As the main focus ofTotal War: Pharaoh, Egyptian factions are spoiled for choice when it comes to recruiting soldiers for their armies. Beyond the regulars available to everybody, each character also has unique retinues that define their tactics in battle. Even for longtime Total War players, there’s a lot to consider when preparing for combat!
If you’re planning to build your empire along the Nile, be on the lookout for these top-quality troops. They stand out among other units of their tier and class, making victory all the more likely when you lead them into battle.
10Sherden Raiders
The descendants of previous Sea People invaders, the Sherden are now loyal to Egypt - specifically, to Ramesses. As javelineers, they make for an excellent skirmish unit whose ranged attacks can punch through enemy armor, and they can handle themselves in melee. Best of all, theycause Fear, making it easier to break enemy units.
Unlocking the full potential of the Sherden, however, requires giving their general theFirst Among Shardanatitle. This low-level ability lets the Sherdendeploy as vanguards, setting up endless opportunities for flanking and ambush.
9Nubian Slingers
Sing troops are typically relegated to lower tiers due to their lower damage output, but Amenmesse’s Nubian Slingers are an excellent choice for supporting your melee line. They have the usualexcellent rangeof slingers, and their moderate damage andarmor piercinglets them get some solid hits against even well-equipped foes.
Like other units of their type, Nubian Slingersdegrade enemy armor faster. Combined with their ability to useFlaming Shot, a power typically reserved for archers, this makes Nubian Slingers perfect for softening up an approaching enemy before sending your front line to countercharge.
8Ta-Seti Longbowmen
Amenmesse can recruit these unmatched archers thanks to his connections in Nubia - otherwise known as Ta-Seti, the Land of the Bow. They have thelongest range in the entire game, letting them rain arrows on the foe with little fear of reprisal. If they do manage to get caught in melee, their spears give them an opportunity toreflect charge damageby changing their stance.
Ta-Seti Longbowmen also have access toFlaming Shot, which quickly reduces the Morale of their targets, and they cantemporarily ignore shieldswith their Aim True ability.
7Queen’s Guard
If you need a unit that can handle nearly anything your opponents throw at them, Tausret’s swordsmen will get the job done. As theonly sword-and-shieldunit at Tier 4 or abovein any Egyptian roster, they’re the best there is when it comes to building a front line in the mid-to-late game.
The Queen’s Guard have great stats across the board, along withlarge shields, Encourage, and Improved Flanking.Put them in the middle of a group of units withAspireto form a solid core.
6Elite Medjay Archers
Ramesses' master bowmen are fairly standard as far as high-tier archers go, and their armor lets them soak up counterfire with ease. What truly sets the Elite Medjay Archers apart from other ranged units, though, is that they arecapable melee fightersas well.
In most cases, when a ranged unit gets locked into melee, it’s game over for them. Elite Medjay Archers actually have a chance against average units - be sure to double-check whether there are any of these professional soldiers in the backline whenever you’re fighting Ramesses!
5Upper Egyptian Khopesh Warriors
Upper Egypt offerssome of the best Native Unitsto anybody that can wrest control of a province there. Among the strongest of these are the Upper Egyptian Khopesh Warriors, who havewhat it takes to handle nearly any melee situation.
Upper Egyptian Khopesh Warriors are so strong, in fact, that they actuallyoutclass Amenmesse’s Kushite Royal Guard, a unit of the same type and tier. The Royal Guard have a larger unit size, but soldier-for-soldier the Khopesh Warriors are better in combat.
4Elite Clubmen
Seti’s peasant levies aren’t all that impressive at the start of the game, but once he’s improved his recruitment buildings he gets access to much better troops. The Elite Clubmen are a particular standout, as they’re thehighest-tier two-handed club unitavailable in Egypt.
Two-handed club soldiers are already more than capable ofdevastating armored troops, but the Elite Clubmen are in a class of their own. Their Furious Charge ability means that they count as flanking even when they are charging from the front, so even the best-protected enemies will find themselves hard-pressed to survive an assault by Seti’s best.
3Elite Medjay Warriors
Ramesses' roster is all about having the best soldiers, and the Elite Medjay Warriors fit the bill. Armed with khopeshes and large shields and sporting powerful abilities like Underdog and Encourage, Ramesses' finest have one of thebest loadouts in the game.
Elite Medjay Warriors are so good, in fact, that they are comparable to the Pharaoh’sRoyal Khopesh Guards, a unit a full tier above them. It’s very rare for a unit to punch that far above its weight, so build your armies around these burly boys once they’re unlocked.
2Royal Chariot Companions
Egyptian chariots add lots of tactical flexibility to the game. Their high speed and ability to fire in all directions, even while moving, make themperfect for harassing enemy troops. They also hit like a truck when charging, making them worthy of their reputation as the Bronze Age’s finest war machines.
The Royal Chariot Companions, accessible only to the Pharaoh and the First Commander, are the best of the lot. If you’re going to spring for chariots, you may as well go all-in and request a few units from Court.
1Pharaoh Guard
It’s fitting - and perhaps expected - that the best troops available to Egypt would be the Pharaoh’s personal guard. Like the Royal Chariots, you’ll either need to be the ruler of Egypt or call in a few favors from the First Commander if you want to deploy the best of the best, but they’re well worth the effort and expense of recruiting them.
The Pharaoh Guard have theincredible statsyou’d expect from a Tier Six unit, and their two-handed axes make themdevastating chargers, especially against shields. They also get bonuses when outnumbered thanks to theirUnderdogability, so never count the Pharaoh Guard out, even when things are looking grim!
