Norseman with axe

Defensive Melee Special

Cheap to operate, does not consume food, and with a solid thirty-three in melee defense, it holds its line well. For a special unit that you do not have to feed, it is a good value. Its weakness against ranged attackers and the fact that it hardly improves with stars keeps it in a supplementary role, not as the backbone of defense. A fine choice for a defensive game if you have something to complement it against archers.

1Attack

33Melee defense

9Ranged defense

—Speed

—Food upkeep

The Northern Axeman is a purely defensive melee infantry unit: defense 33 against melee, but only 9 against ranged attackers and an attack of 1. Take that last point as a clear signal that it does not belong in an offensive role, not even by accident. Its main attraction is zero food consumption, so it doesn't eat into your economy like regular barracks units. However, watch out for the stars: even at the fifth star, its attack remains 1 and defense only adds a few points, so investing resources into upgrading it doesn't make sense.

How to use it

It belongs in the defense of castles or forward bases in positions against melee attacks. A defense of 33 against melee is decent for a non-fed unit, and zero food means you can occupy defensive slots regardless of the number of farms. If someone is attacking you mainly with infantry, this is exactly the unit you want to have there. Keep it as a permanent garrison, not as disposable material for a single defense. Since it is an event unit, you usually have as many as you get from offers or events, so think carefully about which slot to place it in first.

What to combine it with

It cannot stand alone, as it will be shredded by any archer. Therefore, pair it with a defensive ranged unit that covers its weakness against ranged attackers, plus equip defensive tools on the walls and an officer to boost the overall defense of the garrison. The goal is for the attacker not to find one type of attack that can break your defense. The Axeman holds the melee line, the archers handle the distance, tools and the commander add bonuses on top.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

Do not send it into attack; an attack of 1 is useless and you will just waste it unnecessarily. And do not build a defense against ranged raids with it; with a defense of 9, it will fall before it can do anything. If you expect a wave full of archers or artillery, set up a defense with ranged units and keep this one only as a melee supplement. Another thing: do not waste resources on its stars; it practically won't improve much.

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