Talk:Slinger (Age of Empires II)/@comment-59.21.154.92-20180610075117/@comment-2A02:587:3016:4E00:88D8:B04D:CB4:7C92-20180610101521

Yes, Slingers (especially massed ones) can kill Huskarls more easily than Arbalests can kill Champions (but this again depends on the Champions in question, Malian ones have +3 pierce armor and Celtic ones are faster, thus reaching the Arbalests more quickly).

The reasons they are weak against Huskarls is largely similar to the reason Hand Cannoneers are vulnerable too. Both units can be effective due to their attack bonuses against infantry, killing them in either four or seven shots, yet both a HC and a FU Slinger dies in two strikes from a Huskarl. Of course, the Slinger has an advantage in rate-of-fire and upgradability, unlike HC.

FU Slingers must be massed in far greater numbers or be protected by melee units in order to be truly effective against FU Huskarls. Their advantage doesn't lie just in high bonuses against archers or pierce armor; they can outspeed Slingers, especially with Squires researched, they have a large attack and are quite cost effective for what they do.

And of course, that's without counting the unique bonuses and technologies (+ Conscription) that allow for multiple Huskarls to be trained VERY quickly from multiple Barracks.