Cerlin
Regular
Kingdom of Sweden Unit and Nation Guide
After my last guide, I was thinking which faction I wanted to play next but it was actually decided for me during my Crimean campaign. I was fighting in the south when all of a sudden the Swedes invaded and took a city from me. After several intense field and castle battles, I was determined to play around with the Swedes. Generally in my campaigns the Swedish tend to have strong map position and people on the forums talk about their unit situation as generally good. This guide will be my opinion on their units and what unit compositions work best for me. I hope everyone can contribute their own ideas on how to be and beat the Swedes. Enjoy!
Overview:
The Swedes are an interesting nation to play with because of their balance. Compared to the Crimeans, the Swedes have much more of everything, several kinds of melee, musket, and horse units that complement each other very well. They also have the ability to recruit muskets in large numbers very cheaply, and ones that have great stats. This effects the battlefields because the Swedes can have an all out sniping competition with anyone and normally win, the only nation stronger may be the Cossacks. The map position of the Swedes is spread out and they have 3-4 neighbors, so it can be difficult to defend all of their holdings.
The Militia:
The Swedes actually have some of the statistically strongest militia in With Fire and Sword, especially the musketeer. Considering they can be recruited for very little money and take almost no maintenance, these troops are not to be ignored. Note the militia can all be recruited 5 at a time in cities.
Town Militiaman-- Level 3, Heath 44, Riding 1, OHW 60, THW 40, PA 50.
This unit is your basic peasant unit, which has a spear, no armor, and low stats. Besides being easy to get from villages and being upgradable to something better, they are not particularly useful.
Militia Pikeman-- Level 5, Heath 47, IF 1, PS 1, OHW 75, THW 55, PA 65.
The Pikeman is a decent troop with a long spear and a sword and the stats to use them decently. While they are unarmored, enough of these spears can stop horses in their tracks. They are also very cheap for garrison duty, but generally not my first choice.
Militia Musketeer-- Level 5, Heath 43, Ath 1, OHW 60, THW 40, PA 50, FA 65.
The militia musketeer is one of the best peasant soldiers in the game. With starting firearms skill at 65 and the veteran even higher, these cheap soldiers make very good garrison troops. They are also quite easy to mass and help during any siege. If you have a castle with 200 + of these complementing your normal troops, very few people will ever attack you.
Regular Infantry:
The regular infantry are the base soldiers of any Swede army, regardless of size or seniority. They are very good soldiers with no major defects besides perhaps being too specialized. They can be recruited 5 at a time and are very cheap to maintain.
Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 47, WM 1, Riding 1, OHW 105, THW 85, PA 95.
With his half armor, pike, and sword, this soldier is one of the toughest 'light' infantry in the game. His stats are also close to 100 in all melee skills, which makes him pretty deadly to anyone. If you need a cheap melee unit this is your guy, though I will normally recruit muskets over these guys.
Musketeer-- Level 7, Heath 47, PS 1, WM 2, Ath 2, OHW 80, THW 60, PA 70, FA 125.
The Musketeer is one of the best units in the Swedish arsenal. Costing very little to maintain and recruit, and being easily mass-able, these can turn the tide of any war. They are very lightly armored, but have a musket and 125 firearms skill to use it with. Do not be surprised to see these guys hit the enemy at the very beginning of the battle. I like to have 30% of my force be these guys, and when they become veteran they are even better. Their weakness is the lack of armor and they can die in troves as soon as they are in close quarters with the enemy. However, since they are easily replaced this is not a major issue. The biggest trouble with these guys is protecting them from horses. These are also highly recommended for any castle seige.
The Light Cavalry: The Dragoon -- Level 8, Heath 45, WM 3, Riding 2, SFH 6, OHW 95, THW 75, PA 85, FA 130.
