Longboat (Age of Empires II)

"Viking unique unit. Fires multiple arrows."

- Age of Empires II description

The Longboat is the second unique unit of the Vikings in Age of Empires II. It is a warship that fires multiple arrows and can be trained at the Dock once the Castle Age is reached. In The Age of Kings, a Castle was also required in order to train Longboats. That was changed in The African Kingdoms.

Longboats can be upgraded to Elite Longboats in the Imperial Age.

Tactics
The Longboat, like the Chu Ko Nu, fires multiple arrows with each attack - both elite and non-elite Longboats fire four arrows per attack. Much like the Chu Ko Nu, only the first arrow does full damage and benefits from archery upgrades while the rest only do 1 pierce damage. Unlike the Chu Ko Nu, the Longboat fires all its arrows at the same time and not in quick succession. Due to how armor and damage work in Age of Empires II this translates to an additional +3 damage provided they all hit. Longboats defeat War Galleys in one-on-one combat. Elite Longboats defeat Galleons (just barely, though) as well. They are best used against multiple enemy ships. They build significantly quicker than most other warships, making spamming them an effective tactic against other navies.

The Longboat is weak against Mangonels and Bombard Cannons firing from the shore, so they should be kept well out of range. Turtle Ships may also present a problem for the Longboats as they are heavily armored but if properly micromanaged and in sufficient numbers, Longboats can cope with them. Fire Ships are effective against Longboats and the most common counter.

Since the Longboat can shoot multiple arrows, a group of them can rain a shower of arrows on to the target, so Longboats can be used for shore bombardment, and are better used in large groups. Longboats are also excellent escorts for other naval vessels like the Transport Ship and Cannon Galleons. As the Vikings lack Fire Ships, their navy should be built around Longboats as they are easily massed, have good movement speed, and a decent attack.

Further Statistics
Civilization Bonuses=
 * Vikings: Longboats are 15%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
 * -|Team Bonuses=
 * A team containing Teutons: Longboats are more resistant to conversion.
 * -|The Forgotten Changes=
 * Longboats cost -10 wood.
 * -|The African Kingdoms Changes=
 * Longboats no longer require a Castle.
 * Longboat cost restored to 100w/50g (the original The Conquerors cost).

History
"The Viking raiders of the ninth through eleventh centuries were especially terrifying because they could strike anywhere along the seacoast and even upriver. They had this capability thanks to their longboats. These ships were long, narrow, and of shallow draft, but were surprisingly seaworthy. They used oars and a single square sail for propulsion. Longboats could be taken into very shallow water and beached. Only a coast with high bluffs or rocky shoreline was safe from them."