Melee infantry unit (Age of Empires IV)

Melee infantry units in Age of Empires IV are a branch of infantry units, and can be considered one of the primary types of land combat units available to all civilizations, along with ranged infantry, melee cavalry, and siege engines. They have negligible range and deal melee attack, which is why they are called melee. Melee infantry are almost always created at the Barracks.

Overview

Melee infantry can be further classified into Heavy and Light, with nearly every civilization having access to the Man-at-Arms or equivalent representing the former, and the Spearman or equivalent representing the latter. Some common characteristics between most melee infantry are: a range of 0.29 tiles, a common torch attack with which they attack buildings and ships, a charge attack with which they engage enemy units, and a relatively slow speed between 1.1 and 1.4 tiles per second that makes them poor for raiding. Both types of melee infantry are also typically characterized by low base DPS (damage-per-second), at least when compared to ranged infantry or heavy melee cavalry. There are exceptions to these rules associated with certain unique units. For example, the Onna-Bugeisha is a fast light infantry with longer range, the Landsknecht has high base damage, and the Abbasid Dynasty and Japanese Spearmen have higher range.

Despite some similarities, light melee infantry and heavy melee infantry have different roles. Light infantry typically are used as specialists, used in special roles or to counter specific units due to large attack bonuses, such as the Spearman against cavalry or the Musofadi Warrior against heavy units. Spearmen especially can protect valuable units such as siege engines and Villagers from cavalry charges or raids. Heavy melee infantry are characterized by higher health and damage, higher melee and pierce armor, and slower speed. This makes them useful as generalist front-line units which can absorb damage to protect higher DPS units such as ranged infantry or siege units while dealing decent damage in response. Various civ bonuses and unique technologies can change the roles of these infantry, such as giving higher damage to function as primary DPS dealers, or giving higher speed to function as raiding units.

Counters

The primary counter to melee infantry is ranged infantry, with different ranged units countering light and heavy melee infantry. Archers and their equivalents counter light melee infantry, while Crossbowmen and their equivalent counter heavy infantry. Mixing together light and heavy infantry can increase survivability against ranged units, since it forces opponents to choose the targets of their ranged units individually to take advantage of the attack bonuses. The exception to this is Handcannoneers, which are effective vs both heavy and light melee infantry due to their high damage. Melee infantry is also susceptible to being hit-and-run by most ranged cavalry due to the latter's higher speed. Heavy melee cavalry can soft-counter heavy melee infantry theoretically, especially in equal numbers, but begin to struggle when Spearmen are added. Other niche or uncommon counters include Shinobi and Bedouin Swordsmen, which have attack bonuses against melee units, though not specifically infantry, and Bedouin Skirmishers, which have an attack bonus vs light infantry, though not specifically melee.

List of melee infantry

The following list of melee infantry compares some common unit statistics, but should not be used as a direct indicator of combat ability, since attack bonuses, abilities, or other special features which can distinguish these units from each other are not included.

Dark Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Spearman	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.25	80	0	0	7	1.875	All except Byzantines, English, Malians
Donso	60 food, 30 wood	15	1.25	80	1	0	7	1.875	Malians
Limitanei	80 food, 10 wood	17	1.25	90	0	0	7	1.875	Byzantines
Gilded Spearman	120 food, 40 wood	18	1.25	160	1	0	10	1.875	Order of the Dragon
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Vanguard Man-at-Arms	100 food, 20 gold	22.5	1.125	100	2	3	8	1.375	English
Samurai	100 food, 30 gold	22.5	1.125	100	2	3	8	1.375	Japanese
Katana Bannerman	100 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	155	3	3	9	1.375	Japanese

