Elite Imperial Pike Guards Guide – Conqueror's Blade

Heroic polearm infantry with heavy armour and a formation that doesn't break.

Quick facts

Unit type: infantry
Tier / era: T4 / heroic
Weapon type: Poleaxe
Leadership cost: 220
Role / classification: poleaxe, anti-cavalry, frontline, advance, heroic
Recommended veterancy line: Top line (13/13 points)
Core doctrines: Imperial Pike Guards Attack Doctrine, Hero Damage Doctrine V, Epic Bloodthirsty Doctrine, Epic Polearm Doctrine III, Epic Leadership Doctrine
My tier: A

Updated 1 November 2026

Infantry units · Tier 4 units

My take: A tier

Season 28 · Princess*Sparkles

Elite Imperial Pike Guards – Conqueror's Blade T4 infantry unit

Overview

Heroic polearm infantry with heavy armour and a formation that doesn't break. Their Advance order is what makes them. A vanguard against cavalry and elite infantry. 15,000 Honour in the melee infantry tree.

Strengths

Advance knocks enemies down and stacks +2% damage per hit, up to 16 times
Loyal Strike follows up after Advance
Swamp: +26% damage against cavalry and a 60% slow for 2s
Heavy armour against melee, reduced fire damage
Stand Firm braces against cavalry and charging infantry

Weaknesses

Artillery and gunfire over time
Slow to turn and slow to get going
Fast infantry on the flank
Ranged harassment

How to Play

Spearhead: Column into a gap, Advance to break the line, then Schiltron to hold what you took.
Against cavalry: Stand Firm and let Swamp do the rest. Ranged units behind you finish the riders.
At a choke point: Line or Schiltron. The armour soaks the arrows while your team flanks.
Dispersed before you advance, against ranged fire.
Line triggers Stand Firm on its own and is the one to advance in.

Doctrines

Slot 1 · Imperial Pike Guards Attack Doctrine
−7 s Advance's cooldown
Advance comes back sooner.
Slot 2 · Hero Damage Doctrine V
+115 vs heroes · +110 all armour penetration
Hunt heroes, pierce armour.
Slot 3 · Epic Bloodthirsty Doctrine
12% lifesteal for 6 s · +12% more below 30% HP
Heals off the damage you deal.
Slot 4 · Epic Polearm Doctrine III
Charge order (no bonus damage)
Unlocks the charge order.
Slot 5 · Epic Leadership Doctrine
−16% Leadership cost
Room for one more unit.
NEW · 220 → about 184 leadership

Veterancy

Start

Cold Blood: 1/1 points · +2% piercing damage
Per level: Lv 1: +2% piercing damage

Top line

Force: 3/3 points · +15% armour penetration
Per level: Lv 1: +5% armour penetration / Lv 2: +10% armour penetration / Lv 3: +15% armour penetration
Forceful Advance: 2/2 points · Each level increases damage while advancing by 4%.
Tooltip: Each level increases damage while advancing by 4%.
Firm Grasp: 1/1 points · Immune to Dazed from basic attacks during Advance
Tooltip: Immune to Dazed from basic attacks during Advance
In the Blink of An Eye: 2/2 points · +8% critical value
Per level: Lv 1: +4% critical value / Lv 2: +8% critical value
Resilient: 2/2 points · −8% damage taken when advancing
Per level: Lv 1: −4% damage taken when advancing / Lv 2: −8% damage taken when advancing
Quick Advance: 2/2 points · Increases advancing speed by 8%.
Tooltip: Increases advancing speed by 8%.
Long Reach: 1/1 points · Increases the number of enemies each soldier can attack during [Advance] by 1. Changes unit appearance.
Tooltip: Increases the number of enemies each soldier can attack during [Advance] by 1. Changes unit appearance.

