Greenwood Swordsmen

* Portrait
* In Game
* Upgraded
* Block Formation

"The Elves were the first to charge. Their hatred for the Goblins is cold and bitter. Their spears and swords shone in the gloom with a gleam of chill flame, so deadly was the wrath of the hands that held them."
—The Hobbit, The Clouds Burst

After witnessing first-hand the terror of Mordor, Thranduil formed a standing army of richly equipped Elves to ward his realm against its inevitable return. These Elves were the most militant of their Middle-earth kin and were involved in some of the critical battles of the Third Age, including the Battle of the Five Armies and the Battle Under the Trees.

Megilherdir, or sword-masters, are an elite swordsmen unit in Woodland Realm and the Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction of Erebor which are recruitable from a level 1 Royal Barracks.

## Abilities and Formations

**Block Formation (W)** - Units gain +33% armour but lose 40% speed. Left click to toggle formation.

**Level 2: Elven Affinity (R)** - All nearby allied Mirkwood Elves gain +10% armour up to a maximum of 50%. Left click to activate.

## Upgrades

**Silvan Steel (C)** - when equipped, increases the damage done by melee weapons. Research upgrade at Thranduil's Treasury to enable this equipment. Cost: 300

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade is instead equipped by researching the Armouries of Thrór fortress upgrade and casting its ability.)*

**Banner Carrier (V)** - when equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Thranduil's Treasury to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade is instead researched at the Dalish Ruin.)*

**Sindarin Armour** - when equipped, units gain +20% armour. Can be equipped via Thranduil's Love of Silver and Jewels ability.

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade can be equipped via either Thranduil's Love of Silver and Jewels ability or by researching the Armouries of Thrór fortress upgrade and casting its ability.)*

## Strategy

In comparison to the low armoured, fast moving Silgilmaethyr, Megilherdir are considerably more durable and can engage large numbers of enemies in prolonged combat instead of relying on hit and run tactics, albeit at the cost of movement speed. As with all Greenwood units, Megilherdir are expensive and so make up Woodland Realm's army in the mid-late game - players can prepare for a Greenwood focused strategy by building Vineyards in the early game so that their elite units are less expensive later on. Megilherdir are recruited with high armour, this can be further enhanced with their **Block Formation** and with heroes such as Galion and Thranduil to support them with abilities such as **Dorwinion Red** and **Elvenking**. Thranduil can permanently grant Megilherdir Sindarin Armour so that they become even tankier. An army consisting of multiple Megilherdir can spell doom for many enemy armies, especially if the Megilherdir are able to cast **Elven Affinity** which buffs all nearby Woodland Realm Elves with a small, but stackable amount of armour to compensate for the lack of standard heavy armour.