Greyhair Garrison Unit Guide

Unit Details

• Season 8: Dynasty
• Acquisition: Seasonal Challenges
• Unlocked Via: Seasonal Unit Challenges
• Type: Melee Infantry - Special
• Era: Heroic Era

The Greyhair Garrison may be long in the tooth, but these soldiers will fight to the last while they still draw breath. They employ spears, swords, and shields to slash, bash, and stun or knock down enemies. When they get into the swing of things, they can increase their attack at the expense of slowly draining their health. However, when their health reaches a critical point, they’ll further increase their attack and receive more health with the more hits they successfully land.

Historical Significance

The Golden Road, beginning in Longting’s capital Hao Jing and crossing through the Borderlands, conveys much wealth in both directions. In order to ensure the security of the trade route, the Qian Dynasty’s Emperor built a fort in the desert to deter bandits called Linwu Fortress. As professional soldiers, the men garrisoning it are compensated for their service by the state and dedicate their lives to standing watch over the desert.

As the Qian Empire gradually declined over decades, the people of the Zang Kingdom to the west saw a chance to invade, but they were defeated by Linwu’s warriors on the frontiers. The Zang general attacking the desert fort changed his siege strategy, and instead cut off all supply channels between Linwu and the interior in order to starve the garrison to death. As experienced as these soldiers were, they were helpless in the face of these ruthless tactics. While some died in battle and others of illness, a few weathered the siege… for 40 years. This self-titled Greyhair Garrison guarded the frontier for decades in spite of old age and the ravages of time, and to this day, it’s said that they remain capable warriors who will never back down from a fight.

A great man once said that all good stories deserve embellishment. The legend of the Greyhair Garrison is loosely based on the real siege of Ansi, a fortress-city in the Liaodong Peninsula defended by Goguryeo against Tang forces in AD 645. The Tang Dynasty, attempting to press into Goguryeo, sought to claim Ansi Fortress as a strategic foothold. An early clash between the forces resulted in heavy losses, including horses and cattle, for Gorguryeo’s forces, and succeeded in isolating the Fortress from other territories. The Tang forces then commenced a heavy siege and launched the full force of their engines against Ansi, but their efforts were repelled repeatedly. After three months of unsuccessful attempts to breach the stronghold, and with the weather turning colder and food supplies growing thin, the Tang forces eventually retreated, leaving Goguryeo’s defenders victorious.

Core Unit Statistics

Unit Traits:

• Grizzled Veterans - An experienced veteran can use a variety of weapons in battle. Each weapon inflicts a different effect on enemies. 
  
  Swordsword & Shield: Excels at defensive counterattacks. Can blook while attacking and get around enemy blocks to daze enemy units.
  
  Longsword: Uses powerful attacks while in formation and is capable of attacking multiple targets at once.
  
  Polearm: Waits for opportunities to attack the enemy's weak points, increasing the amount of damage they take.
• By The Book - When Health falls below 40% (appears red), damage is increased by 25% and each attack restores 10% Max Health.
• Duty Until Death - This unit is not affected by Headcount restrictions.
• Qian Dynasty - Leadership cost reduced by 15 during Season VIII.

Formations:

• Three Rank Formation - Soldiers form a dense three-stage formation to resist enemies ahead. The unit gains the Last Stand skill while in this formation.
• Wedge - Soldiers form a wedge formation used for charging enemies. The unit gains the Shield Rush skill while in this formation.

Unit Orders:

• Charge - The Greyhairs charge as directed. This charge has a strengthened effect, and is even better if the unit is in the wedge formation.
  
  Swordsword: Protects the front while charging.
  
  Longsword: Charging will attack all targets within range.
  
  Polearm: Strikes enemy's weak points, increasing the enemies' damage taken from infantry charges.
• Last Stand - The Greyhairs ignite their last bit of life force and strengthen their morale. This can only be activated in Three Ranks formation; changing to a different formation will weaken the effect.
  
  Shortsword: Uses shield to defend the formation, enhancing the ability to resist damage.
  
  Longsword: Cuts down enemies ahead.
  
  Polearm: Stabs enemies, reducing the damage they deal.

Veterancy Paths:

Core Path:

• The Soldier's Life (2): Each level increases health by 3%.

Top Path:

• Recklessness (2): Each level increases movement speed by 5%.
• Razor-Sharp (3): Each level increases slashing damage by 2%
• Cold Blood (3): Each level Increases Piercing Damage by 3%
• Breakthrough (2): Each level increases blocking break by 30%.
• Toughen Up (3): Each Level Increases piercing defence by 3%
• Butcher's Bill (2): Each Level Increases blunt damage by 2%.
• Second Wind (3): Each level reduces Last Stand cooldown by 5 seconds.
• Harbingers (1): Damage dealt during Last Stand is increased by 15%.

Bottom Path:

• Bloodbath (3): Each level increases slashing defence by 3%
• Razor-Sharp (2): Each level increases slashing damage by 2%
• Hone (3): Each level Increases slashing armour penetration by 5%
• Unswerving (3): Each level increases blunt defense by 3%.
• Fear Nothing (3): Each level Increases charge damage by 5%.
• The Soldiers Life (2): Each level increases Health by 3%
• Recklessness (2): Each level increases movement speed by 5%.

Unit Kit Crafting

Related Information:

• Season 8: Dynasty
• Modao Battalion (5.0 Stars)
• Cudgel Monks (3.0 Stars)