Baibars - Stronghold Crusader AI Lords

Baibars is a skirmish opponent in Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition (available in The Surgeon and Baibars DLC).

Overview

Baibars is the Sultan of the Mamelukes. As the Saracens were going down the warpath against the Crusader settlements during the Fourth Crusade, in the 13th century, Baibars led them personally to recapture major strongholds like Jaffa and Acre. It is without question that Baibars likes to show his menacing personality, arming himself to the teeth with strong and loyal troops. Under his disguise however, he ensures that his townsfolk can always be happy and merry.

Castles & Defenses

Baibars constructs simple symmetric settlements much like that of the Kahinah, on which he improves quite a bit. His Keep is always surrounded by a square-shaped line of walls that are given double crenellations, surrounding Defense Turrets on each corner. One small Gatehouse is placed on up to two sides of the fortification, as well as a centerpiece Round Tower provides overwatch with a Tower Ballista on top. The walls are surrounded by patches of Pitch Ditches, and the very close proximity of the central wall sections have an abundance of Killing Pits in front. A light garrison of Arabian Bowmen are placed on the towers and gates, as Baibars else likes to rely on the concentrated defense of the Lord.

Baibars addresses harassing troops with a small band of Arabian Bowmen and Arabian Swordsmen. He rarely deploys very small patrolling groups of said units as well. 

As indicated in his description, Baibars's castles are consistently designed balanced and thus they are equally difficult to siege at all sides. Despite, his castle is perhaps on the easier end to conquer due to the very low number of defenders in the outer towers. Baibars has ample pitch and Killing Pit coverage, so a first wave of swift units like Horse Archers is imperative to wander around, wasting Baibars's ditches. The Killing Pits are easily avoided by concentrating your effort on the corners, filling in the Moat then docking a Siege Tower at the walls. His wall line can then be easily overrun by your assault force, while a sizable contingent of ranged units slowly chips away at the mass armor. It is advised to make use of Baibars's foolhardiness and stay well out of range of his Eunuchs and Arabian Swordsmen so that their aggressive stance does not trigger. This strategy can ensure a relatively painless road to your victory.

Economy

Baibars has a relatively simple, yet developed economy. He relies on gathering mass Stone and Iron to bring him hard cash, while he provides his townsfolk only with Apples. Baibars sets taxation as a cornerstone of his economy though, as he builds lots of Hops Farms and a good number of Inns to lessen the burden on his Granary, as well as he builds Communal Gardens to garner some positive Fear Factor.

Raids & Sieges

When it comes to raids, Baibars favours them less compared to most other opponents. He seems to only use a blunt tactic of sending hordes of Slaves in hopes to ignite vulnerable farms or quarries, spending a wee bit before sending them out. He always sends at least fifty of these poor fellows in a wave, so this simple move is never to be underestimated.

Baibars thrives in sieges, and this shows in his recruitment preferences, as well as the overall small number of soldiers allocated elsewhere. His armies are a mix of Arabian and Bedouin mercenaries, skewed towards heavy-duty armor and hordes of utility units. It is apparent at first glance that he loves his 'muscle' to do his dirty work, namely Eunuchs, Arabian Swordsmen and Demolishers. The ranged backbone of his forces are Arabian Bowmen, and last but not least: a big wave of Sappers and Tunnelers come to carve a path through enemy fortifications. Baibars also brings a handful of Engineers to the battlefield, constructing up to four Catapults to steadily pummel buildings with rocks.

Due to the his emphasis on slow, armored troops, Baibars's armies usually arrive in two groups, making them easily bisected on the field. The Tunnelers and Sappers arrive first along with some of the Engineers, so a very meager investment in ranged units like Archers can eliminate most of Baibars's offensive power by the time the bowmen arrive. Retreat to your enclosure and hopefully you have prepared some Pitch Ditches or Crossbowmen to meet the bulky mercenaries. Even though Demolishers can absorb a few bolts and reliably work through fire, once the Arabian bowmen fall, it's only a matter of time that they follow them to the grave. If you wish, you can add Mangonels along with Ballistae to pick off at the gathering troops and eventually the Catapults, should any of them be erected.