Short Swordsman

Short Swordsman
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires
Type	Light Infantry
Civilization	All civilizations
Age	Bronze Age
Training
Trained at	Barracks
Food	35
Gold	15
Training time	26 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	60
Attack	7 melee
Rate of Fire	1.5
Melee armor	1
Pierce armor	0
Speed	1.2
Line of Sight	4
Unit evolution
Upgrades to	Broad Swordsman
Upgrade cost	140 food, 50 gold
Upgrade time	90 seconds
Required research	Battle Axe and Short Sword (before the Definitive Edition)

The Short Swordsman is a hand infantry unit in Age of Empires. Though it is superior to and fills the same tactical niche as the Axeman, it is not a direct upgrade but instead a separate unit. It wields a short sword as its main offensive weapon.

Gameplay

This unit is similar to the Axeman in that they have normal speed, no range, and average damage and health. They are poor units to use against Cavalry, being slow and not having enough hit points. They usually get massacred by Academy units, due the Hoplite and related units having extremely powerful attack and very strong armor, making the Short Swordsman useful only against Tool Age infantry, or the equivalent light infantry in future Ages (this provided that they outnumber the enemy units).

Before the Definitive Edition it had a weapon upgrade prerequisite of Short Sword, which was itself dependent on Battle Axe. In other words, Clubman had to be upgraded for the Short Sword upgrade to appear. Once the upgrade was finished, Short Swordsman was available.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Villagers
Weak vs.	Archers, cavalry
Upgrades
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)
Cost	Logistics (-0.5 population usage)
Upgrades	Broad Sword

Civilization bonuses

• Choson: Short Swordsmen get +15 hit points.
• Macedonians: Short Swordsmen have +2 Line of Sight and are four times more resistant to conversion.
• Romans: Short Swordsmen have -33% reload time.

Changelog

Age of Empires

• Battle Axe and Short Sword are required to train Short Swordsmen.

Definitive Edition

• Short Sword and Battle Axe are no longer required to train Short Swordsmen.
• Choson: Short Swordsmen get +15 hit points.

History

“	The short sword represents an evolutionary step in infantry weapons. The spear, mace, and axe were relatively easy to manufacture and use, but cumbersome in very close combat. Following the discovery of bronze during the Bronze Age, it became possible to manufacture swords and shields that were basically enlarged and strengthened knives. These were much easier to wield in hand-to-hand combat and improved the effectiveness of infantry who carried them. Short swords were carried as a second weapon by spearmen or pikemen, such as the Greek hoplites. The most famous short sword of antiquity was the gladius, or Spanish sword, adopted by the Roman legions from the Spanish allies of Carthage. The gladius was especially effective in the dense legion fighting formations that pressed tightly against their opponents and restricted movement.	”
—The Age of Empires manual

Gallery

A group of Short Swordsmen.

A Short Swordsman in the Definitive Edition

Barracks Tree
Stone Age Barracks Clubman Tool Age Axeman Slinger Bronze Age Short Swordsman Broad Swordsman Iron Age Long Swordsman Legion