Egyptian Archers and Spearmen: Build a New Kingdom Core Unit
By Wargames Atlantic | Published: 2026-10-31
Category: Buying Guides
Plan a 28mm New Kingdom Egyptian core unit with archers and spearmen. See how to split roles, size the unit, and decide if these miniatures fit your army.
Quick answer
Buy Egyptian Archers and Spearmen as the core of a New Kingdom force, then split the models into a shooting block and a spear screen rather than mixing roles in one unit. Use the archers to soften targets at range and the spearmen to hold the line in front of them.
Why the archer-spear pairing works in New Kingdom lists
The catalog describes a professional core built after the Hyksos defeat: archers who strike from afar and spearmen who defend them. That division of labor is the practical reason to buy this set as a pair rather than choosing one type. In most ancient rulesets, a unit that shoots and fights in melee pays for both roles without doing either well. Keeping archers and spearmen in separate units lets each do its job without compromise.
This also affects how you spend your points. A pure archer block needs a spear unit nearby to absorb charges; a pure spear block needs ranged support to avoid being outshot. Buying both at once gives you that mutual support from the first game.
What the set does not tell you
The supplied catalog facts cover the historical role and organization, but not the exact model count, pose mix, or base sizes. Those details matter for unit sizing. Before you commit to a full army plan, check the current product listing for the number of figures and whether the archers are separate from the spearmen. If the count is not stated, plan your unit around the models you actually receive rather than a guessed number.
This is not a reason to avoid the set. It is a reason to treat the first purchase as a test unit and expand once you have the figures in hand.
Decision rules for your Egyptian core unit
- Choose this set if you need both roles: Buy it when your list lacks a ranged block and a spear screen. The archers give you reach and the spearmen give you a front line, so one purchase solves two gaps. If you already have one role covered, buy only the missing type or a second box of the same role.
- Split the models before you build: Sort archers and spearmen into separate groups and build them as distinct units. Do not mix bow and spear in one unit unless your rules explicitly allow mixed weapons and you accept the points cost. Check your ruleset for mixed-weapon penalties before assembly.
- Size the unit to your rules, not the box: Use the model count on the current listing to decide how many figures go into each unit. If the count is unclear, build a small test unit first and expand after your first game. Confirm the figure count on the product page before planning a full army.
- Place spearmen in front of archers: Deploy the spear unit as a screen and keep archers behind it within range. This matches the historical pairing of archers striking from afar and spearmen defending them. Leave enough gap between units for the archers to shoot past the spear line.
Product facts
- Egyptian Archers and Spearmen: The set covers archers and spearmen as a professional New Kingdom core. You can build both the shooting and holding elements of a core unit from one purchase instead of sourcing two separate kits.
Egyptian Archers and Spearmen
Who should buy this set
Best for
- Players starting a New Kingdom Egyptian army who need a core of archers and spearmen
- Wargamers who want a historically grounded shooting and holding pair in one purchase
- Anyone building a 28mm ancient army who prefers separate role units over mixed-weapon units
Not for
- Players who already have enough archers or spearmen and need only one role
- Collectors who need exact model counts and poses confirmed before buying
- Armies set in other periods where New Kingdom Egyptian troops do not fit the list
