Greatswords or Halberdiers?

**Fallen Angel Ezekiel** · November 26, 2012, 02:12 PM

Hi, I was just trying to come up with a good balanced army. I play as middenheim and base my army around white wolfs dismounted and mounted supported by mortars, hand gunners and greatswords but I've noticed greatswords do not have AP and seem to die very quickly. I'm leaning towards halberdiers as they seem the all round unit. Any suggestions?

Cheers.

**IrishBlood** · November 26, 2012, 06:21 PM

Greatswords are FAAAR weaker than they should be in this mod currently (I think they plan on changing that in the next update, but Im not sure.) Halbardiers on the other hand are very overpowered, so use lots of them

**KiKiweaky** · November 27, 2012, 03:59 AM

I'd go with halberdiers for the moment they are quite op and fighting against some of the insane stacks the game will throw at you your going to need all the help you can get

**Fallen Angel Ezekiel** · November 27, 2012, 07:39 AM

Awesome cheers guys, empire troops are so weak though, I lost 2000 men defending a siege from vampire counts! They did have some elite units though. Still won that epic siege battle though. Will do some testing with halberdiers then.

**Lazy** · November 27, 2012, 11:34 AM

This two units are made for two completly different tasks! You cannot compare them that simple...

Halberdiers are good for holding your main line... at the other hand they move slowly and will always die like flies ( if not attacked from the front while having spearwall activated) .
Their only task is holding the line and beeing cheap to replenish. That´s what they are made for!

Greatswords are "special" units. If you put them into the front line they will have huge casualties and retraining them is a pain in the ass due to costs and replenishment rate.
They are too expensive to be used as fodder!
At the other hand they run fast and have high attack stats. Use them to run around the enemy and fall into its back ( while the cheap Halberdiers are holding the line ).
Make sure they will never be charged by enemies! Use them for killing trolls or other scary stuff!

In fact you need both units. Use the Halberdiers as an anvil and the Greatswords as an hammer! The enemy has to be in between...

Edit: I have to correct one thing... if you can build Dismounted White Wolfs or something like that there is no need for Greatswords!
Use the wolfs instead!

**Fallen Angel Ezekiel** · November 28, 2012, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Lazy

This two units are made for two completly different tasks! You cannot compare them that simple...

Halberdiers are good for holding your main line... at the other hand they move slowly and will always die like flies ( if not attacked from the front while having spearwall activated) .
Their only task is holding the line and beeing cheap to replenish. That´s what they are made for!

Greatswords are "special" units. If you put them into the front line they will have huge casualties and retraining them is a pain in the ass due to costs and replenishment rate.
They are too expensive to be used as fodder!
At the other hand they run fast and have high attack stats. Use them to run around the enemy and fall into its back ( while the cheap Halberdiers are holding the line ).
Make sure they will never be charged by enemies! Use them for killing trolls or other scary stuff!

In fact you need both units. Use the Halberdiers as an anvil and the Greatswords as an hammer! The enemy has to be in between...

Edit: I have to correct one thing... if you can build Dismounted White Wolfs or something like that there is no need for Greatswords!
Use the wolfs instead!

Well I tested out halberdiers holding the line and two units of white wolves on the flanks attacking the enemy. The halberdiers held the line really well against beastmen, apart from when the big heavy units came in which I charged in the back with my cavalry and then the wolves on the sides closing in. Played two massive battles and 1 unit of halberdiers already have one gold chevron

**Ichon** · December 02, 2012, 02:10 PM

Halberdiers are really OP right now... although keep in mind Greatswords are maybe more useful for their leadership stats in line with lower tier Empire infantry if you are using your general as cavalry.

**GreatSword** · December 03, 2012, 09:31 PM

GreatSwords can decimate several units in a row if they are on the walls, defending against ladders. Halberdiers are generally a better all around pick though. This is for several reasons...

1. Cost- For the same number of troops, Halberds cost roughly half of a greatsword unit
2. Power- phalanx for halberds is silly, but they have it, and it owns even in a long line
3. Retrainability- you can easily have armies full of halberds, they are abundant
4. Weapon Reach- yes it matters, they have a longer reach than most troops

GreatSwords are much weaker than they should be, but this is maily due to their formation, not stats. Look at the Swordmasters of Heoth formations, copy/paste them for your greatswords (EDU), and watch them perform much more like they should, without having to boost stats. Why no one feels the need to fix this in the mod I do not know.

Halberds are too strong, mainly because of phalanx formation, actually , entirely because of it. It doesnt just make them able to hit in several ranks, It actually makes them really hard to get at besides the initial charge, The phalanx mechanic is not really designed for troops without extremely long pikes.