There is only one mass recruitment light cavalry for the Swedes and that is the Dragoon. At first glance these soldiers may seem very light and not that useful but looks are deceiving. This soldier has a solid rifle, and lots of ability to use it. With 130 firearms and 6 horse archery, these guys can ride circles around your enemies and destroy them in no time. Besides dying easily, these units are very deadly for your enemies, and when you fight them you will realize how annoying they can be. They are also able to be recruited 5 at a time, so easily mass-able and can make your army very fast. I have dragoons as perhaps 20% of my total force, more when I need to be mobile.
The Elite Infantry:
These soldiers will be the core of any infantry army you try to make. They can only be recruited 3 at a time and early in the game you cannot get them everywhere so that can be an issue. I would recommend getting as many of these troops as you can, and change which you recruit depending on your strategy.
Lifeguard-- Level 14, Heath 55. IF 3, PS 2, WM 5, Ath 2, OHW 125, THW 105, PA 115, FA 135.
This soldier has more survivability and melee fighting skill compared to the musketeer. With some power strike and iron skin, and over 100 in his melee skills, this soldier can hold his own in melee. Mixed with 135 starting firearms and a good musket, the Lifeguard will be a problem for your enemies. This soldier can be hard to get in numbers, but if you need long range rifles they are worth it. I like to have 10% of these in my force when defending/attacking castles, and they make great garrison soldiers.
Swordsman-- Level 15, Heath 60, IF 2, PS 1, WM 5, Shield 2, Ath 1, Riding 1, OHW 155, THW 135, PA 145.
This is a plate armor wearing, two handed sword wielding, death machine is recommend for anyone trying to kill infantry. This soldier is brutal on the walls or in the field, and generally has good survivability. At the start of my Swedish game I did not these as much as lifeguards but I realized my error when I attempted to fight one of these guys melee and he just wouldn't die. After that, I have at least 10 of these guys as my melee group in every army.
The Medium Cavalry:
The Cuirassier cavalry are very solid and easy to recruit troops. While they only come in groups of 3, they are generally able to be had at most castles and are good complements to your reiters. I balance these in my army and like to have 10-20 as a personal cavalry guard.
The Cuirassier-- Level 15, Heath 52, IF 2, WM 4, Riding 3, SFH 6, OHW 135, THW 115, PA 125, FA 130.
This one has a pistol and a sword, which is good depending on what you want too do. If you need the bullets flying this soldier is your guy, though the lack of a long weapon can be annoying in some cases. His stats are very good, with everything over 110, and the armor helps his survivability. I will use these depending on the situation, but I tend to prefer the spearman.
The Cuirassier Spearman-- Level 15, Heath 52, IF 2, WM 5, Riding 3, OHW 150, THW 130, PA 140.
This soldier is similar to the Cuirassier in armor but has one major difference, the spear, and this makes a big difference. While having no pistol can be annoying, nothing says charge like spears. These guys complement your Reiters well considering they also do not have long weapons, so this guy gives you the ability to do effective combined arms charges. I like to have 20 or so of these in every army and they are also very good on foot as well as mounted.
The Heavy Cavalry: The Swedish Reiter-- Level 21, Heath 63, IF 6, PS 3, WM 6, Riding 4, SFH 6, OHW 180, THW 160, PA 170, FA 140.
This soldier is one of the best the Swedes field in large numbers. He is tough because of think plate and high hitpoints. He is fast because of riding skill. Most importantly he is armed with a pistol and sword and ability to use both. All stats are in the high 100s and these guys are the best multi-role Swedish unit. They are great at City defense/attack, in the field, and anywhere in between. I have perhaps 15 of these in normal armies and use them to charge home with the Cuirassier Spearmen, and very few units can resist that charge. This soldier is the super troop of the Swedish army and they can swing the momentum of any battle.
The Scottish:
These reasonably priced units offer extra versatility to your overly specialized native units. The Scots tend to be a little more of generalists in their stats but this is a bonus for you. They all have powerstrike and good weapons to use them with so these guys add some interesting options to your army composition. They can only be recruited 3 at a time.
Scottish Musketeer-- Level 7, Heath 51, IF 2, PS 2, WM 3, Ath 3, Riding 1, OHW 90, THW 70, PA 80, FA 95.
