Evony Troop Types Guide: Ground, Mounted, Ranged & Siege

Every army in Evony: The King’s Return is built from four troop types: Ground, Mounted, Ranged, and Siege. Understanding what each one does is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as you grow your city. New players often train a mixed army that isn’t particularly good at anything. Experienced players pick one or two types, build them deep, and pair them with the right generals. The difference in combat results is dramatic.

The Combat Triangle

Before diving into each type, understand the basic combat triangle:

•         Ground troops deal bonus damage to Ranged troops
•         Ranged troops deal bonus damage to Mounted troops
•         Mounted troops deal bonus damage to Ground troops
•         Siege troops operate outside the triangle they destroy walls and traps, not combat                     armies

Troop Type	Beats	Weak Against	Damage Bonus
Ground	Ranged	Mounted	+25% vs Ranged
Mounted	Ground	Ranged	+25% vs Ground
Ranged	Mounted	Ground	+25% vs Mounted
Siege	Walls/Traps	All combat	Destroys structures

This rock-paper-scissors dynamic influences most PvP outcomes. Knowing what troop type your enemy favours lets you counter them directly.

Ground Troops

Ground troops are Evony’s frontline infantry. They have the highest HP and defence of any troop type, making them excellent at sustaining damage in prolonged fights and city defences.

Strengths

•         Highest HP and defence — absorb significantly more damage before dying
•         25% damage bonus against ranged troops — direct counter to ranged armies
•         Excellent in city defence — wall bonuses stack well with ground troop stats
•         Most forgiving troop type — high HP means mistakes cost you less

Weaknesses

•         Countered by mounted troops (25% bonus against ground)
•         Lower killing speed than mounted troops in open-field combat
•         Higher casualties in offensive attacks on well-defended cities

Best Generals for Ground Troops

•         Leonidas I — one of the strongest ground generals, available through Events
•         Hannibal Barca — excellent ground attack buffs, Tavern at higher levels
•         Alexander the Great — well-rounded ground attack and defence buffs

Who Should Play Ground Troops

Ground troops suit players who prefer defending over attacking, expect to be hit frequently, or want the most forgiving troop type to learn the game with.

Mounted Troops

Mounted troops (cavalry) are the fastest and most aggressive troop type. They have the highest attack speed and deal devastating damage in short windows — built for one thing: killing speed.

Strengths

•         Highest attack speed — more total damage per second than any other type
•         25% damage bonus against ground troops — counters the most common troop type
•         Best for attacking and SVS — fast strikes that eliminate targets quickly
•         Strong march speed — arrive at targets before they can shield or relocate

Weaknesses

•         Lower HP and defence — fragile compared to ground troops
•         Countered by ranged troops (25% bonus against mounted)
•         More expensive to heal — casualties are more resource-intensive to recover

Best Generals for Mounted Troops

•         Martinus — best F2P-accessible mounted general, available through Events
•         Scipio Africanus — excellent mounted attack and march speed, strong in SVS
•         Yodo-dono — strong cavalry buffs, available via Lucky Wheel
•         Harald Sigurdsson — mounted HP and attack buffs, Tavern general

Who Should Play Mounted Troops

Mounted troops suit aggressive players who participate actively in SVS, enjoy attacking, and have an alliance that rallies together. They require careful management due to lower survivability.

Ranged Troops

Ranged troops (archers and artillery) provide consistent, reliable damage and serve as the natural counter to mounted-heavy servers. They’re versatile and work well in multiple combat scenarios.

Strengths

• 25% damage bonus against mounted troops — direct counter to the most popular                   attacking type
• Consistent damage output across all battle stages
• Strong in defensive scenarios — deals damage from walls before enemies make contact
• Versatile — works in mixed armies and multiple combat roles

Weaknesses

•         Countered by ground troops (25% bonus against ranged)
•         Lower mobility than mounted troops — less effective for fast-strike tactics
•         Less dominant at endgame SVS compared to mounted specialisation

Best Generals for Ranged Troops

•         Tomoe Gozen — top-tier ranged general with attack and march speed
•         Constance — strong ranged attack buffs, excellent early/mid-game general
•         Charles the Great — ranged defence and HP buffs, strong for counter-attack roles
•         Elektra — ranged attack and defence, available through Events

Who Should Play Ranged Troops

Ranged troops suit players on mounted-heavy servers, those who prefer a flexible and defensive playstyle, or newer players who want troops that work well in multiple situations.

