Arambai

"Burmese unique unit. Mounted dart thrower."

- Age of Empires II description

The Arambai is the unique unit of the Burmese in Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas. It is a cavalry archer with a small attack bonus against Rams. It throws darts at enemies.

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

Tactics
The Arambai has some similarities to the Conquistador, as they're both mounted ranged units available at the castle, with a powerful attack and average speed and HP. However, it is more akin to the Cavalry Archer, and also has the same rate of fire and frame delay. Also, the Arambai is comparatively frail (lacking two armor upgrades), slightly cheaper and faster, and affected by Ballistics.

Arambai throw darts that cause a lot of damage compared to other archers, more than a Conquistador's shot. Their speed makes them well suited for taking down soft targets like Villagers, Monks, and some military units, such as archers and infantry. Even heavier units, or Skirmishers, can potentially suffer much damage from a lucky shot, particularly if the Arambai fight in large groups, because in the event their darts miss their original target, but still land a hit to another enemy, they cause half damage, still a neat amount for an archer unit.

To offset their attack, their accuracy is abysmal, the worst in the game. Attacks often miss at long range, especially if the target moves, but the accuracy increases as they get closer. At close range, they are more vulnerable, but also more capable of serious damage (being Cavalry Archers, they are countered by many troops, though they can also deal much damage). Sadly, lacking most archer upgrades, it can be damaged severely, so cavalry and/or Elephants should escort this unit to soak damage, whereas the strong Burmese infantry and Monks can assist the Arambai by killing or converting counter-units respectively.

Manipur Cavalry gives Arambai a +6 attack against buildings. A force of Battle Elephants (which also benefit from Manipur Cavalry) and Arambai can raid any ill-prepared town with great effect. Arambai, however, must be on the lookout for Castles and Towers, because they take rather high damage from them.

Garrisoning Arambai in Castles tremendously increases the number of arrows it shoots, more than any other unit does. It only takes 12 Elite Arambai to make a fully upgraded Castle shoot the maximum number of 21 arrows. Using them to garrison a Castle also helps to circumvent their low range and accuracy. Combined with the ability of the Arambai to hit and run, this makes Burmese Castles to be one of the toughest fortresses in the game.

All in all, Arambai are powerful units capable of dealing high amounts of damage, but are also lost fairly easily because lots of units counter them well (see Further Statistics section below). Therefore, they should always be used with caution as losses prove quite costly.

Further statistics
As Arambai are unique to the Burmese, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:

Civilization bonuses

 * Burmese: Researching Faith is 50% cheaper.

Rise of the Rajas

 * Initially, (Elite) Arambai have 18 (20) attack and move at a speed of 1.35. With patch 5.7, they now have 17 (19) attack and move at a speed of 1.3.
 * Initially, Elite Arambai have +2 armor against anti-cavalry archer attacks. With patch 5.7, that bonus armor was removed.

Team bonuses

 * A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, Arambai are created and upgraded 25% faster, and Conscription and Manipur Cavalry are researched 25% faster.
 * A team containing Huns: Researching Bloodlines and Husbandry is 20% faster.
 * A team containing Malians: Researching Ballistics is 80% faster.
 * A team containing Teutons: Arambai are more resistant to conversion.

History
Arambai is the name of a dart-like weapon with a sharp point at one end and feathered tail at the other end. It was the secret weapon of the Meiteis, the main tribe of Manipur in easternmost India. Arambais were carried in a quiver strapped near the horse saddle, and were tipped with poison in time of war. The arambai-carrying horsemen would gallop in, throw their arambais, and depart before the enemy could react. Today, the art of arambai is still practised by local people of Manipur during the Kwak Jatra festival.

Trivia

 * They belong to the Meitei people (also known as Manipuris, after the state of Manipur on the Indian-Burmese border), who speak a Sino-Tibetan language related, among others, to Mandarin (thus they are related to the Chinese) and Burmese.
 * While they serve the Burmese civilisation, the Kingdom of Manipur (also known as Kingdom of Kangleipak) was, in reality, often enemies with the Toungoo Empire, having had to stave off multiple Burmese invasions. Nonetheless, Manipur Cavalry often served as mercenaries and formed important portions of the Burmese cavalry.
 * Among (non-siege) ranged units, the Arambai causes the second largest amount of damage per attack (after the Elite Janissary), but thanks to its Rate of Fire, the Arambai practically boasts the most powerful ranged attack.
 * Arambai are one of just three cavalry units in the game to attack with a thrown weapon (next to the Mameluke and the Genitour).