Feudal Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Hardened Spearman	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.25	90	0	0	8	1.875	All except Byzantines, Malians
Hardened Donso	60 food, 30 wood	15	1.25	100	1	0	8	1.875	Malians
Hardened Limitanei	80 food, 10 wood	17	1.25	100	0	0	8	1.875	Byzantines
Hardened Gilded Spearman	120 food, 40 wood	18	1.25	180	1	0	12	1.875	Order of the Dragon
Musofadi Warrior	50 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	90	0	0	8	1.375	Malians
Onna-Bugeisha	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.5	85	0	0	6	0.9	Japanese
Militia*	27.5 food	/	1.5	85	0	0	6	1.625	Rus
Shinobi	50 food, 50 gold	20	1.375	80	0	0	20	1.25	Japanese
Bedouin Swordsman*	75 gold	/	1.25	155	0	0	10	1.125	Ayyubids
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Early Man-at-Arms	100 food, 20 gold	22.5	1.125	120	3	3	10	1.375	English, Holy Roman Empire
Hardened Samurai	100 food, 30 gold	22.5	1.125	120	3	3	10	1.375	Japanese
Katana Bannerman	100 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	155	3	3	9	1.375	Japanese
Early Palace Guard	100 food, 25 gold	22.5	1.375	130	3	2	9	1.375	Zhu Xi's Legacy
Early Gilded Man-at-Arms	200 food, 40 gold	27	1.125	230	3	3	13	1.125	Order of the Dragon

Castle Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Veteran Spearman	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.25	110	0	0	9	1.875	All except Byzantines, Malians
Veteran Donso	60 food, 30 wood	15	1.25	120	1	0	9	1.875	Malians
Veteran Limitanei	80 food, 10 wood	17	1.25	120	0	0	9	1.875	Byzantines
Veteran Gilded Spearman	120 food, 40 wood	18	1.25	220	1	0	14	1.875	Order of the Dragon
Landsknecht	60 food, 100 gold	22.5	1.25	85	0	0	17	1.375	Holy Roman Empire
Gilded Landsknecht	120 food, 200 gold	27	1.25	180	0	0	>21	1.375	Order of the Dragon
Veteran Musofadi Warrior	50 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	110	0	0	9	1.375	Malians
Veteran Onna-Bugeisha	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.5	100	0	0	7	0.9	Japanese
Militia*	27.5 food	/	1.5	115	0	0	10	1.625	Rus
Shinobi	50 food, 50 gold	20	1.375	92	0	0	23	1.25	Japanese
Bedouin Swordsman*	Varies gold	/	1.25	186	0	0	12	1.125	Ayyubids
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Man-at-Arms	100 food, 20 gold	22.5	1.125	155	4	4	12	1.375	Most
Veteran Samurai	100 food, 30 gold	22.5	1.125	155	4	4	12	1.375	Japanese
Katana Bannerman	100 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	180	4	4	12	1.375	Japanese
Palace Guard	100 food, 25 gold	22.5	1.375	155	3	3	12	1.375	Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy
Gilded Man-at-Arms	200 food, 40 gold	27	1.375	290	4	4	17	1.125	Order of the Dragon
Ghulam	120 food, 30 gold	26	1.188	195	4	4	10	0.813*	Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
Varangian Guard	90 food, 40 gold	25	1.125	140	5	4	13	1.375	Byzantines
Jeanne's Champion	160 food, 40 gold	15	1.125	175	4	4	13	1.375	Jeanne d'Arc
Unclassified
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Shaolin Monk	200 food	20	1.19	170	2	0	15	0.75	Zhu Xi's Legacy
Freeborn Warrior	90 food, 35 gold	20	1.38	175	0	5	9	1.375	Malians

