Archer (Age of Empires II)

"Quick and light. Weak at close range; excels at battle from distance"

- Age of Empires II description

The Archer is an archer unit in in Age of Empires II that can be trained at the Archery Range. While mediocre in terms of attack, HP, and armor, it compensates for that by having a ranged attack, which could easily decimate enemy infantry of early ages.

Tactics
The Archer is an extremely proficient raiding unit in the Feudal Age due to its ranged attack. With it, it can easily pick off enemy infantry such as Men-at-Arms or Spearmen disrupt the enemy's economy by harassing their Villagers. However, it is extremely ineffective against all buildings, Scout Cavalry, and Skirmishers. Mid-sized to large groups of Archers make extremely good early harassment soldiers due to the absence of Knights from both sides. It can still be effective mid-game, but its power rapidly diminishes with the introduction of not only Knights, but also Scorpions and Mangonels.

Further Statistics
Civilizations Bonuses=
 * Aztecs: Archers are created 15% faster.
 * Britons: Archers have +1 range in the Castle Age, and +1 range in the Imperial Age (+2 in total).
 * Celts: Herdables cannot be stolen within an Archers Line of Sight.
 * Chinese: Technologies that benefit Archers are 10%/15%/20% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
 * Ethiopians: Archers fire 15% faster.
 * Mayans: Archers are 10%/20%/30% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
 * Portuguese: Archers cost 15% less gold.
 * Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Archers don't cost gold.
 * Turks: Chemistry is free.
 * -|Team Bonuses=
 * A team containing Britons: Archers are produced 20% faster.
 * A team containing Magyars Archers have +2 LOS.
 * A team containing Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
 * A team containing Saracens: Archers have +1 attack against buildings.
 * A team containing Teutons: Archers are more resistant to conversion.


 * -|The Forgotten Changes=
 * Britons: Yeomen that gives +1 range for Archers moved to Castle Age.

History
"The bow remained an important military weapon after the fall of Rome, although less so in areas of Europe covered by dense forests. Archers could fight from a distance, from behind walls or other cover, and from ambush. They were usually not decisive in battle on the attack because they could not physically take ground from the enemy like infantry could. They acted mainly as defensive troops and as light troops that disrupted enemy formations prior to the decisive moment when the armies clashed hand-to-hand. If barrages of arrows could cause casualties and drain the fighting spirit of the enemy prior to the clash, friendly troops had a better chance of breaking the will of the enemy and being victorious. Archers were also very useful when both defending and attacking a castle."