Papal Guard
The Papal Guard is an Italian Commerce Age heavy Infantry unit delivered in seven-unit batches from the Basilica. Its strong bonuses against Cavalry and Shock troops make it a frontline counter, while Deflection absorbs part of the damage aimed at nearby allies. The Papal Arsenal card adds a charged pistol attack.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · Basilica
- Training profile
- 60 sec · 1 population · 12 XP per unit
- Durability & mobility
- 220 hit points · 20% ranged resistance · 4.25 speed · 16 line of sight
- Support effect
- Deflects 25% of damage to nearby allies except artillery · radius 12
- Idle regeneration
- 0.25% hit points per second after 3.5 sec idle
- Siege attack
- 17 base damage · range 6 · attack interval 3.0
- Hand attack
- 13 base damage · attack interval 1.5 · bonus damage: 3.5x vs. Cavalry; 2.5x vs. Shock troops
- Hook attack (charged)
- 13 base damage · range 3-5 · attack interval 1.5 · area of effect 1 · snares target · recharge 60
- Pistol attack (charged)
- 26 base damage · range 7-12 · attack interval 1.5 · recharge 60 · requires Papal Arsenal card
- Experience bounty
- 12 XP for defeating the unit
Role, availability & values
Papal Guards are ordered at the Basilica as a shipment of seven for 300 Food, 300 Wood and 300 Coin; the batch arrives in 50 seconds and does not use a Home City shipment card. The unit profile lists 1 population, 220 hit points, 20% ranged resistance and 60 seconds of training time. In combat, its hand attack deals 13 damage with 3.5× damage against Cavalry and 2.5× against Shock troops. The Guard absorbs 25% of damage aimed at nearby allies within 12 range, except artillery. Its charged hook snares a target, and the Papal Arsenal card unlocks a charged pistol attack. Use the group as protective infantry and plan the shipment ahead of the fight.
Matchup & timing
Use Papal Guards to meet Cavalry or Shock troops: the hand attack has 3.5× and 2.5× bonuses, and Deflection helps protect nearby allies. Save the 60-second Hook for a target whose snare changes the engagement; the charged pistol requires the Papal Arsenal card. Their Basilica delivery arrives in a seven-unit batch, so leave population room for the group.
Deflection, hook and Basilica role
The Papal Guard is an Italian heavy infantry unit produced at the Basilica from the Commerce Age. It combines an early anti-cavalry role with support for nearby allies. Its current profile includes 220 hit points, 20% ranged resistance, speed 4.25, line of sight 16 and one population; it trains in 60 seconds. The hand attack deals 13 damage every 1.5 seconds with 3.5× damage against Cavalry and 2.5× against Shock troops. A 17-damage siege attack can help pressure buildings. The Guard regenerates and deflects some damage aimed at adjacent allies, so placing it beside valuable units can reduce incoming pressure. Its charged hook reaches range 3–5, snares a target and recharges every 60 seconds; a Papal Arsenal card unlocks a charged pistol attack with 26 damage at range 7–12, also on a 60-second recharge. Use the hook to slow a unit trying to escape or to disrupt an approach, then let supporting units deliver damage. The one-population cost makes the unit efficient in space, but the 60-second training time means it is not an instant reinforcement. The Basilica is the production building, so Italian army planning depends on keeping that unique structure safe. Papal Guards are best used as a protective frontline and cavalry deterrent, not as a unit expected to chase ranged enemies across open ground. Their values have changed in updates, including health and cavalry multipliers, so compare current statistics rather than older patch guides. Do not confuse the Papal Guard unit with The Papal Guard politician, which is a separate age-up choice.
Using the charged abilities
The Papal Guard has two conditional attacks that change how it approaches a fight. Its charged hook reaches three to five range, snares the target and recharges every 60 seconds. Use the hook on a fast enemy trying to escape or on a unit moving toward the Italian back line, then close with the main force. The Papal Arsenal card adds a charged pistol attack at range seven to 12; it deals 26 damage on the same cooldown. These abilities do not replace the normal hand attack, which is the Guard’s main answer to Cavalry and Shock troops. Keep the unit beside allies so its damage deflection can provide protection, and let Italian ranged units deal with enemies the Guard cannot catch. The Basilica’s 60-second training time makes continuous reinforcements a planned investment.
Formation and counters
Papal Guards are a front-line anchor for Italian forces. Keep them close enough to allied units for Deflection, but leave room for supporting ranged troops to fire. Their high multipliers answer Cavalry and Shock troops, while Light Infantry and artillery can attack them from outside their preferred range. Use the Basilica to maintain production and bring reinforcements to the position where the Guard can protect them.
Protecting Italian ranged units
The Guard’s support passive gives it a role even when it is not the main damage dealer. Keep one or more Guards beside high-value ranged units and rotate them forward when enemy Cavalry threatens. A single charged hook can change the chase, but the cooldown means another source of control is still needed for a second target.
Basilica heavy infantry and charged attacks
The Italian Papal Guard is heavy infantry trained at the Basilica from the Commerce Age. Its standard hand and siege attacks are supplemented by two charged abilities: a Hook attack at 3–5 range and an area effect, and a Pistol attack at 7–12 range for 26 damage. These distinct distances let the unit respond when targets close or remain just beyond melee reach. It has 220 hit points, 20% ranged resistance and 4.25 speed, so it can support the formation but should not be sent ahead alone. Check the special-ability controls to understand each charge and use it on a target where the range difference matters.
Production timing and frontline support
The Basilica is the listed production building, and the Papal Guard takes 60 seconds to train. This is a slow reinforcement route, so protect the Basilica and begin production before the army needs immediate replacements. Its one-population cost helps keep the formation flexible, while the 17-damage siege attack gives a modest way to pressure buildings. Pair the Guard with ranged troops and cavalry that cover targets outside its close- and mid-range abilities. Do not assume its charged attacks make it a ranged unit in every situation: it remains heavy infantry and can be kited or focused when unsupported.