Master swordsman

Offensive Melee Special

A specialized offensive melee unit that you obtain from special offers or events. If you are making an offensive account and consider it purely as an offensive tool, it is a good investment due to its attack of 185. Do not consider it as a versatile unit; with a defense of 19/5, it clearly belongs only in attack, and there it must operate with the support of tools and ranged units.

185Attack

19Melee defense

5Ranged defense

28Speed

4Food upkeep

Quick overview

Type	Offensive, Melee
Source	Special
Game stage	Special
Cost	400
Recommendation	Situational

rating

Attack

Defensive

Cost

Speed

The Master Swordsman is purely an offensive infantry unit with 185 attack, which is a decent punch for a melee combat unit. However, it only has 19 defense against melee and 5 against ranged, making it a typical glass cannon. You send it to destroy enemy defenders, not to defend anything itself. The cost of 400 and food consumption of 4 per unit are not extreme, and you can field it in larger numbers for an attack if you have a surplus of food.

How to use it

You deploy it in attacks as a melee component against camps, castles, and other players. Its high attack of 185 makes it a solid slasher against enemy defenses. Send it to the side or tool where the opponent mainly deploys melee units, as the attack of 185 fits best there. Consider the speed of 28 as standard for infantry; it is not particularly fast, so expect a normal marching time.

What to combine it with

On its own, it is weak for a decisive strike, so it needs support. Combine it with an offensive ranged unit to cover both components of the opponent's defense. Offensive tools (battering rams, siege towers, or ladders depending on the target) are a must; the Master Swordsman creates a mass of attack that the tools will amplify. If you have an offensive commander with a bonus to melee, build your army around him, and the Master Swordsman will serve as the main melee backbone.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

The biggest trap is putting it in defense. With a defense of 5 against ranged, archers will take it down before it does anything, so do not place it in the defensive garrison of a castle. Similarly, do not send it into attacks where the opponent mainly deploys ranged units, as the attack may go through, but your units will unnecessarily fall along the way. And do not make it a universal unit for every situation; it is too one-dimensional for that.

Pro player tipThe distribution of star points for this unit mainly goes into attack (attack:defense:cost ratio = 5:1:2), which suits it perfectly since attack is the only thing it is good at. There are no choices to make here; the stars automatically increase mainly attack and to a lesser extent cost, so with each star, you can field it in larger numbers and tougher. Do not expect defense from it; that will remain weak regardless of the stars.

Common mistakeA classic mistake is mixing Master Swordsmen into the defensive garrison of a castle with the thought "I have them at home, let them not go to waste." You will lose them almost for free at the first attack from a ranged unit. Another common mistake is sending them into an attack without siege tools and without ranged support; then they will just consume food and fail to complete the attack. A new player often confuses high attack with a strong unit overall, but this only applies in attack; elsewhere, it is a soft target.

Related units

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