The Hittites have fallen into decline by the start ofTotal War: Pharaoh. Never having fully recovered from the Battle of Qadesh decades prior, their empire is on the brink of civil war as power-hungry nobles seek to supplant the Great King.
Battles in Anatolia can be quite different from those in the deserts to the south; you’re able to rely more on heavy infantry without worrying about attrition, and there are plentiful woods for setting up ambushes. Use these top-quality Hittite troops to fill your armies, and you’ll reunite Hatti with ease!
8Armoured Hattusan Archers
Lines of bowmen aren’t as big a part of Hittite battlefield doctrine as they are for the Egyptians, but if you’re playing as Suppiluliuma you’ll want to make an exception for these guys. Their arrows hit decently hard, and they have access to bothRapid FireandFlaming Shotto make them even more effective.
Like other middle-tier archer units, Armoured Hattusan Archers can also hold their own in combat, and they even have axes to help them break up shields. In a pinch, they can even take a spot on the front lines,softening up approaching enemiesbefore engaging alongside your spear and sword units.
7Armoured Kaskian Chariots
Kurunta’s Kaskian mercenaries fight with chariots similar to those used in Egypt, which provides him with some tactical options not normally available to Hittite factions. Rather than focusing on a devastating charge, Kaskian chariots can opt instead toride circles around the foe, firing arrows the whole time.
This tactic can be a little tricky in the rough terrain of Anatolia, but if you’re planning an expedition into Canaan or even daring an invasion of Egypt, Armoured Kaskian Chariots can give your opponents a painful surprise.
6Veteran Hattusan Swordsmen
A little versatility can go a long way, especially when your budget for unit upkeep is tight. While not quite as durable as Hatti’s incredible spearmen, Veteran Hattusan Swordsmen do a great jobholding a melee linewhile your skirmishers and chariots flank.
This unit, only available to Suppiluliuma, has a standout ability in itsShield Wallstance. When activated, it pushes their Melee Defence into the mid-forties, putting them on par with some of the game’s best defensive troops. When the time comes, they can then drop the stance and charge, taking advantage of theirbetter Charge Bonusthan the spear units they’ll be supporting.
5Royal Hittite Chariots
The Hittites were the best chariot-makers of their time, and the power of their wheeled weapons is on full display in Total War.Hittite Chariots in general are fantastic, smashing into units with a shattering charge before pulling back to do it again.
Royal Hittite Chariots arethe best of the best.Available only to the Great King and High Commander, they’re expensive to build and upkeep, and can only be recruited a few at a time. Once they’re rolling, though, there isn’t much that can stand in their way. They cause Fear and even have some javelins on hand fordrive-by attacksagainst other chariot units and armored infantry. Just watch out for theirsmall unit sizeandvulnerability to spears, javelins, and clubs- each destroyed chariot will severely reduce the unit’s overall effectiveness.
4Renowned Phrygian Javelineers
Hittite armies make heavy use of javelins,easily penetrating enemy armorbefore closing for melee. The best javelineers available hail from thePhrygian Highlands, so be sure to build a Native Recruitment Center in at least one city that you control in the region.
Renowned Phrygian Javelineers don’t have a lot of ammo, but the seven spears that they throw over the course of a battle are sure to count. With an exceptional Missile Damage of 64, which ignores armor, they can put a dent in chariots or heavily-armored troops with ease.
3Royal Hittite Chargers
The perfect complement to javelin units on the flank, Royal Hittite Chargers are the perfect hammer with which to smite enemy armies. Like the other units reserved for the Great King, Royal Chargers haveamazing statsand their two-handed clubs pack a massive punch on the charge.
Unlike lots of other risk-prone units, Royal Hittite Chargerscan handle themselves if they get countercharged.With improved flank attack and flank defense, along withUnderdogand faster Stamina recovery, Hatti’s mightiest warriors are usually the ones left standing when the dust settles.
2Veteran Hittite Spearmen
Veteran Hittite Spearmen are technically Faction Units, but they’reavailable to both Suppiluliuma and Kurunta.That’s a good thing, because these immovable spear units should form the keystone of your army throughout the late game.
Veteran Hittite Spearmen havecomparable stats to the Golden Spearmenof the Hittite Royal Court, but they have a greater focus on defense. Considering that’s their primary battlefield role, their lower costs and greater availability makes them an easy choice. Their top-tier shields (not to mention their jaw-dropping Armor rating of 125 and 175 HP per soldier) make them all-but impervious to arrow fire, and withRedoubtthey can temporarily ignore any penalties they incur from being attacked on the flank.
1Mesedi
The axe-wielding heroes of Hatti aren’t just the best units available to Hittite players, they’re arguablyone of the best units in the entire game.A Tier 6 unit with stats to match, Mesedi are made all the more impressive by theirexcellent gear- including thelargest possible shield- and their fantastic unit abilities.
Like most axe units, Mesedi prefer charging to being charged, and withImproved Flank Attack,Catch Your Breath, andUnderdog, they’re absolutely devastating on the outer edges of your line. If they get caught on the receiving end of a charge, that’s no problem - they can just popShield Walland rely on their Improved Flank Defense to hold out until reinforcements arrive… assuming that they even need the help to begin with.
