Template:Infobox UnitThe Doppelsoldner is an expensive but powerful melee unit unique to the Germans in Age of Empires III.
Overview
Doppelsoldners wield great two-handed swords, "Zweihänder" (German for 'two-handed sword), dealing area damage. They are good against most hand infantry, buildings, and cavalry, but are vulnerable to light infantry and artillery. Doppelsoldners have high siege damage and can destroy buildings within seconds in large numbers. Doppelsoldners are available from the Barracks once the Colonial Age is reached.
A unit similar to the Doppelsoldner is the Japanese Samurai, the Doppelsoldner has slightly less attack, but better multipliers against cavalry. Doppelsoldners' attack can be pushed to 56, and their siege attack to 168. Their hit points can be upgraded to 690, making them able to kill even Cuirassiers and Spahis, although then their speed is significantly decreased to 3 (an effect of the Solingen Steel shipment), instead of the starting 4.5. Using Tilly's Discipline as well as the speed upgrade from the Advanced Arsenal their speed can be brought back to 4.35. Alternatively one could leave away the Solingen Steel card, giving them 115 less hitpoints and 10 less damage compared to the above 56 and 690, but having a 5.85 speed.
Upgrades
The Doppelsoldner benefits from the Infantry Breastplate and Military Drummers upgrades found in the Arsenal once the Fortress Age is reached. This Technology increases the hit points of Doppelsoldners by 20 points. Doppelsoldners can also be upgraded to Veteran level and beyond after the Colonial Age.
Veteran Doppelsoldner
The Veteran Doppelsoldner is the first upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks and is available for 200 wood and 200 coin once the Fortress Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resistance remain the same.
- Hit Points: 276
- Hand Attack: 24
- Guardian Attack: 24
- Siege Attack: 72
Guard Doppelsoldner
The Guard Doppelsoldner is the second upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks that is available for 600 wood and 600 coin once the Industrial Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resistance remain the same.
- Hit Points: 345
- Hand Attack: 30
- Guardian Attack: 30
- Siege Attack: 90
Imperial Doppelsoldner
The Imperial Doppelsoldner is the final and most powerful upgrade for the Doppelsoldner at the Barracks and is available for 1500 wood and 1500 coin once the Imperial Age is reached. Although the attack and hit points are improved, the overall function and the multipliers as well as the resistance remain the same. Notice that the hit points and the attack doubles compared to the original Doppelsoldner.
- Hit Points: 460
- Hand Attack: 40
- Guardian Attack: 40
- Siege Attack: 120
Shipments
This is a list of shipments that benefit Doppelsoldners in any way.
Click for a list of Doppelsoldner related home city cards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Germans
|
History
“ | Doppelsoldners were a group of specialized Landsknechts, whose role was to charge lines of pike and halberds. They were actually mercenaries that fought under Maximilian II. They were armed with halberds, arquebuses, and long two-handed swords (zweihanders). They stood in the front ranks and earned double the normal pay (and their name) from the privilege of breaking up ranks of pike. Dress in this era was flamboyant, and Doppelsoldners are depicted with striped leggings, puffy sleeves (for mobility), large or elaborately plumed hats, and richly slashed and decorated uniforms. | ” |
Trivia
- The term "Doppelsoldner" is a near-universal trademark of the Landsknecht back in the days to refer to their zweihänder-armed vanguard, and is not applied at all to any unaffiliated troops of the same description without the mercenary company declaring hostility towards them on grounds of imitation. While not all Landsknecht soldiers are doppelsoldners, all doppelsoldners are Landsknecht.
- Technically, this unit and its mercenary cousin are one and the same, but each uses its own combat scripts and as such behave differently during gameplay.
- On the Doppelsoldner's profile image the smaller set of handguards is near the zweihänder's handle. In real life, the smaller guards are the farthest away from the handle, and are located in the ricasso, away from the swordsman's hands.