Black Flag Army
Black Flag Army is a Chinese Fortress Age mixed force containing four Changdao Swordsmen and two Meteor Hammers. It combines melee infantry and cavalry through Chinese production access.
Recorded values
- Available
- Fortress Age · Chinese Castle; Blockhouse; Fort; Fuchuan
- Training
- 33 sec · 8 population · 73 XP per train
Role, availability & values
It can be trained or obtained through the Chinese Castle, Blockhouse, Fort or Fuchuan. The group uses eight population, costs 380 Food and 360 Coin and takes 33 seconds in the recorded profile. The two unit types have different counters, so the force needs support from the wider Chinese army.
Matchup & timing
Choose it when both melee roles suit the opponent and the economy can reserve its population and resources. Keep the Swordsmen near targets they can handle and protect the Meteor Hammers from anti-cavalry. Add ranged support if enemy artillery or Heavy Infantry threatens the group.
Protect both unit roles in the mixed force
The Chinese Fortress Age group contains four Changdao Swordsmen and two Meteor Hammers, uses eight population, costs 380 Food and 360 Coin, and takes 33 seconds in the recorded profile. It is available through Chinese military buildings including the Castle, Blockhouse, Fort, or Fuchuan. The infantry and cavalry have different counters, so keep the group with support instead of sending it into a force that can isolate one component.
What each component contributes
The four Changdao Swordsmen are one-population Heavy Infantry with 120 hit points, 20% hand resistance and a 15-damage hand attack; their 2.25 multiplier against Cavalry makes them the group’s anti-cavalry screen. The two Meteor Hammers use two population each and add 217 hit points, 30% ranged resistance, speed 6.5, and a 29-damage hand attack with four range. Their trample attack affects an area and they have a 1.34 multiplier against Artillery. The banner group therefore combines a durable infantry screen with mobile cavalry pressure, but the parts should not be sent after the same targets: Changdao Swordsmen hold cavalry away while Meteor Hammers threaten exposed ranged units or artillery. Skirmishers and other anti-Heavy-Infantry units can focus the swordsmen, while anti-cavalry can punish the Hammers. Add ranged support to cover both weaknesses and preserve the eight-population investment.
Definitive Edition cost and population changes
The current profile costs 380 Food and 360 Coin, uses eight population and trains in 33 seconds. Before the Definitive Edition, its recorded profile used 170 Wood and 425 Coin, seven population and a 40-second training time; the current profile uses no Wood. The Coin price also changed after launch: it was 350 before update 14.43676 and is now 360. The source marks the 380-Food value as a Definitive Edition addition but does not state the earlier Food amount, so no pre-DE Food figure is inferred here. These differences affect whether this banner army fits an older build order.