Spearman

War elephant: 15

Camel: 12

Ship: 9

Fishing ship: 9

Mameluke: 4

Eagle Warrior: 1

Standard building: 1

Infantry: 0

Spearman: 0

Anti-leitis: 0

Castle age: 6

imperial age: 6

The **Spearman** is an infantry unit in *Age of Empires II* that can be trained at the Barracks once the Feudal Age is reached. They are a good early cavalry-counter, but are weak against virtually everything else. If not upgraded, a Spearman is one of only two military units (the other one being the Skirmisher) to lose outright to a Villager with Loom. Since no gold is required to train them, Spearmen are considered "trash units".

## Tactics

Spearmen are very cheap and massed easily, allowing them to overwhelm enemy cavalry. They are useful in preventing early Scout Cavalry charges, but against Castle Age cavalry such as Knights or Cavalry Archers they should be upgraded to the more effective Pikeman. Players generally use this unit to defend their base against cavalry raids.

## Civilization bonuses

* Aztecs: Spearmen are created 18% faster.
* Burmese: Spearmen have +1/+2/+3 attack in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. Researching Faith is 50% cheaper.
* Byzantines: Spearmen are 25% cheaper.
* Celts: Spearmen move 15% faster. Spearmen can convert herdables even if enemy units are next to them.
* Chinese: Technologies that benefit Spearmen are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
* Ethiopians: The Pikeman upgrade is free.
* Goths: Spearmen are 25%/30%/35% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age, and have +1/+2/+3 attack against standard buildings in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. With Perfusion researched, researching Squires and upgrading to Pikeman is 100% faster.
* Japanese: Spearmen attack 33% faster.
* Lithuanians: Spearmen move 10% faster.
* Magyars: Forging, Iron Casting, and Blast Furnace are free.
* Malians: Spearmen have +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
* Slavs: Tracking is free.
* Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Spearmen don't cost gold.
* Tatars: Spearman deal 50% bonus damage from a cliff or an elevation.
* Teutons: Spearman have +1/+0 armor in the Castle Age and +2/+0 in the Imperial Age.
* Vietnamese: Conscription is free.
* Vikings: Spearmen have 10%/15%/20% more hit points in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.

## Team bonuses

* A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, researching Conscription is 25% faster.
* A team containing Goths: Spearmen are created and upgraded 20% faster. Researching Tracking, Squires, and Arson is 20% faster.
* A team containing Teutons: Spearmen are more resistant to conversion.
* A team containing Lithuanians: Researching Heresy and Faith is 20% faster.
* A team containing Bulgarians: Researching infantry armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith is 50% faster.

## Changelog

### *The Age of Kings*

* Goths: Spearmen are 10%/15%/25% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.

### *The Conquerors*

* Speamen gain +7 attack against camel units and ships.
* Heresy introduced.
* Aztecs: Garland Wars introduced.
* Goths: With patch 1.0b, Spearmen are 35% cheaper. Perfusion introduced.

### *The Forgotten*

* Speamen now have +9 attack against camel units and ships.

### *The African Kingdoms*

* Arson introduced.
* Vikings: With patch 4.8, Chieftains now affects Spearmen. It gives Spearmen +2 attack against camels.

### *Rise of the Rajas*

* With patch 5.7, Spearmen now have +12 attack against camel units.
* Vikings: With patch 5.7, Chieftains now gives Spearmen +4 attack against camels.

### *Definitive Edition*

* Koreans: Spearmen costs -15% wood.
* Tracking removed; all infantry now receives +2 LOS from the Feudal Age instead.
* Goths: With update 36202, the cost bonus is 25%/30%/35% in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age and bonus damage against buildings is +1/+2/+3 in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
* Teutons: With update 35584, starting in the Castle Age, Barracks units gain +1 armor. With update 36906, they receive another +1/+0 armor in the Imperial Age.
* Lithuanians: With update 36906, Tower Shields grants +2 pierce armor instead of +1.