This soldier has more rounded stats than the Musketeer and is somewhat on par with the Lifeguard, while being cheaper. He also hits harder because of powerstrike which makes him a good addition to the battle line. While their shooting skill is lower than the Swedish native units, they can also be helpful if you need to recruit Pikes/Swords and don't want to lose all your musket recruitment.
Scottish Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 48, IF 1, PS 1, WM 1, Riding 1, OHW 120, THW 100, PA 110.
This pikeman is slightly better skilled and armored than the native Swedish pike. I tend to use these if I have too many musketeers and want some balance in my army. However they are my 3rd Scottish choice as you will see below.
Scottish Swordsman-- Level 13, Heath 60, IF 3, PS 3, WM 5, Riding 1, OHW 150, THW 130, PA 140.
This unit is the best Scottish unit hands down. They have higher level and a giant sword to hit their enemies with, and power strike to make it hurt. Their skill statistics are similar to the swordsman, but they have more power strike, but less armor. Overall it is a style choice between the two (or you can get both if you like swords that much.) I like these especially when I am defending castles.
The Regional Mercenaries:
These units are areas specific, one set is the Finnish troops which you can get in the North west near Riga, and the other are the German mercs which you can get around Koenigsburg. They can both be recruited 5 at a time so get as many as you can!
Finnish Harquebusier-- Level 6, Heath 48, IF 2, WM 1, OHW 75, THW 55, PA 65, FA 85.
This soldier can be recruited in the north and are the only armored musketmen the Swedes can get. That is his main advantage, because his stats are very mediocre. Depending on your situation, this guy is nice to have in your army. I like to have them for defending castles because they can take more than one bullet, which is important.
German Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 46, PS 1, WM 2, Riding 1, OHW 125, THW 105, PA 115.
This soldier is somewhere between a normal pikeman and a Scottish one, having better armor but lower stats. These guys are pretty tough and fun to have around, but not worth it because you have to choice them or the Reiter (German).
Reiter-- Level 19, Heath 60, IF 4, PS 3, WM 5, Riding 5, SFH 6, OHW 160, THW 145, PA 155, FA 140.
These guys are an awesome regional troop, being able to be recruited 5 at a time and having very good stats and armor, you have to love these guys. While they are geographically limited on where you can get them, they are pretty fun to have. They are comparable to the Swedish Reiters but do not take the same recruitment spot so you can get both if you wish. I like to get as many of these gusy as I can.
Note on Abbrivations:
Here is some explanation for my short hand for the unit stats if you had a hard time:
IF = Ironflesh
PS = Power Strike
WM= Weapon Master
Ath = Athletics
SFH = Shooting from Horseback
OHW = One handed weapon (proficiency)
THW = Two handed weapon
PA = Pole arms
FA = Firearms
The Stats listed are combat related only and do not include random stats like prisoner management or persuasion, which do not affect combat.
Conclusion:
In the end, the Swedes are a very specialist army, with each unit having a very specific role on the battlefield. If you can mix and manage all of these roles, the Swedish national soldiers will win you many battles. That said, the best advantages the Swedes have is their musketmen. If you have enough of these guys and can protect them, and then bring home the finishing charge with your Reiters, you will lose very few battles.
After starting the rebellion against the Swedes I have learned the power of their troops first hand. When I played my Crimean Campaign, I was able to beat armies larger than mine with little problem (also the difficulty was lower, and more bows were involved.) With the Swedes, I need even numbers or a little advantage to win without massive casualties. From this fighting I would say the biggest weakness is when the enemy can get mixed up with their muskets because once that fire stops they lose their biggest advantage. My current favorite tactic is to put my infantry and muskets on a hill, then lead my reiters and cuirassiers to flank the enemy and hit their muskets several times with charges. If I can do this without losing too many horses I normally win.
I hope all of you can share you opinions and impressions of the Swedes here and any commends on my post is appreciated.
