├ Armour Defence 60

└ Shield Armour 30

Health 60

├ Man Entity rome_infantry_very_heavy_pike

├ Man Health 40

└ Bonus Hit Points 20

Base Morale 70

Abilities

• Pike Phalanx
  The unit moves into a deep, close defensive formation.
  Bonus vs cavalry, bracing
  Limited speed

Attributes

• 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.

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
• Very vulnerable when not in phalanx

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

Faction Availability
Grand Campaign	Epirus Epirean Nobles Epirean Secessionists Egypt Egyptian Nobles Egyptian Secessionists Egyptian Rebels
Imperator Augustus	Egypt (Imperator Augustus) Egyptian Nobles (Imperator Augustus) Egyptian Secessionists (Imperator Augustus) Egyptian Rebels (Imperator Augustus)