Hoplite

The Hoplite appears in Age of Empires and Age of Mythology and functions as a counter to cavalry.

Age of Empires

Template:AoEUnits The Hoplite is the weakest of the elite infantry units which are trained at the Academy at Bronze Age. They are great at countering cavalry. Hoplites are elite Infantry units with a high amount of damage. The Hoplite can easily bring units down, but are relatively slow and vulnerable to archer fire. The Hoplites are best used in hand-to-hand combat. The Hoplite can be upgraded to the more powerful Phalanx, and finally the Centurion, the most powerful infantry unit. The Greeks have the fastest hoplites.

Hoplites and their sucessors are the most powerful non-siege units in the game.

Upgrades

Tool Age

• Toolworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
• Leather Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.

Bronze Age

• Metalworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
• Scale Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.
• Bronze Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.

Iron Age

• Metallurgy: Increases attack by 3 points.
• Chain Mail: Increases armor by 2 points.
• Iron Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.
• Tower Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1 point.
• Aristocracy: increases Speed by 25%
• The Hoplite can be upgraded to Phalanx

Civilization Bonuses

• Greek Hoplites are 30% faster
• Carthaginian Hoplites have 25% more HP
• Macedonian Hoplites have +2 Armour when dealing with slingers, archers and ranged siege units, have +2 Line of sight and are 4 times more resistant to enemy conversions

Note: Persians are the only civilization that lacks Hoplites due to being unable to build Academy.

Template:AoE Units List

Age of Mythology

Template:Infobox unitsIn Age of Mythology the Hoplite is an Infantry unit unique to the Greeks and is trained at the Military Academy in the Classical Age. They are the standard infantry for the Greeks and usually from the backbone of their army. Hoplites are best used to counter cavalry units and are fairly effective against enemy infantry. Like all infantry they are relatively vulnerable to myth units and archers. Compared to the main infantry of other civilizations they have slightly better pierce armor, making them less vulnerable to archers than the Murmillo or Ulfsark. However they are the slowest of the mainline infantry. This can be nullified by picking Zeus as the major god as he increases their speed and damage against buildings.

Overview

Greek infantry are more expensive than those of other cultures, but they are also more powerful. The general-purpose Hoplite should form the backbone of any Greek army. They are particularly good at defeating cavalry, but are weak against archers. Hoplites are not fast, and some opponents may be able to outrun them.

The predominate Greek soldier of antiguity was the Hoplite, named after the great round shield he carried into battle, Hoplites wore helmets, leg armor, and chest armor, and carried a great long spear. They fought in dense columns with the spear points from several ranks projecting out from the formation. They thus presented a formidable block bristling with spears held above the shoulder. In battle they would close with the enemy as a pushing wall of shields, stabbing with their spears over the shields. Men behind would push those in front and stab over them. This fighting was face-to-face and terrifying, requiring high skill and discipline. Battles were usually short but deadly. Before the rise of the Hoplite, most army fighing had been more long-range archer and posturing. The Greeks made war personal and intense, and Hoplites dominated ancient battlefields for centuries.

Strengths/Weaknesses

Strong against

• Hippikon
• Prodromos
• Spearmen
• Camelry
• War Elephants
• Raider
• Ulfsarks
• Jarls
• Huskarls
• Hersir

Weak against

• Toxotes
• Hypaspists
• Axemen
• Chariot Archers
• Throwing Axemen

Upgrades & Bonuses

Worshipping Zeus gives the following bonuses:

• +12% move rate
• Damage x1.5 vs Buildings

Related Articles

• Academy
  • Phalanx
  • Centurion