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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II. For similar units in other games of the series, see Halberdier.

Anti-cavalry infantry unit.
Age of Empires II description

The Halberdier is an infantry unit in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors that can be trained at the Barracks (and also Donjons for the Sicilians) upon reaching the Imperial Age. As an upgrade of the Pikeman, it has a huge attack bonus against cavalry, particularly elephants.

Halberdiers are weak against all units except cavalry, but make up for it by being one of the cheapest military units in the game. Additionally, no gold is required to train them, making them trash units.

Availability chart[]

Halberdieravailable Available Halberdierunavailable Unavailable
x means that the civilization gets fully upgradeable Halberdiers. A missing technology is fully offset by some civilization bonus. The technologies being considered here are Blast Furnace, Plate Mail Armor, and Squires.
+ means that the civilization gets some civilization or team bonus or a unique technology that benefits the combat strength of the Halberdier.
means that the civilization had access to Halberdiers in the past, but does not currently.

Tactics[]

Like their predecessors, the Pikemen, the main purpose of Halberdiers is countering cavalry units. The upgrade gives them +10 anti-cavalry damage, +8 anti-camel damage, and a total of +13 additional bonus damage against Elephants. This makes the upgrade almost always worth it, though the high cost of the upgrade can make it hard to justify depending on the amount of cavalry the enemy is using. Their attack bonus against cavalry of 32 is so huge that two Halberdiers can bring down even a Paladin. However, they still maintain their predecessors' inability to force a fight, so they are only suited for defending other units that would otherwise falter against cavalry. They can be paired with siege units and protect them from melee cavalry attacks. They become a lot more valuable in the late Imperial Age since at that time gold is usually running very low, often resulting in trash wars. There, Halberdiers hold an advantage against Hussars.

Halberdiers need to be massed to be effective, but they are cost-effective against all cavalry units, even Cataphracts. Ranged cavalry like Cavalry Archers can handle them, though, when micromanaged properly. Halberdiers fare poorly against all other infantry, thanks to their very low base damage and lack of bonus damage against infantry. Archers, particularly when massed, make short work of them, due to not only their low pierce armor and hit points, but also the fact that they receive bonus damage from archers.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Cavalry
Weak vs. Archers, Heavy Scorpions, infantry, Elite Cataphracts
Upgrades
Attack Forging aoe2de Forging (+1)
IronCastingDE Iron Casting (+1)
BlastFurnaceDE Blast Furnace (+2)
ArsonDE Arson (+2 attack against standard buildings)
UniqueTechImperialDE Druzhina (gives trample damage in 0.5 tiles radius, Slavs only)
UniqueTechImperialDE Wootz Steel (attack ignores armor, Dravidians only)
Armor ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1, +2/+2 for the Romans)
ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1, +2/+2 for the Romans)
PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2)
UniqueTechImperialDE Tower Shields (+2 pierce armor, Lithuanians only)
Speed SquiresDE Squires (+10%)
Conversion defense Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
FaithDE Faith (+4 min, +4 max)
HeresyDE Heresy (die upon getting converted)
UniqueTechCastle-DE First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max, Sicilians only)
Creation speed ConscriptionDE Conscription (+33%)
UniqueTechImperialDE Perfusion (+100%, Goths only)
Regeneration UniqueTechCastle-DE Stronghold (30 HP/min when within 18 tiles square of a team Celts Castle)

Civilization bonuses[]

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors[]

  • Halberdiers have a +16 attack bonus against camel units and ships.
  • CivIcon-Franks Franks: Initially, cannot train Halberdiers. With patch 1.0b, it was added to their technology tree.
  • CivIcon-Goths Goths: Halberdiers have an extra +1 attack bonus against standard buildings.
  • CivIcon-Goths Goths: Initially, Halberdiers are 25% cheaper. With patch 1.0b, Halberdiers are 35% cheaper.
  • Halberdiers have +21 attack against Mamelukes on account of them having 11 cavalry armor, in addition to their attack bonus due to Armor class: Camel.

AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten[]

  • Halberdiers have a +17 attack bonus against camel units and ships.

AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms[]

  • Arson introduced.
  • CivIcon-Malians Malians: On release, can train Halberdiers. With patch 4.8, it is removed from their technology tree.
  • CivIcon-Ethiopians Ethiopians: The Halberdier upgrade is free.

AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas[]

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India[]

AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome[]

  • CivIcon-Chinese Chinese: With update 87863, technologies that benefit Halberdiers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
  • Koreans: With update 87863, Halberdiers cost -50% wood.

AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals[]

History[]

The Halberd was a pike weapon invented in the Middle Ages for use against armored men, especially on horseback. It consisted of a six-foot shaft with an axe head at the front, a spear point at the top, and thin point at the rear. The spear was used to ward off cavalry. The thin rear point could be chopped down on an armored man to penetrate the strongest armor. The axe head brought down with both hands could chop through armor, arms, and helmets. Wielding the Halberd left the soldier exposed momentarily, so it was best used in formation with other men at hand for protection.

Trivia[]

  • The Spearman line units are the second cheapest of all military units, tied with the Skirmisher line, costing only 60 resources and no gold, only behind the Karambit Warrior (which costs 40 resources but is not a trash unit).
    • If civilization bonuses are taken into account, the Gothic Halberdier is the cheapest military unit in the game, costing only 39 resources and no gold.
  • Halberdiers deal bonus damage against the cheat unit Saboteur (since The Conquerors) because it is in the same armor class as ships.
  • The Spearman line units are the only trash units and also only common infantry units that do not have any base pierce armor.
  • The Halberdier in the alpha version of The Age Of Kings costs gold and is known as the "Halberdman".
  • Halberdiers deal 133 total bonus damage against units with 0 base armor (such as Ornlu the Wolf).
  • The Burmese Halberdier is tied with the Polish Winged Hussar for the fourth highest attack of all trash units (with 13 attack), being beaten by the Elite Magyar Huszar with Corvinian Army, the Malian Light Cavalry with Farimba (both with 14 attack), and the Malay Two-Handed Swordsman with Forced Levy (with 16 attack).
  • Teutonic Halberdiers, alongside Teutonic Scout Cavalry, have the highest melee armor among trash units, with 5 melee armor.
  • After update 35584, Tatars have access to Halberdiers, making it available to all civilizations introduced in the The Last Khans expansion.
    • Since then Franks and Tatars are the only civilizations that have received access to the Halberdier in post-launch updates.
  • Civilizations that have direct bonuses or unique technologies to their Camel Rider (i.e. Malians, Saracens, Gurjaras, Berbers, and Hindustanis after update 66692) do not have access to Halberdiers. The Byzantines and Ethiopians are the only exceptions, mainly because they are missing Bloodlines and another important Blacksmith upgrade for their Heavy Camel Rider (Blast Furnace for the former and Plate Barding Armor for the latter).
    • Before update 66692, and after patch 4.8 the Hindustanis were the only civilization that had access to strong Camel Riders and to Halberdiers, which brought some criticism regarding the civilization's balance, as they had two extremely effective anti-cavalry units. The access to Halberdiers was likely to give a tool to deal with Imperial Camel Riders in mirror matches, as the Hindustanis lack the Arbalester. The Malians before patch 4.8 used to also have access to both Halberdiers and Heavy Camel Riders with a bonus and unique technology that improved the combat strength. It was removed because Halberdiers with extra pierce armor made Skirmishers way less effective, while also being too strong at raiding and making the Malian Heavy Camel Rider with extra attack overshadowed, plus also making the Malians' tech tree less diverse in the Imperial Age. Hindustanis and Malians are now the only civilizations that have lost access to the Halberdier in later updates.

