Like the European Pikeman and the Aztec Puma Spearman, the Qiang Pikeman is a cheap, Commerce Age heavy infantry unit. It is effective in combat against melee cavalry and, to an extent, Shock Infantry, while also having a decent siege attack. However, it fares poorly against anything else, particularly artillery or Shock Infantry at range. In later ages it mostly becomes obsolete as its role is taken by Changdao Swordsmen and Keshiks. However, if the player sends the "Old Han Reforms" Home City Card, it increases the overall combat effectiveness of the Qiang Pikeman, allowing the player to use the Qiang Pikeman in later Ages.
With update 13.27885, Qiang Pikemen gain +0.5 attack range with each direct unit upgrade.
With update 13.58326, Qiang Pikemen give 6 XP when trained or killed.
Trivia[]
"Qiang" (槍) means "spear" in Chinese, referring primarily to the flexible-pole variant. Later, it gradually came to refer to personnel-based light firearms, such as arquebuses, muskets, and handguns; i.e., the way the word "gun" is used in English (excluding the meaning of "light cannon").
Before the Definitive Edition, the Qiang Pikeman used to perform poorly against Shock Infantry, due to its small base hand attack and its once-weak attack bonus against Shock Infantry.
History[]
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The qiang spear is often called the "King of Weapons" because of its ubiquitous role as one of the longest used and most reliable Chinese weapons. Its flexible wax wood shaft varied from 7 feet long (for infantry) to nearly 13 feet (for cavalry). The qiang spear was popularized during the Shang Dynasty (seventeenth century-eleventh century BCE) and was used up until the end of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911 CE). In that time, it changed very little.
The qiang spear featured a leaf-shaped blade atop a horse-hair tassel. When a spearman made a slashing motion, the tassel created a blur effect that kept the enemy from being able to effectively target and seize the weapon from its wielder. The hair tassel is said to have also served a secondary purpose, to stop the blood on the blade from flowing down onto the wooden shaft, which would leave the wood slippery or sticky and thus make it more difficult to handle.
”
Gallery[]
An in-game Qiang Pikeman
The Qiang Pikeman's history portrait
In-game Qiang Pikeman in the Definitive Edition
In-game Disciplined Qiang Pikeman in the Definitive Edition
In-game Honored/Exalted Qiang Pikeman in the Definitive Edition