Archer (Age of Empires III)

This article is about the unit class in Age of Empires III. For other uses of the term, see Archer.

Archer is a tag in Age of Empires III. In game files, they are referred to as AbstractArcher, and some of them have also the AbstractFootArcher tag.

It includes all units that use a bow/crossbow, and also includes some units that use archaic ranged weaponry (javelins, slings, blowdarts, etc).

Archer tag

Besides foot archers, the archer tag (AbstractArcher in the game files) mainly affects mounted archers and heroes.

The following units are labeled as archers:

• Akan Archer
• Aztec Eagle Warrior
• Bedouin Horse Archer
• Bow Rider
• Cavalry Archer
• Comanche Horse Archer
• Eagle Runner Knight
• Eagle Scout
• Javelin Rider
• Keshik
• Lipka Tatar
• Manchu
• Haudenosaunee Mantlet
• Sohei Archer
• Tatar Archer
• Wokou Horseman
• Yabusame
• Yojimbo
• Zenata Rider

Technologies

• Carib Kasiri Beer (Hand infantry and archers get +10% attack; Carib Blowgunners' and Ambushers' ranged attack poisons the target)
• Carib Garifuna Drums (Archers get +1.0 multiplier against villagers)
• Seminole Bowyer (Archers get +15% attack)
• Tupi Poison Arrow Frogs (Archers get +10% attack; Tupi Blackwood Archers' ranged attack poisons the target)
• Sarmatism (Ships 5 Lipka Tatars; Archers get +1 Line of Sight and range; Lipka Tatars get +2 instead)

Foot archer tag

As rifle infantry, foot archers are light infantry. This tag was introduced in update 23511. They deal very good damage at long range against heavy infantry, light ranged cavalry and ranged shock infantry. Foot archers are vulnerable to counter-skirmishers, artillery at range, and against heavy cavalry, hand shock infantry and hand infantry if they are forced to fight in close combat.

The following units are labeled both as archer and foot archer:

• Aenna
• Arrow Knight
• Azap
• Berber Archer
• Carib Ambusher
• Carib Blowgunner
• Cetan Bowman
• Chu Ko Nu
• Crossbowman
• Desert Archer
• Fulani Archer
• Iron Troop
• Jungle Bowman
• Levied Bowman
• Longbowman
• Otontin Slinger
• Pavisier
• Quechua Bolas Warrior
• Seminole Sharktooth Bowman
• Shinobi
• Tupi Blackwood Archer
• Wokou Monk
• Yumi Archer

The following units are foot archers, but do not have the archer tag:

• Maya Holcan Javelineer
• Sudanese Dervish

Technologies

• Infantry Breastplate (Hand infantry and foot archers get +10% hit points)
• Somali Jile Daggers (Foot archers and rifle infantry get -35% hand attack Rate of Fire; Hand skirmishers (except Urumi Swordsman) get -15% hand attack Rate of Fire instead)

Home City Cards

The cards that affect units with the Archer tag are shown in the following table:

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the archer tag

Some cards are highlighted with:
Green	TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple	Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Red	Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue	Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Spanish

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Archaic Soldier Training	Pikeman, Crossbowman, Longbowman, Otontin Slinger, Aenna, Cetan Bow, and Yumi Archer train time -40%; Old Han Army train time -40%; Jungle Bowman, Plumed Spearman, Puma Spearman, Standard Army, and Ming Army train time -15%

Trivia

• Most archer units armed with bows have a wind up animation that makes it harder to perform hit-and-run tactics, so usually gunpowder units are preferred because they perform the attack automatically.
• The Yojimbo did not have the archer tag before the Definitive Edition.