This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II. For the armor class, see Armor class: Cavalry archer. For the unit in Age of Empires III, see Cavalry Archer (Age of Empires III). |
“ | Fast, with ranged attack. Ideal for hit-and-run attacks. | ” |
—Age of Empires II original description |
The Cavalry Archer is a mounted archer unit in Age of Empires II that can be trained at the Archery Range once the Castle Age is reached. Its high speed and ranged attack make it an excellent harasser, hit-and-runner, and a good counter for infantry units. With enough micromanagement, a small force of Cavalry Archers can take out whole contingents of foot-soldiers. However, they are hindered somewhat by their high attack delay. Their armor gets upgraded through the archer line but in terms of attack bonus against them they count as both archers and cavalry.
Availability chart[]
Available | Unavailable |
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- x means that the civilization gets Bloodlines and Thumb Ring, so it can fully upgrade its Cavalry Archers in the Castle Age.
- + means that the civilization has a civilization bonus or team bonus or a unique technology that benefits the combat strength of the Cavalry Archer.
Tactics[]
Cavalry Archers are one of the best harassers in the game. When attacking with Cavalry Archers the player must always micromanage them properly to maintain distance from the enemy targets. Tactics that employ these units require a lot of resources since these units work way better if used in large numbers. Cavalry Archers are an excellent way to deal with slow-moving melee units like most infantry. They also possess very solid stats all-around, so they fare well even when caught in battle.
However, Cavalry Archers require many technologies to be researched to make them effective, meaning it is difficult to get a group of them out in a reasonable timeframe without them being weak. Additionally, they are countered very cost-effectively by Elite Skirmishers, which Cavalry Archers generally cannot outrange, can soak up the damage from Cavalry Archers, and deal drastic bonus damage to them. Mangonels and Scorpions can also be devastating to a group of Cavalry Archers if they don't avoid their projectiles, while rams or Armored Elephants can be used as a very effective damage sponge against them. Various unique units are strong against Cavalry Archers, whether through dealing bonus damage to them (i.e. Camel Archers) and/or having too much pierce armor for the Cavalry Archers to handle (i.e. War Wagons). Huskarls, Ghulams, and Eagle Warriors are very deadly to Cavalry Archers due to their high pierce armor, bonus damage, and having enough speed to catch them (or at least enough so the Cavalry Archers cannot effectively kite them). Shrivamsha Riders are also a very effective counter for the Gurjaras; despite not dealing bonus damage or having high pierce armor, the Shrivamsha Riders' unrivaled movement speed and projectile-dodging mechanic make them a menacing foe to Cavalry Archers.
Further statistics[]
Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
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Strong vs. | Most infantry, most foot archers with all armor upgrades |
Weak vs. | Genoese Crossbowmen, Huskarls, Skirmishers, Genitours, Eagle Warriors, Mangonels, Scorpions, camel units, Rattan Archers, Camel Archers, Elephant Archers, War Wagons, Hussite Wagons, Shrivamsha Riders, Ghulams |
Upgrades | |
Hit points | Bloodlines (+20) Sipahi (+20, Turks only) |
Attack | Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Chemistry (+1) Parthian Tactics (+2 attack against Spearmen) Recurve Bow (+1, Magyars only since patch 5.5) |
Range | Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Recurve Bow (+1, Magyars only) |
Firing rate | Thumb Ring (+11%) |
Accuracy | Thumb Ring (increases accuracy to 100%) Ballistics (hit moving targets) |
Armor | Padded Archer Armor (+1/+1) Leather Archer Armor (+1/+1) Ring Archer Armor (+1/+2) Parthian Tactics (+1/+2) Silk Armor (+1/+1, Tatars only) |
Speed | Husbandry (+10%) |
Conversion defense | Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted) First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max, Sicilians only) |
Creation speed | Conscription (+33%) Steppe Husbandry (+100%, Cumans only) |
Other | Aznauri Cavalry (-15% population space, Georgians only) |
Upgrades | Heavy Cavalry Archer |
Civilization bonuses[]
- Bulgarians: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Cavalry Archers cost -50% food.
- Burgundians: Researching Husbandry is 50% cheaper.
- Burmese: Researching Devotion and Faith is 50% cheaper.
- Celts: Cavalry Archers can convert herdable animals even if enemy units are next to them.
- Chinese: Technologies that benefit Cavalry Archers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Cumans: Cavalry Archers move 10%/15% faster in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Franks: Cavalry Archers have +20% hit points.
- Georgians: Cavalry Archers regenerate 15% hit points per minute. Cavalry Archers receive -20% (-40% instead of -25%) damage on higher elevations.
- Huns: Cavalry Archers are 10%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Italians: Researching Ballistics and Chemistry is 33% cheaper.
- Japanese: Cavalry Archers +2 attack vs. Archers (except Skirmishers and Genitours).
- Koreans: Cavalry Archers cost -50% wood. Armor Upgrades are free.
- Mongols: Cavalry Archers fire 25% faster.
- Persians: Parthian Tactics is available in the Castle Age.
- Portuguese: Cavalry Archers cost -20% gold.
- Sicilians: Cavalry Archers take -33% bonus damage.
- Spanish: Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Cavalry Archers cost no gold. Researching technologies that benefit Cavalry Archers provides 20 gold each.
