Although most infantry are beaten by archers, the Norse Huskarl is just the opposite. His high pierce armor means he can quickly close with enemy archers or even buildings that shoot arrows. He is weaker to other infantry and cavalry and is more expensive than other Norse infantry.

The name of this unit derives from an old Norse name for common household servants (house karl), but it later came to mean the elite household guards of a Viking lord. One Viking king in England required that a man have a gold inlaid two-handed sword to be considered for his Huskarls. These were the king’s best professional troops, carrying the best equipment he could afford. Their sole duties were training, guard duty, and war. Although spearmen are generally regarded as the answer to enemy cavalry, the forest of upright spears could also do surprisingly well at stopping incoming arrows.