Imperial Age

Light
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Elite Spearman	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.25	130	0	0	11	1.875	All except Byzantines, Malians
Elite Donso	60 food, 30 wood	15	1.25	140	1	0	11	1.875	Malians
Elite Limitanei	80 food, 10 wood	17	1.25	140	0	0	11	1.875	Byzantines
Elite Gilded Spearman	120 food, 40 wood	18	1.25	260	1	0	18	1.875	Order of the Dragon
Elite Landsknecht	60 food, 100 gold	22.5	1.25	100	0	0	21	1.375	Holy Roman Empire
Elite Gilded Landsknecht	120 food, 200 gold	27	1.25	220	0	0	25	1.375	Order of the Dragon
Elite Musofadi Warrior	50 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	135	0	0	12	1.375	Malians
Elite Onna-Bugeisha	60 food, 20 wood	15	1.5	135	0	0	8	0.9	Japanese
Militia*	27.5 food	/	1.5	165	0	0	18	1.625	Rus
Shinobi	50 food, 50 gold	20	1.375	104	0	0	26	1.25	Japanese
Bedouin Swordsman*	Varies gold	/	1.25	223	0	0	15	1.125	Ayyubids
Heavy
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Elite Man-at-Arms	100 food, 20 gold	22.5	1.125	180	5	6	14	1.375	Most
Elite Samurai	100 food, 30 gold	22.5	1.125	180	5	6	14	1.375	Japanese
Katana Bannerman	100 food, 30 gold	15	1.375	215	5	6	14	1.375	Japanese
Elite Palace Guard	100 food, 25 gold	22.5	1.375	180	4	5	14	1.375	Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy
Elite Gilded Man-at-Arms	200 food, 40 gold	27	1.375	340	5	6	21	1.125	Order of the Dragon
Elite Ghulam	120 food, 30 gold	26	1.188	225	5	6	12	0.813*	Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids
Elite Varangian Guard	90 food, 40 gold	25	1.125	170	6	6	16	1.375	Byzantines
Jeanne's Elite Champion	160 food, 40 gold	15	1.125	210	5	5	16	1.375	Jeanne d'Arc
Wynguard Footman	50 food, 66.7 gold	45	1.125	280	3	6	20	1.625	English
Unclassified
Name	Cost	TT	SP	HP	MA	RA	Atk	RoF	Civilizations
Shaolin Monk	200 food	20	1.19	170	2	0	15	0.75	Zhu Xi's Legacy
Elite Freeborn Warrior	90 food, 35 gold	20	1.38	205	0	8	12	1.375	Malians

Further statistics

All melee infantry

All melee infantry benefit from the following boosts

Technologies
Hit points	Boot Camp (+15%, Abbasid Dynasty)
Attack	Non-Japanese: Bloomery (+1) Decarbonization (+1) Damascus Steel (+1) Elite Army Tactics (+20%); Improved: (+30% Mongols) Sultan's Mamluks (+25% for 10 seconds after killing an enemy unit, Ayyubids) Additional Torches (+3 fire, Mongols) Additional Torches Improved: (+5 fire, Mongols) Japanese: Tatara (+1) Hizukuri (+1) Kobuse-gitae (+1) Yaki-ire (+1) Oda Tactics (+20% melee and torch damage)
Armor	Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Elite Army Tactics (+4 melee); Improved: (+6 melee, Mongols) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
Movement speed	Sultan's Mamluks (+20% for 10 seconds after killing an enemy unit, Ayyubids)
Creation speed	Military Academy (+33%); Improved: (+53% Mongols) Advanced Academy (+25% from Military School, Ottomans)
Ability	Siege Engineering (can construct Battering Rams and Siege Towers) Improved Siege Engineering (can construct Springalds, Mangonels, and Traction Trebuchets, Mongols) Forced March (Grants Forced March ability, Delhi Sultanate) Infantry Support (+3/+3 armor to nearby camels, Ayyubids)

