Elite Symmachean Stalwarts — Conqueror's Blade Einheiten-Guide
Reliable heroic shield infantry.
Quick facts
- Unit type: infantry
- Tier / era: T4 / heroic
- Weapon type: Shield
- Leadership cost: 250
- Role / classification: shield, frontline, defensive, anti-blunt
- Recommended veterancy line: Top line (shared start) (9/9 points)
- Core doctrines: Epic Spear Doctrine VI, Steadfast Doctrine V, Awareness Doctrine V, Block Doctrine V, Epic Leadership Doctrine
- My tier: S
Updated 1 November 2026
My take: S tier
Overview
Reliable heroic shield infantry. A solid defensive front line, and a good counter to blunt-damage units like Zealots.
How to Play
- Front line, shield wall.
- Brace against cavalry and charging units.
- Hold formation at choke points.
- Use them against blunt-damage units (Zealots).
- Put ranged units behind them.
Doctrines
- Slot 1 · Epic Spear Doctrine VI
Stand Fast: 2.5 s CC immunity · 60 s cooldown
Stand Fast: no CC for a moment.
- Slot 2 · Steadfast Doctrine V
+130 all defences · −6% damage taken
Heavy armour, less damage taken.
- Slot 3 · Awareness Doctrine V
−500 damage taken from cavalry charges · −20% damage taken from rear attacks
Shrugs off cavalry and flanks.
- Slot 4 · Block Doctrine V
+300 block · −90 damage taken
Wall of shields, less chip damage.
- Slot 5 · Epic Leadership Doctrine
−16% Leadership cost
Room for one more unit.
NEW · 250 → about 210 leadership
Veterancy
Start
- The Soldier's Life: 1/1 points · +6% health
Per level: Lv 1: +6% health
Top line (shared start)
- Complementary Training: 3/3 points · Each level increases damage dealt by 5% while in a non-Dispersed formation.
Tooltip: Each level increases damage dealt by 5% while in a non-Dispersed formation.
- The Soldier's Life: 3/3 points · +9% health
Per level: Lv 1: +3% health / Lv 2: +6% health / Lv 3: +9% health
- Cold Blood: 3/3 points · Each level increases damage while bracing by 8%.
Tooltip: Each level increases damage while bracing by 8%.
Top line (upper branch)
- Improved Supplies: 3/3 points · −15% ranged damage taken
Per level: Lv 1: −5% ranged damage taken / Lv 2: −10% ranged damage taken / Lv 3: −15% ranged damage taken
- Thick Armour: 1/1 points · +10% all defences
Per level: Lv 1: +10% all defences
Top line (lower branch)
- Toughen Up: 3/3 points · +9% piercing defence
Per level: Lv 1: +3% piercing defence / Lv 2: +6% piercing defence / Lv 3: +9% piercing defence
- Long Reach: 1/1 points · Increases the number of enemies each soldier can hit with a single strike by 1.
Tooltip: Increases the number of enemies each soldier can hit with a single strike by 1.
Bottom line
- Stand Fast: 3/3 points · block +120 points
Per level: Lv 1: block +40 points / Lv 2: block +80 points / Lv 3: block +120 points
- Forceful Advance: 2/3 points · Each level increases damage dealt by 5% while using Advance.
Tooltip: Each level increases damage dealt by 5% while using Advance.
- Inner Energy: 0/1 points · Not taken
- Cold Blood: 0/3 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: +3% piercing damage / Lv 2: +6% piercing damage / Lv 3: +9% piercing damage
- Force: 0/3 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: +5% piercing armour penetration / Lv 2: +10% piercing armour penetration / Lv 3: +15% piercing armour penetration
- Inner Energy: 0/1 points · Not taken
- Resilient: 0/3 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: −5% damage taken while using Advance / Lv 2: −10% damage taken while using Advance / Lv 3: −15% damage taken while using Advance
- Penetration: 0/1 points · Not taken
Build totals
- +15% · health
- −15% · ranged damage taken
- +10% · all defences
- +9% · piercing defence
Values from game files · client 1.10.3721.330067.
