Camel Rider (Age of Empires)

The Camel Rider is a fast anti-cavalry unit that is featured in Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome. There is a similar cavalry unit in Age of Empires II called the Camel.

Strategy
Camel Riders receive a +8 attack bonus against Cavalry, Horse Archers and +4 against Chariots, but does not deal bonus damage against infantry. Because of their otherwise weak attack and lack of armor, they are basically only useful against cavalry in the Bronze Age. Beyond the Bronze Age, Camel Riders are no longer the best option as an anti-cavalry unit since a fully upgraded Cataphract can take down a Camel Rider. Thus, the best unit to counter cavalry during Iron Age would be by War Elephants and Centurions.

Upgrades
Tool Age Bronze Age Iron Age
 * Toolworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
 * Leather Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.
 * Metalworking: Increases attack by 2 points.
 * Scale Armor: Increases armor by 2 points.
 * Nobility: Increases hit points by 15%.
 * Metallurgy: Increases attack by 3 points.
 * Chain Mail: Increases armor by 2 points.

History
The camel was adopted for military use at a very early date, perhaps before the horse in the Middle East. Camels were particularly useful for moving quickly across the desert wastes and favored by small raiding parties. They were also used in battle by desert civilizations such as the Assyrians. The Camel Riders fought with spears and swords. Like light cavalry, they could take part in the pursuit of a beaten army. They were also useful against cavalry because horses were unaccustomed to the camel's odour and often refused to come near them.