Aura and ability enhancements
Hit points	Atabeg Supervision (+20%, Ayyubids)
Regeneration	Divine Vitality (2 hp/s out of combat, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Attack	Inspiration Bonus (+15%, Holy Roman Empire) Buddhist Conversion (+20% for 20 seconds, Japanese) Katana Bannerman Aura (+15%, Japanese) Kurultai Aura (+20%, Mongols) Saint's Blessing (+2, or +3 with Fervor, Rus)
Armor	Camel Support (+2 melee/ranged, Abbasid Dynasty) Inspiration Bonus (+1 melee/ranged, Holy Roman Empire) Defense Arrow (+2 melee and ranged for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows, Mongols) Mehter Melee Armor Drums (+2 melee, Ottomans) Mehter Ranged Armor Drums (+1 ranged, Ottomans) Saint's Blessing (+1 melee/ranged, Rus)
Damage resistance	Wall Defense (-25% ranged, -50% siege)
Attack speed	Zeal (+50% for 3 seconds, Delhi Sultanate) Network of Castles (+20%, or +30% with Network of Citadels, English) Valorous Inspiration (+35% for 20 seconds, Jeanne d'Arc) Mehter Attack Drums (+15%, Ottomans)
Line of Sight	Set up Camp (+30%, English)
Movement speed	Forced March (+100% for 10 seconds, Delhi Sultanate) Nehan Conversion (+25% for 20 seconds, Japanese) Yam Aura (+15%, requires Yam Network, Mongols) Maneuver Arrow (+33% for 5/10/12 seconds, depending on Whistling Arrows, Mongols) Mehter Speed Bonus (+15% when in formation with Mehter, requires Mehter Drums, Ottomans) Divine Haste (+15%, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Resource cost	Consecrate (-25% food, or -25% total with Ordinance Company, Jeanne d'Arc)
Creation speed	Golden Age Tier 3 (+20%, Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids) Supervision (+150% for Chinese; +150% for Zhu Xi's Legacy or +300% with Regional Inspection) Garrisoned Scholar (+100%, requires Efficient Production, Delhi Sultanate) Yorishiro Bonus (+150%, Japanese) Blacksmith/University Influence (+0%/20%/30%/40% per Age, +100% with Istanbul Observatory, Ottomans)

Civilization bonuses
Hit points	Chinese (+15% in Ming Dynasty)
Attack speed	Delhi Sultanate (+20% with Tower of Victory)
Movement speed	Chinese (+15% in Yuan Dynasty) Holy Roman Empire (+5% in the Dark Age, +10% otherwise)
Resource cost	Zhu Xi's Legacy (-10% in Yuan Dynasty)
Creation speed	English (+75% from The White Tower) Holy Roman Empire (+400% from Burgrave Palace)
Ability	Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids (Can build Mangonels and Springalds) Delhi Sultanate (Can build Palisade Walls by default, and Stone defenses with Compound of the Defender)
Other	English (Available at Keeps)

Spearmen

The following boosts specifically apply to Spearmen and their unique equivalents: Donso, Limitanei, and Gilded Spearmen.

Technologies
Attack	Nagae Yari (+20% vs cavalry, Japanese) Awl Pikes (+2, Holy Roman Empire) Precision Training (+6 ranged attack, Malians) Heavy Torches (Area of Effect to torch damage, Order of the Dragon) Roar of the Dragon (Area of Effect to the charge attack, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
Range	Phalanx (+100%, Abbasid Dynasty and Ayyubids) Nagae Yari (+20%, Japanese)
Armor	Riveted Chain Mail (+2 melee, Holy Roman Empire)
Movement speed	Teardrop Shields (+15%, Byzantines)

Aura and ability enhancements
Range	Wall Defense (+1, javelin throw only, Malians)

Men-at-Arms

The following boosts specifically apply to Men-at-Arms and their unique equivalents: Ghulams, Varangian Guard, Palace Guards, Samurai, and Gilded Men-at-Arms

Technologies
Hit points	Battle Hardened (+30, Chinese)
Attack	Honed Blades (+3, Delhi Sultanate) Two-Handed Weapons (+2, Holy Roman Empire) Heavy Maces (+6 vs heavy units, Holy Roman Empire) Odachi (+4 vs infantry, Japanese)
Armor	Armor Clad (+2 melee and +2 ranged, English)
Damage resistance	Golden Cuirass (-20% when below 30% hit points, Order of the Dragon)
Attack speed	Teardrop Shields (+15%, Byzantines)
Ability	Ferocious Speed (Berserking grants +30% speed while active, Byzantines)

Aura and ability enhancements
Attack	Berserking (+6 for 30 seconds, Byzantines)
Armor	Emperor's Guard (+3 melee/ranged, Byzantines)
Movement speed	Berserking (+30% for 30 seconds, requires Ferocious Speed, Byzantines)

Civilization bonuses
Attack	Zhu Xi's Legacy (+20% in Ming Dynasty)