Siege Troops

Siege troops are fundamentally different from the other three types. They don’t win battles — they destroy infrastructure. Siege troops deal massive bonus damage to walls and traps, reducing the defensive advantage of heavily fortified cities.

When to Use Siege Troops

•         Alliance rallies on fortified cities — include 10-20% siege to clear walls first
•         Targets with millions of traps — siege clears them before your combat troops engage
•         Any boss event or PvE content requiring structure destruction

Siege Limitations

Siege troops have very low HP and are not combat units. Never send pure siege into PvP — they will be destroyed before accomplishing anything. Always combine siege with your primary combat troop type. Most players maintain a moderate siege force rather than specialising exclusively in siege.

Best Generals for Siege Troops

•         Robert Guiscard — strong siege attack buffs
•         Ramesses II — siege and ranged hybrid buffs, useful for mixed armies

Choosing Your Troop Type

The most important decision new and mid-game players face is which troop type to specialise in. Here is a practical framework:

1. Check Your Server’s Meta

Scout the dominant players on your server. If most powerful players run mounted armies, ranged gives you a natural counter. If ground troops dominate, mounted will shred them. Ask your alliance what they’re running — members with the same troop type support each other more effectively.

2. Check Your Available Generals

Generals multiply the effectiveness of your troops. If you have strong ranged generals but weak mounted generals, lean into ranged even if mounted is theoretically stronger. A great general on the right troop type beats a weak general on the ‘best’ type.

3. Match Your Playstyle

•         Prefer attacking: Mounted troops
•         Prefer defending: Ground troops
•         Want flexibility: Ranged troops
•         Support alliance rallies: Siege component + whatever your alliance uses

The One Troop Type Rule

Most experienced Evony players agree: pick one combat troop type and go deep. Splitting resources between ground and mounted means both armies are weaker than they could be. You have limited resources, research capacity, and general slots. Concentration wins over diversification. The exception: always maintain a moderate siege force regardless of your primary combat type.

Troop Tiers: Why They Matter More Than Quantity

Choosing the right troop type matters, but tier matters even more. A million T3 ground troops will lose badly to 300,000 T4 ground troops. Higher tiers have dramatically better attack, HP, and defence at each step.

Tier	Keep Required	Notes
T1–T2	Keep 1–15	Tutorial phase — train only for gathering
T3	Keep 16	First real army — useful but outclassed by T4
T4 ★	Keep 20	MAJOR MILESTONE — fighting army for mid-game
T5	Keep 25	Strong upgrade, meaningful in SVS
T6 ★	Keep 30	MASSIVE POWER SPIKE — huge step up from T5
T7	Keep 31	Solid mid-high tier for active SVS players
T8–T10 ★	Keep 35	ENDGAME troops — top tiers in standard play

 Prioritise reaching T4 as fast as possible — it’s the baseline for competitive mid-game play. See our Keep Upgrade Guide for the fastest path to Keep 20 and T4 troops. Don’t waste training time and resources on T1 or T2 troops beyond basic gathering protection.

Army Composition by Situation

•         Standard PvP attack: Primary combat type + 10-20% siege to clear walls
•         City defence: Ground or ranged (whichever counters incoming troop type) + full traps
•         SVS open-field: Mounted troops most common for speed and killing power
•         Boss hunting: Whatever troop type your boss general’s specialty buffs
•         Resource gathering: Small mixed army — you’re protecting, not fighting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best troop type in Evony?

Mounted troops are widely considered the strongest for offensive and SVS play. However, best depends on your server meta, your generals, and your playstyle. Ground is best for defence, ranged counters mounted, and siege is irreplaceable for destroying fortifications.

Should I mix troop types?

For general combat, no. Specialise in one primary type for maximum buff stacking. Keep a 10-20% siege component when attacking fortified cities, but your main army should be a single troop type.

What troop type is best for beginners?

Ground troops are most forgiving due to high HP. Ranged troops are a close second for their versatility. Mounted troops are powerful but require more careful management because of lower survivability.

What happens to lower-tier troops when I unlock higher tiers?

Old troops stay in your army but become less useful. Most players disband T1-T2 troops once they have strong T4 armies, as lower tiers contribute little in combat while occupying hospital space when wounded.

How many troops should I have?

As many high-tier troops as you can sustain and heal. 500,000 T4 troops are far better than 2,000,000 T1-T3 mixed. Quality over quantity, always.

What is a march in Evony?

A march is one army deployment one set of troops sent on one mission. Each Keep level unlocks additional march capacity. At Keep 22 you get your fifth march, meaning five separate armies simultaneously. Most players fill each march with a pure troop type for maximum buff stacking.