This article is about the unit in Age of Mythology. For other uses of the term, see Spearman. |
The Spearman is the Egyptian standard infantry unit in Age of Mythology, and is trained at the Barracks from the Classical Age. It is faster and cheaper than the other standard infantry units and has better armor, but the lowest hit points.
Like other basic infantry units Spearmen are a soft counter against cavalry and as such supposed to be cost-effective against most cavalry units. Heavier cavalry such as War Elephants and Jarls require hard counter units to be cost-effectively defeated. Spearmen however can be upgraded into hard counter units against cavalry through the myth technology Greatest of Fifty.
Strengths and weaknesses[]
Strengths and weaknesses | |
---|---|
Strong vs. | Hippeus, Prodromos, Peltast, Slinger, Camel Rider, War Elephant, Raiding Cavalry, Jarl, Contarius, Scout Cavalry |
Weak vs. | Hoplite, Toxotes, Hypaspist, Axeman, Chariot Archer, Berserk, Throwing Axeman, Murmillo, Arcus, Halberdier, Chu Ko Nu |
Upgrades[]
Age | Upgrade | Cost | Effect |
---|---|---|---|
Medium Spearmen | 100 food, 100 gold 20 seconds |
Upgrades Spearmen to Medium (+10% hit points, +10% attack, +1 Line of Sight) | |
Heavy Spearmen | 300 food, 200 gold 30 seconds |
Upgrades Spearmen to Heavy (+15% hit points, +20% attack, +1 Line of Sight); requires Medium Spearmen | |
Champion Spearmen | 400 food, 300 gold 40 seconds |
Upgrades Spearmen to Champion (+20% hit points, +30% attack, +1 Line of Sight); requires Heavy Spearmen |
General technologies[]
- Levy Barracks Soldiers and Conscript Barracks Soldiers: -20% training time.
- Copper Weapons, Bronze Weapons, and Iron Weapons: +10% attack.
- Copper Armor, Bronze Armor, and Iron Armor: -10% hack vulnerability.
- Copper Shields, Bronze Shields, and Iron Shields: -10% pierce vulnerability.
Myth technologies[]
- Serpent Spear (Anubis): Attacks vs. units deal 0.125 divine damage per second over 6 seconds.
- Leather Frame Shield (Ptah): -15% pierce vulnerability.
- Funeral Rites (Nephthys): Refunds 5 gold on death.
- Greatest of Fifty (Horus): +10% speed and +30% hit points.
- Spear of Horus (Horus): +10% attack and +1.0 attack multiplier vs. cavalry.
- Valley of the Kings (Thoth): Another spawns for free when one is trained at an empowered Barracks.
Relics[]
- Armor of Achilles: -5% hack vulnerability.
- Canopic Jar of Imsety: +25% training speed.
- Gaia's Book of Knowledge: +3.0 attack multiplier vs. Titans.
- Gungnir, Odin's Spear: +5% attack.
- Pelt of Argus: +6 Line of Sight.
- Thundercloud Shawl: -5% pierce vulnerability.
Tactics[]
Like all the Egyptian Classical Age units, Spearmen are specialized, though they are more versatile than Axemen and Slingers. Spearmen specialize against cavalry, like spearmen in the other Age of Empires games. As they are fairly fast, they are capable of attacking counter-archers such as the Slinger and Turma, and they also do bonus damage against the Turma. They can also close in on siege weapons, to which they do double damage. Their speed and low cost also makes them good scouts.
Spearmen should be used in conjunction with the other Egyptian units, since they are outmatched by other infantry units and standard archers can easily defeat them. Axemen or Slingers can be placed with them to balance out these weaknesses. From the Heroic Age onward, Spearmen are less useful, as the anti-cavalry role is handled better by Camel Rider, which are faster and also better against archers and anti-infantry. However, Spearmen are quicker to train and much cheaper, and so better against massed cavalry units at a pinch. Ra or Set players may also prefer to train Spearmen if they choose to worship Horus.
Changelog[]
Age of Mythology[]
- Spearmen have 7 hack attack, 70 hit points, 20 pierce armor, a x1.1 multiplier vs. cavalry, x2 vs. siege weapons, and train in 9 seconds.
- Attack increase granted by Heavy Spearmen and Champion Spearmen is +10%.
The Titans[]
- With patch 1.02, Spearmen do increased damage against Turmae.
- Spearmen have a x1.25 multiplier vs. Turmae and Turma Heroes, and 1.1 vs. Contarii.
Retold[]
- Spearmen have 6 hack attack, 75 hit points, 15 pierce armor, a x1.75 multiplier vs. cavalry, no multiplier vs. siege weapons, Turmae, Turma Heroes, or Contarii, and train in 11.5 seconds.
- Attack increase granted by Heavy Spearmen and Champion Spearmen is +20% and +30% respectively.
History[]
“ | The spear had several advantages as a weapon. Its length could keep enemies at a distance. The point narrowly focused the thrusting power and could penetrate most armor. It was relatively light and inexpensive, being made mostly of wood. Its disadvantage was that once the enemy was past the point, the spearman had little defense. Spears were especially good against horse when used by many men in formation holding the spear points out. Horses rarely charged into a bank of pointed spears, protecting all in the formation. | ” |
—In-game help section |