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Unit Information Game Strategies History

Heavy Infantry is a type of infantry units in Rise of Nations. They are the first type of military unit to become avaliable, alongside Light Infantry and Foot Archers, and remain important throughout the game - Unlike other infantry types, their equipment may change, but they never upgrade to a new type. They are trained and upgraded at the Barracks, requiring both Food Food and Metal Metal (Timber Timber instead of Metal Metal in the Ancient Age Ancient Age).

Heavy Infantry units are slow-moving, but very durable soldiers donning heavy armor and having the highest amount of hit points of all infantry. Their main role in combat is to fight cavalry, ranging from mounted units in the early ages to armored vehicles and heavy tanks in the late game. Earlier, melee Heavy Infantry also excels at attacking buildings, doing 1.3 times more damage to them (Except Hoplites), but lose this bonus when upgrading to gun infantry. They can be somewhat effective against Artillery Weapons and Support Units as well, but are very weak when having to fight Foot Archers, Gunpowder Infantry, Modern Infantry, and late game Machine Guns. In the earlier ages, they are also effective against buildings such as Cities, though Artillery Weapons rapidly become superior with each successive age, diminishing their role as besiegers.

Starting out as close-range fighters, mostly with spear and shield, and later pikes, they retain their melee role until the Gunpowder Age Gunpowder Age, protecting the powerful but vulnerable Gunpowder Infantry from the onslaught of cavalry. In the Enlightenment Age Enlightenment Age the Heavy Infantry retains this very role, but now replacing the pike with the flintlock, increasing the unsafe distance for cavalry to approach. In the Industrial Age Industrial Age onwards they become the answer to cavalry's transition from animal to engine, and adopt anti-tank weaponry, which is really effective against armored units.

List of Heavy Infantry[]

Age Unit
Ancient Age Large Hoplites
Classical Age Large Phalanx
Medieval Age Large Pikemen
Gunpowder Age Large Elite Pikemen
Enlightenment Age Large Fusiliers
Industrial Age Large Anti-tank Rifle
Modern Age Large Bazooka
Information Age Large Anti-Tank Missile

Unique[]

Age Unit
Ancient Age Large Solduri
Germans
Spearmen
Iroquois
Ashigaru Spearmen
Japanese
Immortals
Persians
Classical Age Large Barbarians
Germans
Mohawk Spearmen
Iroquois
Bushi
Japanese
Anusiya
Persians
Legions
Romans
Scutari
Spanish
Medieval Age Large Vandals
Germans
Heavy Mohawk Spearmen
Iroquois
Elite Bushi
Japanese
Athanatoi
Persians
Caesar's Legions
Romans
Royal Scutari
Spanish
Gunpowder Age Large Landsknechts
Germans
Elite Mohawk Spearmen
Iroquois
Samurai
Japanese
Arquebus Immortal
Persians
Praetorian Guards
Romans
Tercios
Spanish
Enlightenment Age Large Gun Samurai
Japanese
Royal Tercios
Spanish
Modern Age Large Recoilless Gun
Maya
Information Age Large Dragon AT Missile
Maya

Unit costs[]

Heavy Infantry production cost increases progressively with every Barracks unit on the field or currently in production. The default increase is of 1 Food Food and 1 Metal Metal for the second unit created, increasing further with every new unit until the cost cap is reached, which for military units is +125% of their original base value.

Nation powers[]

  • The American Power of Innovation: Receive +2 Food Food, Timber Timber, Metal Metal, and Wealth Wealth to gather rate for every non-garrisoned Heavy Infantry. All military ground unit upgrades, including Heavy Infantry, are 25% cheaper.
  • The Bantu Power of Migration: Infantry units, including Heavy Infantry, move 25% faster and do not require Military Military research to be upgraded.
  • The Iroquois Power of Nation: Heavy Infantry have +5% hit points, are hidden when not attacking and heal while idle in friendly territory, and (undocumented/hidden) up until the Industrial Age Industrial Age Anti-tank Rifle, move 25% faster.
  • The Japanese Power of Honor: For each Age Age plus Military Military research, Barracks units, including Heavy Infantry, are created 7% cheaper and 10% faster, and do 5% extra damage vs. buildings.
  • The Roman Power of Caesar: Heavy Infantry are created 10% cheaper and 10% faster. Also receives up to three free Heavy Infantry, depending on the Age Age and Military Military research, whenever a new Barracks is built.

Wonders[]

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