The Halberdier is countered by Arbalest, Scorpion and Elite Cataphract. It is a Infantry / Counter Unit unit of the Pike Line, and it wins against Armored Elephant, Battle Elephant and Camel Rider.
- Class
- Infantry / Counter Unit
- Line
- Pike Line
- Available to
- All civilizations
- Cost
-
35 
25
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?
The Halberdier is weak against Ranged Soldiers and Infantry.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Halberdier 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 damage |
 Elite Cataphract | hard | UU (Byzantines) – Bonus vs. infantry + anti-anti-cav |
 Conquistador | hard | UU (Spanish) – Mounted Hand Cannoneer kites Halbs |
 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 |
What does the Halberdier counter?
The Halberdier is strong against Mounted Units, especially elephants.
One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.
-
Armored Elephant hard -
Battle Elephant hard -
Camel Rider hard -
Knight hard -
Light Cavalry hard -
Steppe Lancer hard
Unique units the Halberdier beats
-
Bolas Rider hard -
Boyar hard -
Centurion hard -
Coustillier hard -
Elite Bolas Rider hard -
Elite Boyar hard -
Elite Centurion hard -
Elite Coustillier hard -
Elite Iron Pagoda hard -
Elite Keshik hard -
Elite Konnik hard -
Elite Leitis hard -
Elite Magyar Huszar hard -
Elite Monaspa hard -
Elite Ratha hard -
Elite Shrivamsha Rider hard -
Elite Tarkan hard -
Elite Tiger Cavalry hard -
Elite War Elephant hard -
Iron Pagoda hard -
Keshik hard -
Konnik hard -
Leitis hard -
Magyar Huszar hard -
Monaspa hard -
Ratha hard -
Savar hard -
Shrivamsha Rider hard -
Tarkan hard -
Tiger Cavalry hard -
War Elephant hard -
Xianbei Raider hard - Conquistador soft
-
Elite Conquistador soft -
Elite War Wagon soft -
Mangudai soft -
War Wagon soft
Other units the Halberdier beats
-
Elephant Archer hard -
Elite Elephant Archer hard -
Elite Fire Lancer hard - Elite Ratha (Melee) hard
-
Fire Lancer hard -
Heavy Hei Guang Cavalry hard -
Hei Guang Cavalry hard - Ratha (Melee) hard
Unit lines the Halberdier has a damage bonus against
Civilizations that improve the Halberdier
22 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
Bohemians
- Spearman-line deals +25% bonus damage
Burmese
- Infantry +1/+2/+3 attack in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Byzantines
- Camel Riders, Skirmishers and Spearman-line cost -25%
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
Ethiopians
- Pikeman upgrade free
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
- Skirmishers, Spearman-, and Scout Cavalry-line train and upgrade +15% faster
- Lamellar Armor (unique tech): Infantry and Skirmishers reflect 25% melee damage back to the attacker
Koreans
- Ranged Soldiers and Infantry cost -50% wood
Lithuanians
- Spearman-line and Skirmisher-line move +10% faster
- Tower Shields (unique tech): Spearman-line and Skirmishers +2 pierce armor
Malay
- Infantry armor upgrades free
Malians
- Barracks Units +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Mapuche
- Settlements can train Spearman-line and Skirmishers
- Infantry, Slingers and Skirmishers +5/10/15 HP in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age
Romans
- Infantry armor upgrade effects are doubled
Shu
- Coiled Serpent Array (unique tech): Spearman-line and White Feather Guards gain additional HP when near each other
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 Pike 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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