Trash units cost no gold: Halberdiers, Elite Skirmishers, Hussars. When the gold mines are gone, Relics and trade are the real economy, and the player who understands their tech tree wins.
When to use it
Imperial Age, long games, depleted gold. Also earlier as a mix: pikes next to Knights so you spend less gold.
Suitable civilizations
Byzantines: cheap spears and Skirmishers, Cataphracts if you still have gold. Khmer: Halberdier and Hussar, no Champion, no Plate Mail. Franks: Halberdier, no Hussar. Britons: Halberdier, no Hussar. Mongols: Hussar, no Halberdier. Celts: both, plus siege.
Map, mode, and patch
Any land map that lasted. Access lists are from the dat extract.
Steps and priorities
- Count what you actually have. If you are Mongols, do not wait for Halberdier. If you are Franks, do not wait for Hussar.
- Halberdiers beat leftover Paladins and elephants. Skirmishers beat leftover archers. Hussars beat leftover siege and monks.
- Keep one gold unit if you can: Hand Cannoneers vs pikes (Khmer, Franks, Byzantines), Cataphracts vs pikes (Byzantines with Logistica), Scorpions vs pikes (Khmer, Celts).
- Relics. A trash war without Relics is a slow loss.
How opponents counter it
The missing piece of your triangle. Franks hate needing Hussars vs siege. Mongols hate needing Halberdiers vs Paladin. Khmer hate needing Champion vs Halberdiers.
How to adapt
If they have the trash you lack, spend remaining gold on the unique or siege that breaks the triangle. Byzantines spend it on Logistica. Khmer spend it on Double Crossbow Scorpions. Celts spend it on Siege Onagers.