Silahdars — Elite Halberd Bodyguards
1 | Overview
- Tier / Era: ★★★★★ Golden (Season IV Blood of the Empire)
- Unit type: Heavy melee infantry (halberdiers)
- Unit size: 24 men
- Leadership: ≈ 300
- Battlefield role: Commander‑covering shock troops that cut down heroes and armoured lines with sweeping slashes while shrugging off ranged harass.
Silahdars are sworn bodyguards of the Sultan. Their halberds deliver wide, high‑damage arcs, and their unique orders let them shrug off crowd‑control, then carve a bloody path straight through enemy ranks to reform around their commander. Treat them as a mobile meat‑grinder—devastating in tight spaces, but requiring precise timing and a clear escape plan after each burst.
2 | Core Traits & Abilities
| Ability / Trait | What it does | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Decapitate (23 s CD) | Cleansing sweep forward; 40 % damage‑taken reduction for 3 s, then a second automatic swipe 6 s later. | Primary burst that deletes clustered infantry and staggers heroes. |
| Deathstrike (30 s CD) | Forward cleave that knocks down enemies; 40 % DR for 3 s; follow‑up cleaves for 6 s. | Hard‑CC opener—ideal for initiating or saving allies. |
| Get Over Here (no CD) | Sprint to the commander, cutting through foes. | Emergency extraction / reposition tool. |
| Ingenious Armour | Every 3 hits taken: instantly break CC, next attack uninterruptible, –26 % damage taken. | Makes them hard to lock down or focus‑fire. |
| Imperial Fervour | –20 % damage while any order is active. | Encourages chaining orders for near‑constant mitigation. |
| Insulated | Reduced fire damage and ignition chance. | Keeps them fighting inside flame or oil slicks. |
3 | Strengths
- Anti‑hero specialists — sweeping halberds chew through hero HP quickly.
- Built‑in CC cleanse & damage‑reduction — perfect for stun‑heavy melee pits.
- High ranged resistance thanks to Ingenious Armour.
- Mobile bodyguard mode keeps your hero safe while leading a push.
4 | Weaknesses
- No brace — vulnerable to cavalry charges when skills are on cooldown.
- Skill‑gated DPS — damage plummets if Decapitate/Deathstrike are cooling.
- Over‑extension risk — diving without Get Over Here ready often wipes the unit.
- Average movement speed compared with true assault infantry like Claymores.
5 | Recommended Doctrine Set‑ups
6 | Micro‑Play & Tactics
Engage Pattern
- March behind a sturdy shield or pike line in Crescent formation.
- When an opening appears, tap Decapitate and steer the unit across the enemy front.
- Use Deathstrike if additional knock‑down is needed.
- Hit Get Over Here to pull the unit back to you before enemy counter‑burst arrives.
Key Tips
- Stagger skills: alternate Decapitate and Deathstrike to keep at least one DR window ready.
- Use funnels: stairs, alleys and breach rubble maximise halberd sweep value.
- Stay close to your unit: they survive longer and Get Over Here resets sooner.
- Switch to Dispersed formation during ranged rotations; toggle Cover Commander when cavalry threatens.
7 | Allies & Counters
Synergies
- Shield walls (Fortebraccio, Palace Guards) that lock enemies in place.
- Stun heroes (Poleaxe, Maul) that extend knock‑downs.
- Gunpowder AoE (Shenji, Flames, Cocos) to soften lines before the halberd whirl.
Threats
- Cavalry charges (Winged Hussars, Cataphracts) during cooldown windows.
- High‑burst pike brace (Phallanx, Charge on any Pike Unit) if entered head‑on without DR active.
- True‑damage sources (Namkhan Bleed, Flamers, Rattan Poison) that bypass armour gimmicks.
8 | Commander Checklist
- Keep an escape order (Get Over Here) off cooldown before diving.
- Cleanse only saves you once every few seconds—track enemy CC.
- Heal & resupply when model count drops below 15; full head‑count = full burst.
- Rotate lanes quickly; Silahdars excel as shock reinforcements, not static garrison.
9 | Conclusion
Silahdars reward bold, calculated aggression: wait for the enemy to clump, unleash a DR‑backed Decapitate/Deathstrike combo, then vanish back to safety before reprisals land. Master their cooldown rhythm and positioning, and these golden halberdiers will carve corridors through the toughest defences. Mis‑time a dive, however, and 300 leadership evaporates in seconds. Handle with discipline, reap the carnage.