These hardy warriors from the Balearic Islands are elite among mercenaries, and their cost reflects this. Most Carthaginian commanders will tell you that this price is well worth it though, for they form some of the best light infantry the world over.

Hardy
Sapping Ability

These hardy warriors from the Balearic Islands are elite amongst Carthage's mercenaries, and their cost reflects this. Most Carthaginian commanders will tell you that this price is well worth it though, for they form some of the best light infantry the world over. They are highly skilled and well disciplined from the hard lives that most have had and their serving as mercenaries as a primary career. They are great skirmishers and throw their javelins with practiced precision, often to deadly effect. When they are finished with these, they can fight as reliable light infantry, since they have small shields and are armed with falcata swords. Along with their poorer comrades fro the Balearic Islands who fight as slingers, these men are outstanding mercenaries.

Historically, Balearic Light Infantry were hand picked warriors choosen among their famous slinger brethren and trained and equipped by Carthage to form an elite skimirsher unit. Their skills as light infantry prompted the Carthaginians to use them whenever they were able to do so. At the River Trebia and at Lake Trasimene they proved able to decimate the Roman velites and cut fleeing Romans down in droves. Time and time again they were used to deadly effect against enemy skirmishers who stood almost no chance against their hail of javelins.