Empire Greatswords are really weak and awful?

[Pimpin Pippin]

I was testing how Greatswords compare to other medium/high tier units on foot.
Custom battles were on normal difficulty, no forest, lords were generic and without any abilities (so they do not interfere with unit combat testing).
Armies were made so that they are equal in money, with the average value being around 5 Greatsword units + Lord (and equal gold value for the enemy army).

The results are below...

Greatswords lost to: Wildwood Rangers, Waywatchers, Deepwood Scouts (swift), Glade Guards (starshard), Black Orcs, Orc Big Uns, Dwarf Hammerers, Dwarf Longbeards (GWeapons), Tree Kin

Greatswords won against: Nothing so far.

I have not tested VC, Chaos and Beastmen because, frankly, after seeing Greatswords lose miserably to every unit i put them against i just gave up.

I ran every match up at least twice just to verify the results.
What is up with Greatswords being this cr*p?

[SafeSpace]

buff them with arch lectors for maximum bummings.

[Pimpin Pippin]

Originally posted by GOD:

buff them with arch lectors for maximum bummings.

Well the enemy can use heroes/leaders to also buff their armies, so that is really not the point.

It is just that the Greatswords by themselves seem very weak and wimpy.

[ℬℓα⊂₭ ℙℜ¡ℵ₠]

Are Greatswords not meant to counter large/monster units? Kind of like how the Dwarf Slayer unit is a bit usless against anything other than monsters.

[StarofTanuki]

IF make Great sword strong like Black ork include Demigryph knight , how another faction fight with them ?

[Pimpin Pippin]

Greatswords are anti-infantry and anti-armored, they do not have anti-large.

It feels really bad to pay 950 gold and get a unit that looses to 750 gold Longbeards (GW) or 700 gold Big Uns :(

[Decomposed]

Originally posted by Pimpin Pippin:

It feels really bad to pay 950 gold and get a unit that looses to 750 gold Longbeards (GW) or 700 gold Big Uns :(

Pretty much anything loses to Dwarves. Their infantry is just superior and will not route until the last man. Their speed (or total lack off to put it correctly) is their only disadvantage.

[ArchaicReaper]

The Empire's power comes from versatility. Their units are not as strong as comparable units from other factions, like Black Orcs who are the Elite Infantry of the Greenskins, or Wildwood Rangers who are Elites of the Wood Elves. Also of course they lost to Waywatchers and Scouts, they just kite them with their superior speed. Hammerers are, again, Dwarf Elites and, as Longbeards, have very strong Leadership which allows them to hang in the fight for longer and thus outlast the Greatswords.
Where the Empire excels is having access to everything. Dwarfs lack Magic but the Empire has it in spades. Greenskin infantry is tough but Empire has stronger artillery to pulp them on the way over. Dwarfs lack Cavalry, but the Empire has good Heavy and Skirmisher Cavalry for whatever you need.

[Ulrik H.D]

Originally posted by Pimpin Pippin:

Greatswords are anti-infantry and anti-armored, they do not have anti-large.

It feels really bad to pay 950 gold and get a unit that looses to 750 gold Longbeards (GW) or 700 gold Big Uns :(

Greatswords doesn't lose to big uns nor longbeards though...

[Zombie Lenin]

They are a specialist unit for dealing damage to heavily armored infantry, like Chaos love to bring. Let your cheap Swordmen or Spearmen(Shield) tank, move Greatsword around back and do a short charge, profit.

[Gray Riders]

I'm surprised to hear they lost to Big 'Uns. I ran my tests many updates ago but I believe the Greatswords smashed Big 'Uns and put up a good fight against Black Orcs.

To be fair, though...I believe Greatswords aren't that strong in tabletop. If I recall correctly they have better leadership and weapon skill than a regular human and nice full plate but their raw stats are inferior to a Longbeard or Big 'Un.

Edit: But my tests were run with NO lord at all rather than stripped down ones.

[Ulrik H.D]

Originally posted by Gray Riders:

I'm surprised to hear they lost to Big 'Uns. I ran my tests many ipdates ago but I believe the Greatswords smashed Big 'Uns and put up a good fight against Black Orcs.

To be fair, though...I believe Greatswords aren't that strong in tabletop. If I recall correctly they have better leadership and weapon skill than a regular human and nice full plate but their raw stats are inferior to a Longbeard or Big 'Un.

Edit: But my tests were run with NO lord at all rather than stripped down ones.

They still defeat the big uns

[Jabroni]

Meh. They work enough to get me through the campaign. Perhaps I used them wrong but iirc late game was mostly OP af shield spears with some great swords to flank or protect missile units. And one held back halberd crew in case of monsters that need pinning.

It's not like black orcs where you can fill a hole army with them.

I don't really get your point OP. I think you misunderstand their purpose.

[SleepyNarwhalz]

I just did a bunch of tests and they were beaten by black orcs, wildwood rangers, and hammerers but beat longbeards, bestigors, big uns, and grave guard w/ great weapons. Even when they lost they usually managed to get a whole bynch of damage done to the enemy.

[Ulrik H.D]

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=871342413

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=871342461

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=871342510

[Harukage]

Hmm, what did you expected? Even if they are hardened veterans with exceptional gear and training, they are still just humans.
Elves and dwarfs can spend more time training their skills and have superior physiology. Orcs are super resilient and feel almost no pain. Chaos Wariors are like space marines of Whfb.