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.
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 have a +5 bonus against Infantry, but 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.
Upgrades
Tool Age
Toolworking: Increases attack by 2.- Leather Armor Infantry: Increases armor by 2.
Bronze Age
- Metalworking: Increases attack by 2.
- Scale Armor Infantry: Increases armor by 2.
- Bronze Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1.
- Logistics: Decreases population usage by 50%.
Iron Age
- Metallurgy: Increases attack by 3.
- Chain Mail Infantry: Increases armor by 2.
- Iron Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1.
- Tower Shield: Increases pierce armor by 1.
Template:Barracks TechTree (Age of Empires)
Civilization bonuses
- Roman: Short Swordsmen attack +33% faster.
- Macedonian: Short Swordsmen have +2 line of sight and are four times more resistant to conversion.
- Choson: Short Swordsmen get +15 hit points*.
Changelog
Age of Empires
- Short Sword and thus Battle Axe are required for Short Swordsman.
Definitive Edition
- Short Sword and Battle Axe are no longer required for Short Swordsman.
- 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
| Units in Age of Empires | |
|---|---|
| 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 | |