Quick overview
| Type | Offensive, Melee |
|---|---|
| Source | Barracks level 5 |
| Cost | 164 |
| Recommendation | Situational |
rating
The Royal Guard Knight is a purely offensive infantry unit in the mid-game with an attack of 132, which is a decent amount for its stage. It costs 164 coins and consumes 4 food, so it's not cheap waste, but also not something that will break your economy. You recruit it in the Barracks up to level 5, so you won't touch it at the start of the game. In short: you take it for the attack and nothing else.
How to use it
In practice, it's a classic sword for breaking through defenses. You send it to attack castles and camps where enemy infantry is sitting, and with an attack of 132 in an offensive wave, it will do a solid amount of work. However, don't put it in defense; its numbers of 18 against melee and 5 against ranged are laughable on the walls, more about that in the mistakes section. A speed of 28 is a common value for infantry, so keep it in mind when planning moves to more distant targets; cavalry will arrive there sooner.
What to combine it with
Send it in a mixed offensive wave with ranged units. This sword pressures the melee defense, while ranged units pressure the enemy's ranged defense, so together they will break both types of defenders. One type of attack alone is easily countered, so never send it as the only type. Star upgrades make sense mainly for attack (4 stars potential); for defense (1 star), it's a waste of time. But don't forget about the cost stars (3 stars): for a unit costing 164 coins, the reduction in costs during mass production will show real benefits.
Weaknesses and what to avoid
Don't send it alone and unsupported. Interestingly, against strong ranged defenses, this knight is relatively more resilient; being an attacker, a ranged defense of 5 doesn't hit him as hard as a regular defender, and he attacks melee defenses excellently. Still, it holds true: one type of attack can be countered, so without ranged units behind you, you'll get through, but at a high cost. And don't build it at all until you have Barracks at level 5; until then, stick with cheaper units.
Related units
Back to Units.