Great Khân's Phalanx

* Portrait
* Standard
* Upgraded
* Formation

"And the Easterlings were strong and war-hardened and asked for no quarter. And so in this place and that, by burned homestead or barn, upon hillock or mound, under wall or on field, still they gathered and rallied and fought until the day wore away."
—Return of the King, The Battle of Pelennor Fields

The Men of Rhûn have a long history of serving the many faces of evil, having engaged in the foul worship of Morgoth and Sauron. In the late Third Age they reentered Sauron's employ to make up the core of his armies. The Khân-pâlainax made up the brunt of the expedition forces sent to Mordor. They advanced upon their enemies in fearsome formation, shields locked and pikes forward.

The Khân-Palâinax are Mordor's elite pike unit, which are vastly superior to Orc Pikemen, albeit much more expensive. They are recruitable from a Level 1 Easterling Garrison, and they are fully upgradable and can stand toe to toe with almost any cavalry unit. They can also be summoned by Haradwaith's 10PP Forth, Men of Darkness spellbook power for 60s alongside a Great Khân's Acolyte.

The Khân-Palâinax are also the elite Pikemen unit for the Adventure: Rhûn subfaction, where they are statistically identical to their Mordor counterparts but instead need to be researched from a Level 2 Easterling Garrison rather than a Level 1.

 Abilities and Formations

**Spear Wall Formation (W)** - the units form a spear wall. Units lose 40% speed, gain resistance to knockback, decelerates crush, and gain +33% armour.

**Level 3: Serrated Armour** - A small percentage of received damage is redirected to the attacker. Passive ability.

## Upgrades

**Jagged Steel Armor (T)** - When equipped, significantly reduces the amount of damage taken. Research upgrade at Gorgoroth Foundry to enable this upgrade. Cost: 250

**Cruel Blades (C)** - When equipped, increases damage dealt by melee weapons. Research upgrade at Gorgoroth Foundry to enable this upgrade. Cost: 250

**Banners of the Red Eye (V)** - When equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Gorgoroth Foundry to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

## Strategy

These Phalanx will most likely replace the Orc Pikemen in the mid-late game. Their increased armour and ability to equip Heavy Armour allows them to match other units in that stage of the game. In general, the Phalanx would be used to deal with enemy cavalry and monsters, damaging them and slowing them down enough for other allied units to finish them off. Their **Spear Wall Formation** will make it much harder for them to be killed but also makes them much slower and bunches them up so they're more vulnerable to AOE strikes. Once at level 3, the Easterlings can act as an anti-spam unit, dealing additional damage to all those who are attacking them. If the enemy is not careful, they will suffer heavy losses from just engaging the Easterlings. The Easterlings can be supported by Gothmog and his Into the Fray ability, which can boost their speed and damage further.

The Khân-Palâinax are also recruitable in the Adventure: Rhûn subfaction, where they are statistically identical to their Mordor counterparts and the only difference being the requirement of a Level 2 Easterling Garrison for recruitment rather than Level 1. They otherwise function the exact same role as their Mordor counterparts, serving as the mid-late game Pikemen of Rhûn's armies and replacing the Serf Spearmen who make up Rhûn's early-game once the player's economy has stabilized.