Swordsman

Swordsman
General Information
Available in	Stronghold games
Type	Melee unit
Cost	40 gold 1 sword 1 metal armour +8 honor (SH2)
Unit Statistics
Health	High
Damage	High
Speed	Very slow

The swordsman is a heavy infantry unit available from the barracks.

Description

The swordsman is the most powerful melee unit in Stronghold. They have a very powerful attack and wear durable metal armour. They make short work of any units they encounter, even armored troops in close range. Capable of absorbing huge numbers of projectiles (even crossbow bolts), the swordsman can strike down ranged enemies without taking too much damage. They can also destroy buildings and siege equipment with a few swings.

However, their main weakness is that they are also the slowest unit in the game and as such enemies can avoid them easily and leave it up to crossbowmen or fire ballistae to take them down. Stones launched from catapults or trebuchets can also soften up squads of swordsmen.

Usage

Swordsmen make the bulk of advancing armies, because they can soak up much damage before succumbing. They are mainly used to repel counterattacks and destroying enemy industry. Like with any troops, swordsmen operate best in numbers, diverting enemy fire and covering a larger area to work on. They are slow, but deadly troops and they can be massed if one has the industry for it.

Game differences

Stronghold 2:

• Swordsmen gain a speed boost and they move even faster in formation. They can even fill in moats.

Stronghold Legends:

• Swordsmen retain their original speed and they move just as slowly as in Stronghold and Crusader.

Trivia

• It takes several hundreds of archer arrows to kill a swordsman, making this character very strong against them.
• The swordsman's armour (in Stronghold 2) suggests he is modelled after a 12th to 13th century fighter. This was during the latter time of the Crusades, where chainmail was widely in use but some plate armour was available. The swordsman wears a great helm (or pot helmet), breastplate, greaves and cuisses. It is seen that he wears a drape of mail over his shoulders, known as the coif (layer of mail covering the head).
• Although the swordsmen are effective against all units, they aren't against knights.

Gallery

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