Bottom line

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
Hardness: 1/1 points · Immune to Dazed from basic attacks during Brace
Tooltip: Immune to Dazed from basic attacks during Brace
Bloodbath: 3/3 points · +9% slashing defence
Per level: Lv 1: +3% slashing defence / Lv 2: +6% slashing defence / Lv 3: +9% slashing defence
Reflexes: 2/2 points · −20% ranged damage taken
Per level: Lv 1: −10% ranged damage taken / Lv 2: −20% ranged damage taken
Unwavering: 0/1 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: −6% damage taken
The Soldier's Life: 0/3 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: +3% health / Lv 2: +6% health / Lv 3: +9% health
Thick Armour: 0/1 points · Not taken
Per level: Lv 1: +20% all types of defence

Build totals

+2% · piercing damage
+15% · armour penetration
+8% · critical value
−8% · damage taken when advancing
+9% · piercing defence
+9% · slashing defence
−20% · ranged damage taken

Values from game files · client 1.10.3721.330067.

Elite Imperial Pike Guards veterancy line – Conqueror's Blade

Balance history

2026-01-22 · buff
Increased Piercing Damage and Advance multiplier. Loyal Strike now grants Advance status effects.
January 22 Unit Balance Adjustments
2026-01-07 · bugfix
Fixed healing effect of Mastery node 5.
January 8 Update and Maintenance Log
2025-12-18 · buff
Leadership cost reduced from 225 to 220.
Roses: Ash and Bloom Season Update - Part 2
2025-10-15 · bugfix
Fixed an issue where Illusion Orbs and Attire could not be equipped together (Meteor/Crimson Mist can now be equipped with other parts).
October 16 Online Update Log
2025-08-07 · bugfix
Fixed an abnormal skill activation issue when used as a garrison unit in Territory War.
August 7 Update Log
2025-05-29 · buff
Brace attack's speed boost damage cap increased by 300%; minimum speed affected by speed boost increased to 9m/s. Initiates attacks early as enemies approach. Health increased to 7247. Advance skill piercing damage coefficient increased to 80%, cooldown reduced to 35s, and grants 30% defense buff.
May 29 Update Log
2025-04-16 · rework
[Dispersed Formation] replaced with [Column Formation]. Piercing armour penetration increased (1455 to 1505) and piercing damage increased (1110 to 1360).
Unit Mastery and Balance Adjustments
2024-02-01 · bugfix
Fixed the issue of unit models floating in the air after death.
Feb 1st UPDATE LOG
2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixes the issue where some Units couldn't face the enemy while using their skills.
December 7th Update Notice
2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixed the issue where changing units might cause skill locking with a certain probability.
December 7th Update Notice
2023-12-07 · bugfix
Fixed the issue where the Unit's head model would behave abnormally when changing Unit Attire.
December 7th Update Notice
2023-09-26 · buff
Movement speed increased from 4 to 5.
Patch Notes: Update Log Sep 27
2023-07-26 · rework
Added Mastery tree: Increases piercing damage/defense, gains new skill 'Imperial Edict' to end Advance and assail enemies (reduces Advance CD on kill), increases damage to cavalry, reduces damage taken from infantry during Advance, and grants CC immunity for first 3 hits of Advance.
JUl 27 UPDATE LOG
2023-03-22 · rework
[Brace] now has higher priority than formation orders.
MAR 23 UPDATE LOG
2023-01-16 · rework
Made balance changes. Specifics in separate balance notice.
JAN 17 UPDATE LOG
2023-01-13 · buff
[Advance] now shoves and knocks down enemies that block it; this attack is unblockable.
Jan 17 Balance Changes
2022-10-26 · buff
Damage to cavalry of [Impeding Force] characteristic increased to 26% (was 16%).
10.27 Unit Balance Changes
2022-10-26 · buff
Increased [Advance]'s base armor penetration by 12% and base damage by 10%.
10.27 Unit Balance Changes
2022-09-29 · rework
Received balance adjustments (details in separate notice).
SEP 29 UPDATE LOG

Questions about Elite Imperial Pike Guards

Which veterancy line do I use for Elite Imperial Pike Guards?

My imported build puts the most points in Top line: 13/13 points.

Which doctrines are in the Elite Imperial Pike Guards guide?

Imperial Pike Guards Attack Doctrine, Hero Damage Doctrine V, Epic Bloodthirsty Doctrine, Epic Polearm Doctrine III, Epic Leadership Doctrine

How much leadership does Elite Imperial Pike Guards cost?

Elite Imperial Pike Guards costs 220 leadership.

What is the latest recorded balance change for Elite Imperial Pike Guards?

2026-01-22 · buff: Increased Piercing Damage and Advance multiplier. Loyal Strike now grants Advance status effects.