Halberdier (Age of Empires III)

"Slow, heavy infantry with a large attack."

- In-game description

The Halberdier is a heavy infantry unit in Age of Empires III.

Overview
The Halberdier is a powerful hand infantry unit, good against almost everything, but slow in movement. Veteran Halberdier is available at the Barracks once Fortress Age is reached. They start out in the Veteran rank in all civilizations without the need of an upgrade. They are similar to the Pikeman in terms of its purpose and function. However, they have more health, deal more damage to cavalry and buildings, and can also be upgraded to Imperial status. They are a superior replacement to the Pikeman once the Fortress Age is reached. They are the melee version of the Musketeer, good against both cavalry and infantry.

The Russians train their Halberdiers in a group of four units at a time from their Blockhouses.

The Spanish cannot train Halberdiers, but can ship 13 Guard Halberdiers through Quatrefage.

The British, Germans and Ottomans do not have Halberdiers at all.

Upgrades
The Halberdier is automatically upgraded to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack) at the Fortress Age.

Further statistics
As the Halberdier can only be trained by Dutch, French, Portuguese and Russians, only improvements available to them (including the campaign-only John Black's Mercenaries, the Spanish who can ship a limited number of Halberdiers, and native improvements) are listed here.

Home City Cards
As the Halberdier is exclusive to Dutch, French, Portuguese and Russians, only other civilizations' TEAM cards that affects them are listed here.

Since the Spanish can ship a limited number of Halberdiers but cannot train them otherwise, Spanish cards that affects Halberdiers are included as well. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width: 100%;" ! sab="1148" | Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Halberdier
 * - sab="1147"
 * - sab="1149"
 * sab="1150" |
 * Green : TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
 * Purple : Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times

Europeans

 * The 7 Halberdiers, 10 Halberdiers, and 8 Halberdiers cards are available to Dutch and Portuguese.
 * The 13 Halberdiers card is available to Dutch and Russians (at a level 1 Home City).

Spanish

 * }

Trivia

 * The Halberdier's function and it's availability in the third age is similar to the Hoplite and Phalanx from the original Age of Empires.
 * Despite being a German-origin weapon, and being used by the British, and Spanish, none of them use it for balancing reasons.
 * Dutch Royal Guard Halberdiers are named after Maurice of Nassau who was the first to utilize linear infantry tactics on a large scale in Europe.
 * Contrary to the in-game upgrade, however, the tactic was introduced to Dutch musketeers rather than melee troops.

History
"Riders with lances had better range than halberdiers, so halberdiers often fought alongside Pikemen. The axe blade of a halberd was more than capable of cleaving plate armor, flesh and bone alike, but because the halberdier had to swing the long weapon with both hands, he was virtually defenseless when attacking. This required tight coordination and unwavering resolve within a regiment of halberdiers. The halberd is essentially a very long-handled axe. It was a six foot staff of stout oak or ash topped by a long, stabbing spear point and a heavy axe blade balanced by a spike. The spear point was used to thrust and stab, the axe blade to cut through a mounted warrior's heavy armor, and the spike opposite the axe blade to push, or pull, riders off balance."