Portugal (M2TW Faction)

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Overview

Portugal are one of the factions in Medieval II: Total War that can be unlocked by either defeating them individually during the campaign or by winning a campaign overall. They can also be made playable by modding.

For obvious reasons they start the game adjacent to Spain and the Moors on the Iberian Peninsula, possessing Lisbon and Pamplona.

Infantry

The Portuguese face a poor level of infantry until the late game. With a lack of early melee units you may be forced to use large numbers of spear militia to hold your line in battle. Unlike many other European factions who already possess decent infantry by the middle of the campaign, Dismounted Feudal Knights are a godsend for Portugal. When you first upgrade to a fortress you'll experience a massive shift upwards in your hand-to-hand fighting ability. A citadel allows Dismounted Portuguese Knights, who fare better against cavalry than DFKs, but are not as capable against other infantry units. From cities you can also train pike and swordsmen militia, who can help to increase the quality of your free upkeep garrisons. Late on you also get Aventuros, the best pikemen in the game, able to hold a defensive position against most infantry and virtually all cavalry. Finally, in the New World you can train the awesome Dismounted Conquistadors. With 3 higher attack and 1 higher defence than DFKs, and an upkeep of just 150 per turn, they will chew through almost any other infantry for a low cost. Late game armies with a combination of adventuros and Dis. Conquistadors are a hard nut to crack for any enemy.

Missile

As with their infantry, the Portuguese can field increasingly superior missile units throughout the game. At the start of the campaign you get peasant archers and crossbowmen. The armour-piercing bonus received by crossbows makes these units superior to regular bowmen. In cities you can train crossbow militia for a decent free-upkeep missile unit. From developed castles the Portuguese get Pavise Crossbowmen, far superior to peasant crossbows thanks to their shields and long range capability. As an Iberian faction you shouldn't discount the short range missiles you get early in the game. Lusitanian javelins are capable but not able to compete for long in hand-to-hand fighting. For this you need Almughavars, an excellent mid-game unit. They can be kept behind your main force to hurl their javelins at the enemy, but should your infantry start to falter they won't be afraid to join in close combat. However, it is only with the discovery of gunpowder that the Portuguese start to truly excel in the missile department. Hand gunners are not advised, as the morale penalty they inflict on the enemy is countered by their tiny range, but after these guys come Portuguese Arquebusiers. Compared to ordinary Arqs they have slightly higher accuracy and are much better in combat. On top of this you are also one of only 4 factions to get musketeers, with their high damage and massive range, so be ready for gunpowder!

Cavalry

coming soon

Artillery

coming soon

Early Situations

In the beginning, Portugal starts out with just Lisbon and Pamplona, and it can be difficult expanding from there. Eventually, the Moors or the Spanish will attack you, so either keep large armies in your territories, or defeat them, because betrayal is likely to happen.

Strategy Guides

• Portugal Faction Guide on Org.

AAR's

• Poland vs Portugal multiplayer, game-play-style AAR on TWC.
• Decimating the Portugese Monarchy on TWC.
• The Defense of Lisbon on TWC.
• The Tides of Portugal- Portuguese AAR on Org.

Medieval 2: Total War | Factions:
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