Alabardero

Like their predecessors, the Pikemen, the main purpose of Halberdiers is countering cavalry units. The upgrade gives them and a total of +13 additional bonus damage against elephant units. This makes the upgrade almost always worth it, though the high cost of the upgrade can make it hard to justify depending on the amount of cavalry the enemy is using. Their attack bonus against cavalry of 32 is so huge that two Halberdiers can bring down even a Paladin. However, they still maintain their predecessors' inability to force a fight, so they are only suited for defending other units that would otherwise falter against cavalry. They can be paired with siege units and protect them from melee cavalry attacks. They become a lot more valuable in the late Imperial Age, since at that time gold is usually running very low, often resulting in trash wars. There, Halberdiers hold an advantage against Hussars. Halberdiers need to be massed to be effective, but they are cost-effective against all cavalry units, even Cataphracts. Ranged cavalry like Cavalry Archers can handle them, though, when micromanaged properly. Halberdiers fare poorly against all other infantry, thanks to their very low base damage and lack of bonus damage against infantry. Archers, particularly when massed, make short work of them, due to not only their low pierce armor and hit points, but also the fact that they receive anti- damage from archers. === Comparison among civilizations === { Cost Byzantine bonus Goth bonus Inca bonus Korean bonus Attack 6+4 6+4 6+4 Attack bonuses +32 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +3 vs +35 vs +32 vs +21 vs +21vs +1 vs +3 vs Bohemian bonus +32 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +3 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +4 vs Goth bonus, lack arson +32 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +3 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +1 vs lack arson +32 vs +28 vs +26 vs +17 vs +17vs +1 vs +3 vs Armor 0+3/0+4 0+3/0+4 0+3/0+4 Speed Conversion resistance +5 min, +5 max +5 min, +5 max, lack Heresy +5 min, +5 max +5 min, +5 max, lack Heresy +5 min, +5 max +5 min, +5 max, lack Heresy +5 min, +5 max +5 min, +5 max, lack Heresy , lack Heresy +5 min, +5 max, lack Heresy Extras }