Talk:Mameluke (Age of Empires II)/@comment-27977344-20160419140341/@comment-27202541-20160908005256

Yes, Mamelukes deal melee damage and are affected by Forging, Iron Casting and Blast Furnace, as well as the cavalry Barding Armor technologies.

For some reason, anti-archer units DO have an attack bonus against Mamelukes, despite not having a pierce attack. I guess they are considered a type of archer unit as well, but they are not a type of Cavalry Archer so they aren't affected by Fletching, Bodkin Arrow or Bracer.

Despite taking bonus damage from Skirmishers and Huskarls, they can fare well against both units due to there great all-round stats, and the fact that they deal melee damage rather than pierce damage, which Skirmishers and Huskarls do not have armor against.

A significant group of Mamelukes can take out any army of the same amount (except onagers), they are powerful units, but they are very expensive especially in gold cost, so when gold becomes scarce on the map in the late game, you won't be able to provide as many mamelukes. Therefore, mass skirmishers, and maybe huskarls, will counter any small amount of mamelukes that come on the field.