The Champion is countered by Arbalest, Scorpion and Cataphract. It is a infantry unit of the Champion Line, and it wins against Battering Ram, Camel Rider and Skirmisher.
- Class
- Infantry
- Line
- Champion Line
- Available to
- All civilizations
- Cost
-
50 
20
Champion stats
 Hit points | 70 |
|---|---|
 Melee attack | 14 / 2s |
 Pierce attack | 0 |
 Range | 0 |
 Melee armour | 1 |
 Pierce armour | 1 |
 Speed | 0.96 |
 Line of sight | 5 |
 Training time | 21s |
What counters the Champion?
The Champion is weak against Ranged Soldiers at long range.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Champion even at a cost disadvantage. Soft counters win the fight through cost-efficiency or mobility, without a dedicated bonus.
| Counter | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
 Arbalest | hard | High pierce damage |
 Scorpion | hard | Area pierce annihilates groups |
 Cataphract | hard | UU (Byzantines) – Massive attack bonus vs. infantry |
 Elite Jaguar Warrior | hard | UU (Aztecs) – Attack bonus vs. infantry |
 Cavalry Archer | soft | Kites Champions |
 Siege Onager | soft | Massive area damage |
 Throwing Axeman | soft | UU (Franks) – Ranged anti-infantry |
 Conquistador | soft | UU (Spanish) – Kites with Hand Cannon |
What does the Champion counter?
The Champion is strong against buildings, Infantry, Scout Cavalry- and Skirmisher-line.
One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.
-
Battering Ram hard -
Camel Rider hard -
Skirmisher hard
Unique units the Champion beats
-
Camel Archer hard -
Elite Camel Archer hard -
Elite Mameluke hard -
Mameluke hard -
Genitour soft
Unit lines the Champion has a damage bonus against
Civilizations that improve the Champion
19 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.
Armenians
- Spearman- and Militia-line upgrades (except Man-at-Arms) available one age earlier
- Fereters (unique tech): Infantry (except Spearman-line) +30 HP; Warrior Priests heal +100% faster
Aztecs
- Garland Wars (unique tech): Infantry +4 attack
Bulgarians
- Militia-line upgrades free
- Bagains (unique tech): Militia-line +5 melee armor
Burgundians
- Flemish Revolution (unique tech): All existing Villagers are transformed to Flemish Militia
Burmese
- Infantry +1/+2/+3 attack in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Celts
- Infantry moves +5/10/15/20% faster in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Stronghold (unique tech): Castles and Watch Tower-line attack +33% faster; Castles heal allied Infantry in a 7 tile radius
Dravidians
- Wootz Steel (unique tech): Infantry and Cavalry attacks ignore armor
Goths
- Infantry costs -15/20/25/30% in Dark/Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
- Infantry +1/+2/+3 attack vs. buildings in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Japanese
- Infantry attacks +33% faster starting in Feudal Age
Khitans
- Lamellar Armor (unique tech): Infantry and Skirmishers reflect 25% melee damage back to the attacker
Koreans
- Ranged Soldiers and Infantry cost -50% wood
Malay
- Infantry armor upgrades free
- Forced Levy (unique tech): Militia-line gold cost is replaced by additional food cost
Malians
- Barracks Units +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Mapuche
- Infantry, Slingers and Skirmishers +5/10/15 HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Romans
- Infantry armor upgrade effects are doubled
- Comitatenses (unique tech): Militia-line, Knight-line, and Centurions train +50% faster and receive a charge attack
Slavs
- Druzhina (unique tech): Infantry deals trample damage
Teutons
- Barracks and Stable Units +1/+2 melee armor in Castle/Imperial Age
- Crenellations (unique tech): Castles +3 range, garrisoned Infantry fires arrows
Vikings
- Infantry +20% HP starting in Feudal Age
- Chieftains (unique tech): Infantry +5 attack vs. Cavalry, +4 vs. Camel Units; generate +5 gold when defeating Villagers, Trade Units and Monks
Wu
- Infantry regenerates 10/15/30 HP per minute in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
The Champion Line
For the strategy behind these matchups — when to build counters, how to mix them and which civs do it best — see the Infantry Counters guide.
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