Puma Spearman
Puma Spearman is Aztec Heavy Infantry introduced with The WarChiefs. It is a Commerce Age unit available from the War Hut, Fort or American Citadel. The Spearman has 125 hit points, moves at 5.0 speed, uses one population and costs 45 Food and 45 Coin, with a 30-second training time. Its hand attack carries a strong bonus against Cavalry and Shock troops, while its 41 siege damage lets it contribute when the army reaches buildings.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · War Hut; Fort; American Citadel
- Training
- 30 sec · 1 population · 9 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 125 hit points · 20% hand resistance · 5.0 speed · 12 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 12 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 5.0x vs. Cavalry; 3.5x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 41 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
Use Puma Spearmen as a close-range answer to mounted and shock units. Their bonus damage makes them dangerous when they can make contact, but they have no ranged attack and can be focused before reaching their target. Protect the approach with ranged or supporting troops, then direct the Spearmen toward the unit class they are equipped to counter. Their siege attack can help finish structures after the fight.
Training & availability
Aztecs; The WarChiefs; Commerce Age; War Hut, Fort or American Citadel; 125 hit points; 5.0 speed; one population; costs 45 Food and 45 Coin; 30-second train time; bonus damage against Cavalry and Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Train them when scouting reveals Cavalry or Shock troops and the Aztec army needs a dedicated melee response. Do not rely on them alone against ranged infantry that can kite them or against artillery that attacks from beyond their reach. Their low population cost supports larger numbers, but replacements still require both Food and Coin.
Aztec anti-cavalry unit and current statistics
The Puma Spearman is a Commerce Age Aztec heavy infantry unit trained at the War Hut, Fort or American Citadel. It costs 45 Food and 45 Coin, trains in 30 seconds, uses one population and has 125 hit points with 20% hand resistance. It moves at speed 5.0 and has line of sight 12. Its hand attack deals 12 damage every 1.5 seconds, with a five-times multiplier against Cavalry and 3.5 against Shock Troops. Its siege attack deals 41 damage at range six every three seconds. It has no ranged attack and must reach its target in melee. The Puma Spearman fills the Aztec anti-cavalry and siege role. Compared with a Pikeman, it has more hit points and hand resistance, moves faster and deals substantially more damage to cavalry, but costs Food and Coin rather than Food and Wood. That resource split can compete with other Aztec military units, so use it when cavalry pressure is likely instead of adding it automatically to every army. Its speed 5 also helps it keep up with mobile Aztec forces and defend Otontin Slingers or villagers from a flank. The Temple of Xochipilli Support Home City Card increases its speed to 6, making the unit more effective at intercepting cavalry and responding to raids. It remains vulnerable to Light Infantry, counter-skirmishers and Artillery, so support it with ranged units and avoid charging directly into a prepared firing line. Once the cavalry threat is removed, its 41 siege attack can help destroy buildings. Keep it from chasing ranged units across the map, where its melee-only attack leaves it unable to contribute. Upgrade progression is explicit: Elite Puma Spearmen cost 200 Wood and 100 Coin in the Fortress Age and add 25% hit points and damage. Champion Puma Spearmen require Elite and cost 400 Wood and 200 Coin in the Industrial Age, adding another 25%. Legendary Puma Spearmen require Champion and cost 1,500 Food and 1,500 Coin in the Imperial Age for a further 50%. The cumulative upgrades are a significant late-game investment; research them when the unit remains central to the matchup rather than spending resources before the opponent commits to cavalry. The unit was introduced with The WarChiefs and has received balance changes. Earlier versions listed 50 Food and 50 Coin, 135 hit points and different siege damage; the current profile uses the values above. It is unique to the Aztecs and should not be confused with similarly named spearmen in other civilizations. In a mixed army, place Puma Spearmen where they can intercept cavalry and protect ranged damage dealers, while other Aztec units handle infantry and artillery threats.
Use speed to intercept rather than chase
Speed 5.0, or 6 with Temple of Xochipilli Support, lets Puma Spearmen react to a cavalry flank more quickly than many heavy infantry units. Keep them near the vulnerable side of the army and use them to meet Hussars or other hand cavalry before those units reach Otontin Slingers. If the opponent withdraws, do not chase into a Skirmisher line; return to the army and protect the next approach. Because Puma Spearmen cost Coin as well as Food, combine them with units that use Wood where possible and watch the resource balance before adding more production. The siege attack provides value after the cavalry threat has been handled.
Upgrade the unit across the ages
The successive 25% Elite and Champion upgrades and 50% Legendary upgrade can make Puma Spearmen a substantial late-game cavalry counter, but their total resource cost is high. Research the next tier when the opponent continues to field cavalry and the unit can reach targets; if the battlefield is dominated by artillery and light infantry, redirect the resources toward units that can survive that matchup. Veteran and card effects are separate from the named Aztec progression, so check the technology’s civilization and age requirements.
Avoid counter-skirmisher fire
Puma Spearmen are melee infantry and can be worn down before contact by light infantry and counter-skirmishers. Approach with ranged support, use terrain or a flank to shorten the distance, and withdraw if the opponent’s formation is prepared for them.
Coordinate its attack bonus with the frontline
The five-times Cavalry multiplier is applied in melee, so use movement speed and positioning to make contact before the target escapes. Keep other Aztec infantry close enough to exploit the opening, but do not allow the Spearmen to move beyond their support. Against buildings, attack after enemy cavalry has been cleared so the unit can use its siege damage safely.
Aztec anti-Cavalry infantry with siege damage
The Puma Spearman is the Aztec equivalent of a Pikeman, effective against Cavalry and buildings. In the documented comparison it deals 50% more damage, has 10% more hand resistance and moves faster than the European Pikeman, while costing somewhat more and using Food and Coin instead of Food and Wood. Use Pumas to protect ranged units from Cavalry and add siege pressure when the enemy front is occupied.
Maintain a ranged screen
Puma Spearmen are melee units and can be kited by ranged infantry or punished by artillery. Add Otontin Slingers or other ranged support to remove the light infantry that threatens them, and do not send them alone into a fortified base. A Home City Card such as Temple of Xochipilli Support can affect their role under its conditions, so check the selected deck before planning a unit mass.