What is the best unit for attacking cities in each era?

[Montymolethedog]

For example, is the Axeman's 50% bonus against melee better than the Swordsman's slightly higher strength and 10% city attack bonus?

 

[Seraiel]

It depends. Against Archers the Sword is better, against Axes, Spears and Swords the Axe is better. There is no single unit that is always the best except maybe draft-Rifles ^^ .

 

[Lazteuq]

I'm a big fan of Maceman with City Raider promotions for medieval battles, but I guess some really good players probably try to avoid the slow pace of medieval warfare and just go right to gunpowder units, like the heavily-used cuirassier. It would be nice to upgrade city raider macemen to rifles, but the upgrade cost is SO HIGH, like 100-something gold each unit.

 

[Montymolethedog]

It depends. Against Archers the Sword is better, against Axes, Spears and Swords the Axe is better. There is no single unit that is always the best except maybe draft-Rifles ^^ .

I love drafting rifles. I recently played a game in which Korea declared war on me, and I had no units at all. I ended up winning because I drafted tons of rifles. So much fun.

 

[Pangaea]

I like maces and war elephants coupled with siege. It's a great combination. Swords pretty much need siege support too, unless they are up against only archers. Axes with lots of multipliers simply tear swords to pieces.

This is mostly Sword vs Sword, and I still got raped

 

[lymond]

Anything that involves horsies..well, until late, ofc, but rarely play late. Otherwise, if non-mounted, anything plus siege.

 

[Chase_2_Rabbits]

For example, is the Axeman's 50% bonus against melee better than the Swordsman's slightly higher strength and 10% city attack bonus?

I think the key difference between the two is that axes come earlier and are unlocked by an important early game tech that gives us the whip and chops even if there's no copper; whereas swords are unlocked by a relatively expensive (in the early game) dead-end tech that's easy to trade for later on.

 

[Pengu]

Well, it depends if your target civ has metal and some civs are more inclined to build metal units. Then axemen are better. Against peacemongerers swords are better. Phants are the best hands down in the medival era. You get them early, they can deal with any unit until rifling, besides pikemen, slaughters all mounted units and is on the way to catapults anyway. Macemen are weak to both axes and crossbowmen and you get them much later.

 

[sampsa]

Catapult, trebuchet, cannon. Doesn't matter much what units mop up.

 

[rah]

Macemen are weak to both axes and crossbowmen

Crossbowmen yes, but axes???? My city raider macemen chew up axes.

 

[Pengu]

Still very weak in hammer investment. An axeman with shock upgrade can go up against macemen.

 

[rah]

But if you're attacking cities, there won't be that many in the city. Maybe if you're playing k-mod but not the normal AI. And triple city raider trumps shock.

 

[elmurcis]

Modern Armor (just strongest unit.. cool stuff turns space races into serious fun); Marines (Normandia, here we come ); Rifles (get these guys 1st and burn your cities down to use this advantage); Curaisiers (many times gives decisive advantage.. or atleast make closer to it); WElephants (make your life safe for few hundreads years), Axes (early rush for 2nd Capital)

 

[Seraiel]

Well, it depends if your target civ has metal and some civs are more inclined to build metal units. Then axemen are better. Against peacemongerers swords are better. Phants are the best hands down in the medival era. You get them early, they can deal with any unit until rifling, besides pikemen, slaughters all mounted units and is on the way to catapults anyway. Macemen are weak to both axes and crossbowmen and you get them much later.

I also like Elephants more than Maces. I build a few Maces once they're available but Elephants are cheaper and also beat everything together with siege (I even used them against Pikes already and they did unexpectingly well) .

Elephants are classic era though so same era as Axes, Spears and Swords ^^ . Very late classic era but definitely the most dominant unit.

The only unit better than an Elephant is the Praet if Quechuas are excluded.

 

[6K Man]

@Pangaea: Swordsman 9 probably feels quite happy that his dad was politically connected and able to keep him from being sent to the war front…

Best city attack unit in each era:

Ancient: As noted, Swordsman against Archers/Chariots, Axeman against Axe/Sword/Spear
Classical: Catapult
Renaissance: Trebuchet
Industrial: Cannon
Modern: Artillery/Mobile Artillery/Bomber/Stealth Bomber

 

[elitetroops]

I prefer HAs over catapults for classical warfare. The AI doesn't have enough defenders to get full value from catapults, at least not on difficulties up to immortal. HAs get the job done faster.

 

[DrCron]

If you are first to physics, Airships against an AI with no air support are great. You can take down rifles without cannons, which saves time and hammers.

Question: how does the drafting rifles technique exactly work? I find it hard to draft more than 1 per city due to unhappiness. Do you just plan ahead and build GT?

 

[Seraiel]

If you are first to physics, Airships against an AI with no air support are great. You can take down rifles without cannons, which saves time and hammers.

Question: how does the drafting rifles technique exactly work? I find it hard to draft more than 1 per city due to unhappiness. Do you just plan ahead and build GT?

With the major number of happiness-resources + Forges cities usually can be drafted between 2 and 3 times. The cities should be low population so size 6 or 7, minimum what's needed for drafting. I think I've even drafted cities 4 times but then it gets really harsh.

You could read the mid- to endgame war-part of Replay #8 or the early-mid-game war of Replay #9 (see signature) , those feature Conquest with mostly draft Rifles and show some interesting tactics.

 

[cseanny]

I find it hard to draft more than 1 per city due to unhappiness. Do you just plan ahead and build GT?

You can always adjust the slider and draft for days and days.

 

[Lexicus]

Catapult, trebuchet, cannon. Doesn't matter much what units mop up.

With emphasis on cannon