Best men-at-arms

All regiments, strength per gold

Regiment	Type	Damage	Toughness	Soldiers	Strength	Buy gold	Per gold▼	Upkeep	Per upkeep	Counters	Unlock
House Guard	Heavy Infantry	40	32	100	7,200	50	144	1	7,200	Spearmen ×2, Peasant Militia ×4, Archers ×2	Dynasty legacy
Varangian Guards	Heavy Infantry	45	32	100	7,700	72	106.90	0.96	8,021	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Special
Retinue Handgunners	Handgunner	56	20	100	7,600	76	100	1.05	7,238	Heavy Infantry ×1	Innovation
Handpicked Faithful	Heavy Infantry	38	28	100	6,600	67.50	97.80	0.90	7,333	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Special
Jomsviking Pirates	Skirmishers	30	30	100	6,000	63	95.20	0.63	9,524	Heavy Infantry ×1, Archers ×1	Events only
Handgunners	Handgunner	52	12	100	6,400	76	84.20	1.05	6,095	Heavy Infantry ×1	Innovation
Pesilat Warriors	Skirmishers	24	10	100	3,400	40.50	84	0.41	8,395	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Burenjia Infantry	Heavy Infantry	22	38	100	6,000	75	80	0.90	6,667	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Archers ×1.5	Tradition
Bush Hunters	Archers	30	12	100	4,200	55	76.40	0.66	6,364	Skirmishers ×1	Tradition
Ayyar	Heavy Infantry	35	22	100	5,700	75	76	1.08	5,278	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Tradition
Shomer	Skirmishers	10	24	100	3,400	45	75.60	0.45	7,556	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Metsänvartija	Archers	30	14	100	4,400	60.50	72.70	0.66	6,667	Skirmishers ×1	Tradition
Nile Archers	Archers	30	14	100	4,400	60.50	72.70	0.66	6,667	Skirmishers ×1	Tradition
Paiks	Archers	28	16	100	4,400	60.50	72.70	0.66	6,667	Elephant Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Zhanmadao Infantry	Heavy Infantry	85	35	50	6,000	85.50	70.20	1.26	4,762	Spearmen ×0.5, Peasant Militia ×1, Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Goedendag Militia	Skirmishers	13	18	100	3,100	45	68.90	0.45	6,889	Heavy Infantry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Crossbowmen	Archers	42	18	100	6,000	88	68.20	0.90	6,667	Heavy Infantry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Archer Cavalry ×0.5	Innovation
Order Foot Knights	Heavy Infantry	36	24	100	6,000	90	66.70	1.20	5,000	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Innovation
Picchieri	Spearmen	40	24	100	6,400	97.50	65.60	1.17	5,470	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Mubarizun	Heavy Infantry	45	25	100	7,000	108	64.80	1.44	4,861	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Shenbigong	Archers	44	18	100	6,200	96.25	64.40	1.05	5,905	Heavy Infantry ×1.25, Heavy Cavalry ×1.25, Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Innovation
Zupin Spearmen	Spearmen	16	16	100	3,200	50.25	63.70	0.60	5,307	Heavy Cavalry ×0.5, Heavy Infantry ×1, Light Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Bondí	Spearmen	14	18	100	3,200	50.25	63.70	0.60	5,307	Light Cavalry ×1, Archers ×1	Tradition
Bowmen	Archers	25	10	100	3,500	55	63.60	0.60	5,833	Skirmishers ×1	Base
Vigmen	Archers	18	20	100	3,800	60.50	62.80	0.66	5,758	Skirmishers ×1	Tradition
Horn Warriors	Skirmishers	12	16	100	2,800	45	62.20	0.45	6,222	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Pikemen	Spearmen	22	24	100	4,600	75	61.30	0.90	5,111	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Base
Mountaineers	Heavy Infantry	40	26	100	6,600	108	61.10	1.44	4,583	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Tradition
Landsknechts	Spearmen	30	24	100	5,400	90	60	1.08	5,000	Spearmen ×0.5, Peasant Militia ×1, Light Cavalry ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×2	Innovation
Armored Footmen	Heavy Infantry	32	22	100	5,400	90	60	1.20	4,500	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Innovation
Druzhina	Heavy Infantry	40	30	100	7,000	117	59.80	1.56	4,487	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Tradition
Khandayat	Heavy Infantry	42	22	100	6,400	108	59.30	1.44	4,444	Light Cavalry ×1, Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Tradition
Guinean Uplanders	Skirmishers	18	14	100	3,200	54	59.30	0.54	5,926	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Akritai	Skirmishers	10	14	100	2,400	40.50	59.30	0.41	5,926	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Skoutatoi	Spearmen	22	26	100	4,800	82.50	58.20	0.99	4,848	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Light Footmen	Skirmishers	10	16	100	2,600	45	57.80	0.45	5,778	Heavy Infantry ×1	Base
Palace Guards	Heavy Infantry	38	24	100	6,200	108	57.40	1.44	4,306	Spearmen ×2, Peasant Militia ×4	Tradition
Huscarls	Heavy Infantry	40	26	100	6,600	115.20	57.30	1.54	4,297	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Archers ×1	Tradition
Schiltron	Spearmen	36	28	100	6,400	112.50	56.90	1.35	4,741	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Mangudai	Archer Cavalry	50	6	100	5,600	99	56.60	0.99	5,657	Spearmen ×0.5, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Lenkas	Heavy Infantry	42	22	100	6,400	115.20	55.60	1.54	4,167	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Archers ×1	Tradition
Zbrojnosh	Heavy Infantry	34	20	100	5,400	99	54.50	1.32	4,091	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Archers ×1	Tradition
Fire Lancers	Handgunner	40	8	100	4,800	88	54.50	0.90	5,333	Heavy Infantry ×1	Innovation
Sarawit	Heavy Infantry	32	26	100	5,800	108	53.70	1.44	4,028	Light Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Maturkan Warriors	Archers	16	15	100	3,100	57.75	53.70	0.63	4,921	Skirmishers ×1	Tradition
Retinue Crossbowmen	Archers	60	30	100	9,000	176	51.10	0.90	10,000	Heavy Infantry ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×2, Archer Cavalry ×1	Accolade
Palatini	Heavy Infantry	60	30	100	9,000	180	50	2.40	3,750	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2	Innovation
Gakgung Archers	Archers	25	8	100	3,300	66	50	0.72	4,583	Skirmishers ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Varangian Veterans	Heavy Infantry	45	30	100	7,500	150.30	49.90	2.00	3,743	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Chasseurs	Light Cavalry	40	15	100	5,500	110.50	49.80	1.36	4,029	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Teulu	Light Cavalry	25	25	100	5,000	102	49	1.26	3,968	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Special
