As hired swords (sic), Landsknecht Pikemen train faster than normal pike infantry of the Imperial Era, and thus with sufficient resources a German player can easily create many of these units to overwhelm an enemy. Like all pike units, however, they are highly weak if facing guns and arrows notwithstanding their enhanced stats, so accompany them with Landsknecht Gunners or your Reichsritter were possible. The cost of recruiting these hardened mercenaries are exorbitant enough as to ensure participation only on the side of the most prosperous and warlike players, but they perform well at what they do — combining the stopping power of pikemen with the quick training speed of most mercenary units. Just remember to keep them away from missile units and the odd HRE player with hordes of Doppels