This article is about the unit in Age of Empires. For the similar unit in Age of Empires II, see Long Swordsman (Age of Empires II). |
“ | Upgrade of Broad Swordsman. The Long Swordsman has more hit points, attack strength, and armor. | ” |
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition |
The Long Swordsman is a melee infantry unit featured in Age of Empires. It becomes available at the Barracks in the Iron Age once Long Sword is researched. In order to research this technology, 240 food, 100 gold is required.
The mask from their upgrade to the Broad Swordsman is the game's icon.
Civilizations[]
Available | Unavailable |
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Gameplay[]
The Long Swordsman is simply a better version of the Broad Swordsman. It has more hit points, attack, and armor, though by the time they can be trained there are better infantry unit choices at the Academy. They are good for massed attacks due to their cheap cost. The Long Swordsman can be upgraded to the Legionary (before Return of Rome, only when Fanaticism is researched).
Further statistics[]
Strengths and weaknesses | |
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Strong vs. | Buildings, Chariots, Camel Riders |
Weak vs. | Heavy Cavalry, Phalangites, archers |
Upgrades | |
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Attack | Toolworking (+2) Metalworking (+2) Metallurgy (+3) |
Armor | Leather Armor Infantry (+2/0) Scale Armor Infantry (+2/0) Chain Mail Infantry (+2/0) Bronze Shield (0/+1) Iron Shield (0/+1) Tower Shield (0/+1) |
Creation speed | Conscription (+25%) |
Other | Logistics (-0.5 population usage) Legionary (+40 hit points, +2 attack) |
Civilization bonuses | |
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Hit points | Choson (+60) |
Attack speed | Romans (+50%) |
Creation speed | Lac Viet (+25%) |
Team bonuses[]
- Palmyrans: Upgrading Long Swordsmen to Legionaries and researching technologies that benefit Long Swordsmen is 30% faster.
Changelog[]
Age of Empires[]
- Long Swordsmen have 80 hit points.
- Choson: Long Swordsmen get +80 hit points.
- Long Swordsmen can be upgraded to Legionaries only if Fanaticism is researched.
Definitive Edition[]
- Long Swordsmen have 100 hit points.
- Choson: Long Swordsmen get +60 hit points.
Return of Rome[]
- Upon release, Long Swordsmen have 80 hit points, and their idle pose is modified to look more distinct from Legionaries. With hotfix 85208, they have 100 hit points again.
- Team bonuses added, Palmyrans: Technologies benefiting Long Swordsmen researched 30% faster.
- Researching Fanaticism is no longer required to upgrade Long Swordsmen to Legionaries.
History[]
“ | The long sword represents the culmination of infantry weapon development in antiquity. It was designed for both piercing and slashing, combining the best of both the short and broad swords. The long sword was made possible first by advances in bronzeworking and improved by the discovery of iron. Some historians believe that the development of long swords by barbarian cultures was a key factor in the catastrophe of 1200 BC, when most of the civilized cultures of the Mediterranean and Middle East were overrun. The long sword in various forms remained an important military weapon until the advent of gunpowder. | ” |
—The Age of Empires manual |
Gallery[]
Tech tree[]
Units in Age of Empires | |
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Civilian | Villager · Trade Cart |
Other | Priest · Slinger · Artifact |
Civilian ship | Fishing Boat · Fishing Ship Trade Boat · Merchant Ship |
Infantry | Clubman · Axeman Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman · Long Swordsmen · Legionary Hoplite · Phalangite · Centurion |
Archer | Bowman Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman Chariot Archer Horse Archer · Heavy Horse Archer Elephant Archer |
Cavalry | Scout Chariot · Scythe Chariot Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Cataphract War Elephant · Armored Elephant Camel Rider |
Siege | Stone Thrower · Catapult · Heavy Catapult Ballista · Helepolis |
War Ship | Scout Ship · War Galley · Trireme Catapult Trireme · Juggernaut Fire Galley Light Transport · Heavy Transport |
Scenario Editor-only units | |
Chieftain · Donkey · Explorer · General · High Priest · Horse · Mercenary (removed) · Penguin · Pharaoh · Raft · War Chest |