Outfitted with a sword and buckler, Rodeleros are quite different compared to the typical heavy infantry. Their hand resistance enables them to negate hand damage multipliers, and attack units that would otherwise overpower them in a one to one fight. They move very quickly (similar to cavalry). This makes them a relatively cheap raiding/scouting unit in the very early stages of the game. Rodelero deal less damage against cavalry compared to Pikemen (even at Imperial level), however, Rodeleros can catch up to fleeing enemies due to their speed. They are also a decent melee unit against non-cavalry units as they possess a higher base damage compared to Pikemen. They are also more durable than Pikemen, with higher hitpoints and an exceptional hand resistance for non-mercenary units.
However, when destroying buildings, Rodeleros are not recommended, as they possess siege damage similar to that of ranged infantry, despite being a heavy infantry unit. Pikemen and Musketeers are far more efficient at razing buildings. Rodeleros should also be wary of ranged infantry and artillery, as they can be easily destroyed by them in battle.
Knights of St. John can further boost their Rodeleros' hit points by 20% through the "Hand Infantry Hitpoints" Home City Card (12 damage and 189 hit points with all upgrades except Corselet).
Through use of Academy cards from the Spanish Home City, Rodeleros' hit points and damage can be increased by 35% and 30% respectively. Unction will then boost their attack further 5-63% (39.93 damage and 324 hit points with all upgrades except Corselet).
In spite of the several cards the Spanish can send for them, Rodeleros should be considered a specialised Pikeman unit that scales better in the later ages and nothing else. They cannot take on buildings well, are extremely vulnerable to Skirmisher-type units, and do not fare well against masses of ranged Heavy Infantry either. Indeed, despite their massive hand resistance, their fragile hit points make them fall quickly to virtually any type of ranged attack; even if Rodeleros manage to get up close to a Musketeer group, they will lose, since most Musketeers will get a chance to use ranged attacks due to being protected by the rest of their group. While they can force light cavalry to retreat, Dragoons can hit-and-run against them, meaning they only really shine against Melee Cavalry.
The Aztecs and Inca can ship up to 140 Rodeleros with the "11 Renegade Spanish" and "24 Renegade Spanish" Home City Cards, which can be sent twice, and an additional twice in the Imperial Age.
Consulate Espadachin[]
“
Fast-moving sword and buckler infantry. Good against ranged infantry.
”
—In-game description
The Espadachin is a counterpart of the Rodelero, which starts with +10% hit points and damage.
Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa speed +5%, Line of Sight +10, training and research work rate +15%; land military train time -20%, artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
Good Faith Agreements
Consulate unit train time -50%; Consulate technology cost -40% (-300 export for Brigades), research time -50% (except Brigades)
Royal Guard/Consulate Rodeleros' name, "Espadachin", means "swordsman" in Spanish. Alternatively, it could also mean "fencer".
Before the Definitive Edition, Royal Guard Rodeleros were named "Espada Rodelero". While Espada generically means "Sword", it is also a name for an accomplished fencer. However, the Spanish version mistakenly translated this as "Rodelero con Espada", which means "Rodelero with a Sword".
Espadachins is grammatically incorrect in Spanish. The plural name of the Espadachín is espadachines.
History[]
“
Rodeleros were a Spanish infantry who used swords and round shields. This arms combination was often used against formations of pike and halberds. Agile swordsmen could better evade the deadly iron of densely packed pikes and could take formations apart from the inside. In 1506 Cortez arrived in the New World with over 1,300 soldiers, 1,000 of which were rodeleros. They were adaptable, versatile soldiers, capable in close quarters on the decks of ships as well as against the loose, guerilla tactics of non-European enemies.
Rodela is a Spanish word meaning shield; Rodeleros are "shield-bearers." Rodeleros were armed with one-handed swords and round shields approximately two feet in diameter. These rodela were most often made of steel, but were also made of iron-bound wood covered with hide.
”
Gallery[]
An in-game Rodelero
An in-game Veteran Rodelero
An in-game (Imperial) Espada Rodelero
A close up of a Rodelero
In-game Veteran Rodelero model
In-game (Imperial) Espada Rodelero model
An in-game Rodelero in the Definitive Edition
An in-game Veteran Rodelero in the Definitive Edition
An in-game (Imperial) Espadachin in the Definitive Edition
Veteran Rodeleros
Espadachins
Imperial Espadachins
+20% hit points and damage
TEAM Yongle Infrastructure
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints
Manco Inca
TEAM Scout Infantry
TEAM Inca Bridges
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
Onin War
TEAM Sengoku
Bakufu
Good Faith Agreements
TEAM Knights of the Round Table
TEAM Mariachi
11 Renegade Spanish
24 Renegade Spanish
Tercio Tactics
TEAM Hand Infantry Attack
Archaic Infantry Hitpoints
Archaic Infantry Combat
6 Rodeleros
8 Rodeleros
16 Rodeleros
14 Rodeleros
9 Rodeleros
7 Rodeleros
Liberation March
TEAM Spanish Inquisition
TEAM House of Bernadotte
Dueling School
Spanish Square
Fencing School
