Halberdier — Counters, Stats & Civ Bonuses

Halberdier — Counters, Stats & Civ Bonuses

The Halberdier is countered by Arbalest, Heavy Scorpion and Elite Cataphract. It is a Infantry / Counter Unit unit of the Spearman Line, and it wins against Cavalier, Elite Battle Elephant and Elite Steppe Lancer.

Class

Infantry / Counter Unit

Line

Spearman Line

Available to

All civilizations

Cost

35 25

The Spearman Line

• Spearman
• Pikeman
• Halberdier

Halberdier stats

Hit points

60

Melee attack

6 / 3s

Pierce attack

0

Range

0

Melee armour

0

Pierce armour

0

Speed

1

Line of sight

4

Training time

22s

What counters the Halberdier?

Hard counters beat the Halberdier decisively and win even at a cost disadvantage — usually through bonus damage, area damage, conversion or a speed advantage it cannot escape. Soft counters win the fight too, but only with good numbers and positioning.

• Arbalest hard High pierce damage
• Heavy Scorpion hard Area damage
• Elite Cataphract UU hard UU (Byzantines) – Bonus vs. infantry + anti-anti-cav
• Elite Conquistador UU hard UU (Spanish) – Mounted Hand Cannoneer kites Halbs
• Elite Jaguar Warrior UU hard Attack bonus vs. infantry (+6)
• Elite Skirmisher soft Pierce damage, Halbs have barely any pierce armor
• Heavy Cavalry Archer soft Kites away
• Hand Cannoneer soft High base damage vs. infantry
• Elite Chu Ko Nu UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Elite Longbowman UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Elite Plumed Archer UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Legionary UU soft Attack bonus vs. infantry (+4)
• Slinger UU soft Attack bonus vs. infantry (+4)

What does the Halberdier counter?

One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.

• Cavalier hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Battle Elephant hard Attack bonus vs. elephants/cavalry
• Elite Steppe Lancer hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Heavy Camel Rider hard Attack bonus vs. camels
• Heavy Hei Guang Cavalry hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Hussar hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Imperial Camel Rider UU hard Attack bonus vs. camels
• Paladin hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry – strongest infantry option
• Savar UU hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Siege Elephant UU hard Attack bonus vs. elephants
• Winged Hussar UU hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Ballista Elephant UU soft Attack bonus vs. cavalry (+32)

Unique units the Halberdier beats

• Elite Bolas Rider hard
• Elite Boyar hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Centurion hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Coustillier hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Iron Pagoda hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Keshik hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Konnik hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Leitis hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Magyar Huszar hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Monaspa hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Ratha hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Shrivamsha Rider hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Tarkan hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite Tiger Cavalry hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Elite War Elephant hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry/elephants
• Xianbei Raider hard
• Elite Mangudai soft Attack bonus vs. cavalry (+32)
• Elite War Wagon soft Attack bonus vs. cavalry

Other units the Halberdier beats

• Elite Elephant Archer UU hard Attack bonus vs. elephants
• Elite Fire Lancer hard
• Elite Ratha (Melee) UU hard Attack bonus vs. cavalry

Units the Halberdier has a damage bonus against

Bonus damage says how hard the Halberdier hits these units, not that it wins every fight — some of them still beat it by outranging or outrunning it.

• Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line
• Heavy Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line
• Elite Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line

Civilizations that improve the Halberdier

22 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.

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.