The Pikeman is countered by Crossbowman, Arbalest and Scorpion. It is a Infantry / Counter Unit unit of the Pike Line, and it wins against Knight and Scout Cavalry.
- Class
- Infantry / Counter Unit
- Line
- Pike Line
- Available to
- All civilizations
- Cost
-
35 
25
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?
The Pikeman is weak against Ranged Soldiers and Infantry.
Hard counters deal bonus damage against this unit — they beat the Pikeman even at a cost disadvantage. Soft counters win the fight through cost-efficiency or mobility, without a dedicated bonus.
| Counter | Type | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
 Crossbowman | hard | Pierce damage |
 Arbalest | hard | Pierce damage |
 Scorpion | hard | Area pierce |
 Cataphract | hard | UU (Byzantines) – Bonus vs. infantry and anti-cav |
 Cavalry Archer | soft | Kites Pikemen |
 Hand Cannoneer | soft | High base damage |
 Conquistador | soft | UU (Spanish) – Kites Pikemen |
What does the Pikeman counter?
The Pikeman is strong against Mounted Units, especially elephants.
One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.
-
Knight hard -
Scout Cavalry hard
Unit lines the Pikeman has a damage bonus against
Civilizations that improve the Pikeman
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
-
Spearman - Pikeman
-
Halberdier
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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