Pikeman — Counters, Stats & Civ Bonuses

Pikeman — Counters, Stats & Civ Bonuses

The Pikeman is countered by Crossbowman, Scorpion and Cataphract. It is a Infantry / Counter Unit unit of the Spearman Line, and it wins against Knight and Light Cavalry.

Class

Infantry / Counter Unit

Line

Spearman Line

Available to

All civilizations

Cost

35 25

The Spearman Line

• Spearman
• Pikeman
• Halberdier

Pikeman stats

Hit points

55

Melee attack

4 / 3s

Pierce attack

0

Range

0

Melee armour

0

Pierce armour

0

Speed

1

Line of sight

4

Training time

22s

What counters the Pikeman?

Hard counters beat the Pikeman 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.

• Crossbowman hard Pierce damage
• Scorpion hard Area pierce
• Cataphract UU hard UU (Byzantines) – Bonus vs. infantry and anti-cav
• Jaguar Warrior UU hard Attack bonus vs. infantry (+5)
• Cavalry Archer soft Kites Pikemen
• Hand Cannoneer soft High base damage
• Conquistador UU soft UU (Spanish) – Kites Pikemen
• Chu Ko Nu UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Legionary UU soft Attack bonus vs. infantry (+4)
• Longbowman UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Plumed Archer UU soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+2)
• Elite Skirmisher soft Attack bonus vs. spearmen (+3)
• Slinger UU soft Attack bonus vs. infantry (+4)

What does the Pikeman counter?

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

• Knight hard Strong attack bonus vs. cavalry
• Light Cavalry hard Strong attack bonus vs. cavalry

Units the Pikeman has a damage bonus against

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

• Battle Elephant hard Battle Elephants
• Elite Battle Elephant hard Battle Elephants
• Armored Elephant UU hard Siege Elephants
• Siege Elephant UU hard Siege Elephants
• Ballista Elephant UU hard Siege Elephants
• Elite Ballista Elephant UU hard Siege Elephants
• Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line
• Heavy Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line
• Elite Cavalry Archer hard Cav Archer Line
• Camel Scout hard Camel Line
• Camel Rider hard Camel Line
• Heavy Camel Rider hard Camel Line
• Imperial Camel Rider UU hard Camel Line

Civilizations that improve the Pikeman

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.