Defense Guide
- Sending def when needed
- Performing sniping waves
- Having a sitter in case of absence (even in the night)
There are three essential things to get by being def : to have as many DEF as possible to participate in as many def operations as possible during the server, to be available during the hottest hours during opponent operations (in the evening), and performing sniping waves and to ensure the sending of the def from one or two sitters if they are away..
:: Just like offensive players, defs also need to know how to calculate and plan their account in order to achieve their goals. It is recommended to run 1 stable for every 3 or 4 barracks. Also, you get more def from infantry than cavalry.
Some players will never make stables and prefer to produce 100% inf. during the server and that’s fine but make sure that you can defend your alliance with high tournament squares.
Having a big defense is good, but not being able to use it is stupid.
If you're far from the center (on classic servers), your goal will usually be to farm a massive inf DEF (artifacts protection, plans, WW), leaving the front lines to deal with fast placing DEF since the running times are smaller. You can add a few stables to your account if needed.
"You play for yourself before you play for others. Unless you are def."
FARMING
The most important thing in setting up an account is the capital. The higher the fields in your capital, the faster your account will grow. Players in the center will have to stop their fields before the players far from the center. It's common to start producing defense at fields 11/12 in the center, and higher if you are further away (15/16).
It is more than essential to increase production of ressources before starting to produce DEF. This may seem simple to understand, but in reality, there are far too many players who start their production of defense before the account is self-sufficient in resources.
So, before you start producing DEF, ask yourself : "According to my production, if I start producing DEF now, will I be able to double/triple/etc the number of my DEF villages in 1/2/3/X weeks ?
Don’t think that because you are a def player you won’t be able to produce as many troops as an off player. Therefore, if you think you need a big cropper (>15c 100%), fight for it.
"Playing def is like barbecuing, the more bags, the more chips"
TROOPS
| Tribe | Composition | Description |
|---|---|---|
TEUTONS |
75% Spearmen (25% Paladins) | Good def balance. Demanded for their spearmen, due to a lack of anti cavalry in the alliances. Paladins are slow but can raid. |
GAULS |
70% phalanxes (30% Druidriders) | The defensive game which is playable at all levels. Great ability to rebuild and produce quickly. Fast cavalry. The haeduan is stronger but the druid goes much faster and makes him the ultimate defensive cavalry. |
ROMANS |
Praetorians or Legionnaires (no cav.) | The weakest but cheapest defensive play in the game. Super slow inf. No def cavalry. The legio is 10% weaker than the preto, but is either anti inf/anti cav, can raid and goes faster than the preto. |
HUNS |
70% Mercenaries (30% Marksmen) | Large production capacity. Often compared to Gauls. Mercenary at 6 fields/h instead of 7/h for the gauls phalanx. Marksman at 16 fields/h and balanced off/def, possibility to defend quickly a village only with them. |
EGYPTIANS |
70% Ash Warden (30% Anhur Guards) | Ultimate defensive tribe. 2 inf. choices, 2 cavalry choices. The game's biggest prod def capability mostly because of the huge resource production asset (waterworks). Beware of the dark side of the slave militia: Crop Consumption is quickly unmanageable if the troops are not used quickly. It’s generally recommended to go with Ash. |
SPARTANS |
60% Shieldsmen (40% Elpida Riders) | Fastest def combo in the game. Similar to Gauls and Huns. The shieldsmen aren’t really good, Elpida is preferred. You can easily play 100% Elpida with no inf. Spartans def also has the lowest defense to consumption ratio, making this tribe easier to play. |
VIKINGS |
60% Shields (40% Riders) | Similar to Teutons, good def balance, especially for the Riders. The cavalry is slow but crop efficient and can raid. The shields aren’t the best but they do the job. Possible to set up an account with 100% Riders and no inf. |
NB : When you play def, you have to think about producing as much def as possible/hour. Know that a wall is composed of several tribes. You are part of a whole. It is absurd to produce as many anti-infantry as anti-cavalry since you will not be alone on the walls. It is the role of the def lead to balance/unbalance the def walls. Your job is only to provide as much def as possible.
"You need to understand the offensive game to play effectively in def."
F.A.Q
I am not golding, can I play def ?
Yes. Some players tend to gold more than others and will probably come out with more def since they will be faster at farming. This doesn't mean that a player with more def will be a better asset.
I’ve heard praetorian is the best anti inf def unit in the game ?
No. There are multiple factors to take into account. Def points, ressources, speed and time.
Who’s producing the most defense ?
Defense Calculator
Are GB/GS useful for def players ?
When we play def, we don't run Great Barracks (GB) or Great Stables (GS). These are both buildings reserved for an offensive play. If you want to run a GB, run 3 defensive villages instead. For the same production cost, you come out 3x as many troops.
Rams and catapults on a def village ? What for?
Producing a few slow troops allows to slow down the def. In the case of a sniping wave, it gives you a better chance of success by redoing it again if you mess up the first time.
Do I need to feed my troops when they are defending a village ?
Yes. The players you assist already have troops to feed themselves. If it is too far, you can ask someone in your alliance, closer to the village, to feed your troops. Don’t forget to refund the same amount of resources they sent to the village for you.
The defense job is completed only when you can send + support with the crops. If you run out of crops, send def close to impact.
Do I need to retrieve def after impact or do they send it back ?
Usually, you retrieve def after impact. If the player you assist is online, ask them if they still need it and for how long. You also can refer to the def leader of your alliances they made the call for def.
I play def but I also want to have a small hammer. Is it possible?
It is quite possible to produce a small offensive to break the residences, walls, CD some small villages in a war, to fake, to raid... Think nevertheless that your hammer does not encroach on the development of your def account.
I get more pleasure out of doing 90% cav and 10% inf, is that bad?
Dig it ! If you want to invent a new account scheme, go for it, it’s a game. Make sure your def leader knows about it though.
"90% of your defense supports the neighbor. Keep 10% to save your account"