Best,
Cerlin
After my last guide, I was thinking which faction I wanted to play next but it was actually decided for me during my Crimean campaign. I was fighting in the south when all of a sudden the Swedes invaded and took a city from me. After several intense field and castle battles, I was determined to play around with the Swedes. Generally in my campaigns the Swedish tend to have strong map position and people on the forums talk about their unit situation as generally good. This guide will be my opinion on their units and what unit compositions work best for me. I hope everyone can contribute their own ideas on how to be and beat the Swedes. Enjoy!
Overview:
The Swedes are an interesting nation to play with because of their balance. Compared to the Crimeans, the Swedes have much more of everything, several kinds of melee, musket, and horse units that complement each other very well. They also have the ability to recruit muskets in large numbers very cheaply, and ones that have great stats. This effects the battlefields because the Swedes can have an all out sniping competition with anyone and normally win, the only nation stronger may be the Cossacks. The map position of the Swedes is spread out and they have 3-4 neighbors, so it can be difficult to defend all of their holdings.
The Militia:
The Swedes actually have some of the statistically strongest militia in With Fire and Sword, especially the musketeer. Considering they can be recruited for very little money and take almost no maintenance, these troops are not to be ignored. Note the militia can all be recruited 5 at a time in cities.
Town Militiaman-- Level 3, Heath 44, Riding 1, OHW 60, THW 40, PA 50.
This unit is your basic peasant unit, which has a spear, no armor, and low stats. Besides being easy to get from villages and being upgradable to something better, they are not particularly useful.
Militia Pikeman-- Level 5, Heath 47, IF 1, PS 1, OHW 75, THW 55, PA 65.
The Pikeman is a decent troop with a long spear and a sword and the stats to use them decently. While they are unarmored, enough of these spears can stop horses in their tracks. They are also very cheap for garrison duty, but generally not my first choice.
Militia Musketeer-- Level 5, Heath 43, Ath 1, OHW 60, THW 40, PA 50, FA 65.
The militia musketeer is one of the best peasant soldiers in the game. With starting firearms skill at 65 and the veteran even higher, these cheap soldiers make very good garrison troops. They are also quite easy to mass and help during any siege. If you have a castle with 200 + of these complementing your normal troops, very few people will ever attack you.
Regular Infantry:
The regular infantry are the base soldiers of any Swede army, regardless of size or seniority. They are very good soldiers with no major defects besides perhaps being too specialized. They can be recruited 5 at a time and are very cheap to maintain.
Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 47, WM 1, Riding 1, OHW 105, THW 85, PA 95.
With his half armor, pike, and sword, this soldier is one of the toughest 'light' infantry in the game. His stats are also close to 100 in all melee skills, which makes him pretty deadly to anyone. If you need a cheap melee unit this is your guy, though I will normally recruit muskets over these guys.
Musketeer-- Level 7, Heath 47, PS 1, WM 2, Ath 2, OHW 80, THW 60, PA 70, FA 125.
The Musketeer is one of the best units in the Swedish arsenal. Costing very little to maintain and recruit, and being easily mass-able, these can turn the tide of any war. They are very lightly armored, but have a musket and 125 firearms skill to use it with. Do not be surprised to see these guys hit the enemy at the very beginning of the battle. I like to have 30% of my force be these guys, and when they become veteran they are even better. Their weakness is the lack of armor and they can die in troves as soon as they are in close quarters with the enemy. However, since they are easily replaced this is not a major issue. The biggest trouble with these guys is protecting them from horses. These are also highly recommended for any castle seige.
The Light Cavalry: The Dragoon -- Level 8, Heath 45, WM 3, Riding 2, SFH 6, OHW 95, THW 75, PA 85, FA 130.
