The Swordsman is a Classical Era melee unit in Civilization VI. It upgrades from the Warrior (or its replacements, except the Gaesatae) or the Sabum Kibittum and requires 
Iron.
In the Gathering Storm expansion, the Swordsman requires 20 Iron to train.
- Attributes:
- +5
Combat Strength vs. anti-cavalry units.
- +5
Strategy[]
The Swordsman is covered in iron plating, armed with sword and shield and ready to defend your empire against the more advanced enemies from the Classical and Medieval Era. Its strength is superior or equal to anything before Horsemen (which have only 1 
Combat Strength more), turning it into the bulwark of your army for quite some time. Know, however, that Medieval Era Knights will destroy the Swordsman!
Unfortunately, you can get Swordsmen only if you have access to Iron.
Civilopedia entry[]
The “Art of the Sword” – although those first Bronze Age wielders probably weren’t very artistic – goes back to the time when a sword was little more than a large dagger, short and sharp. The most ancient swords yet excavated date to c. 1600 BC. Swords came in many types: some sharp along both edges, some just along one, some thin with a sharp point, some heavy. As often as not, a civilization’s favored type was its most distinctive aspect. It might also be noted that the evolution of the sword had a significant impact on the evolution of iron-working, mining and smelting … all rather useful technologies. Virtually every culture in history had swords, and used them proficiently against each other. In time, too, the increasing use of the sword in melee led to advances in armor, and soon enough there was an “arms” race between these military technologies. Today, the sword has been relegated primarily to ceremonial and sporting uses … but swordplay remains deep in our blood (so to speak).
Trivia[]
- The Swordsman is the most-replaced unit in the game. It is replaced by five unique units: the Hypaspist, the Immortal, the Legion, the Ngao Mbeba, and the Toa. The next most-replaced units are the Knight, Cavalry, and Man-At-Arms, with three replacements each.
See also[]
- Swordsman in other games
