Jian Swordsman
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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Jian Swordsman
CastleThe coach's briefing
Commander, the Jian Swordsman is an archer's nightmare. With 5 pierce armor, arrows barely scratch them. At 70 HP and 8 attack, they're solid fighters that can push through archer masses. Use Jian Swordsmen to break archer lines and absorb ranged damage for your army. They're the ultimate anti-archer meatshield.
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
Anti-archer tank infantry
Tactical Playbook
Archer Counter
5 pierce armor means most archers deal only 1-2 damage per hit. Push straight through archer masses.
Ranged Meatshield
Use them to tank crossbow and arbalest fire while your cavalry or siege advances.
Anti-Unique
+4 vs unique units helps against other unique units. Good in diverse fights.
Critical Point
Only 0 melee armor. Other infantry like Champions shred them. Avoid infantry-on-infantry fights.
Understanding The Stats
Jian Swordsmen are specialized archer counters. Their high pierce armor makes them virtually immune to ranged damage.
Combat Attack
Decent infantry damage
Extreme Pierce
Massive ranged protection
Good HP
Solid durability
Fast Infantry
Faster than standard infantry
Coach's Tip
5 pierce armor is elite-tier protection. You need 14+ archer hits to die. Run straight at archers.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Archer | +4 |
| Standard Building | +2 |
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
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Jian Swordsman is the Wu unique Shock Infantry: 45 food and 50 gold, 35 seconds to train, 70 HP, 8 attack, 0 melee/5 pierce armor, speed 1.0, and line of sight 4. After reaching a damage threshold it gains movement speed and attack but loses armor. The official help calls it exceptionally strong against Archery Units and weak against the Militia-line. It is tagged Infantry, Eagle Warrior, and Unique Unit and carries +4 against Archers. The unusual five pierce armor protects the approach, while the threshold creates a second phase that rewards a controlled commitment rather than random focus fire.
History & balance
The Jian Swordsman is the infantry expression of the Wu identity. Wu Military production buildings and Docks provide +65 food, Infantry regenerates 10, 20, then 30 HP per minute from Feudal to Imperial Age, and Jian Swordsmen receive +2 attack in Imperial Age. Wu also receive a free Villager for each researched economic upgrade and access naval upgrades earlier. The unit therefore arrives slowly at 35 seconds, but its value compounds with the civilization: a resilient infantry body gains a late attack bonus while the economy feeds the next wave. Its threshold mechanic adds a deliberate risk, because the armor loss must be managed after the power spike.
In pro play
Jian Swordsmen need a target and a timer. Their 5 pierce armor makes the approach through Archery Units unusually safe, but 35 seconds and 45 food/50 gold mean the first group must survive long enough to justify the investment. Move them as a block, trigger the threshold while attacking a chosen flank, and then use the extra speed and attack to finish rather than scattering into several fights. Because armor falls after the threshold, keep healing or fresh bodies close and do not leave damaged Jians under fire. Wu regeneration and the Imperial +2 attack reward a sustained infantry push, especially when buildings provide the next food injection.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is meeting Jian Swordsmen with Archery Units, the category the official help marks as exceptionally weak for them. The official weakness category is Militia-line. Hand Cannoneers carry +10 against Infantry, while ordinary Archers feed the Jian +4 bonus. Add a Militia-line screen after the damage threshold, focus one Jian before its armor loss becomes extra attack, and keep distance until the guns fire. If you keep losing to Jian Swordsmen without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.