Landsknecht (Civ5)

== Game Info ==
=== Vanilla and Gods & Kings ===
Unique front-line unit of the German civilization. Replaces the Pikeman.
* Common abilities:
** 
=== Brave New World ===
Available for purchase in cities after adopting the Mercenary Army social policy, or from allied Militaristic City-States who offer it as their bonus troop once you have the ability to build Pikemen.
* Common abilities:
** 
* Special abilities:
** 
** (Steals equal to 100% of the damage inflicted on a city)
== Strategy ==
In vanilla Civilization V and Gods & Kings, the Landsknecht is mainly interesting for its price, which is one-half that of a Pikeman. This, and the fact that they don't require resources, allows a German player to bring out a number of them very fast. Then it is the old "Zerg rush" strategy, and the Germans can start on their way to a domination victory!
In Brave New World, the Landsknecht becomes available only after adopting Mercenary Army in the Commerce social policy tree, but it is now available to all civilizations once they research Civil Service. This unit still retains its half price compared to a normal Pikeman, but in addition, it possesses unique promotions that allow it to pillage improvements at no cost and to pillage twice as much from cities. These features make the unit an interesting representation of actual real-life mercenaries, only interested in war as far as it enriches them.
More importantly, however, is that the Landsknecht is the only unit that can move and attack on the same turn it is purchased.
This unit is great if you need a unit immediately, especially for defense.
== Civilopedia entry ==
== Trivia ==
* "Landsknecht" is often translated as "Servant of the Country." The term was believed to have been coined by Peter von Hagenbach.
== See also ==
* Landsknecht in other games
Category:German
ru:Ландскнехт (Civ5)