}}The Defender is a strong defensive [[Units|unit]] that can be trained after researching the[[Shields]] [[technology]]. As their name implies, defenders have good defense while lacking in attack and movement. The [[Quetzali]] tribe starts the game with a Defender.
+
}}The '''Defender''' is a strong defensive [[Units|unit]] that can be trained after researching the [[Shields]] [[technology]]. As their name implies, defenders have good defense while lacking in attack and movement. The [[Quetzali]] tribe starts the game with a Defender.
*'''Holding choke points.''' Barring a sea invasion, if you put defenders across a point you don't want someone to reach, the enemy can't get through it, and even if they do, their army can't flood through it easily.
*'''Countering attacks.''' Unlike other units, defenders have very high counter damage. Since most enemies can't resist attacking a defender, one of these units can thin out overly ambitious neighbors in the early rounds.
*'''Defending against weak swarms.''' In a [[city wall]], a defender has so much defence that damaged [[Warrior|Warriors]] and [[Rider|Riders]] will actually deal 0 damage to it, and the defender's retaliation will instantly kill the assailants.
*'''Ship swarm.''' On a naval unit, all the original unit's stats are ignored except for the health of that unit. And since the Defender is the cheapest unit with 15 health besides [[Polytaur|Polytaurs]], you can just swarm the sea with them, quickly and cheaply securing naval dominance.
*'''Defending against mobs of strong units.''' A mob of [[Swordsman|swordsmen]] or knights can take down a defender, although they will suffer some damage.
*'''Fighting ranged units.''' [[Archer|Archers]] can continually move back and snipe it, [[Ship|ships]] can shoot from off the coast, and [[Catapult|catapults]] deal too much damage for defenders to even be able to scratch it.
*'''Holding choke points.''' Barring a sea invasion, if you put defenders across a point you don't want someone to reach, the enemy can't get through it, and even if they do, their army can't flood through it easily.
*'''Countering attacks.''' Unlike other units, defenders have very high counter damage. Since most enemies can't resist attacking a defender, one of these units can thin out overly ambitious neighbors in the early rounds.
*'''Defending against weak swarms.''' In a [[city wall]], a defender has so much defence that damaged [[Warrior|Warriors]] and [[Rider|Riders]] will actually deal 0 damage to it, and the defender's retaliation will instantly kill the assailants.
*'''Ship swarm.''' On a naval unit, all the original unit's stats are ignored except for the health of that unit. And since the defender is the cheapest unit with 15 health besides [[Polytaur|Polytaurs]], you can just swarm the sea with them, quickly and cheaply securing naval dominance.
*'''Defending against mobs of strong units.''' A mob of [[Swordsman|swordsmen]] or knights can take down a defender, although they will suffer some damage.
*'''Fighting ranged units.''' [[Archer|Archers]] can continually move back and snipe it, [[Ship|ships]] can shoot from off the coast, and [[Catapult|catapults]] deal too much damage for defenders to even be able to scratch it.
* A very effective strategy used to be to build a wall of [[Warrior]]s (or [[Swordsman|Swordsmen]] if you have them) and block the defenders but not to attack. Bots with Defenders would attack, sustaining heavy damage (even on Crazy difficulty). The next turn, warriors could kill defenders with 5 or lower health. As of the Feb 2021 update, this is no longer effective against bot players, who have learned to use Defenders passively.
−
Strategies for Defenders:
+
*Defenders can also be dealt with using ranged attacks, as their high defense means nothing if they cannot retaliate.
−
* Place Defenders on any [[city]] you gain, always. No unit, except the [[giant|Giant]], is better equipped to defend a city, and you can't reliably, infinitely, or cheaply produce giants- Defenders are all of these things.
+
*Mind Benders are very effective against Defenders, who cannot kill them unless in large swarms.