- Turks: Chemistry is free.
- Tatars: Cavalry Archers deal +20% damage (+50% instead of +25%) from cliffs and elevations. Thumb Ring and Parthian Tactics are free.
- Vietnamese: Cavalry Archers have +20% hit points. Conscription is free.
Team bonuses[]
- Britons: Cavalry Archers are created and upgraded 10% faster. Researching Thumb Ring and Parthian Tactics is 10% faster.
- Bulgarians: Researching archer armor and attack upgrades at the Blacksmith is 80% faster.
- Huns: Researching Bloodlines and Husbandry is 20% faster.
- Lithuanians: Researching Devotion, Faith, and Heresy is 20% faster.
- Magyars: Cavalry Archers are created 25% faster.
- Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
- Portuguese: Technologies that benefit Cavalry Archers are researched 25% faster.
- Tatars: Cavalry Archers have +2 Line of Sight.
- Teutons: Cavalry Archers are more resistant to conversion.
Changelog[]
The Age of Kings[]
- Cavalry Archers cost 40 wood, 70 gold.
- Cavalry Archers move at a speed of 1.43.
- Cavalry Archers have a range of 3.
- Saracens: Cavalry Archers have +4 attack bonus against standard buildings.
The Conquerors[]
- Cavalry Archers move at a speed of 1.4.
- Cavalry Archers have a range of 4.
- Cavalry Archers receive an attack bonus of +2 against Spearmen.
- Bloodlines introduced.
- Thumb Ring introduced.
- Heresy introduced.
- Parthian Tactics introduced. With patch 1.0b, it gives Cavalry Archers +4 attack bonus vs Spearmen.
- Huns: Cavalry Archers are 25%/30% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
The Forgotten[]
- Cavalry Archers cost 40 wood, 65 gold.
- Huns: Cavalry Archers are 15%/25% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Magyars: Recurve Bow introduced, it gives +1 range to Cavalry Archers.
- Turks: Sipahi introduced.
The African Kingdoms[]
- Cavalry Archers cost 40 wood, 60 gold.
- Franks: Cavalry Archers have +20% hit points.
- Huns: Cavalry Archers are 10%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Portuguese: Cavalry Archers cost -15% gold.
Rise of the Rajas[]
- Magyars: With patch 5.5, Recurve Bow gives +1 range and attack to Cavalry Archers.
- Vietnamese: Initially, Cavalry Archers have +15%/+20% HP in the Castle/Imperial Age. With patch 5.8, they have +20% HP.
Definitive Edition[]
- Bulgarians: With update 42848, Blacksmith upgrades that benefit Cavalry Archers cost -50% food.
- Bulgarians: Initially, the Team Bonus gave the Blacksmith a 50% work rate boost. With update 42848, this was changed to a 80% work rate boost.
- Cumans: Initially, Cavalry Archers move 10% faster. With update 34055, the bonus was staggered to 10%/15% in the Castle/Imperial Age and Cumans lost access to Husbandry.
- Koreans: Cavalry Archers cost -15% wood. With update 39284, they cost -20% wood.
- Koreans: With update 42848, Archer armor upgrades are free.
- Portuguese: With update 39284, Cavalry Archers cost -20% gold.
- Portuguese: With update 42848, all technologies are researched 30% faster.
- Saracens: Initially, Cavalry Archers have +3 attack bonus against buildings. With update 34055, Cavalry Archers have +2/+3 attack bonus against buildings in the Castle/Imperial Age.
Lords of the West[]
- With update 44725, the attack animation duration of Cavalry Archers has been reduced from 1.3 to 1.15, reducing the overall attack delay by 11.5%.
- With update 50292, the attack animation duration of Cavalry Archers has been increased from 1.15 to 1.17.
- Saracens: With update 44725, Cavalry Archers no longer gain bonus attack against standard buildings.
Dynasties of India[]
- With update 73855, the effect of Parthian Tactics for Cavalry Archers was reduced to 2.
Return of Rome[]
- With update 87863, the Magyar team bonus was changed from foot archers +2 Line of Sight to Cavalry Archers trained 25% faster.
- Chinese: With update 87863, technologies that benefit Cavalry Archers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
- Koreans: With update 87863, Cavalry Archers cost -50% wood.
The Mountain Royals[]
- Japanese: With update 95810, Cavalry Archers +2 attack vs. Archers. Since update 99311, this bonus excludes Skirmishers.
- Persians: With update 95810, killing military units with a Cavalry Archer provides 5 gold per unit. With update 99311, this bonus is removed.
History[]
“ | Archers mounted on horses originated in ancient times on the great plains of Asia and continued to make up the bulk of the armies from this region throughout the Middle Ages. The Mongol armies that conquered most of Asia, the Middle East, and much of Europe were predominately cavalry archers. For the time they were a unique combination of firepower and speed. They could cross almost any kind of terrain quickly, strike unexpectedly, and withdraw if necessary before heavy cavalry or infantry units could react. The Mongols especially mastered the tactics of hitting, running, and ambushing, avoiding hand-to-hand fighting until the enemy was completely demoralized. Cavalry archers were most effective on open ground with plenty of maneuvering room. They were least effective against fortified positions that could not be starved out and required a hand-to-hand assault. | ” |