Gallery[]

Video[]

HALBERDIER_(Teutons)_vs_EVERY_UNIQUE_UNIT_-_AoE_II-_Definitive_Edition

HALBERDIER (Teutons) vs EVERY UNIQUE UNIT - AoE II- Definitive Edition

Units in Age of Empires II
CivilianMaleVillDE Villager · Tradecart aoe2DE Trade Cart · FishingShipDE Fishing Ship · Trade cog aoe2DE Trade Cog · King eu aoe2DE King
ReligiousMonk aoe2DE Monk
InfantryMilitiaDE Militia · Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms · Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman · Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman · Champion aoe2DE Champion
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman · Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman · Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
Eaglescout aoe2DE Eagle Scout · Eaglewarrior aoe2DE Eagle Warrior · EliteEaglewarrior aoe2DE Elite Eagle Warrior
ArcherArcher aoe2DE Archer · Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman · Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher · Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer · Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
Aoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer · ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
CavalryScoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry · Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry · Hussar aoe2DE Hussar
Knight aoe2DE Knight · Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier · Paladin aoe2DE Paladin
Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider · Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
Battle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant · Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Steppelancericon Steppe Lancer · Elitesteppelancericon Elite Steppe Lancer
Xolotlicon Xolotl Warrior
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant · AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
SiegeBattering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram · Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram · Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel · Onager aoe2DE Onager · Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion · Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet
Petard aoe2DE Petard
Siegetower aoe2DE Siege Tower
War shipTransportship aoe2DE Transport Ship · Galley aoe2DE Galley · War galley aoe2DE War Galley · Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley · Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship · Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
Demoraft aoe2DE Demolition Raft · Demoship aoe2DE Demolition Ship · Heavydemoship aoe2de Heavy Demolition Ship
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon · Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
AoE2 Dromon Dromon
Unique
ReligiousMissionaryIcon-DE Missionary · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest
InfantryBerserkIcon-DE Berserk · Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower · CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero · Aoe2-icon-flemish-militia Flemish Militia · GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto · Aoe2de Ghulam Ghulam · HuskarlIcon-DE Huskarl · JaguarWarriorIcon-DE Jaguar Warrior · KamayukIcon-DE Kamayuk · Karambitwarrioricon-DE Karambit Warrior · AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary · Aoe2-icon--obuch Obuch · SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai · Aoe2-icon-serjeant Serjeant · Shotelwarrioricon-DE Shotel Warrior · TeutonicKnightIcon-DE Teutonic Knight · ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman · Aoe2de Urumi Urumi Swordsman · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest · WoadRaiderIcon-DE Woad Raider
ArcherArambaiicon-DE Arambai · CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer · ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu · AoE2 CompositeBowman Composite Bowman · ConquistadorIcon-DE Conquistador · GenitourIcon-DE Genitour · GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman · Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher · JanissaryIcon-DE Janissary · Kipchakicon Kipchak · LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman · MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai · PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer · Aoe2de ratha ranged Ranged Ratha · Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer · SlingerIcon-DE Slinger · WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon
CavalryBallistaelephanticon-DE Ballista Elephant · BoyarIcon-DE Boyar · Aoe2de camel scout Camel Scout · CataphractIcon-DE Cataphract · Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon Centurion · Aoe2-icon-coustillier Coustillier · Flaming camel icon Flaming Camel · ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider · Keshikicon Keshik · Konnikicon Konnik · Leitisicon Leitis · MagyarHuszarIcon-DE Magyar Huszar · MamelukeIcon-DE Mameluke · AoE2 Monaspa Monaspa · Aoe2de ratha melee Melee Ratha · AoE2 Savar Savar · Aoe2de shrivamsha rider Shrivamsha Rider · TarkanIcon-DE Tarkan · WarElephantIcon-DE War Elephant · Aoe2-icon-winged-hussar Winged Hussar
SiegeAoe2-icon--houfnice Houfnice · Aoe2-icon-hussite-wagon Hussite Wagon · OrganGunIcon-DE Organ Gun
War shipCaravelIcon-DE Caravel · LongboatIcon-DE Longboat · Aoe2de Thirisadai Thirisadai · TurtleShipIcon-DE Turtle Ship
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