Soldado
Soldado is a gunpowder Heavy infantry unit used by Mexicans and, through a different access path, Spanish. It combines a strong ranged attack with Battle Bluster and a long-range mortar-style siege attack.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · European Barracks (Mexicans) ; Fort (Mexicans) ; Hacienda (Spanish) ; Steamer (Mexicans) ; American Citadel
- Training
- 45 sec · 2 population · 17 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 300 hit points · 25% hand resistance · 4.0 speed · 16 line of sight
- Ranged attack
- 36 base damage · range 12 · attack interval 3.0
- Siege attack
- 32 base damage · range 9 · attack interval 3.0
- Hand attack
- 25 base damage · attack interval 1.5 · bonus damage: 3.0x vs. Cavalry; 2.25x vs. Shock troops
- Battle Bluster (charged)
- 28.8 base damage · range 14 · attack interval 3.0 · area of effect 1 · bonus damage: 0.25x vs. Artillery · recharge 30 · requires Refurbished Firearms card
- Siege attack (mortar)
- 32 base damage · range 14 · attack interval 3.0 · requires Refurbished Firearms card
Role, availability & values
Mexicans access Soldados through buildings including the Barracks and Fort; Spanish access can come through Haciendas. Its recorded profile includes two population, a 12-range ranged attack, and a siege attack that reaches 14. Battle Bluster is a charged attack with its own listed damage and range.
Matchup & timing
Use Soldados when the army needs durable ranged infantry that can also pressure buildings from a distance. Keep them screened from units that can exploit their slow movement, and do not mistake the long siege attack for ordinary artillery production.
Mexican access and base profile
The Soldado is Mexican Heavy infantry in Definitive Edition. It is available from the Commerce Age and trained at the Barracks, Fort, Steamer, or American Citadel under the relevant roster rules. The standard unit costs 90 Food and 80 Coin, takes 45 seconds to train, uses two population, and has 300 hit points and speed 4. It combines the frontline role of a Musketeer with a grenade attack against buildings, replacing both Musketeer and Grenadier functions in the Mexican roster. The Soldado has high health and damage for a Commerce Age unit, but its two population cost and long training time make each loss expensive. It is slower to mass than ordinary one population infantry, so protect the first group while the economy and production expand.
Combat role and Battle Bluster
Soldados are effective against Cavalry and Shock troops, like Musketeer type units, and are weak against Light infantry. Their hand attack is strong and quick, while Battle Bluster provides a grenade launcher shot when the Refurbished Firearms Home City Card is active. The ability automatically activates when attacking and has a 30 second cooldown. It fires a grenade from range 14 for 28.8 siege damage in an area of effect one, with a reduced 0.25 multiplier against Artillery in the current profile. This ability adds building pressure and can damage clustered targets, but it should not be treated as a replacement for dedicated siege units. The cooldown means the special shot is intermittent, and its artillery penalty makes it ineffective against guns.
Costs and army composition
The Soldado costs more and takes longer to train than a standard Musketeer, and it occupies two population rather than one. Its 300 hit points help it remain on the frontline, but a large Soldado mass uses a significant share of the population cap. Pair the unit with ranged support that can deal with Light infantry and artillery, and use cavalry or other units to reach the skirmishers threatening the Soldados. The Mexican economy should maintain Food and Coin production before queuing a large force. If the enemy counters with Light infantry, do not continue producing Soldados alone; add a complementary unit or use the artillery and cavalry available in the roster.
Civilization-specific variants
The Spanish can spawn Veteran Soldados from Haciendas through the Viceroyalty of New Spain card and upgrade them to Guard and Imperial. The Mexican revolution can use the same card, with Soldados automatically upgraded to Guard. The Inca can receive Guard Soldados once through Tupac Rebellion, converting Macemen. Brazilian Consulate Soldados are a distinct route available after revolutions and cards; they have their own training and upgrade rules. These variants share a broad infantry role but should not be assumed to use the same cost or access as the standard Mexican Soldado. Check the civilization, revolution, and game mode before applying the base profile.
Upgrade path and tactical timing
Soldados can receive standard age upgrades and Mexican Home City cards that improve infantry. Refurbished Firearms is required for Battle Bluster, so the special attack is not available on every newly trained Soldado. Research or send the card when the army will use the building damage or ranged option, and account for its opportunity cost. The unit is strongest when it can hold a central position while the rest of the force handles Light infantry and Artillery. Use its durability to protect Villagers or siege units, but avoid leaving it unsupported in a long ranged exchange. The 45 second training time makes replacement slow; withdraw damaged groups when possible and let production catch up before committing to another push.
Battle Bluster timing
Battle Bluster triggers automatically when a Soldado attacks after Refurbished Firearms is sent, so the player does not need to activate a separate command. Keep the group on a valuable building or clustered target when the 30 second cooldown is ready. The 14 range lets the grenade travel farther than the Soldado's ordinary melee attack, but the special damage has a small area and a low multiplier against Artillery. Do not expect one volley to destroy a major structure; use it to supplement the army's siege and then protect the Soldados while the cooldown runs.
Replacing the two-unit role
Because the Mexican Soldado combines frontline infantry and building pressure, it can reduce the need to train a separate Musketeer and Grenadier line. That flexibility is useful when the army needs to hold territory and threaten structures with the same force. It does not make the Soldado a replacement for artillery or a counter to Light infantry. Keep a separate answer ready for those threats, and use Battle Bluster as supplemental siege rather than relying on it for the entire assault.
Population planning
Two population per Soldado means a large group reaches the army cap sooner than a Musketeer line. Leave room for artillery or cavalry to answer threats that Soldados cannot handle, and avoid queueing replacements that the economy cannot support.
Fortress defense
Soldados can hold a Town Center or fortified approach while the Mexican player produces reinforcements. Their high hit points keep them on the field, but Artillery and Light infantry can still punish a stationary group. Use cover and other units to prevent those counters from firing freely.
Preserving trained groups
A 45 second train time makes Soldado losses difficult to replace during an active push. Withdraw wounded units and use new production to reinforce the existing frontline instead of repeatedly sending small groups into the opponent's counters.
Production buildings
A Fort can provide a forward reinforcement point, but keep it outside enemy artillery range.
Mexican and Spanish gunpowder Infantry
The Soldado is a Commerce Age gunpowder Infantry unit available to Mexicans and, through its applicable access, Spanish forces. It costs 90 Food and 80 Coin, takes 45 seconds to train and uses two population. Its 300 hit points, 25% hand resistance and speed four let it occupy a durable front position, while the 36-damage ranged attack fires every three seconds at range 12. Its 25-damage hand attack has a 3× multiplier against Cavalry and 2.25× against Shock troops, giving it a response when mounted units close. The ordinary 32-damage Siege attack has range nine; the “Refurbished Firearms” card changes the Siege mode to a range-14 mortar attack. Mexicans train Soldados at the European Barracks or Fort, while Spanish access includes the Hacienda and other specified production points. Confirm the civilization and card requirements before assuming the same build order applies to both.
Battle Bluster and positioning
Battle Bluster is a charged attack with area damage that can strike a group and has a 30-second recharge; its card requirement and attack mode should be checked for the version and civilization in use. The Soldado’s mixed profile lets it fire at Infantry, meet Cavalry in melee and contribute to a siege, but its two-population cost makes a large mass expensive. Keep it with support rather than sending it ahead of faster Cavalry, and use its ranged reach to soften targets before the frontline connects. Against heavy ranged fire, its 25% hand resistance offers no special protection, so use cover and a screen. A force with Soldados should still include units that answer artillery and mobile Skirmishers; a broad capability list does not make this single unit a counter to everything.