Longbeards

are a melee infantry unit introduced in Total War: Warhammer.
== Recruitment ==
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** Unlocked with: Mustering Hall
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** Unlocked with: Mustering Hall or Barracks
== Description ==
Longbeards have fought in more wars, beaten more enemies and endured greater hardships than any young Dwarf can possibly imagine. They constantly grumble about how today's Goblins are far smaller and weedier than they used to be and how nothing is as well made as it was in their day. No young Dwarf, as hot-headed and tempestuous as he might be, would dare gainsay a Longbeard; after all, they have much more experience - and the beard to prove it! A Longbeard unit in a battle line is likened to a reliable anchor bolt or bulwark that stands fast and supports the other formations. Woe betide any beardlings who falter under the Longbeards' stern (if rheumy) eyes, for they will be admonished within inches of their very lives. It might not be easy for other units to hold the battle line within earshot of a unit of Longbeards, yet it is also a great honour that redoubles a Dwarf's stoicism and makes even beardlings eager to prove themselves (or at least not give the Longbeards any further ammunition).
== Attributes ==
== Strategy ==
While the longbeards can be used as just stronger dwarf warriors with no mind payed to their buffs, they can be used more effectively near the wings of an infantry line, in order for their leadership bonuses to affect the most amount of dwarfs, along with their higher stats making sure the wings of the Dwarfen army don't fall, arguably the most important part of a Dwarfen line.
They can also be used as the last resort option to deal with Armour piercing tough units like say black orcs or greatswords, who are one of the few units of infantry who can best dwarfs in combat, in the case of the main units that deal with these (say greataxe dwarfs) are either dead or occupied, a longbeard which has been kept in reserve for this purpose could be drawn up to fight with the target in place of a dwarf warrior unit, as while they may not win the fight, they will last longer then the average Dwarf warriors, long enough for help to arrive.
All of this depends on the amount of funds allowed in the case of multiplayer battles, as the extra 200 can be too expensive for low funds and too many longbeard units over dwarf warriors will lead to the other important units, like artillery or anti-cavalry units like Slayers being absent.
Longbeards are incredibly stout, able to take a lot of punches, and they can stand at the front line as heavy defenders with their charge negation and high armour rating.
Longbeards can also use their capabilities as an informal leader with leadership bonuses for flanking and cornering enemies. Great with vanguard runes since dwarfs are relatively slow.