▶ Play Goodgame Empire
Play Goodgame EmpireFree, right in your browser, no install needed. Build a castle, raise an army, and conquer.▶ Play Now
Veteran spearman – Goodgame Empire

Veteran spearman

Defensive Melee Veteran

A solid and cheap defensive infantry for the beginning of the game - it holds off melee attacks on the walls and in the early phase is the backbone of your defense against melee. Three conditions: never let it defend alone (due to ranged defense 57, complement it with the Archer Veteran), never throw it into attack, and expect to replace it with a Royal Honor Guard Member or Halberdier Veteran at higher Barracks levels. A safe starting choice for the Early Game phase.

15Attack
142Melee defense
57Ranged defense
26Speed
3Food upkeep

Quick overview

TypeDefensive, Melee
SourceBarracks level 1
Cost160
RecommendationRather yes

rating

Attack
Defensive
Cost
Speed

The Spearman Veteran is your cheap defensive infantry right from the start from Barracks level 1. The key number is melee defense 142 - a really decent value for a starting unit, so it can effectively stop attacking infantry in castle defense. Attack 15 is purely a defensive ceiling, so don't expect any offense from it. For 160 coins and only 3 food, you can acquire enough of them, allowing you to quickly fill your defensive capacity without overloading your supplies.

How to use it

It belongs exclusively to castle defense as the front line against melee attacks - there, its defense of 142 (4 stars) holds up well. Speed 26 is slow, but the defensive unit is sitting at home on the walls anyway, so it doesn't matter. What's important is what you pair it with: it won't stand alone against ranged units (ranged defense only 57), so always complement it with a unit that covers arrows. If you have free space in your garrison and want to cheaply patch up your defense against infantry, this is the right choice.

What to combine it with

The weakness is immediately visible in the stats: ranged defense only 57. Alone on the wall, it will fall as soon as a raid of archers arrives. A specific solution - mix it with the Archer Veteran, which has ranged defense 132 and is also cheap and available early (Barracks level 2). The Spearman holds off melee attacks (142), the Archer Veteran covers arrows (132), and together you can patch each other's weaknesses. Aim for about a 50/50 ratio depending on what attacks you the most. This pair of starting units can withstand much more than a pile of one type.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

The main rule: do not send it into attack. Attack 15 won't break even a weakly defended target, and you'll just waste 160 coins - it's a defensive unit, not a conqueror, and a low attack is normal for defenders, so don't be surprised. Another thing to watch out for: don't build your defense solely from Spearmen Veterans. With a ranged defense of 57, such a single-type wall will fall under the first onslaught of archers, which the enemy will immediately exploit. And don't expect it to carry you through the late game - it's a starting unit for the Early Game phase.

Pro player tipBecause defense is its strongest stat (4 stars) and attack is only 2 stars, this is exactly the unit worth investing defensive bonuses from officers and items into - it will multiply the most here, while investing in attack doesn't make sense. Additionally, the low consumption of 3 food means you can maintain a lot of them without overloading your supplies. Once you upgrade your Barracks to a higher level, the transition leads to the Royal Honor Guard Member (melee defense 150 and ranged defense 65) or the Halberdier Veteran - both provide better coverage against arrows than the Spearman.
Common mistakeA common mistake is not in controlling a single unit, but in the ratio - newcomers often fill their garrison almost exclusively with Spearmen because they look tough, and then wonder why the defense falls. Without enough ranged defense alongside them, the whole wall is fragile. Watch what your opponent is actually attacking you with, and adjust the ratio of melee and anti-ranged units accordingly. Another classic is reading only one number: people see defense 142 and take it as invulnerable, but that only applies against infantry, not against archers.

Related units

HalberdierHalberdierVeteran halberdierVeteran halberdierSentinel of the KingsguardSentinel of the KingsguardShapeshifter legionnaireShapeshifter legionnaireDragon clawsDragon clawsFlame bearerFlame bearer

Back to Units.