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I read the entire thread from start to finish. I don't understand why everyone is so fixated on centaurs and halberdiers?! Sure, they have the best stats, but in my opinion, they're far from the best...
The question should be: at what stage and which level 1 unit is the best? I think that's a more relevant question, because the game can be divided, roughly, into 3-4 stages.
Stage 1 - the first week, on days 2-3, upgrade the sprite, buy another hero, and go into battle (you can even do it without a hero, don't nitpick, how? Just instead of a town hall, do it like that!). Who else can do that, crush everyone on the first week, and simply outpace the opponent in development? Maybe the gremlins, but they get involved in serious battles a little later, when they have reinforcements, but you can still use them to harass.
Or am I wrong?! Or do you prefer to just hang around with 30 pikemen, instead of crushing everyone with 50 sprites or 80 gremlins?!
Stage 2 - the second to third week, we continue to gather resources for our castle. At this point, the gremlins really shine, we clear out the crypts if there are any, but there are many more sprites, and we can use them to attack the gnomes. The question is, what are the halberdiers and centaurs doing at this time? Are they covering the archers? While the sprites and gremlins (you don't need many troops to reinforce them, but you really don't need many) work for cheap, you need to buy 2nd and 3rd level units for them, because they can't withstand more than a few battles (like the ones the sprites and gremlins do without losses) on their own.
Stage 3 - the fourth week to the second month. Sprites are no longer that important; they can't do much in serious battles, just like the gremlins, but thanks to them, we have high-level units. At this time, we accumulate a good number of pikemen and centaurs to reinforce the main troops - we can use them to take out outposts, etc. But at this stage, the Necromancer with his skeletons starts to become important, as he has accumulated a sufficient number of them.
The second month and beyond - the best level 1 unit is the sprite!!!!!! And any skeleton you like, upgraded, a skeleton from peasants, from sprites, from halberdiers, etc. :)
In general, that's my opinion. The question in the thread was phrased a bit incorrectly - it's like asking, "What kind of fence?" You'll get answers like: 1. Blue 2. Tall 3. Ugly 4. Expensive. That's roughly what our discussion is like.
In terms of stats - centaurs and pikemen. In terms of usefulness at the very beginning - sprites. In terms of overall strength - skeletons.
My personal opinion.
Added after 4 minutes
I voted for the sprite, because IMO they are more important than the other units!