Greenwood Archers

* Portrait
* In Game
* Upgraded

"As soon as the host of their enemies was dense in the valley, they sent against it a shower of arrows, and each flickered as it fled as if with stinging fire. Behind the arrows a thousand of their spearmen leapt down and charged. The yells were deafening. The rocks were stained black with goblin blood."
—The Hobbit, The Clouds Burst

Wielding powerful longbows and a quiver full of viciously barbed arrows, the archers of Thranduil's army are drilled to deadly perfection. The accuracy of the Cúmaethyr, or Bow-warriors, was unmatched by any other bowman within the Elvenking's ranks. They brought ruin and death upon the numerous Goblin hordes in the Battle of the Five Armies and felled the undead host sent forth from the pits of Dol Guldur in the Battle Under the Trees.

Cúmaethyr are the elite archer unit of the Woodland Realm and the Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction of Erebor. They are recruited from a level 2 Royal Barracks.

## Abilities and Formations

**Bombard (W)** - continually bombard the target area with a volley of projectiles. Left click icon and then left click on the target area.

**Level 3: Elven Precision (R)** - Temporarily increases attack range and damage by 25% at the cost of 50% movement speed. Left click to activate.

## Upgrades

**Silvan Fletching (C)** - when equipped, significantly increases the damage dealt by arrows. Research upgrade at Thranduil's Treasury to enable this equipment. Cost: 300

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade is instead equipped by researching the Armouries of Thrór fortress upgrade and casting its ability.)*

**Banner Carrier** **(V)** - when equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Thranduil's Treasury to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade is instead researched at the Dalish Ruin.)*

**Sindarin Armour** - When equipped, units gain +20% armour. Can be equipped via Thranduil's Love of Silver and Jewels ability.

*(Note: In Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies, this upgrade can be equipped via either Thranduil's Love of Silver and Jewels ability or by researching the Armouries of Thrór fortress upgrade and casting its ability.)*

## Strategy

Cúmaethyr are the ultimate ranged unit in Woodland Realm's unit roster: they deal high damage and are more durable than Taurdrim and Woodmen Hunters, although this comes at the cost of reduced movement speed. They can be safely positioned behind Woodland Realm's army's front line to rain hails of arrows upon enemy units; if they reach level 3 they can use **Elven Precision** to fire upon the enemy from an even greater distance so that there is less risk of them being flanked by enemy infantry. They are even more valuable to the Adventure: Battle of the Five Armies subfaction of Erebor as they nicely complement the tanky and durable, but slow and short-ranged units that the Dwarves typically have. They are still vulnerable to cavalry, especially whilst Elven Precision is active due to the movement speed reduction, and so it is recommended to keep them protect with at least one pikemen unit such as Thelamaethyr or Tamastirnyr to counter cavalry charges. Thranduil is able to make Cúmaethyr tankier by permanently granting them Sindarin Armour with his Love of Silver and Jewels ability.