There is only one mass recruitment light cavalry for the Swedes and that is the Dragoon. At first glance these soldiers may seem very light and not that useful but looks are deceiving. This soldier has a solid rifle, and lots of ability to use it. With 130 firearms and 6 horse archery, these guys can ride circles around your enemies and destroy them in no time. Besides dying easily, these units are very deadly for your enemies, and when you fight them you will realize how annoying they can be. They are also able to be recruited 5 at a time, so easily mass-able and can make your army very fast. I have dragoons as perhaps 20% of my total force, more when I need to be mobile.
The Elite Infantry:
These soldiers will be the core of any infantry army you try to make. They can only be recruited 3 at a time and early in the game you cannot get them everywhere so that can be an issue. I would recommend getting as many of these troops as you can, and change which you recruit depending on your strategy.
Lifeguard-- Level 14, Heath 55. IF 3, PS 2, WM 5, Ath 2, OHW 125, THW 105, PA 115, FA 135.
This soldier has more survivability and melee fighting skill compared to the musketeer. With some power strike and iron skin, and over 100 in his melee skills, this soldier can hold his own in melee. Mixed with 135 starting firearms and a good musket, the Lifeguard will be a problem for your enemies. This soldier can be hard to get in numbers, but if you need long range rifles they are worth it. I like to have 10% of these in my force when defending/attacking castles, and they make great garrison soldiers.
Swordsman-- Level 15, Heath 60, IF 2, PS 1, WM 5, Shield 2, Ath 1, Riding 1, OHW 155, THW 135, PA 145.
This is a plate armor wearing, two handed sword wielding, death machine is recommend for anyone trying to kill infantry. This soldier is brutal on the walls or in the field, and generally has good survivability. At the start of my Swedish game I did not these as much as lifeguards but I realized my error when I attempted to fight one of these guys melee and he just wouldn't die. After that, I have at least 10 of these guys as my melee group in every army.
The Medium Cavalry:
The Cuirassier cavalry are very solid and easy to recruit troops. While they only come in groups of 3, they are generally able to be had at most castles and are good complements to your reiters. I balance these in my army and like to have 10-20 as a personal cavalry guard.
The Cuirassier-- Level 15, Heath 52, IF 2, WM 4, Riding 3, SFH 6, OHW 135, THW 115, PA 125, FA 130.
This one has a pistol and a sword, which is good depending on what you want too do. If you need the bullets flying this soldier is your guy, though the lack of a long weapon can be annoying in some cases. His stats are very good, with everything over 110, and the armor helps his survivability. I will use these depending on the situation, but I tend to prefer the spearman.
The Cuirassier Spearman-- Level 15, Heath 52, IF 2, WM 5, Riding 3, OHW 150, THW 130, PA 140.
This soldier is similar to the Cuirassier in armor but has one major difference, the spear, and this makes a big difference. While having no pistol can be annoying, nothing says charge like spears. These guys complement your Reiters well considering they also do not have long weapons, so this guy gives you the ability to do effective combined arms charges. I like to have 20 or so of these in every army and they are also very good on foot as well as mounted.
The Heavy Cavalry: The Swedish Reiter-- Level 21, Heath 63, IF 6, PS 3, WM 6, Riding 4, SFH 6, OHW 180, THW 160, PA 170, FA 140.
This soldier is one of the best the Swedes field in large numbers. He is tough because of think plate and high hitpoints. He is fast because of riding skill. Most importantly he is armed with a pistol and sword and ability to use both. All stats are in the high 100s and these guys are the best multi-role Swedish unit. They are great at City defense/attack, in the field, and anywhere in between. I have perhaps 15 of these in normal armies and use them to charge home with the Cuirassier Spearmen, and very few units can resist that charge. This soldier is the super troop of the Swedish army and they can swing the momentum of any battle.
The Scottish:
These reasonably priced units offer extra versatility to your overly specialized native units. The Scots tend to be a little more of generalists in their stats but this is a bonus for you. They all have powerstrike and good weapons to use them with so these guys add some interesting options to your army composition. They can only be recruited 3 at a time.
Scottish Musketeer-- Level 7, Heath 51, IF 2, PS 2, WM 3, Ath 3, Riding 1, OHW 90, THW 70, PA 80, FA 95.
