Serduk (veteran)

Serduk (veterans) are veteran guard archers of the Cossack Hetmanate.

Tactics[]

The best Cossack ranged infantry, they are essentially improved and slightly more reliable veteran Zaporozhian Infantrymen while functionally and behaviorally similar to veteran Lifeguards. Out-competing musket infantry from rivaling nations in both range and firepower while only equaled by veteran German Infantry Musketeers and veteran Lifeguards in terms of stats and equipment, veteran Serduk are less likely to retreat from the battlefield, capable of raining suppressive fire down on the enemy - shooting down the best horsemen in the game with a single shot - and efficient at attacking or defending fortifications during sieges - their clothing offers little melee protection, however, making them vulnerable to infantry and cavalry attacks.

Keeping in mind that Cossack pikemen are unreliable when it comes to protecting musketeers from cavalry, your best chances of winning against waves of horses are to either place veteran Serduk in two or three rows on top of a hill - enabling covering fire for your Cossack light cavalry - or to construct a Wagon Fort.

If you have an army of horsemen and the enemy army is composed largely of veteran Serduk, either charge into them after they've fired their first volley or split your cavalry forces and attack them simultaneously from the flanks - if you time your orders well and overwhelm the veteran Serduk, they will begin to flee, making killing them easier. That way, precious high quality loot and victory will be yours.

Stats and Equipment[]

Note: Troops have a set of default stats; at the beginning of a new game, these stats are randomly adjusted for each type of troop. The following is the default set for this troop as seen within the game code and may not reflect the specific stats you will see during actual gameplay. For more information, see troop stats.

Serduk (veteran) - Default Stats and Equipment

**Attributes**
Stat	Points
Level	18
Strength	11
Agility	10
Intelligence	0
Charisma	0
Health	58

**Armor**
Head
Serduk Cap
Body
Serduk Zupan
Hand
None
Foot
Good Boots Cossack Boots

**Skills**
Skill	Points
Ironflesh	6
Power Strike	3
Grenade Throwing	0
Power Draw	?
Weapon Master	5
Shield	?
Athletics	3
Riding	1
Shooting from Horseback	0
Looting	?
Trainer	?
Tracking	?
Tactics	?
Path-finding	?
Spotting	?
Inventory Management	2
Wound Treatment	?
Surgery	?
First Aid	?
Engineer	?
Persuasion	?
Prisoner Management	1
Leadership	1
Trade	1

**Proficiencies**
Weapon Type	Points
One Handed Weapons	130
Two Handed Weapons	110
Polearms	120
Archery	0
Firearms	165
Throwing	0

**Weapons**
Melee
Saber Cossack Saber
Ranged
Good Miquelet Musket Miquelet Musket Heavy Bullets
Shield
None

Mount
None

Troops of the Cossacks
Village Recruits	Countryman
Garrison Militia	Poor Cossack (veteran)	Poor Cossack Pikeman (veteran)
Regular Infantry	Countryman Netyag (veteran) Zaporozhian Infantryman (veteran)
Guard Infantry	Serduk (veteran)
Regular Cavalry	Djura (veteran)
Heavy Cavalry	Watchman (veteran) Pike Watchman (veteran)
Personal Guard Cavalry	Zaporozhian Cavalryman (veteran)
Camp Mercenaries (between Cherkassy and Sich)	Cossack Mercenary Infantryman (recruit) • (experienced) • (veteran) • (elite) Cossack Mercenary Rifleman (recruit) • (experienced) • (veteran) • (elite) Cossack Mercenary Cavalryman (recruit) • (experienced) • (veteran) • (elite)
Regional Mercenaries (Lviv • Krakov • Minsk • Slutsk)	Town Cossack (veteran) Rank Cossack (veteran)
National Mercenaries (only if at peace with Crimean Khanate)	Tatar Infantryman (veteran) Tatar Cavalryman (veteran)