This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For the similar unit in other games of the series, see Halberdier. |
“ | Slow, heavy infantry with a large attack. | ” |
—In-game description |
The Halberdier is a melee heavy infantry in Age of Empires III that can be trained at Barracks, Fort, and Galleon/Fluyt once the Fortress Age is reached.
Halberdiers are available to Dutch, French, John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice campaign), Portuguese, and Russians.
Contents
Overview[edit | edit source]
The Halberdier is a powerful hand infantry unit, good against cavalry, but vulnerable to Skirmishers. It is similar to the Pikeman in terms of its purpose and function. However, it is more versatile, dealing more damage to non-cavalry units, has more health and damage, and can be upgraded to Guard and Imperial level, 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 unable to catch up to almost anything to get into melee. This makes them much better at 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 5.2 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.
Upgrades[edit | edit source]
The Halberdier starts at the Veteran level, but without the increased hit points and attack.
If made available in the Commerce Age by Aging up with The Logistician for the Dutch, Halberdiers will be automatically upgraded to Veteran when the player reaches the Fortress Age.
Age | Upgrade | Cost | Effect | Civ. |
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600 wood, 600 coin |
Upgrades Halberdiers to Guard (+30% hit points and attack) | French Portuguese Russians | |
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1,000 wood, 1,000 coin |
Upgrades Halberdiers to Stadswachts (Guard Halberdiers with +10% hit points and attack) | Dutch | |
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1,500 wood, 1,500 coin |
Upgrades Halberdiers to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Guard Halberdiers | French Portuguese Russians | |
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Upgrades Stadswachts to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Stadswachts | Dutch |
Civilization differences[edit | edit source]
- As seen above, the Dutch can upgrade Halberdiers to Royal Guard and Imperial Guard levels.
- The Russians train Halberdiers in groups of four at the Blockhouse for 75% of the price but with 20% less hit points and attack.
- While the Spanish cannot train Halberdiers, they can ship 13 Guard Halberdiers through Royal Alabarderos. Similarly, the Swedes can ship 16 Veteran Halberdiers through Gustavian Guards.
- John Black's Mercenaries can only upgrade Halberdiers to the Guard level.
- The Haudenosaunee can ship up to 31 Halberdiers through the "Renegade Dutch" cards.
Further statistics[edit | edit source]
Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
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Strong vs. | Cavalry, shock infantry, buildings |
Weak vs. | Archers, artillery |
Improvements | |
Hit points | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Attack | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Speed | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sight | ![]() |
Creation speed | ![]() ![]() |
Train cost | ![]() |
Other | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Penalties | ![]() ![]() |
Home City Cards[edit | edit source]
Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Halberdier | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dutch[edit | edit source]
Europeans[edit | edit source]
Indians[edit | edit source]
Iroquois[edit | edit source]
Japanese[edit | edit source]
Russians[edit | edit source]
Spanish[edit | edit source]
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Changelog[edit | edit source]
Age of Empires III[edit | edit source]
- Halberdiers have 25 hand attack and 10% melee resistance.
Definitive Edition[edit | edit source]
- Halberdiers now have 28 hand attack and 20% melee resistance.
- The Logistician introduced for the Dutch.
- Halberdiers shipped by Quatrefage now use the Spanish Pikeman dialogue instead of the Dutch Halberdier's.
Trivia[edit | edit source]
- 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[edit | edit source]
“ | 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. |
” |