Talk:Throwing Axeman (Age of Empires II)/@comment-157.49.26.122-20180427042259

As an above noob player myself I frequently encounter a mammoth mass of siege rams while playing against the AI hard and hardest level. And in this. I find the ETA an absolute charm. In mobs of 8-10, the fully upgraded ETA can slice through siege rams like Butter. The AI typically sends like 15 siege rams at a time, and the ETA has no problem with them. With other Civs, even the Mangudai is slower than the ETA in dealing with a large posse of siege rams. I have tried all the Civs and dealing with such masses of siege rams (15 in total at the same time charging at you) is tough except when you're the Franks. Sometimes it's an absolute joy to watch such a mob of 8-10 ETA take down a siege ram in ONE STRIKE.

The only other unit that does as well against siege units is the Magyar Hussar - but this is a melee attack unit while the ETA is ranged. The ETA and the Magyar Hussar are the only two units that are equal in ability to massacre large masses of siege units thrown at you. Samurai, TKnight, Cataphract, Boyars, Eagle warriors, Kamayuks, Raiders, Light Cavs, Halbs, champs are all much slower than the ETA. They are effective, yes, but are slower enabling the AI's trash units (and other units)  to parallel attack you. It is in such situations where the ETA shines, ETA can kill most rams in one or two strikes - and that too from a range of 5. This lets the ETA then take on the other units ( that is sent along with the siege rams) easily at leisure. Moreover by walking over a short distance mobs of ETA can take down the accompanying trebs easily as well.

When large masses of siege units are thrown at u, no other Civ comes close to the franks in terms of defence. A mob of ETA can take down Paladins, TKinghts, War Elephants, Camels etc and since they can do this at a range - makes Franks the best defensive Civ out there. I see the ETA as a defensive unit while the Frankish Paladin as the offensive unit. So if you're looking at turtling or any other form of defensive strategy - then the ETA is the best and most reliable unique unit