Urumi Swordsmen have high hit points, high range damage with a ranged area effect, a high rate of fire, and a multiplier against heavy infantry. Urumi are incredibly powerful, but are vulnerable to melee cavalry. Due to their high ranged resistance and more than average movement speed, they are not as vulnerable to ranged infantry as other melee infantry.
The Indian Fast Fortress strategy is important, but Urumi Swordsmen should be mixed with anti-cavalry units, such as Sepoys or Howdahs. Urumi are useful against civilizations that rely on heavy infantry and light cavalry units for their armies, such as the Aztecs and British.
The Urumi has an infinite shipment card available in the Industrial Age which allows them to be massed, especially with the use of Sacred Fields.
Inspires all nearby Urumi Swordsmen. Uses a sword whip that does area damage. Good against heavy infantry. Available only from the Home City.
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—In-game description
The Mansabdar Urumi is a stronger version of the Urumi that can only be shipped from the Home City with the Urumi Swordsmen RegimentHome City Card. As a Mansabdar unit, the Mansabdar Urumi has twice the hit points of an Urumi, and increases the hit points and attack of nearby Urumi. Unlike other Mansabdar units, the Mansabdar Urumi cannot be retrained at the Charminar Gatewonder should it die. This has been fixed in the Definitive Edition.
Practitioners of the Indian martial art of Kalarippayattu, which dates back to at least the twelfth century, begin their education at the age of seven. Once training commences, it progresses through four unique stages of development: Meithari, Kolthari, Ankathari and Verumkai. Meithari is a rigorous series of posture and coordination exercises that helps the student achieve peak physical condition through jumps, balance, and flexibility. Kolthari is the study of fighting with wooden weapons. Ankathari is the study of metal weapons, and near the end of this stage a student chooses a weapon in which to specialize. Finally, once the student has mastered all forms of weaponry, he is taught how to defend himself in hand-to-hand combat using grapples, blows, and strikes to vital pressure points, or marmam. Only the most trusted students of Kalarippayattu are instructed in this honored art.
Masters of Kalarippayattu are highly skilled in many weapons, but none as strange, or as deadly, as the urumi, or flexible sword. The urumi is a flexible band of steel about one inch in width, and up to 5 feet in length, that is attached to a handle. Most urumi have multiple bands attached to a single handle. Because of its flexibility, an urumi can be coiled around the waist and inconspicuously carried like a belt. If a fight breaks out, the urumi can be uncoiled and swung like a sword. It is most effective when the wielder faces multiple enemies.