Arbalester

Ram: 0

Standard building: 0

Stone defense: 0

Archer: 0

Anti-leitis: 0

The **Arbalester** (called **Arbalest** before the *Definitive Edition*) is an archer unit that can be trained at the Archery Range once the Imperial Age is reached. It is the final tier in the Archer line.

## Tactics

Arbalesters work better in large groups as they can fire arrow volleys at the opponents' units. Arbalesters are very good at slowing down massed infantry, as well as inflicting severe damage. They are vulnerable to cavalry as they can close the distance with the fragile Arbalester before taking too much damage. As such, they should be deployed with an escort.

Pairing Arbalesters with Halberdiers works especially well since the Halberdier can cover the Arbalester's main weakness that is cavalry. Pairing the Arbalester with other melee units can also protect them from siege units.

If playing defensively, Arbalesters can become a good tool to protect a walled area as they can attack enemy units from behind the Wall at a relatively safe distance, even protecting themselves from melee cavalry. However, they do almost no damage to rams.

## Civilization bonuses

* Aztecs: Arbalesters are created 11% faster.
* Britons: Arbalesters have +2 range.
* Chinese: Technologies that benefit Arbalesters are 20% cheaper.
* Ethiopians: Arbalesters fire 17.6% faster.
* Mayans: Arbalesters are 30% cheaper.
* Portuguese: Arbalesters cost 20% less gold. Upgrading to Arbalester and researching technologies that affect them are 30% faster.
* Vietnamese: Arbalesters have +20% hit points. Conscription is free.
* Koreans: Arbalester costs -20% wood. Archer armor upgrades are free.
* Saracens: Arbalester deal +3 bonus damage against buildings.

## Team bonuses

* A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, researching Conscription is 25% faster.
* A team containing Britons: Arbalesters are created 20% faster. Researching Thumb Ring is 20% faster.
* A team containing Magyars: Arbalesters have +2 LOS.
* A team containing Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
* A team containing Saracens: Arbalesters have +2 attack against standard buildings.
* A team containing Teutons: Arbalesters 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 80% faster.

## Changelog

### *The Conquerors*

* Arbalests receive an attack bonus of +3 against Spearmen.
* Heresy introduced.
* Thumb Ring introduced.
* Britons: Yeomen introduced.

### *The Forgotten*

* Indians: Can train Arbalests.
* Mayans: Obsidian Arrows introduced. It gives Arbalests +4 attack against standard buildings.

### *The African Kingdoms*

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

### *Rise of the Rajas*

* Indians: With patch 5.5, the Arbalest was removed from their technology tree.
* Khmer: Initially cannot train Arbalests. With patch 5.8, they were added to their technology tree.

### *Definitive Edition*

* Arbalest renamed to Arbalester, which is technically correct.
* Bulgarians: Initially, the Team Bonus gave the Blacksmith a 50% work rate boost. With update 42848, this was changed to a 80% work rate boost.
* Koreans: Arbalesters cost 20% less wood.
* Koreans: With update 42848, Archer Armor upgrades are free.
* Mayans: With update 42848, Obsidian Arrows no longer grants double the attack bonus versus Stone Walls, Stone Gates, Towers, and Harbors.
* Portuguese: With update 42848, technologies are researched 30% faster.
* Saracens: Arbalesters deal +3 bonus damage against buildings.