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 Liao Dao is a cost-effective infantry killer. With +2 vs Eagle Warriors and +2 vs standard buildings, they answer Eagle armies and raid structures. At just 40F/40G, you can mass them quickly. Their 3 melee armor makes them surprisingly tanky against other infantry. Use Liao Daos to dominate infantry fights - they trade efficiently against almost any foot soldier.
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-infantry specialist with good armor
Tactical Playbook
Infantry Counter
+2 vs infantry makes Liao Daos effective against enemy swordsmen and trash units. They trade favorably in most infantry matchups.
Eagle Killer
+2 vs Eagle Warriors makes them excellent against Meso civilizations. Spam Liao Daos to counter Eagle plays.
Cost Efficiency
At 40F/40G, Liao Daos are very affordable. Mass production enables overwhelming numbers.
Critical Point
Weak against cavalry and archers like most infantry. Need ranged or cavalry support in mixed battles.
Understanding The Stats
Liao Daos combine anti-infantry bonuses with good melee armor. At 75 HP and 3/1 armor, they are durable infantry fighters.
Base + Bonus
Moderate base attack with meaningful bonuses
Melee Focus
3 melee armor makes them tanky vs other infantry
Good HP
Solid health pool for sustained combat
Affordable
Cheap cost enables mass production
Coach's Tip
75 HP and 3 melee armor is solid for your cost. You can brawl effectively against most infantry.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Standard Building | +2 |
| Eagle Warrior | +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
Feudal Age
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Liao Dao is the Khitan unique Infantry: 40 food and 40 gold, 12 seconds to train, 75 HP, 9 attack, 3 melee/1 pierce armor, speed 1.0, and line of sight 3. Its powerful attack wounds enemies and deals damage over time. The official help says it is strong against Cavalry and Infantry, but weak against Ranged Soldiers at long range. It is tagged Infantry and Unique Unit, with +2 against Eagle Warriors. The cheap 40-food/40-gold cost and 12-second train time create a fast melee mass, but the 1.0 speed and one pierce armor make the distance to ranged fire the real battlefield.
History & balance
The Liao Dao is built for the Khitan identity of fast melee development and mounted flexibility. Pastures replace Farms, melee attack upgrade effects are doubled, Skirmishers, the Spearman-line, and the Scout Cavalry-line train and upgrade 25% faster, and Heavy Cavalry Archer is available in Castle Age at half cost. The Khitan team bonus gives Infantry +2 attack against Ranged Soldiers, which directly reinforces the Liao Dao role. Lamellar Armor later makes Infantry and Skirmishers reflect 25% of melee damage, while Ordo Cavalry adds a different late-game path. Liao Dao pressure is therefore a cheap, fast bridge into a broader Khitan army.
In pro play
Exploit the 12-second train time by making Liao Dao a tempo unit, not a late surprise. A line of 75-HP bodies with 3 melee armor can clear ordinary Infantry and threaten Cavalry, while the wound damage rewards repeated contact rather than a single charge. Start the move before the opponent sees it: at speed 1.0 and line of sight 3, the unit does not choose the distance once ranged fire is established. Khitan melee upgrades are unusually valuable because their effects are doubled, and the +2 team bonus against Ranged Soldiers makes a disciplined push stronger. Keep a second group ready to replace losses and force the ranged player to retreat.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is to meet Liao Dao with Infantry or Cavalry in a static melee and allow the wound effect to accumulate. The official help gives the category: Ranged Soldiers at long range. Hand Cannoneers carry +10 against Infantry and Heavy Scorpions +2, so they damage the Liao Dao class while staying outside the one-range body. Keep the firing line wide, use terrain to delay the 1.0-speed approach, and do not let Khitan Infantry reach a choke where the range advantage disappears. If you keep losing to Liao Dao without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.