⚔️ Unit Counters at-a-glance

57 units covered5 attacker classes

If you're facing a unit, build these. Each number is the damage that counter deals per attack — the game's own formula (6 × StrAtt / StrDef, both sides' anti-trait modifiers applied, full HP, open terrain, no promotions). Only true counters — attackers with an anti-trait bonus against the target — make the list.

Strength 10 defenders

Cataphract Mounted	Pikeman 10 Phalangite 8

Strength 8 defenders

Armored Elephant Mounted · Maurya	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7 Hoplite 7
Beja Archer Ranged · Kush	Polybolos 9 Swordsman 9 Ballista 8
Cataphract Archer Ranged · Persia	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Polybolos 9 Hoplite 7
Cimmerian Archer Ranged · Babylonia	Polybolos 9 Swordsman 9 Ballista 8
Elephant Archer Ranged · Tamil	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Polybolos 9 Hoplite 7
Kushan Warlord Mounted · Yuezhi	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7 Hoplite 7
Legionary Infantry · Rome	Ballista 8 Swordsman 8 Crossbowman 7
Longbowman Ranged	Polybolos 9 Swordsman 9 Ballista 8
Mangonel Siege	Polybolos 9
Mounted Lancer Ranged · Egypt	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Polybolos 9 Hoplite 7
Phalangite Polearm · Greece	Swordsman 9 Ballista 8 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7
Pikeman Polearm	Swordsman 9 Ballista 8 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7
Polybolos Siege	no significant counters
Shotelai Infantry · Aksum	Swordsman 9 Ballista 8 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7
Siege Tower Siege · Assyria	Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7
Swordsman Infantry	Ballista 8 Crossbowman 7
Three Man Chariot Mounted · Hittite	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7 Hoplite 7
Turreted Elephant Mounted · Carthage	Pikeman 12 Phalangite 9 Legionary 8 Crossbowman 7 Hoplite 7

Strength 6 defenders

African Elephant Mounted · Carthage	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Akkadian Archer Ranged · Babylonia	Polybolos 12 Swordsman 12 Ballista 10 Maceman 8
Assault Elephant Mounted · Maurya	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Battering Ram Siege · Assyria	Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hastatus 8
Crossbowman Ranged	Polybolos 12 Ballista 10 Swordsman 8
D'mt Warrior Infantry · Aksum	Swordsman 12 Ballista 10 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hastatus 8 Maceman 8
Hastatus Infantry · Rome	Ballista 10 Swordsman 10 Crossbowman 9 Legionary 8
Heavy Chariot Mounted · Hittite	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Hoplite Polearm · Greece	Swordsman 12 Ballista 10 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hastatus 8 Maceman 8 Axeman 7
Horse Archer Ranged	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Polybolos 12 Hoplite 9 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Horseman Mounted	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Javelin Elephant Ranged · Tamil	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Polybolos 12 Hoplite 9 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Kushan Cavalry Mounted · Yuezhi	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Light Chariot Ranged · Egypt	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Polybolos 12 Hoplite 9 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
Maceman Infantry	Ballista 10 Swordsman 10 Crossbowman 9 Legionary 8
Medjay Archer Ranged · Kush	Polybolos 12 Swordsman 12 Ballista 10 Maceman 8
Onager Siege	Polybolos 12
Palton Cavalry Ranged · Persia	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Polybolos 12 Hoplite 9 Spearman 8 Conscript 7
War Elephant Mounted	Pikeman 16 Phalangite 12 Legionary 10 Crossbowman 9 Hoplite 9 Hastatus 8 Spearman 8 Conscript 7

Strength 5 defenders

Archer Ranged	Polybolos 15 Swordsman 15 Ballista 12 Maceman 9
Axeman Infantry	Swordsman 15 Ballista 12 Legionary 12 Crossbowman 11 Hastatus 9 Maceman 9
Ballista Siege	Polybolos 15
Camel Archer Ranged	Pikeman 20 Phalangite 15 Polybolos 15 Hoplite 11 Spearman 9 Conscript 8
Chariot Mounted	Pikeman 20 Phalangite 15 Legionary 12 Crossbowman 11 Hoplite 11 Hastatus 9 Spearman 9 Conscript 8
Conscript Polearm	Swordsman 15 Ballista 12 Legionary 12 Crossbowman 11 Hastatus 9 Maceman 9 Axeman 8
Spearman Polearm	Swordsman 15 Ballista 12 Legionary 12 Crossbowman 11 Hastatus 9 Maceman 9 Axeman 8

Strength 4 defenders

Explorer Infantry	Swordsman 18 Ballista 15 Maceman 12
Slinger Ranged	Polybolos 18 Swordsman 18 Ballista 15 Maceman 12
Warrior Infantry	Swordsman 18 Ballista 15 Legionary 15 Crossbowman 14 Hastatus 12 Maceman 12

Strength 3 defenders

Buddhism Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Christianity Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Hinduism Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Judaism Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Manichaeism Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Militia Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Legionary 20 Crossbowman 18 Hastatus 15 Maceman 15
Scout Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15
Steppe Rider Ranged · Yuezhi · tribal	Pikeman 32 Phalangite 24 Polybolos 24 Hoplite 18 Spearman 15 Conscript 13
Zoroastrianism Disciple Infantry	Swordsman 24 Ballista 20 Maceman 15

Class overview

Target → Attacker ↓	Infantry	Polearm	Mounted	Ranged	Melee	Siege
Infantry Buddhism Disciple, Christianity Disciple, Hinduism Disciple	+50% Maceman · Swordsman	+25% Axeman	—	—	+25% Hastatus · Legionary	—
Polearm Conscript, Spearman, Pikeman	—	—	+100% Conscript · Spearman · Hoplite	—	—	—
Mounted Chariot, Horseman, War Elephant	—	—	—	—	—	—
Ranged Slinger, Archer, Camel Archer	—	—	—	—	+50% Crossbowman	—
Siege Ballista, Onager, Mangonel	—	—	—	—	—	—

Read it Row = which class is attacking. Column = the defender's trait. A "+50% vs Mounted" cell means Polearm units (Spearman etc.) get +50% strength when fighting any Mounted-trait unit.

Classic rules of thumb Polearm beats Mounted Mounted beats Ranged Infantry beats Polearm Ranged softens before melee