Elephant Archer (Age of Empires)

Elephant Archer is a ranged cavalry unit in Age of Empires. The cavalry unit is not an upgrade of any archer unit, nor does it require any technology. The Elephant Archer is by far the strongest, most durable cavalry archer in the game. The Elephant Archer combines the hit points of the War Elephant and the attack strength and range of the Composite Bowman.

Gameplay
The Elephant Archer is used for brute strength and durability, but don't underestimate it by any means. It is a slow unit, but can take siege fire better than any archer, and when in large groups they are very dangerous. They do however cost a lot of food, and sometimes will drain your food all too fast. Another bad thing is because of their slow speed they are extremely susceptible to conversion from priests, and the Elephant Archer's attack is not nearly as good as Horse Archer's or Heavy Horse Archer's.

It is good to use this unit very sparingly, mostly substituted by faster units which are cheaper and have a better attack e.g Horse Archers. However these units are not to be laughed at, because when playing as the Phoenician civilization, you get cheaper Elephant Archers. Persian Elephant Archers are a bit faster, but lacks 2 range points and the difference in speed is unnoticed compared to a fast ranged unit. Practical in some cases, especially if used for defensive purposes, but for most things they are just overkill. If you can afford them and the opponent isn't using Priests or Centurions, then Elephant Archers are good as a backup unit.

Tool Age

 * Leather Armor: for archers increases armour by 2.
 * Woodworking: increases range by 1.

Bronze Age

 * Scale Armor: for archers increases armour by 2.
 * Artisanship: increases range by 1.

Iron Age

 * Alchemy: increases attack by 1.
 * Ballistics: increases accuracy.
 * Chain Mail: for archers increases armour by 2.
 * Craftsmanship: increases range by 1.

Civilization Bonuses

 * Persian elephant archers are 50% faster.
 * Carthaginian elephant archers have 750 hit points instead of 600.
 * Phoenician elephant archers are 25% cheaper.
 * Elephant Archer is not available for Assyrians, Babylonians, Choson, Greeks, Macedonians, Minoans, Palmyrans, Romans, Shang, Sumerians and Yamato.