Archer

Ram: 0

Standard Building: 0

Stone Defense: 0

Archer: 0

Anti-leitis: 0

The **Archer** is an archer unit in *Age of Empires II* that can be trained at the Archery Range. While mediocre in terms of attack, HP, and armor, it compensates for that by having a ranged attack, which can easily decimate enemy infantry of early Ages.

## Tactics

Archers are extremely proficient raiding units in the Feudal Age due to their ranged attack. With it, they can easily pick off enemy infantry such as Men-at-Arms or Spearmen and disrupt the enemy's economy by harassing their Villagers. However, they are extremely ineffective against all buildings, Scout Cavalry, and Skirmishers. Archers often are the Feudal Age rush unit of choice, because they are the most effective Feudal Age unit against Villagers (thanks to their range, allowing for quick kills, and negating small quick-Walls) and they don't cost food, allowing the player to stockpile food for advancing to the Castle Age.

The Feudal Age counters to Archers (Scouts and Skirmishers) are quite food intensive, delaying the defending player's Castle Age advance substantially, if they aren't prepared for it. Mid-sized to large groups of Archers make extremely good early harassment soldiers due to the absence of Knights from both sides. It can still be effective mid-game, but its power rapidly diminishes with the introduction of not only Knights, but also Scorpions and Mangonels. Many early rush strategies like the Tower rush can become more successful if supported with Archers as they can garrison in the attacking Towers and increase the number of arrows fired.

Their ranged attack can also prove helpful when defending from an early raid. When garrisoned inside Watch Towers or placed behind a Wall, they can be very effective.

## Civilization bonuses

* Aztecs: Archers are created 11% faster.
* Britons: Archers have +1/+2 range in the Castle/Imperial Age.
* Celts: Archers can convert herdables even if enemy units are next to them.
* Chinese: Technologies that benefit Archers are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
* Ethiopians: Archers fire 18% faster.
* Mayans: Archers are 10%/20%/30% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
* Portuguese: Archers cost 20% less gold.
* Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Archers don't cost gold.
* Tatars: Archers deal 50% bonus damage from a cliff or an elevation. Thumb Ring is free.
* Turks: Chemistry is free.
* Vietnamese: Archers have +20% hit points. Conscription is free.
* Koreans: Archers cost 20% less wood.
* Saracens: Archers deal +1/+2/+3 bonus damage against buildings in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.

## Team bonuses

* A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, researching Conscription is 25% faster.
* A team containing Britons: Archers are created and upgraded 20% faster. Researching Thumb Ring is 20% faster.
* A team containing Magyars: Archers have +2 LOS.
* A team containing Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
* A team containing Saracens: Archers have +2 attack against buildings.
* A team containing Teutons: Archers are more resistant to conversion.
* A team containing Lithuanians: Researching Heresy and Faith is 20% faster.
* A team containing Bulgarians: Researching archer armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith is 50% faster.

## Changelog

### *The Conquerors*

* Archers now train in 35 seconds.
* Archers receive an attack bonus of +3 against Spearmen.
* Heresy introduced.
* Thumb Ring introduced.
* Britons: Yeomen introduced. It is only available in the Imperial Age.

### *The Forgotten*

* Britons: Yeomen moved to the Castle Age.
* Mayans: Obsidian Arrows introduced. It gives Archers +4 attack against standard buildings.

### *The African Kingdoms*

* Italians: Pavise now affects Archers.
* Mayans: Obsidian Arrows now gives Archers +6 attack against buildings. With patch 4.8, Archers also gain +6 attack against stone defense.

### *Rise of the Rajas*

* Vietnamese: Initially, Archers had +10%/+15%/+20% HP in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age. With patch 5.8, they now have +20% HP.

### *Definitive Edition*

* Persians: Kamandaran technology introduced in replacement for Boiling Oil.
* Koreans: Initially, Archers cost 15% less wood. With update 39284, they cost 20% less wood.
* Saracens: Archers deal +3 bonus damage against buildings.