Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition bundles the 2009 gunpowder era Total War with every expansion, including the Warpath Campaign and the Elite Units packs. The Grand Campaign runs from 1700 to 1799 across three land theatres and four trade theatres, with eleven playable factions from Great Britain to the Maratha Confederacy. It was the first Total War where you command naval battles yourself instead of watching an auto resolve.
Your choice of equipment defines your damage output and playstyle. This guide ranks every major option, explains what makes each one strong, and tells you which builds they pair best with.
Equipment Rankings
| Equipment | Tier | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line Infantry | S | Holding the centre of any line and trading volleys | Musket armed troops who win by massed volley and discipline rather than melee, and they form the core of every army in the game. |
| Grenadiers | A | Assaulting buildings and finishing a shaken enemy line | Heavier infantry who throw grenades and hold melee far better than standard line troops. |
| Dragoons | A | Hunting artillery and chasing routed units | Cavalry who can dismount to fight with carbines, which makes them flexible flankers rather than pure shock troops. |
| Foot Artillery | B | Softening a static enemy line and siege work | 12 pounders, howitzers and mortars that break formations before contact and demolish fort walls in sieges. |
| First Rate ships of the line | B | Fleet battles and blockades where firepower beats manoeuvre | The heaviest warships in the game with over 100 guns, capable of breaking any smaller ship in a broadside exchange. |
S-Tier: Line Infantry
Musket armed troops who win by massed volley and discipline rather than melee, and they form the core of every army in the game. British line infantry are among the best all round shooters while Russian line infantry shoot poorly and charge hard.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | S |
| Best For | Holding the centre of any line and trading volleys |
| Key Mechanic | Three land theatres plus trade theatres |
| Recommended Build | Great Britain |
How to get it: Available from mid-game onward. See our walkthrough for the exact progression point.
Best builds using Line Infantry: Pairs naturally with Great Britain thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Grenadiers
Heavier infantry who throw grenades and hold melee far better than standard line troops. They are the unit you commit when a firefight has already been won and the enemy line needs breaking.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Assaulting buildings and finishing a shaken enemy line |
| Key Mechanic | Line infantry volley combat |
| Recommended Build | France |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Grenadiers: Pairs naturally with France thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
A-Tier: Dragoons
Cavalry who can dismount to fight with carbines, which makes them flexible flankers rather than pure shock troops. They punish exposed artillery and unformed infantry but lose to a formed square.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | A |
| Best For | Hunting artillery and chasing routed units |
| Key Mechanic | Real time naval battles |
| Recommended Build | Prussia |
How to get it: Accessible in the early-to-mid game. Check our maps guide for the location.
Best builds using Dragoons: Pairs naturally with Prussia thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: Foot Artillery
12 pounders, howitzers and mortars that break formations before contact and demolish fort walls in sieges. They need infantry screening because they are defenceless once cavalry reaches them.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Softening a static enemy line and siege work |
| Key Mechanic | Research through gentlemen and schools |
| Recommended Build | Russia |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using Foot Artillery: Pairs naturally with Russia thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
B-Tier: First Rate ships of the line
The heaviest warships in the game with over 100 guns, capable of breaking any smaller ship in a broadside exchange. Their turn rate is poor, so they need a screen of frigates to avoid being raked from behind.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Tier | B |
| Best For | Fleet battles and blockades where firepower beats manoeuvre |
| Key Mechanic | Government types and revolution |
| Recommended Build | Ottoman Empire |
How to get it: Found in later areas. Our walkthrough covers when you can access this.
Best builds using First Rate ships of the line: Pairs naturally with Ottoman Empire thanks to how their stat scaling lines up.
Equipment Progression Path
The order you should acquire equipment as you progress:
- Starting gear → Enough to clear Europe
- Grenadiers → Your first real upgrade, available early
- Dragoons → Mid-game upgrade with good scaling
- Line Infantry → Best-in-slot, aim for this by late game
- Upgrade to max → The power spike from max upgrades is enormous
Equipment Tips
- Always upgrade your primary equipment before diversifying. One strong option beats three mediocre ones.
- Match your equipment to your build's stat priorities for maximum scaling.
- Build schools before extra barracks in your first ten turns. Technology gaps in this era are brutal, and an army of 1700s line infantry fighting 1760s troops loses even at two to one odds.
- Check our tier list for how equipment rankings affect overall build effectiveness.
More Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Guides
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Overview
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Best Builds
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tier List
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Walkthrough
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Beginner's Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Tips & Tricks
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Combat Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Boss Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Maps & Locations
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Crafting Guide
- Total War: EMPIRE Definitive Edition Classes & Characters
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