Unique Type

The following boosts specifically apply to unique units that do not fit or replace one of the above two roles

Technologies
Hit points	Companion Equipment (+20%, Jeanne's Champion)
Attack	Companion Equipment (+20%, Jeanne's Champion)
Ability	Local Knowledge (Heal 5 HP per attack for 5 seconds when leaving stealth, Musofadi Warrior)
Other	Zornhau (attacked unit loses 2 hit point per second for 10 seconds, Gilded Landsknecht)

Aura and ability enhancements
Attack	Galvanize the Righteous (+10%, Jeanne's Champion)
Armor	Galvanize the Righteous (+1 melee/ranged, Jeanne's Champion)
Ability	Fort of the Huntress (Gain First Strike ability, Musofadi Warrior)

Trivia

• The English are the only civilization to have access to a unit later than other civilizations, because they have access to Spearmen in the Feudal Age.

	Units in Age of Empires IV
Common/Generic Miscellaneous Villager · Trader · Fishing Boat · Trade Ship · Transport Ship · Monk/Imam/Shaman · Monarch Melee infantry Spearman · Man-at-Arms Ranged infantry Archer · Crossbowman · Handcannoneer Melee cavalry Scout · Horseman · Lancer/Knight Siege Siege Tower · Battering Ram · Springald · Mangonel · Counterweight Trebuchet · Bombard · Ribauldequin · Culverin Military ship Archer ship: Dhow, Galley, Hunting Canoe, Junk, Light Junk, Lodya Galley Springald ship: Baghlah, Hulk, Lodya Attack Ship, War Canoe, War Cog, War Junk Incendiary ship: Demolition Ship, Explosive Dhow, Explosive Junk, Lodya Demolition Ship Warship: Baochuan, Carrack, Xebec Cheat Photon Man Unique Abbasid Dynasty Camel Rider · Camel Archer · Ghulam Ayyubids Atabeg · Bedouin Skirmisher · Bedouin Swordsman · Camel Lancer · Dervish · Desert Raider · Ghulam · Tower of the Sultan Byzantines Cataphract · Varangian Guard · Cheirosiphon · Limitanei · Dromon Chinese Imperial Official · Zhuge Nu · Palace Guard · Nest of Bees · Fire Lancer · Grenadier Delhi Sultanate Scholar · War Elephant · Tower Elephant · Sultan's Elite Tower Elephant · Ghazi Raider English Longbowman · King · Wynguard Ranger · Wynguard Footman French Royal Knight · Arbalétrier · Galleass · Cannon Holy Roman Empire Prelate · Landsknecht Japanese Atakebune · Buddhist Monk · Katana Bannerman · Mounted Samurai · Onna-Bugeisha · Onna-Musha · Ozutsu · Samurai · Shinobi · Shinto Priest · Treasure Caravan · Uma Bannerman · Yumi Ashigaru · Yumi Bannerman Jeanne d'Arc Jeanne's Champion · Jeanne's Rider · Royal Knight · Arbalétrier · Galleass · Cannon · Jeanne d'Arc [ Peasant · Woman-at-Arms · Hunter · Knight · Mounted Archer · Blast Cannon · Markswoman] Malians Donso · Musofadi Warrior · Javelin Thrower · Warrior Scout · Sofa · Freeborn Warrior · Cattle · Musofadi Gunner Mongols Khan · Mangudai · Khan's Hunter · Traction Trebuchet · Huihui Pao · Keshik Order of the Dragon Gilded Spearman · Gilded Man-at-Arms · Gilded Landsknecht · Gilded Archer · Gilded Crossbowman · Gilded Handcannoneer · Gilded Horseman · Gilded Knight · Gilded Villager · Prelate Ottomans Mehter · Sipahi · Cavalry Archer · Janissary · Great Bombard · Grand Galley Rus Lodya Fishing Boat · Warrior Monk · Horse Archer · Streltsy · Militia Zhu Xi's Legacy Imperial Official · Zhuge Nu · Palace Guard · Nest of Bees · Grenadier · Imperial Guard · Yuan Raider · Shaolin Monk