The Halberdier is a powerful hand infantry unit, good against cavalry and shock infantry, but vulnerable to Skirmishers and artillery. It is similar to the Pikeman in terms of its purpose and function. However, it is more versatile, dealing much more damage to non-cavalry/shock infantry units, has more health and damage, and can be upgraded to Guard and Imperial, but has less speed and siege damage when accounted for cost. Halberdiers have extremely high attack and hit points for an infantry unit, but are slow, and thus struggling to catch up to almost anything to get into melee range. This makes them generally better for defensive purposes than as a primary offensive unit. The Dutch are somewhat able to overcome this weakness by combining the "Military Reforms" Home City Card and Military Drummers for a total of 5.525 speed. Training 5-10 Halberdiers and placing them behind artillery to guard from cavalry flanks is an extremely cost-effective way to defend cannons. Unlike Musketeers, they will automatically block and melee down cavalry, and can go into cover mode, which greatly increases their durability.
Additionally, Halberdiers are able to beat almost any melee infantry that gets into combat with them (with the notable exception of the Jaguar Prowl Knight), making them more versatile than Pikemen.
In the Definitive Edition, the Dutch can train Halberdiers as early as the Commerce Age if they Age up with The Logistician. They will then be Veteran Halberdiers already in the Commerce Age, which means they will not be upgraded once they reach the Fortress Age.
Upgrades[]
The Halberdier starts at the Veteran level, though this does not increase their hit points and attack.
Upgrade Halberdiers to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Guard Halberdiers
Imperial Stadswachts
Upgrade Stadswachts to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Stadswachts
Civilization differences[]
As seen above, the Dutch can upgrade Halberdiers to Royal Guard and Imperial Guard.
The Russians train Halberdiers in groups of four at the Blockhouse for 75% of the price but with 20% less hit points and attack.
The Spanish cannot train Halberdiers but can ship 13 Guard Halberdiers through Royal Alabarderos.
Similarly, the Swedes can ship 16 Veteran Halberdiers through Gustavian Guards and turn all Pikemen into Halberdiers through the "Dalcarlian Rebellion" Home City Card.
The Haudenosaunee can ship up to 31 Halberdiers through the "Renegade Dutch" cards. Most probably, initially this card would also be available for the British, Ottomans, Germans, and Lakota, as game files contain entries of these civilizations' Halberdiers using the Dutch Halberdier's dialogue files, but this was cut out of the final version of the game.
The Halberdier's function and its availability in the third age is similar to the Hoplite and Phalanx from the original Age of Empires.
Despite being a weapon of German origin that was also used by the British and Spanish, none of them use it for balancing reasons.
Dutch Royal Guard Halberdiers' name, Stadswacht, translates to "City Guard".
Before the Definitive Edition, they are named Nassauer, which refers to Maurice of Nassau who was the first to utilize linear infantry tactics on a large scale in Europe (confirmed by the Royal Guard upgrade, which is named Nassau's Linear Tactics). Contrary to the in-game upgrade, however, the tactic was introduced to Dutch musketeers rather than melee troops.
History[]
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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.