Footman

[e][h] Footman

Unit Information

Built From:

Barracks (Human)

Cost:

 135  20  2

Hit Points:

420

HP Regeneration:

0.25 (always)

Armor:

2 (8)

Race:

Human

Bounty Awarded:

26 - 38

Sleeps:

no

Formation Rank:

0

Sight:

1400 / 800

Acquisition Range:

500

Level:

2

Selection Priorty:

6

Movement

Speed:

270

Turn Rate:

0.6

Move Type:

foot

Collision Size:

31

Cargo Size:

1

Icon

Combat

Damage:

12 - 13 (15 - 19)

Range:

90

Weapon Type:

normal

Cooldown:

1.35

Targets:

• ground
• structure
• debris
• item
• ward

The vast ranks of the Alliance armies have diminished over the years due to the incessant infighting amongst the former Alliance nations. However, many of the strong-hearted citizens of Azeroth have volunteered to defend their lands as Footmen. Though these fierce warriors lack the shining plate mail and specialized training of their noble predecessors, they still fight with bravery and honor on the field of battle.

While becoming completely obsolete later in the game, Footman have an important role in the human early game. They can be used for creeping, early expansions, harassment, and even for early all in rushes. With their defend ability, they hard counter enemy’s with piercing attacks. With this ability, a few footman can be sent to the orc gold mine line and put on hold position with defend active. They will take virtually no damage from the orc burrows and force the gold peons to either move away from the gold mine or die mining, hurting the orcs economy. Once knights become available, do not make any more footman.

Spells & Abilities

Defend
	Cast Type : Toggle Target Type : No Target Activate to take 50% less damage from Piercing attacks, but have 30% reduced movement speed. Defend does not reflect attacks to buildings, and its chance of reflection against units is 25%.
Reflect Chance : 25% Piercing Reduction : 50% Movement Speed Reduction : 30% Hotkey : D
Upgrade: Defend
Cost : 125 75  Research Time:  40 Researched at : Barracks (Human)  Hotkey : D

Notes

• Defend reduces 50% of all piercing damage. Defend only reduces Pierce damage, not all ranged attacks. The Footman can stay in defend mode as long as he wants and can cancel back to normal mode at any time.
• Defend does not reflect attacks to buildings, and its chance of reflection against units is 25%.
• Defend has no effect on Night Elf Huntresses.
• Make sure you turn off Defend when you're done. Don't walk around in Defend mode as you move across the map. Instead move in and out of Defend as appropriate to the battle situation.
• Use Defend to assault enemy bases with towers! It works against towers and defensive structures like Orc Burrows. Research Defend when you're facing ranged units or when you might be assaulting a base.

Unit Inventory (Human)
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Allows the unit to carry 2 items.
Item Capacity : 2 Notes : Items cannot be used by the unit and are dropped, if the unit dies.
Upgrade: Backpack (Human)
Cost : 50 25  Research Time:  20 Researched at : Town Hall

Upgrades

Iron Forged Swords

Increases the attack damage of Militia, Footmen, Spell Breakers, Dragonhawk Riders, Gryphon Riders and Knights. Researched at : Blacksmith  Hotkey : S  Cost : 100 50  Research Time:  60 Damage Dice Bonus : 1

Steel Forged Swords

Cost : 175 175  Research Time:  75 Requires : Keep Damage Dice Bonus : 2

Mithril Forged Swords

Cost : 250 300  Research Time:  90 Requires : Castle Damage Dice Bonus : 3

Iron Plating

Increases the armor of Militia, Footmen, Spell Breakers, Knights, Flying Machines and Siege Engines. Researched at : Blacksmith  Hotkey : P  Cost : 125 75  Research Time:  60 Armor Bonus : 2

Steel Plating

Cost : 150 175  Research Time:  75 Requires : Keep Armor Bonus : 4

Mithril Plating

Cost : 175 275  Research Time:  90 Requires : Castle Armor Bonus : 6

Quotes

Quotes
Built	Selected	Move	Attack	Warcry	Annoyed
Ready for action.	Orders? What do you need? Yes, my liege? Say the word.	Aye, my lord. On my way! Right. Of course.	Let me at them! Attack! To arms!	For Lordaeron!	Don't ask, don't tell. Grab your sword and fight the Horde. Uncle Lothar wants YOU. It's only a flesh wound.

• Footman's quotes (video and sound on Reforged) - YouTube video.
• Footman's quotes (video and sound on Frozen Throne) - YouTube video.

Version History

Balance Patch History
Version	Release	Balance Changes
2.0.3	2025-07-17	Piercing damage against Heavy armor decreased from 100% to 90%
2.0.2	2025-04-16	Footman Defend cost reduced from 150/100 to 125/75 and research time reduced from 45 to 40 Footman Defend piercing damage reduction reduced from 65% to 50%, deflection chance reduced from 30% to 25%
1.30.3	2019-01-04	Defend piercing damage reduction increased from 50% to 65%. The in game tooltip will show this as 50% damage taken to 35%.
1.30.0	2018-08-08	Footman Defend chance of completely blocking incoming piercing damage reduced from 50 to 25%.
1.17	2004-09-20	Defend has been reworked. Piercing damage is still reduced by 50%, and there is now an additional 30% chance that a defending Footman will reflect unit attacks back on the source for full damage. Piercing damage building attacks have a 30% chance to do no damage.

References

http://classic.battle.net/war3/human/units/footman.shtml