Steppe Raiders	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	76.50	48.40	0.94	3,915	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Special
Mounted Samurai	Archer Cavalry	96	34	50	6,500	135	48.10	1.35	4,815	Skirmishers ×1, Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Ayrudzi	Light Cavalry	50	30	50	4,000	85	47.10	1.05	3,810	Archers ×1, Archer Cavalry ×0.5, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Emishi Riders	Archer Cavalry	28	12	100	4,000	85	47.10	1.05	3,810	Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Samurai	Heavy Infantry	45	25	100	7,000	150.30	46.60	2.00	3,493	Spearmen ×1, Peasant Militia ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Caballeros	Light Cavalry	22	16	100	3,800	85	44.70	1.16	3,290	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Abudrar	Skirmishers	20	16	100	3,600	81	44.40	0.81	4,444	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Retinue Skirmishers	Skirmishers	20	20	100	4,000	90	44.40	0.45	8,889	Heavy Infantry ×2	Accolade
Retinue Vanguard	Heavy Infantry	45	35	100	8,000	180	44.40	1.20	6,667	Spearmen ×2, Peasant Militia ×4	Accolade
Mulathamūn	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	85	43.50	1.16	3,203	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Light Horsemen	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	85	43.50	1.05	3,524	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Base
Camel Riders	Camel Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	85	43.50	0.84	4,405	Light Cavalry ×1	Innovation
Tawashi	Light Cavalry	25	15	100	4,000	93.50	42.80	1.16	3,463	Archers ×1, Heavy Infantry ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Heavy Horse Archers	Archer Cavalry	92	42	50	6,700	157.50	42.50	1.57	4,254	Light Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Special
Longbowmen	Archers	20	8	100	2,800	66	42.40	0.72	3,889	Skirmishers ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1	Tradition
Rocket Carts	Archers	45	12	50	2,850	68.75	41.50	0.54	5,278	Spearmen ×0.5, Peasant Militia ×1, Heavy Infantry ×0.5	Innovation
Sahel Horsemen	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	90	41.10	1.16	3,203	Archers ×1, Heavy Infantry ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Retinue Archers	Archers	30	15	100	4,500	110	40.90	0.60	7,500	Skirmishers ×2	Accolade
Vaulter Infantry	Skirmishers	10	12	100	2,200	54	40.70	0.54	4,074	Heavy Infantry ×1	Innovation
Horse Archers	Archer Cavalry	36	18	100	5,400	135	40	1.35	4,000	Skirmishers ×1, Heavy Infantry ×1	Tradition
Retinue Pikemen	Spearmen	30	30	100	6,000	150	40	0.90	6,667	Light Cavalry ×2, Heavy Cavalry ×2, Camel Cavalry ×2, Elephant Cavalry ×2	Accolade
Looters	Spearmen	30	20	50	2,500	63	39.70	0.63	3,968	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Events only
Hobelars	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	93.50	39.60	1.16	3,203	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Nomad Lancers	Heavy Cavalry	120	30	50	7,500	190	39.50	2.00	3,759	Archers ×0.5, Handgunner ×0.5	Special
Ballistrai	Archers	35	12	50	2,350	63.25	37.20	0.45	5,222	Spearmen ×0.5, Peasant Militia ×1, Heavy Infantry ×0.5	Tradition
Order Knights	Heavy Cavalry	112	36	50	7,400	200	37	2.10	3,524	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Conrois	Heavy Cavalry	100	25	50	6,250	170	36.80	1.78	3,501	Archers ×1, Light Cavalry ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Konni	Light Cavalry	25	15	100	4,000	110.50	36.20	1.36	2,930	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Poachers	Archers	30	15	50	2,250	63	35.70	0.63	3,571	Skirmishers ×1	Events only
Marauders	Light Cavalry	30	15	50	2,250	63	35.70	0.63	3,571	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Events only
Gendarmes	Heavy Cavalry	125	40	50	8,250	240	34.40	2.52	3,274	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Kheshig	Archer Cavalry	94	60	50	7,700	225	34.20	2.25	3,422	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×0.5, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Dynasty legacy
Armored Horsemen	Heavy Cavalry	100	35	50	6,750	200	33.80	2.10	3,214	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Retinue Lancers	Heavy Cavalry	200	70	50	13,500	400	33.80	2.10	6,429	Archers ×2, Handgunner ×2	Accolade
Kataphraktoi	Heavy Cavalry	125	35	50	8,000	260	30.80	2.73	2,930	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Retinue Outriders	Light Cavalry	30	20	100	5,000	170	29.40	1.05	4,762	Archers ×2, Handgunner ×2	Accolade
Retinue Camel Riders	Camel Cavalry	30	20	100	5,000	170	29.40	0.84	5,952	Light Cavalry ×2	Accolade
Monaspa	Heavy Cavalry	110	30	50	7,000	250	28	2.63	2,667	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Bandits	Skirmishers	15	20	50	1,750	63	27.80	0.63	2,778	Heavy Infantry ×1, Archers ×1	Events only
Cataphract Archers	Heavy Cavalry	90	52	50	7,100	260	27.30	2.73	2,601	Archer Cavalry ×1, Archers ×1, Handgunner ×0.5	Tradition
Tarkhans	Heavy Cavalry	110	30	50	7,000	260	26.90	2.73	2,564	Heavy Infantry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×0.5, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Tiefutu	Heavy Cavalry	100	40	50	7,000	260	26.90	2.73	2,564	Archers ×1, Spearmen ×1, Handgunner ×1	Innovation
Black-Armored Cavalry	Heavy Cavalry	45	20	100	6,500	260	25	2.73	2,381	Archers ×1, Spearmen ×1, Handgunner ×1	Tradition
Retinue Horse Archers	Archer Cavalry	45	20	100	6,500	270	24.10	1.35	4,815	Skirmishers ×2, Heavy Infantry ×2	Accolade
Asawira	Archer Cavalry	90	35	50	6,250	300	20.80	3	2,083	Skirmishers ×2, Heavy Infantry ×2	Dynasty legacy
War Elephants	Elephant Cavalry	250	50	25	7,500	400	18.80	2.94	2,551	Skirmishers ×2, Heavy Infantry ×2	Innovation
Retinue War Elephants	Elephant Cavalry	400	100	25	12,500	800	15.60	2.94	4,252	Skirmishers ×2, Heavy Infantry ×2	Accolade
Ballista Elephants	Elephant Cavalry	180	75	25	6,375	440	14.50	3.36	1,897	Skirmishers ×2, Heavy Infantry ×2	Innovation

