Changdao Swordsman
Changdao Swordsman is Chinese Heavy Infantry available from the Fortress Age. It fights in melee and has listed bonus damage against Cavalry and Shock troops, making it a close-range answer to mobile threats.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 95 Food
- Available
- Fortress Age
- Training
- 27 sec · 1 population · 10 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 120 hit points · 20% hand resistance · 5.0 speed · 12 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 15 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.25x vs. Cavalry; 1.5x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 21 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
The unit has 120 hit points, moves at 5.0 speed and occupies one population. It costs 95 Food and takes 27 seconds to train. Its hand attack deals 15 damage and its siege attack 21; the recorded bonuses are 2.25× against Cavalry and 1.5× against Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Use Changdao Swordsmen when Cavalry or Shock troops are approaching the Chinese frontline. Their melee role requires them to close on targets, so pair them with ranged support and avoid walking into artillery fire. They can add siege pressure when a structure is exposed, but should not replace dedicated siege units.
Chinese anti-cavalry infantry
The Changdao Swordsman is Fortress Age Chinese heavy infantry that counters Cavalry and Shock troops in melee. It costs 95 Food, trains in 27 seconds and uses one population. The current profile lists 120 hit points, 20% hand resistance, speed 5 and line of sight 12. Its 15-damage hand attack has a 2.25× multiplier against Cavalry and 1.5× against Shock troops; the 21-damage siege attack can pressure an exposed building. Because the unit must close to deliver its anti-cavalry bonus, protect it from artillery and ranged fire during the approach. A group is most useful as a melee screen for Chinese ranged units and artillery, where it can intercept cavalry before the enemy reaches the back line. Do not send it alone after a faster target: its counter bonus does not help until it connects, and an isolated swordsman can be kited or surrounded.
Timing and Chinese support
The Fortress Age requirement makes Changdao Swordsmen a later addition than the first Chinese units. Plan the transition around the opponent’s army: if cavalry or Shock troops are the immediate threat, reserve Food and production time for a protective group; if the opponent is massing ranged infantry or artillery, add another counter instead. Its one-population cost helps maintain a broad screen, but repeated training still takes Food away from Villagers, other military units and age progression. Keep the unit near the ranged line and use Chinese support units to deal with threats outside its bonus profile. Forts or scenario access may alter when it appears, so check the game mode rather than assuming standard production in every mission. The Changdao’s siege strike is a useful follow-up after the enemy has withdrawn, not its main function. A coordinated group can make a cavalry charge costly, but good spacing and support matter more than simply increasing unit count. Withdraw wounded swordsmen when the army disengages and preserve the screen for the next fight.
Intercept the threats the unit counters
Changdao Swordsmen are most useful when enemy Cavalry or Shock troops must cross the Chinese frontline. Their 2.25× Cavalry and 1.5× Shock troop multipliers reward placing them where a charge will meet them, rather than chasing those units across the map. The 15-damage hand attack arrives every 1.5 seconds, so focus several swordsmen on the same target to make their anti-cavalry role count. Their 120 hit points and 20% hand resistance help in close combat but do not protect them from artillery or sustained ranged fire. Keep ranged allies behind the swordsmen and advance through cover when possible. If the enemy switches to Skirmishers or guns, do not keep training the same melee unit; add a counter that can reach those threats. The 21-damage siege attack is an extra benefit after the enemy army retreats, not a reason to expose the swordsmen to a defended structure.
Training decisions and Chinese support
At 95 Food and 27 seconds per unit, Changdao Swordsmen can reinforce a Fortress Age army without a large Coin bill, but Food remains important for Villagers and other Chinese units. Reserve population and production time before the enemy commits to cavalry. If the opponent is not using a class that the Changdao counters, a ranged unit or artillery may add more value to the army. Use a Chinese production source that can safely support the front and move reinforcements together; isolated swordsmen are easy to kite. In a mixed formation, let them protect ranged infantry and siege while those units handle distant targets. The Fort and other special scenario sources may change access, so read the roster instead of assuming that the standard Chinese building is available in every mission. Retreat the swordsmen when the main force disengages and preserve the anti-cavalry screen for a later push.
Chinese Fortress Age sword Infantry
The Changdao Swordsman is a Fortress Age Chinese melee Heavy Infantry unit fielded in the Territorial Army and, in Definitive Edition, the Black Flag Army. It costs 95 Food, takes 27 seconds to train and uses one population. Its profile has 120 hit points, 20% hand resistance, speed five and sight 12. The 15-damage hand attack fires every 1.5 seconds with 2.25× damage against Cavalry and 1.5× against Shock troops; its Siege attack deals 21 damage. Because it arrives as part of a Banner Army, the resource and population commitment includes the other units in the selected formation, not just the swordsman.
Use its speed to cover the banner line
Changdao Swordsmen can intercept Cavalry that threatens the Chinese ranged line, then add melee pressure when the army closes. Their attack bonuses are strongest against Cavalry and Shock troops; ranged Infantry and artillery can damage them before they reach melee. Keep them with the banner’s ranged components so the formation does not split and expose its slower or more fragile units. The War Academy’s preset compositions limit single-unit control, so inspect the full Territorial or Black Flag formation before choosing it. Their Siege attack can add damage to a building push, but dedicated artillery is more efficient against defended structures. If the opponent has shifted away from mounted units, select a banner whose other components solve the current matchup.