Doppelsoldner

The Doppelsoldner is an expensive but powerful melee unit unique to the Germans in Age of Empires III.

Overview
Doppelsoldners wield great two-handed swords, the "Zweihänder", inflicting powerful blows against multiple enemies, similar to the trample damage done by the cavalry. They are good against heavy infantry and cavalry, but vulnerable to light infantry and artillery. Doppelsoldners have a high siege rating and can raze buildings within seconds in large numbers. Doppelsoldners are available from the Barracks once the Colonial Age is reached.

A similar unit is the Japanese Samurai, though the Doppelsoldner is slightly weaker against all other units and slightly stronger against cavalry. However the Doppelsoldner's attack can be pushed to 56, and their siege attack to 168. Their hit points can be pushed to 690, making them able to kill even Cuirassiers and Spahis.

Upgrades
The Doppelsoldner benefits from the Infantry Breastplate and Military Drummers upgrades found in the Arsenal once Fortress Age is reached. This Technology increases the hit points of Doppelsoldners by 20 points. Doppelsoldners can also be upgraded to Veteran level and beyond after the Colonial Age.

Veteran Doppelsoldner
The Veteran Doppelsoldner is the first upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks that is available for 200 Wood and 200 Coin once Fortress Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resists remain the same.


 * Hit Points: 276
 * Hand Attack: 24
 * Guardian Attack: 24
 * Siege Attack: 72

Guard Doppelsoldner
The Guard Doppelsoldner is the second upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks that is available for 600 Wood and 600 Coin once Industrial Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resists remain the same.


 * Hit Points: 345
 * Hand Attack: 30
 * Guardian Attack: 30
 * Siege Attack: 90

Imperial Doppelsoldner
The Imperial Doppelsoldner is the final and most powerful upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks that is available for 1500 Wood and 1500 Coin once Imperial Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resists remain the same. Notice that the hit points and the attack doubles compared to the original Doppelsoldner


 * Hit Points: 460
 * Hand Attack: 40
 * Guardian Attack: 40
 * Siege Attack: 120

Shipments
This is a list of shipments that benefit Doppelsoldners in anyway.

{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width:100%; margin-bottom:0px; margin-top:1px;" ! sab="1148"| Click for a list of Doppelsoldner related home city cards
 * - sab="1147"
 * - sab="1149"
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Germans

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History
Doppelsöldner (double Mercenary) were front line infantry troops. First used in the 16th century by German states this soldier was paid double because of the extra risk involved in fighting on the front line. Historians believe the role of Doppelsoldners was to smash though formations of pikeman; using the Zweihänder a sword up to 180 cm in length, it was designed to break the pikes or disarm them to attack the vulnerable pikeman.

Trivia
On the Doppelsoldner's profile image the smaller set of handguards is near the zweihander's handle. In real life, the smaller guards are the farthest away from the handle, and are located in the ricasso, away from the swordsman's hands.