Balance history
2025-12-18 · nerf
Leadership cost increased from 240 to 250.
Roses: Ash and Bloom Season Update - Part 22025-07-24 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where increased headcount caused skill commands to fail for some soldiers.
July 24 Update Log2025-07-02 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where the Mastery of Symmachean Stalwarts was not unlocked in Fair Match mode.
July 3 Online Update Log2025-06-05 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where the attack range of Brace was abnormal.
June 5 Update Log2025-06-05 · bugfix
Fixed an incorrect skill description for Brace; the correct damage reduction is 30%.
June 5 Update Log2025-05-29 · buff
Health increased to 8432, Piercing damage increased to 1237, unit size increased to 40. Brace damage reduction during blocks increased to 30%, life recovery to 9%. Brace attacks initiate earlier.
May 29 Update Log2025-01-16 · other
Added Mastery system nodes including Brace enhancements (Node 5: stagger and +15% damage, Node 8: Devout Strike every 5 hits) and anti-cavalry bonuses.
January 16 Mastery & Balance Adjustments Announcement2024-02-01 · bugfix
Fixed the issue of unit models floating in the air after death.
Feb 1st UPDATE LOG2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixed the issue where changing units might cause skill locking with a certain probability.
December 7th Update Notice2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixed the issue where the Unit's head model would behave abnormally when changing Unit Attire.
December 7th Update Notice2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixes the issue where some Units couldn't face the enemy while using their skills.
December 7th Update Notice2023-08-23 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where the damage increase effect would trigger multiple times and the health recovery effect was delayed. Optimized special effect display rules.
August 24 Update Log Notice2023-05-30 · other
New exclusive doctrine 'Zealous Knight' added: converts 100 ranged damage taken into bleed damage over 3s, while increasing damage and movement speed by 15% during the effect.
Sengoku: Blazing Katana Season Notice2023-03-16 · nerf
Removed the 12% extra damage bonus of [Brace]. The damage reduction effect and HP recovering effect upon successful block remained unchanged.
March 16 Balance Changes2023-01-16 · rework
Made balance changes. Specifics in separate balance notice.
JAN 17 UPDATE LOG2023-01-13 · nerf
Blocks during [Brace] no longer consume less block than when not in [Brace].
Jan 17 Balance Changes2022-12-28 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where skill icons would disappear if the unit had Epic Spear Doctrine A equipped and interacted with a supply point.
DEC 29 UPDATE LOG2022-10-26 · buff
Successful blocks during [Brace] reduce block cost for 1s. Added post-damage buff (30% dmg reduction / 15% dmg increase). [Weak Spot] damage penalty reduced to 10%.
10.27 Unit Balance Changes2022-10-18 · rework
Removed the least used shield-switching function (Stow/Use Shield) for units with 5 or more skills to prevent UI clashes.
OCT 20 UPDATE LOG2022-09-21 · buff
[Brace] increases damage and reduces damage taken by 12%. Blocking during [Brace] now heals the unit for 7% health over 2 seconds.
Unit Balance Changes Announcement2022-09-21 · buff
Increased hitbox size of the unit and their shields during [Brace] to improve shield coverage.
Unit Balance Changes Announcement2022-09-21 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where soldiers would remain in Advance if holding down the V button after issuing the command.
SEPT. 22 UPDATE LOG
Questions about Elite Symmachean Stalwarts
Which veterancy line do I use for Elite Symmachean Stalwarts?
My imported build puts the most points in Top line (shared start): 9/9 points.
Which doctrines are in the Elite Symmachean Stalwarts guide?
Epic Spear Doctrine VI, Steadfast Doctrine V, Awareness Doctrine V, Block Doctrine V, Epic Leadership Doctrine
How much leadership does Elite Symmachean Stalwarts cost?
Elite Symmachean Stalwarts costs 250 leadership.
What is the latest recorded balance change for Elite Symmachean Stalwarts?
2025-12-18 · nerf: Leadership cost increased from 240 to 250.
Related units
All Conqueror's Blade units · Best units for beginners · All doctrines