Portugal, constantly underrated. Def one of the more fun factions to play and with aswome units unlike what some think. Its just a bit unorthodox but if U embrace it you will do well.

Thanks for the guide. Never played as Portugal, but they've definitely always been more interesting than the other Iberian factions, probably because their starting position seems more challenging to me.

This was my 2nd ever Medieval 2 campaign. Loved the Almughavars. I actually used them primarily as melee infantry, and only used the javelins when it felt like there was a good time. Also, the unit description hinted at this, but their melee attack is actually a "light spear", which means they get +4 attack against cavalry. Plus, only 150 upkeep. Foot javelins also seem to be somewhat bugged in Medieval 2 compared to Rome 1. Fairly often, only (roughly) half the unit will actually throw their javelins, so that's just another reason to use them as melee troops. I think the only cav _without_ good morale are light cav. Things like Mounted Sergeants, Scouts, and Jinetes. Jinetes were also fantastic. Used them all the way through the campaign. Viable melee cav, and their javelins can tear general's bodyguards in particular to shreds. I think I went for the Moors first to keep the Pope on my side a little longer. While forces from Lisbon went to Cordoba, my forces from Pamplona went for Zaragoza and Valencia. The Moors do have more settlements, but they're really spread out, so they can't get reinforcements to Spain very easily, and early Moorish units are trash. Once I had the rebel and Moorish settlements, I started going for Spain, and then I think I started pushing towards France and North Africa around the same time.

Lugotorix is surprised at javelins piercing armour, when the main selling point for javelins through history was *exactly* their armour piercing ability. There's a lot of weight in a javelin, far more than in an arrow. That things' just going to punch straight through most early forms of armour.

Conquistadores are - in my opinion - the best infantry in this game. But beeing new world only kinda sucks.

Nice guide. Im playing a HS as portugal so some stuff from here might be useful

Good one! Good tactic to focus to get spain down and then take north africa. Once you got north africa, you can expand from there onto the entire mediteranian, it's a good position. I personally take both armies from both Pamplona and Lisbon and go for Toledo and Leon at the same time, killing spain in one blow, then I can solely focus on the moors, the iberian peninsula and north africa.

Ahh one of my favourite factions in base Medieval II. They have a really well-rounded roster. Pikes, crossbowmen, javelineers, decent cavalry, really good gunpowder and naval units.. lots to choose from.

I think the only other faction that's fragmented the same way as Portugal is the Holy Roman Empire. It has that one settlement in Italy south of Venice and Milan.

I actually have an idea for the Pikemen, do what I do in Empire are Napoleon Total War and improvise a square formation with 4 units. You can impenetrable will all bases defended. I wouldn't call them useless.

The best pike and shot faction in the game, so do end up feeling pretty dominate late game or high period, unless you consider Turks janissary play style pike and shot. They aren’t as well rounded as Spain though so they kind of feel weaker mid to late game and they just can’t keep up in Calvary as well. Spain is still the strongest on the Iberian peninsula because of this.

Not sure if it was mentioned elsewhere, but the dismounted Polish knights also have armor piercing

I managed to conquer France and HRE with only mailed knights and Jinetes (with help of the Pope, to point of managing pull Crusade to Paris).

To be honest in medieval you don't even want to use peasants as garrison because a number of troops don't pay upkeep inside a castle. So why have 0 upkeep peasants if u can have a better unit that is capable of actually defending the settlement? Unless you're really desperate for a garrison, the castle is about to rebel or something and there are no other troops available

for portugal rush for any and all rebel settlements. incluting toulouse. then focus down spain. declaring war and attacking both settlements on the same turn with overwhelming firepower, complete with mercenaries. then next turn win seige and extinct them. then take a sea voyage to some islands while you position to kill the moors.

Get as much alliance as you can then Moors will recognize your power. Then start crusade with Moors, get Cordoba. They will approach you for ceasefire then you can ask Timbuktu as exchange. Then you can start from there. This game is actually more on politics, not warfare.

To take out Spain/Moors and control Iberia ASAP: Move Lisbon army to Cordoba and merge the Faction heir army with it. Send spy to Cordoba. Have Pamplona forces siege Zaragoza while training extra cav there. Make sure you move your ships to block the landbridge at Gibraltar. Next turn, attack Cordoba, if spy doesn't let you in, restart campaign and follow steps until he does. Moors have 2 desert archers, 1 spear milita and sultan bodyguard. Use your two generals to rush the archers and kill them, then use your spear milita only to kill the remaining troops as they can be replenished here. Then Pamplona can be sieged, move extra cav you recruited to the army, the rebel AI always runs back to the centre so wait 20 seconds before moving ram up. Swarm from all side of the square with your cavalry and the enemy will die quickly, as there is no spearmen in this town. Now move faction heir and mailed knights to Granada, the rest of army in Cordoba can be moved next turn towards Toledo, and the army at Zaragoza can be sent to siege Leon. In the following turns, siege Toledo, Leon and Granada. I managed to siege on turn 5 and take them all on turn 6. The moors never really become anything again once you have Granada and Cordoba. Without fail, Sicily always sends their entire starting army towards Cordoba so be ready to defend it around turn 10. Milanese will poke around near Zaragoza but I haven't seen them attack yet. Scotland and England will land near Leon to attack you there often. France will walk down to Pamplona and Zaragoza sometimes too.

I am a modern day Knight of San Diego

Go for the Moors first, get Timbuktu, make money, expand into North Africa, then Egypt, then The Holy Land

i sell pamplona or outright give it to the spaniards for free , just so i dont have to bother with it , and as a bonus spain leaves me alone as i gobble up cordoba and granada

Con-KEYS-ta-dor

"Poor morale is very rare for cavalry". When literally 8 out of the 11 cavarly units in the roster have good morale.

Lutesenos? Lusitânia! It was an area between Douro and Tejo rivers and reached from the sea till nowadays Madrid

Why not take Bordeaux in the early game? Id say Venice is somewhat fragmented as well

Try to put portuguese knights vs English knights, the Portuguese ones will always win on any 1×1 match for some reason, I believe it's bc they use maces while the English knights use swords.

Why does Portugal have Pamplona? I don't think any Portuguese king was ever king of Navarra at any point. Also, why does Portugal have almugavars? Weren't they from catalonia? I think we should have a sort of Spear Sergeant or medium light sword infantry instead.

Why dont you ever do Napoleonic Total War

Started to play as Portugal. Connected my territory by conquering rebel and moorish settlements along the coast. Will try to consolidate economy, get a hold in Africa, prepare for inevitable sicilian attack and invasion of Jerusalem. Got allied with Spain, got attacked by France for no reason but the spanish homie got my back and declared war on them. This post was made by Iberian gang.

I'm getting extremely frustrated in my Stainless Steel Portugal playthrough. Its 1377 and I have no answer to heavy cav. Sure I can throw my own knights against there's but my stables don't do anything but help me make more Jinettes which are AWFUL. I'm essentially throwing urban spearmen and handgunners to die by the hundreds against French knights and Crusader orders of every color of the rainbow. Pikes when??? lol

Just a question, have you actually played as every faction in this game? I can't seem to understand, how you see yourself fit to actually guide somebody. It's funny, and I enjoy watching it, however not for the content tho'. Another thing, Merchants suck. Don't train them people, do not! :D

Honestly there's nothing historical in portugal owning vasconia/navarra. They treated portugal as a generic "independent kingdoms of iberia" faction. By the way, I think they were not playable in the original release, they are like the numidia of m2tw

Can I get a "PORTUGAL CARALHO" ?

OK... Con KEES ta dors