−
* Shield walls are a nice strategy to hold a narrow part of a map if you know the enemy can't bypass it by sea. This scenario is unlikely, but if it happens, it is highly effective area denial. Place Defenders in a row across the point, and leave them there. Barring Catapults, Giants, or several Knights, the wall will hold. For added effectiveness, have a second set ready to replace the first one. This way, you can switch out a damaged defender for a fresh one, and let it heal with a better degree of safety from attack. (Ranged attacks still can beat the rotation.)
−
*Defenders are also especially useful in naval attacks because of their cost to health efficiency. Seeing as all units behave identically in [[Boat|boats]], the defender is particularly useful to create navies that can withstand multiple hits from other boats.
−
Strategies against Defenders:
−
* Ranged Units. Ranged units can rip apart defenders in no time, especially in droves. If the enemy tribe seems heavy on the defenders, break out the [[Archer|Archers]] or [[Ship|Ships]]. [[Catapult|Catapults]] are even better, if you can protect them.
−
* Sea attacks. For the same reason as ranged, but with the added benefit of the [[Unit Skills|dash skill]], allowing the boat to move and attack, so that even if you need to relocate to avoid return fire or to start trying to hold down a city, you can still fight.
−
* Giants are a nice counter to defender, as long as you keep them at high health levels. Fatigue ruins even giants.
* Iftheenemystartsspammingtonsofdefenders, build a wall of [[Warrior|Warriors]] (or [[Swordsman|Swordsmen]] if you have them) and block the defenders but do not attack. Then, just wait for the defenders to attack you. Sincedefendershavelow attack, theytake a lot of damage when they go on theoffense. The next turn, warriors can kill defenders with 5 or lower health. Thisworksagainstbots, buthuman players mightnotdothis.
−
* Mind benders. Mind benders can destroy enemy defender walls and make holes.
−
==Trivia==
+
==Trivia==
−
* In the early days of the game, Defenders looked like this (see right).[[File:Imperius defender.png|thumb|228x228px|center|The old defendersprite.]]
+
*[[File:Imperius defender.png|thumb|The old Imperius Defender]]Previously, Defenders had a black line on the shield, and a sword at their side.
The Defender is a strong defensive unit that can be trained after researching the Shieldstechnology. As their name implies, defenders have good defense while lacking in attack and movement. The Quetzali tribe starts the game with a Defender.
Defending cities. Full-health defenders cannot be one-hit by anything, so that naturally makes them good for holding a certain point.
Holding choke points. Barring a sea invasion, if you put defenders across a point you don't want someone to reach, the enemy can't get through it, and even if they do, their army can't flood through it easily.
Countering attacks. Unlike other units, defenders have very high counter damage. Since most enemies can't resist attacking a defender, one of these units can thin out overly ambitious neighbors in the early rounds.
Defending against weak swarms. In a city wall, a defender has so much defence that damaged Warriors and Riders will actually deal 0 damage to it, and the defender's retaliation will instantly kill the assailants.
Ship swarm. On a naval unit, all the original unit's stats are ignored except for the health of that unit. And since the Defender is the cheapest unit with 15 health besides Polytaurs, you can just swarm the sea with them, quickly and cheaply securing naval dominance.
Weaknesses:
Defending against mobs of strong units. A mob of swordsmen or knights can take down a defender, although they will suffer some damage.
Fighting ranged units.Archers can continually move back and snipe it, ships can shoot from off the coast, and catapults deal too much damage for defenders to even be able to scratch it.
Strategy
A very effective strategy used to be to build a wall of Warriors (or Swordsmen if you have them) and block the defenders but not to attack. Bots with Defenders would attack, sustaining heavy damage (even on Crazy difficulty). The next turn, warriors could kill defenders with 5 or lower health. As of the Feb 2021 update, this is no longer effective against bot players, who have learned to use Defenders passively.
Defenders can also be dealt with using ranged attacks, as their high defense means nothing if they cannot retaliate.
Mind Benders are very effective against Defenders, who cannot kill them unless in large swarms.
Trivia
The old Imperius Defender
Previously, Defenders had a black line on the shield, and a sword at their side.
