Skeleton Spearmen (Vampire Counts)

Skeleton Spearmen is a Vampire Counts melee infantry unit in Total War: Warhammer. Little more than shuffling bones with swords and spears, Skeletons perform a dutiful, if not exemplary, job in the battle lines.

Description
Beneath the mud lie the grave-stained bones of bitter, ancient warriors. Long held beneath the earth, they are clad in their corroded armour, their lifeless hands still gripping the swords, axes, spears and shields they held in life. Provided their remains have not been blessed by the rites of Morr, a Necromancer or Vampire can use the coiling energies of Dark Magic to instill a semblance of life and a flicker of spirit into these dormant warriors. As the regiments of past massacres claw their way to the surface, their empty eye sockets glow with unholy power. Silently, they gather together in a semblance of their old ranks, mutely awaiting the commands of their new lord as the remains of their tattered banners flap in the unnatural breeze of their creation. Lipless horn blowers raise their instruments and sound a spectral, mournful dirge.

Strategy
Like regular Skeleton Warriors, Skeleton Spearmen aren´t exactly formidable fighters, but they do their job adequately well. They enjoy a higher melee defense and bonus vs large compared to their fellow undead, but will struggle to kill anything that isn´t mounted. Thus, it is best to deploy them on the flanks and let them take enemy cavalry or monstrous charges before charging in with your own cavalry or monsters.

You can also keep them in reserve to plug a hole or deal with larger units that manage to turn a flank or get behind your line. The only other Vampire Counts units with an anti-large bonus or the extremely expensive Blood Knights and Terrorgheist and they are the only stock VC with charge defense against large. As such you may find it prudent to keep one or two in your armies even if you can afford to to phase out the sword armed skeleton warriors.