Heavy Cavalry Archer

"Stronger than Cavalry Archer. Fast, with ranged attack."

- Age of Empires II description

The Heavy Cavalry Archer is a mounted archer unit in Age of Empires II that can be trained at the Archery Range once the Imperial Age is reached.

Tactics
Tactics using Heavy Cavalry Archers is expensive as these units can take out enemy units in mass numbers, not in solitude. After training a dozen of these, they can be used to take out infantry effectively. The player must make sure they are some feet away from infantry. This tactic does not usually work against cavalry, unless the cavalry can be killed in three or less volleys and should never be employed if the target is in mass numbers (although it can be used against several infantry). Skirmishers and Onagers are devastating against Cavalry Archers, so unless there is no other option they should not be used against those units. Camels also tackle Heavy Cavalry Archers pretty well.

Their armor gets upgraded through the archer line but in terms of bonus damage against them they count as both archer as well as cavalry. Additionally, along with the Mangudai, they are also counted in a special 'Cavalry Archer' class against which Elite Skirmishers and Camel Archers deal additional bonus damage.

The most popular pairing involving Heavy Cavalry Archers is with Hussars, which is the preferred combination for the Mongols, Huns, Saracens, Magyars, and Turks. While a few other cavalry and/or archer based civilizations can utilize this as well, it is not as effective for them. Arguably, it is also the signature attacking technique of the Mongols since in addition to their excellent Hussars, their Heavy Cavalry Archers fire faster. Likewise, the Huns have cheaper Cavalry Archers and their Hussars are created quicker. Since the Heavy Cavalry Archers cost wood and gold, the food can be invested in Hussars which can make melee support for the Heavy Cavalry Archer army in order to create a mobile yet devastating force. As a substitute to the Hussar, the Knight can be used if enough gold is available. That is rather uncommon, however, since the gold is usually just spent on the Cavalry Archers and Knights slow down the army a little.

Civilization Bonuses

 * Burmese: Researching Faith is 50% cheaper.
 * Celts: Heavy Cavalry Archers can convert herdables even if enemy units are next to them.
 * Chinese: Technologies that benefit Heavy Cavalry Archers are 20% cheaper.
 * Franks: Heavy Cavalry Archers have.
 * Huns: Heavy Cavalry Archers are cheaper.
 * Mongols: Heavy Cavalry Archers fire faster.
 * Saracens: Heavy Cavalry Archers have +4 attack against standard buildings.
 * Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Heavy Cavalry Archers don't cost gold.
 * Turks: Chemistry is free.
 * Vietnamese: Heavy Cavalry Archers have +20% hit points. Conscription is free.

Team Bonuses

 * A team containing Berbers: With Kasbah researched, researching Conscription is 25% faster.
 * A team containing Britons: Heavy Cavalry Archers are created 20% faster. Researching Thumb Ring and Parthian Tactics is 20% faster.
 * A team containing Huns: Researching Bloodlines and Husbandry is 20% faster.
 * A team containing Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
 * A team containing Teutons: Heavy Cavalry Archers are more resistant to conversion.

The Age of Kings

 * Heavy Cavalry Archers cost 40 wood and 70 gold.
 * Heavy Cavalry Archers move at a speed of 1.43.
 * Heavy Cavalry Archers train in 34 seconds.

The Conquerors

 * Heavy Cavalry Archers now move at a speed of 1.4.
 * Heavy Cavalry Archers train in 27 seconds.
 * Heavy Cavalry Archers receive an attack bonus of +2 against Spearmen.
 * Bloodlines introduced.
 * Thumb Ring introduced.
 * Heresy introduced.
 * Parthian Tactics introduced.
 * Huns: Heavy Cavalry Archers are 30% cheaper.

The Forgotten

 * Heavy Cavalry Archers now cost 40 wood and 65 gold.
 * Huns: Heavy Cavalry Archers are now 25% cheaper.
 * Turks: Sipahi introduced.

The African Kingdoms

 * Heavy Cavalry Archers now cost 40 wood and 60 gold.
 * Franks: Heavy Cavalry Archers have 20% more HP.
 * Huns: Heavy Cavalry Archers are now 20% cheaper.

History
"Cavalry archers could be a devastating force when skilled and properly used, but they were as susceptible to archery fire as their enemies. One innovation intended to make them less vulnerable was to equip them with helmets and chest armor. This created the heavy cavalry archer, which was less nimble than its unarmored counterparts but able to engage in combat while taking fewer casualties. The Byzantines made extensive use of heavy cavalry archers in the engagements with horsemen from Persia and great plains to their north."