Different factions' troop trees specialize in different areas of combat, while others are balanced.
Each of the six main factions have their own unique troop tree, and there are other troop trees besides. İleti: Troop trees show the progression of units for a given faction or group. Wages of high tier troops get very high so it is worth looking for troops that are relatively strong for their cost in wages. Some of the best value troops are the 'sergeants' you can hire at castles. Losing shields is a big deal so I also always left Ironborn as veterans. ACoK troop tree is kind of odd because promoting troops isn't always an upgrade and sometimes they switch types back and forth. Unsullied are great but their gear is not the best. Can you get more than 10? Haven't played it in a while but the troop trees probably haven't changed much since then. The Unsullied are easily the best troops in-game - They have in all weapons skills, and if I recall correctly they're all level 10 in Ironflesh, Power Strike, level 7 in Power Throw, level 4 in Shield, and level 3 in Athletics.
Archers wise I like the elite northern longbowmen. I'd go for Tyroshian mounted archers and some mounted Tyroshian archers. I'm not sure of the Archers, since both the Vale and the Tyroshian have very good archers. I however use the Veteran Ironborn Retainers so they keep their shields. The best troops I've had experience with were the Ironborn Axemen.
