Choosing the right offensive army (“hammer”) in Travian: Legends depends heavily on your tribe, your plans, and your account’s economy. There is no single “best” hammer—each combination has advantages. This guide helps you understand the factors that influence your choice and gives an overview of commonly used hammer setups for each tribe.
How Players Usually Choose Their Hammer
When deciding which offensive army to build, players typically focus on one of three goals:
1. The Cheapest and Fastest Training Option
If you want to train your army continuously and frequently use it, focus on Combined Attack and Costs per Hour. These hammers are easier to rebuild and maintain.
2. The Most Crop-Efficient Hammer
If feeding your army long-term is your priority—especially in the late game or while stationed far from home—pay attention to crop consumption. Lower crop usage means easier upkeep.
3. Hammers With Additional Advantages
Some players prefer options that offer more flexibility, such as:
Good defensive stats (hybrid-style hammers)
Cheap and fast cavalry for oasis farming
Specialty roles depending on playstyle
Examples:
Mercenary + Marksman, Khopesh Warrior + Resheph Chariots, or Swordsmen + Haeduans offer strong defensive power and can double as hybrid forces.
Swordsmen + Theutates Thunder, Imperians + Equites Imperatoris, or Steppe Rider–based Hun armies are popular for heavy oasis farming due to fast and cheap cavalry.
Your final choice should reflect:
How often you plan to use the hammer
How quickly you can rebuild losses
How strong your economy is
Whether you want to use your hammer in both offense and defense
Your tribe’s strengths and weaknesses
How the Hammer Comparison Works
The hammer combinations below are calculated as follows:
Training time: 1 month on a ×1 server (scaled to ~⅛ of server length on other speeds)
Buildings: Barracks 20, Stables 20, Workshop 20
No Great Barracks or Great Stables
No additional bonuses or upgrades
Rams/Catapults ratio: 55% rams / 45% catapults
Based on the definition of an Operational (Working) Hammer—used daily for clearing, conquering, and alliance operations
This makes all tribes comparable on equal footing.
(Roman numbers assume a level 20 Horse Drinking Trough.)
Recommended Hammer Combinations by Tribe
Below is a simplified summary of the listed hammer options. Values include infantry attack, cavalry attack, total attack, cost per hour, and crop consumption.
Teutons
Option 1: Clubswingers + Teutonic Knights
Very high total attack
Cheaper to train large numbers of infantry
Crop consumption on the higher side
Great for aggressive daily use
Option 2: Axemen + Teutonic Knights
Higher infantry attack than Clubs
Slightly more expensive
More balanced crop use
Gauls
Option 1: Swordsmen + Theutates Thunders
Balanced infantry + fast cavalry
Cheaper upkeep than Haeduans
Strong for operational hammers
Option 2: Swordsmen + Haeduans
Higher cavalry attack
Expensive but well-rounded
Strong defensively as well
Romans
Option 1: Imperians + Equites Caesaris
High cavalry attack
Good for strong mid/late-game use
Crop consumption moderate-high
Option 2: Imperians + Equites Imperatoris
Faster training and cheaper cavalry
Slightly lower total attack
Popular for more active players
Option 3: Legionnaires + Equites Imperatoris
Very cost-efficient
Lower infantry attack but excellent balance
Huns
Huns have several top-tier hammer options:
Mercenaries + Steppe Riders
Fast and versatile
Cheaper cavalry
High combined attack
Mercenaries + Marksmen
Very strong infantry component
Good mix of attack and cost efficiency
Mercenaries + Marauders
Extremely high cavalry attack
More expensive and higher crop use
Bowmen Variants
Bowmen + Steppe Riders
Bowmen + Marauders
Both are strong alternatives with different strengths depending on resource production.
Egyptians
Khopesh Warriors + Resheph Chariots
Very balanced attack
Good crop efficiency
Allows partial defensive flexibility
Slave Militia Variant
Much cheaper infantry
Lower total attack but far lower cost
High crop consumption due to large army size
Spartans
Twinsteel Therions + Corinthian Crushers
High combined attack
Good crop efficiency
Solid all-round option
Hoplites + Corinthian Crushers
Cheaper variant
Lower infantry attack but very workable
Vikings
Thralls + Valkyrie’s Blessing
Very high infantry attack output
Strong overall total attack
Good cost-performance mix
Berserkers + Valkyrie’s Blessing
Lower infantry numbers but stronger per unit
Consider “Damage on Death” effect in battles with surviving defenders
Final Thoughts
The best hammer for your tribe depends on:
Your playstyle (aggressive, hybrid, farming-heavy, WW-focused)
Your account's economic strength
How often you plan to use and rebuild your hammer
Crop production and long-term sustain
Alliance needs
No hammer is universally perfect. Use these combinations as a reference and choose what fits your gameworld situation and your personal strategy.