Qiang Pikeman
Qiang Pikeman is Chinese Heavy Infantry available from the Commerce Age. Its strong bonus against Cavalry and Shock troops makes it a dedicated melee answer to mobile units, while its siege attack can pressure buildings.
Recorded values
- Cost
- 60 Wood
- Available
- Commerce Age
- Training
- 24 sec · 1 population · 6 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 105 hit points · 10% hand resistance · 5.0 speed · 12 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 7 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 5.0x vs. Cavalry; 3.5x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 30 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
It has 105 hit points, moves at 5.0 speed and occupies one population. It costs 60 Wood and takes 24 seconds to train. Its attacks are 7 hand damage and 30 siege damage, with recorded bonuses of 5.0× against Cavalry and 3.5× against Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Use Qiang Pikemen when Cavalry or Shock troops threaten the Chinese army. Keep them with ranged support so they can reach their targets without absorbing unnecessary ranged fire. They can add building pressure when a structure is exposed, but should not replace dedicated artillery.
Chinese banner army anti-cavalry unit
The Qiang Pikeman is a Commerce Age Chinese heavy infantry unit included in the Old Han Army and Ming Army banner groups. It is not trained as an individual unit through a normal queue; the Chinese War Academy produces it as part of a banner army, and the listed standalone Wood cost and train time do not describe a separate production option. It uses one population, has 105 hit points and 10% hand resistance, moves at speed 5.0 and has line of sight 12. Its attack deals seven damage every 1.5 seconds with a five-times multiplier against Cavalry and 3.5 against Shock Troops. It has a two-range hand attack and deals 30 siege damage at range six every three seconds. The Qiang Pikeman’s high cavalry multiplier lets the Chinese banner army defend against cavalry and shock units, while its siege attack helps destroy buildings after the opposing army has been pushed back. It has fewer hit points than a European Pikeman and is vulnerable to Light Infantry, counter-skirmishers and Artillery. Keep it beside ranged banner units and do not let it pursue enemy skirmishers across open ground. Its speed helps it reposition, but it still needs to reach a target to apply the anti-cavalry attack. Old Han Army and Ming Army provide different Chinese infantry mixes; the Qiang Pikeman appears within those formations alongside other banner units. The Old Han Reforms Home City Card improves the combat effectiveness of the Qiang Pikeman for later ages, allowing it to remain useful longer. Disciplined Qiang Pikemen cost 100 Wood and 50 Coin in the Fortress Age and add 20% hit points and damage, with a half-range increase to the hand attack. Honored upgrades require Disciplined and cost 300 Wood and 300 Coin; Exalted upgrades require Honored and cost 750 of each. Each level improves combat values, and the hand range bonus is retained in current rules. The Qiang Pikeman resembles both the European Pikeman and Aztec Puma Spearman, but its own access is tied to Chinese banner armies. The European unit is individually produced, while the Puma Spearman is an Aztec War Hut unit with its own stats and upgrades. Use the Qiang as a portion of a larger army rather than trying to mass it independently. Its role is to deter a cavalry charge and contribute siege damage, leaving the other banner units to handle ranged infantry and artillery.
Deploy it as part of a Banner Army
Because a Qiang Pikeman is included in banner army production rather than queued alone, the player should evaluate it as one part of the full formation. Old Han and Ming armies include different supporting units, so use the Qiang’s anti-cavalry bonus while the rest of the banner force handles ranged threats. It moves at speed five and has a two-range hand attack, which makes it more likely to connect with cavalry than a slower infantry screen. Keep it near the group it protects and avoid sending it ahead where light infantry can fire without retaliation. The Qiang’s 30 siege damage is useful after the enemy cavalry is cleared. It can help break a building or defensive position, but Artillery remains a threat and should be handled by suitable counters. The Old Han Reforms card is particularly relevant for late games because it can extend the life of this early unit, while the Disciplined, Honored and Exalted upgrades increase its hit points and damage in sequence.
Know when to transition
In later ages, Changdao Swordsmen and Keshiks often take over the Qiang’s melee roles. Keep Qiang Pikemen when the banner army still needs an anti-cavalry screen or Old Han Reforms supports the composition; otherwise use the resources on units that better match the opponent.
Protect the banner army against cavalry
The Qiang’s five-times Cavalry multiplier makes it a strong deterrent, but its 105 hit points are lower than those of some comparable melee units. Keep it close to the banner group and focus cavalry as it commits. Against a ranged composition, use the rest of the Chinese army to screen it from Light Infantry and Artillery.
Use its siege attack after the cavalry threat is gone
Once the opposing cavalry has been removed, let Qiang Pikemen help damage a nearby building while the ranged units remain protected. Retreat them if Artillery or skirmishers begin firing into the group.
Keep the pikes with their support units
Banner units can cover the Qiang’s weakness to ranged counters. Stay close to the formation and let the pikes intercept cavalry while allied ranged troops focus the enemy line.
Commerce Age anti-Cavalry with siege utility
The Qiang Pikeman is inexpensive Heavy Infantry available in the Commerce Age. Like the European Pikeman and Aztec Puma Spearman, it is effective against Cavalry and can damage buildings with a useful siege attack. It can also challenge Shock Infantry to a degree. Use Qiang Pikemen to screen ranged units and protect artillery when an opponent invests in mounted units.
A narrow role against ranged infantry
Qiang Pikemen perform poorly against most other unit types, particularly light infantry. Do not send them alone into Skirmishers or artillery. Add ranged support to remove the units that counter them, and use their siege attack only after the enemy’s front line is occupied. Their low cost makes them useful as a targeted response, but a balanced army still needs damage against infantry and a way to reach guns.