This soldier has more rounded stats than the Musketeer and is somewhat on par with the Lifeguard, while being cheaper. He also hits harder because of powerstrike which makes him a good addition to the battle line. While their shooting skill is lower than the Swedish native units, they can also be helpful if you need to recruit Pikes/Swords and don't want to lose all your musket recruitment.
Scottish Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 48, IF 1, PS 1, WM 1, Riding 1, OHW 120, THW 100, PA 110.
This pikeman is slightly better skilled and armored than the native Swedish pike. I tend to use these if I have too many musketeers and want some balance in my army. However they are my 3rd Scottish choice as you will see below.
Scottish Swordsman-- Level 13, Heath 60, IF 3, PS 3, WM 5, Riding 1, OHW 150, THW 130, PA 140.
This unit is the best Scottish unit hands down. They have higher level and a giant sword to hit their enemies with, and power strike to make it hurt. Their skill statistics are similar to the swordsman, but they have more power strike, but less armor. Overall it is a style choice between the two (or you can get both if you like swords that much.) I like these especially when I am defending castles.
The Regional Mercenaries:
These units are areas specific, one set is the Finnish troops which you can get in the North west near Riga, and the other are the German mercs which you can get around Koenigsburg. They can both be recruited 5 at a time so get as many as you can!
Finnish Harquebusier-- Level 6, Heath 48, IF 2, WM 1, OHW 75, THW 55, PA 65, FA 85.
This soldier can be recruited in the north and are the only armored musketmen the Swedes can get. That is his main advantage, because his stats are very mediocre. Depending on your situation, this guy is nice to have in your army. I like to have them for defending castles because they can take more than one bullet, which is important.
German Pikeman-- Level 7, Heath 46, PS 1, WM 2, Riding 1, OHW 125, THW 105, PA 115.
This soldier is somewhere between a normal pikeman and a Scottish one, having better armor but lower stats. These guys are pretty tough and fun to have around, but not worth it because you have to choice them or the Reiter (German).
Reiter-- Level 19, Heath 60, IF 4, PS 3, WM 5, Riding 5, SFH 6, OHW 160, THW 145, PA 155, FA 140.
These guys are an awesome regional troop, being able to be recruited 5 at a time and having very good stats and armor, you have to love these guys. While they are geographically limited on where you can get them, they are pretty fun to have. They are comparable to the Swedish Reiters but do not take the same recruitment spot so you can get both if you wish. I like to get as many of these gusy as I can.
Note on Abbrivations:
Here is some explanation for my short hand for the unit stats if you had a hard time:
IF = Ironflesh
PS = Power Strike
WM= Weapon Master
Ath = Athletics
SFH = Shooting from Horseback
OHW = One handed weapon (proficiency)
THW = Two handed weapon
PA = Pole arms
FA = Firearms
The Stats listed are combat related only and do not include random stats like prisoner management or persuasion, which do not affect combat.
Conclusion:
In the end, the Swedes are a very specialist army, with each unit having a very specific role on the battlefield. If you can mix and manage all of these roles, the Swedish national soldiers will win you many battles. That said, the best advantages the Swedes have is their musketmen. If you have enough of these guys and can protect them, and then bring home the finishing charge with your Reiters, you will lose very few battles.
After starting the rebellion against the Swedes I have learned the power of their troops first hand. When I played my Crimean Campaign, I was able to beat armies larger than mine with little problem (also the difficulty was lower, and more bows were involved.) With the Swedes, I need even numbers or a little advantage to win without massive casualties. From this fighting I would say the biggest weakness is when the enemy can get mixed up with their muskets because once that fire stops they lose their biggest advantage. My current favorite tactic is to put my infantry and muskets on a hill, then lead my reiters and cuirassiers to flank the enemy and hit their muskets several times with charges. If I can do this without losing too many horses I normally win.
I hope all of you can share you opinions and impressions of the Swedes here and any commends on my post is appreciated.
Best,
Cerlin
