Elite Liao Dao
InfantryBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
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Liao Dao
Castle Elite Liao Dao
ImperialThe coach's briefing
Commander, the Elite Liao Dao gains significant improvements. The attack jumps to 13 with +3 bonuses against infantry and Eagles. At 85 HP, they survive longer in combat. The same 40F/40G cost makes them incredibly efficient. Use Elite Liao Daos to dominate infantry fights - they shred enemy foot soldiers while remaining affordable.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Just lost against this unit?
Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
Elite anti-infantry specialist with enhanced bonuses
Tactical Playbook
Infantry Shredder
+3 vs Eagle Warriors means Elite Liao Daos answer Eagle-based armies. Champions and Halberdiers fall quickly.
Eagle Destroyer
+3 vs Eagle Warriors makes them a hard counter to Meso infantry. Spam confidently against Eagle builds.
Value King
Same 40F/40G cost with much better stats. The upgrade is extremely cost-efficient.
Critical Point
Still weak to cavalry and archers. Need support in mixed engagements. Cannot fight everything alone.
Understanding The Stats
Elite upgrade provides +10 HP, +4 attack, and +1 to all bonuses. A massive power spike for a cheap unit.
Elite Attack
Strong attack with significant bonuses
Same Armor
Armor unchanged but still effective
More HP
10 more HP for better survivability
Same Cost
Incredible value for the stats
Coach's Tip
13 attack + 3 bonus = 16 damage to infantry. That kills most foot soldiers in 4-5 hits.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Standard Building | +3 |
| Eagle Warrior | +3 |
Armor Classes
Infantry
Takes bonus damage from Hand Cannoneers, Slingers, and anti-infantry unique units.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Feudal Age
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
Elite Liao Dao is the upgraded Khitan unique infantry unit with a powerful attack that wounds enemies and deals damage over time. It costs 40 food and 40 gold, trains in 12 seconds, and has 85 HP, 13 attack, 3 melee armor and 1 pierce armor. Its speed is 1.0 and its line of sight is 3. The official help gives the categories: Cavalry and Infantry as strengths, and Ranged Soldiers at long range as a weakness. Its short vision and slow movement make approach important, while the wound effect rewards contact that lasts long enough for the damage over time to matter.
History & balance
The Elite Liao Dao gives the Khitan infantry a damage pattern that continues after the first strike. That makes retreat a less complete solution: a unit can leave the immediate fight while the wound keeps paying for the contact. The balance is visible in the delivery. Speed 1.0 and line of sight 3 make the Liao Dao easy to read at a distance, and only 1 pierce armor makes a long-range firing line dangerous. Its 12-second train time supports an infantry core, but the unit still needs a path into melee. The story is pressure that lingers, not speed that surprises.
In pro play
Use Elite Liao Daos to hold a choke point or punish units that cannot disengage cleanly. Their 3 melee armor and 85 HP let them absorb the first contact, while the wound effect rewards keeping a target in reach long enough for the damage over time to finish its work. The 12-second train time supports several Barracks, but 40 food and 40 gold per unit make a lost approach costly. Scout long-range Ranged Soldiers before committing, use terrain to shorten the crossing, and rotate wounded Khitan infantry instead of asking the slow line to chase. The goal is sticky contact on your terms.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is meeting Elite Liao Daos in melee and waiting for the wound to disappear while feeding the next unit into the same contact. The official help gives the categories: Cavalry and Infantry as strengths, and Ranged Soldiers at long range as a weakness. In practice, Hand Cannoneers have a real +10 bonus against Infantry, and their ranged damage can focus the 85-HP line before the damage-over-time cycle repeats. Keep distance, split the retreat so one wound cannot spread value across the front, and do not fight in a narrow lane without a screen. Facing Elite Liao Daos without knowing what to produce or when? AoE Coach reads your matchup and gives you the composition + timing.