Maceman/Stronghold Crusader 2

Maceman
General Information
Available in	Stronghold Crusader 2
Type	Raiding melee unit
Cost	1 mace 10 gold
Unit Statistics
Health	Low
Damage	High
Speed	Very fast
Special ability	Charge: gives bonus damage and speed on first attack

Description

Macemen are one out of the best offensive units in Stronghold Crusader 2, being fairly cheap while retaining high damage output. While their health is lowered due to the lack of metal armour, making them more susceptible to missile fire, they possess a charge ability.

Usage

Macemen are the iconic unit in the Stronghold franchise. It's one of the strongest offensive units in the game, especially if you want to employ a hit & run tactics. The main reason behind that is their special ability - Sprint Attack. After selecting Macemen and issuing an attack order, they will begin a short charge at the enemy, during which they have significantly increased movement speed and the first attack after a charge deals additional damage. It works especially well during sieges, when you want to get rid of dangerous enemies (Archers, Crossbowmen), as well as in the defense of your castle - you can send a group of Macemen, destroy the enemy siege equipment and quickly retreat them behind your walls again. Sprint Attack requires several seconds to be ready again, which is signaled by a 'lightning' icon next to their health bar. Apart from their mobility, they can inflict quite large amounts of damage - only the most expensive units in the game can deal with a group of Macemen - provided that they can keep up with their movement speed.

As with every units in the game, they have their flaws. The first one is their durability - they do not wear any armor, meaning that even a small group of archers can inflict serious damage. The second one is the recruitment cost - you will require Iron to manufacture Maces, which are required to recruit them, and iron can be difficult to acquire on some maps.

When the maceman is issued a direct attack, it gains a huge movement speed bonus and he deals considerable damage upon contact. The ability needs to recharge for a short time. A group of charging maceman allows for taking out key units from combat, even Sassanid knights and templar knights.

Macemen require a free peasant from the campfire and 1 mace with a sum of 10 gold to recruit.