Tactics: Use spears to hold, axemen/berserkers to charge flanks, cavalry to chase or flank. Germanic units favor aggressive melee, hit hard early, and rely on numbers and morale.
Playstyle: Combined arms, heavy cavalry dominance, and scorched earth.
Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion redefined the classic strategy game by introducing a dark, chaotic era. The unit rosters reflect this shift, moving away from organized Roman legions to diverse, specialized barbarian hordes and evolving Roman forces.
This guide breaks down the best units in the game by faction and class. ⚔️ Elite Infantry
Infantry forms the line of battle. In the late antiquity setting of Barbarian Invasion, heavy infantry is king.
Chosen Axemen (Germanic Factions): Devastating armor-piercing capabilities. They shred through heavy Roman shields.
Plumbatarii (Western & Eastern Roman Empire): Versatile legionaries who throw heavy darts before charging. Excellent at holding the line.
First Cohort (Romans): Elite heavy infantry carrying the legionary eagle. They provide massive morale boosts to nearby troops.
Celtic Swordsmen (Celts): Fast, aggressive shock infantry with excellent morale. 🐎 Dominant Cavalry
Cavalry dominates the open fields of the late Roman world. Shock cavalry can shatter enemy formations in a single charge. rome total war barbarian invasion units
Clibinarii (Sassanids & Eastern Rome): The ultimate heavy cavalry. Both rider and horse are fully armored. They excel in prolonged melee.
Cataphracts (Sassanids): Pure shock cavalry. Their devastating charge can break almost any infantry line instantly.
Steppe Horse Archers (Huns & Vandals): Deadly skirmishers. They can kite slower heavy infantry indefinitely while whittling them down.
Graal Knights (Romano-British): Near-mythical heavy cavalry. They possess incredible stats and high morale. 🏹 Ranged and Skirmish Specialists
Ranged units soften up the enemy and defend settlement walls during sieges.
Chosen Archer Warband (Germanic Factions): Long-range archers who can hold their own in a light melee.
Bosphoran Heavy Archers (Eastern Rome): Heavily armored archers. They can trade shots with enemy missile units without taking heavy casualties.
Sarmatian Virgin Archers (Sarmatians): Fast horse archers with excellent stamina and missile attack stats. 🛡️ Best Faction Unit Rosters 1. The Huns The Huns rely on mobility and devastating horse archers.
Strengths: Unrivaled missile cavalry and terrifying shock charges. Key Unit: Sacred Warband (heavy cavalry). 2. The Sassanids Tactics: Use spears to hold, axemen/berserkers to charge
The Sassanids are the masters of heavy cavalry and elephant warfare.
Strengths: Best cataphracts in the game and powerful archers. Key Unit: Sughdian Warriors and War Elephants. 3. Western & Eastern Roman Empires
The Romans transition from offensive powerhouses to defensive survivalists.
Strengths: Superior heavy infantry and defensive siege capabilities. Key Unit: Palatini and Limitanei. 💡 Quick Tactical Tips
Use Shield Wall: Many barbarian units can form a shield wall. Use this to absorb Roman missile fire.
Target Generals: Barbarian morale is fragile. Killing the enemy general often causes the whole army to rout.
Utilize Night Battles: Use generals with the "Night Commander" trait to deny enemy reinforcements.
In Rome: Total War – Barbarian Invasion , units are defined by the era's transition from professional legionaries to more diverse, often Germanic, "barbarian" influences within and outside the empire. Elite & Game-Changing Units
Certain units are widely regarded by players at the Total War Wiki and community forums like Reddit as powerhouses: Rome: Total War - Barbarian Invasion redefined the
Clibinarii Immortals (Sassanids): Frequently cited as one of the most "broken" units in the game. These heavy cavalry are nearly immune to missiles and can charge frontally into spears with minimal casualties.
Carriage Ballistae (Eastern Rome): A late-game artillery unit that is mobile and devastatingly accurate, often considered hilariously overpowered in the right hands.
Plumbatarii (Roman Empires): Unlike their mediocre counterparts in other titles, these heavy infantry are excellent, using armor-piercing lead-weighted darts (plumbata) before engaging in melee.
Graal Knights (Romano-British): The carry unit for the emergent Romano-British faction, providing heavy cavalry superiority where the rest of the roster may struggle.
Lombard Berserkers: Fearsome infantry that can rip through enemy lines, though they are vulnerable to missiles due to a lack of armor. Unit Comparison by Faction Type
Military rosters in the expansion generally fall into three categories: Faction Type Key Unit Characteristics Standout Examples Roman Empires
Heavily armored infantry; transition from Legions to Comitatenses. Comitatenses, Auxilia Palatina, Plumbatarii. Barbarian Tribes
High-offense infantry, often with unique cultural units like Berserkers or Druids.
Saxon Hearth Troops, Frankish Axe Heerbann, Celtic Gallowglasses. Nomadic Hordes Heavily reliant on horse archers and shock cavalry. Hunnic Elite Warriors, Sarmatian Armored Archers. Notable Faction Specifics Category:Rome: Total War: Barbarian Invasion units