Upgrading Units

**The Spaniard** · December 15, 2008, 05:18 PM

Whether playing custom battles or multiplayer, which is better to upgrade first, experience, armor, or defense? I imagine it is different for each unit type, but a general rundown of what each upgrade does and which upgrade to purchase for each type of unit would be much appreciated.

**Owain Glyndŵr** · December 15, 2008, 05:27 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Experience is going to give a slight bonus to attack and defense, as well as improving the accuracy of archers and artillery. Even more importantly, if gives a bonus to morale; an experienced unit is far less likely to rout.

Armour is pretty obvious... it gives your units better protection against enemy attacks. This is essential for units that start out without armour, but can be upgraded. Pike Militia, for example, start unarmoured but can be upgraded to plate, whcih is infinitely better.

Weapon upgrades increase attack power; you'll notice on the battle map that the soldiers will have somewhat ornate weapons. Best used with shock troops like two-handed axemen; it will make them even more effective against an armoured foe.

A high experience level will have a dramatic effect on performance; I've had bill militias at level 5 experience fight to the last against shock troops without wavering... and they lasted a long time since they'd been improved from unarmoured to full plate.

**Old_Scratch** · December 15, 2008, 06:04 PM

There have been tests done and weapon and armor bonuses give more than just a +1 to attack or defense. If I recall correctly, weapon upgrade give roughly +6 or +7 to attack, and armor upgrade gives +2 or +3 per level.

So, for multiplayer I'd say always go for the weapon upgrade first. It's a little more expensive, but will make the unit far more powerful. Weapon upgrades are also very powerful on armor piercing units. Take for example dismounted imperial knights. They aren't a great stand alone unit, regular moral and lack luster stats. They do have a mace though and if you give them the weapon upgrade they will become about twice as effective as DCK's and yet still cost about the same price. Weapon upgrades are also quite good for two handed shock troops. Dismounted English knights, Varangian guard etc will do massive damage on their charge with the weapon upgrade. Sometimes they can kill 20-40% of an enemy unit just on the charge.

Don't forget about armor upgrades entirely though. Unit's that can have multiple armor upgrades get very hard to kill. Pike militia and many other militia units can have three armor upgrades which makes them quite good.
Danish swordsmen get two armor upgrades, and dismounted Byzantine lancers get 3. Both make a mediocre unit quite good.

If you combine the two you can get super units like Teutonic knights, or royal mamluks. Both have an AP weapon and two armor upgrades available making them monstrously powerful, if you can actually afford them that is.

As for experience upgrades, I don't use them that much. They do give a decent bonus but they can be expensive as compared to the other upgrades. I usually only use exp upgrades if I'm playing with a lot of money and they are the last thing to be upgraded.

**Owain Glyndŵr** · December 15, 2008, 06:35 PM

Just out of curiosity, how do you get weapon upgrades in the campaign?

**Carpathian Wolf** · December 15, 2008, 09:01 PM

Have to get Swordsmith guild.

**Silent Assassin** · December 17, 2008, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Carpathian Wolf

Have to get Swordsmith guild.

Exactly there is that won that upgrades the attack points of your infantry and there is also the Horsebreeders Guild that gives Experiences bonus to your Cavalry and if you want to know how have a look at my guide about giulds direct link is in my Signature.

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