Barding Longbowmen

* Portrait
* Standard
* Upgraded

### Requires

Erebor Assembly Lvl 2 (Reign of Ironfoot Erebor), Dorwinion Assembly Lvl 2 (Adventure: Dorwinion)

### Upgrades

Banners of Dale, Mithril-tipped Arrows, Barding Chainmail

### Attack Type

Single target ranged

"At the same time as the great armies besieged Minas Tirith in the War of the Ring a host of the allies of Sauron that had long threatened the borders of King Brand crossed the River Carnen, and Brand was driven back to Dale. There he had the aid of the Dwarves of Erebor; and there was a great battle at the Mountain's feet."
—Return of the King, Appendix B

In Dalish military tradition, skillful use of the longbow is a prime mark of an excellent soldier. When the city of Dale was repaired following the reclamation of Erebor, the townsmen prospered and became capable of equipping themselves with the finest weaponry. Training of archers increased significantly due to the influence of Bard the Bowman and this tradition continued throughout the rule of King Dain and King Brand. Barding Longsbowmen played a fundamental role in the defence of the city when an Easterling host was set upon the city and the Lonely Mountain by Sauron during the War of the Ring.

In Age of the Ring, Barding Longbowmen are an archer unit in Reign of Ironfoot Erebor which are recruitable from a level 2 Erebor Assembly. They are also available to the Adventure: Dorwinion subfaction of the Woodland Realm, and there they are recruitable from a level 2 Dorwinion Assembly.

## 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 2: Black Arrows (R)** - Causes enemies to flee in terror. Left click icon then left click on target.

## Upgrades

**Barding Chainmail (T)** - When equipped, significantly reduces the amount of damage taken. Research upgrade at Grand Forge to enable this equipment. Cost: 300

**Mithril-tipped Arrows (C)**- when equipped, increases the pierce damage and adds additional slash damage to arrows. Research upgrade at Grand Forge to enable this equipment. Cost: 300

**Banners of Dale (V)** - when equipped, increases this battalion to level 2. Research upgrade at Grand Forge to enable this equipment. Cost: 100

## Strategy

Barding Longbowmen are one of the two elite archer units in Erebor, the other being Azaghâr-sharâhul. The Bardings have considerably greater range to the Azaghâr-sharâhul and Rakhâs-abzâg, in addition to being faster moving which allows them to retreat more easily if the enemy manages to close the difference. However, this comes at the cost of being less heavily armoured and so they are more vulnerable to enemy attacks - especially from cavalry charges, which necessitates keeping a pikemen unit such as Sigin-udrîg nearby them to deter enemy cavalry. Barding Longbowmen are effective against all infantry but are specialised at dealing with monsters thanks to their Black Arrows ability at level 2, which forces enemy monsters hit by them to flee in terror. This gives the Longbowmen an even greater opportunity to shoot them down before they can inflict any damage to the Erebor army or base; players should prioritise elite monsters such as Olog-Hai and Gundabad Stone-trolls with this ability.

The Barding Longbowmen are also available to the Adventure: Dorwinion subfaction, where they serve the same purpoes as an elite Archer unit in comparison to the cheaper but less powerful Woodmen Hunters.