Best early-game men-at-arms

Regiments anyone can recruit from the start — no innovation, tradition, faith or legacy needed — strongest per gold first.

Regiment	Type	Damage	Toughness	Soldiers	Strength	Buy gold	Per gold▼	Upkeep	Per upkeep	Counters	Unlock
Bowmen	Archers	25	10	100	3,500	55	63.60	0.60	5,833	Skirmishers ×1	Base
Pikemen	Spearmen	22	24	100	4,600	75	61.30	0.90	5,111	Light Cavalry ×1, Heavy Cavalry ×1, Camel Cavalry ×1, Elephant Cavalry ×1	Base
Light Footmen	Skirmishers	10	16	100	2,600	45	57.80	0.45	5,778	Heavy Infantry ×1	Base
Light Horsemen	Light Cavalry	22	15	100	3,700	85	43.50	1.05	3,524	Archers ×1, Handgunner ×1	Base

Best of each type

Siege weapons by siege value

Siege weapons deal no battle damage; they are ranked by the siege progress each one adds, then by buy cost.

Regiment	Siege value▼	Siege tier	Buy gold	Unlock
Bombards	0.60	4	96	Innovation
Fire Dragon Engines	0.60	4	121.60	Innovation
Mobile Towers	0.40	3	78	Innovation
Trebuchets	0.40	3	78	Innovation
Cloud Ladders	0.30	2	66	Innovation
Mangonels	0.30	2	66	Innovation
Onagers	0.20	1	60	Innovation
Siege Crossbows	0.20	1	60	Innovation
Torch-Bearers	0.10	1	30	Special