Takabara

He also took care that the barbarians of his own province should be capable soldiers and should feel kindly toward him.

&mdash; Xenophon, Anabasis (Bk I)

Overall strategy
Takabara are Persian javelin throwers, distinguishing themselves from other javelin units (such as Greek akontistai) by their rate of fire, lower LOS and their lower run speed. In vast numbers, they can blot out the sun; otherwise they are easy prey if attacked at close range.

Unit summary

 * Sitting Ducks &mdash; Although halberdiers have a ferocious attack that makes them dangerous infantry counters, their weak armour and slower walking speed make them fair game for better-equipped cavalry archers and Knights.
 * De-Centralisation &mdash; Halberdiers do not require Centralisation to be created, and thus can be relied upon by Serbia, which lacks Chivalric Order Knights and Pikemen alike.

History
Pre-20th century Chinese armies predominantly used four classes of melee weapons, which were the Dao (sabre), Qiang (spear), Jian (sword) and Ji.

Of these, the Ji was a weapon unique to China, being a polearm with a steel or bronze tip mounted on the end of a long shaft, next to which is attached a curved blade. Because of the attachment of the curved blade, the weapon can be used to both stab and slash.

The Ji was first used during the Shang Dynasty (17th-11th centuries BCE), when it was made of bronze. It was popularized during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256BCE), when it was made of steel instead. Conflict with the nomadic tribes of Mongolia and Siberia soon resulted in the Ji being replaced by Qiang-type spears as well as other polearms.