Unit Guide: Pavise Crossbowmen
Unit Overview
- Era/Stars: Golden Era â â â â â
- Leadership: 280
- Unit Count: 22 soldiers
- Max Level: 30
Core Traits & Abilities
- Shield Bearers: Shields are used during reloading, boosting survivability.
- Penetrating Shots: Bolts pierce the first target and can injure up to two additional enemies behind.
- FireâResistant Armor: Less vulnerable to thermal weapons than other units.
- Combat Penalty vs Heroes: Ranged damage to heroes reduced by 25%, balancing their range advantage.
đŻ Formations & Unit Orders
| Formation | Description |
|---|---|
| Dispersed | Looser formation to reduce damage from enemy ranged fire. |
| Shield Wall | Tightly packedâprioritizes directional defense with shields first. |
Unit Orders:
- Direct Fire (5âŻs cooldown): Maintains precise volley fire on a target area.
- Toggle Shields (7âŻs cooldown): Switches between shield-forward mode (defensive) and shield-behind for maximum penetration shots.
- Baton Bolts (45âŻs cooldown): Specialized heavy bolts that knock back enemies and reduce their armour by 250 for 4 seconds.
Veterancy Paths & Doctrines
Top Path Highlights:
- +5% Armor Penetration, +5âŻm range per level
- +4% Critical Chance, +10% Anti-Cavalry Damage
- Stun chance on Baton Bolts
Bottom Path Highlights:
- +3% Health, +10% Ammo
- +5% Melee Defense, +5% Ranged Defense
- Movement speed buff and block break on firing
Recommended Doctrines:
**Replace Ammo with 40% Accuracy if doesnt feel right for you
Video Highlight
For practical gameplay and tactics, this community video gives a great visual breakdown:
Pavise Crossbows â Still Worth Using? (Conquerorâs Blade)
Community Insights
From r/ConquerorsBlade discussions:
âPavise crossbows are one of the balanced and useful T5 in the game. It has double shot doctrine and increased ammo + fire rate.â
However, they can be eclipsed by newer tanky T5 infantry or Shenji Grenadiers, especially in high-pressure fights where crossbows lack mobility and burst power:
âPavise Crossbows seem to have been powerâcreeped out⌠Their only advantage is that rain doesn’t make them useless lol.â
Tactical Role & Usage
Strengths
- High burst and penetration: Multi-hit bolts and Baton Bolts support strong target damage.
- Good ammo pool: 750 bolts and doctrines can extend shot frequency.
- Durable under fire: Shields + fire resistance reduce ranged vulnerability.
- Smart crowd control: Baton Bolts knock back enemies and reduce their armorâexcellent for breaking tight formations.
Weaknesses
- Low mobility: Speed 4.0 hinders repositioning and reactive targeting.
- Outclassed by brute-force T5 units: Heavy infantry and cavalry may close the gap before being shot down.
- Cooldown dependency: Baton Bolts are powerful, but long cooldowns require careful timing.
Best Practices
- Position tactically: Place Pavise near chokepoints or friendly shield units to avoid flank pressure.
- Alternate formations: Use Shield Wall when expecting melees; switch to Dispersed against heavy ranged units.
- Utilize Baton Bolts decisively: Save for cavalry pushes or when clustered enemies need disruption.
- Pair with support units: Combine with healers or mobile troops to cover their slow speed.
Final Verdict
Pavise Crossbowmen are a situational powerhouseâcapable of stunning penetration fire and offering defensive flexibility. They shine in defensive positions, resisting fire and punching through enemy lines with Baton Bolts. Yet, they are less effective in aggressive sieges or pace-heavy field engagements compared to more mobile or tanky Tier 5 units.
They remain a viable choice, especially when matched well with positioning, timing, and team composition.