Blacksmith/1.03.24

Empire
A slightly more expensive and slightly weaker than the average building, the Blacksmith can offer the Empire the coveted Armorer and Weaponsmith upgrades that improves the armor and melee damage for nearly all of their units. Come tier 4 and it can even put out siege weapons for tackling formidable fortifications. Although with the power of the Mages combined and fully upgraded Halberdiers, the Empire don't need to rely much on siege weapons. As such, you wont really need to build multiple Blacksmiths.

But the building's interesting choice of cost, as well as the cost of the researches, clashes horribly with the Palace and tiring. This usually forces the Empire player to choose between upgrading their units or their base, for the metal cost involved simply wont allow them to do both together.