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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dynasties of India. For the unit in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties, see Chakram. |
| “ | Gurjara unique infantry with ranged melee attack. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
The Chakram Thrower is a unique unit of the Gurjaras in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Dynasties of India, trained from the Castle. It is an infantry unit with ranged melee attack, and unleashes volleys of deadly metal discs. It is effective against groups of enemy units, as their chakrams cause damage to multiple units in a straight line, like the Scorpion.
Tactics[]
With the Gurjaras' heavy focus on cavalry and camel units, Halberdiers and other infantry can become a problem for them to handle. Chakram Throwers are the Gurjaras' main answer to large groups of infantry, able to hit multiple targets in a line, akin to a Scorpion. They also perform well against Skirmishers, though Hussars are a bit more difficult to handle and should be dealt with via the Gurjaras' very strong Camel Riders.
However, the Chakram Thrower's maximum damage is actually quite low. Due to lacking Blast Furnace, an Elite Chakram Thrower can only attain up to 8 attack, so their damage is heavily reduced by melee armor. Anything that can reach 7 or more melee armor will make Chakram Throwers ineffective; examples include Teutonic Knights, Boyars, Serjeants, and Bulgarian Two-Handed Swordsmen with Bagains. Additionally, high HP units such as Battle Elephants or Paladins will easily withstand the damage that Chakram Throwers can put out. Their low damage also requires that Chakram Throwers be massed in order to be effective; small numbers of them will not deter a large group of infantry. Due to their relatively long creation time for a unique infantry unit, massing them can be difficult, especially if the Gurjaras lose any Castles.
Since they are ranged infantry, Arbalesters, Hand Cannoneers, and Slingers will make short work of Chakram Throwers. Additionally, due to Chakram Throwers only having up to 6 range (even though their projectile travels further than said range), Onagers and Scorpions will easily demolish them, though they take significant damage if the Chakram Throwers are able to hit them.
Further statistics[]
As Chakram Throwers are unique to the Gurjaras, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:
| Unit strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Slow and non ranged units, Skirmishers, Light Cavalry, Villagers |
| Weak vs. | Archers, Scorpions, Mangonels, Hand Cannoneers, Janissaries, Conquistadors, Cataphracts, Jaguar Warriors, Slingers, Samurai, Teutonic Knights, Serjeants, heavy cavalry |
| Upgrades | |
| Attack |  Forging (+1) Iron Casting (+1) Arson (+2 attack against standard buildings)
|
| Armor |  Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1) Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1) Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2)
|
| Sight |  Tracking (+2)
|
| Conversion defense |  Heresy
|
| Creation speed |  Conscription (+33%) Kasbah (+25%, with Berber allies only)
|
| Train cost | Kshatriyas (-25% food)
|
| Upgrades |  Elite Chakram Thrower
|
Team bonuses[]
- A team containing Bulgarians: Blacksmith upgrades are researched 80% faster.
- A team containing Goths: Researching Arson is 20% faster.
- A team containing Lithuanians: Researching Heresy is 20% faster.
- A team containing Teutons: Chakram Throwers are more resistant to conversion.
Trivia[]
- The Chakram Thrower lacks the most technologies as a unique unit in their own civilization, lacking Squires and Blast Furnace as an infantry.
History[]
The chakram is a throwing weapon from the Indian subcontinent. It is circular with a sharpened outer edge and a diameter of 12–30 centimetres (4.7–11.8 in).
| “ | ... and they have some steel wheels, which they call chakarani, two fingers broad, sharp outside like knives, and without edge inside; and the surface of these is of the size of a small plate. And they carry seven or eight of these each, put on the left arm; and they take one and put it on the finger of the right hand, and make it spin round many times, and so they hurl it at their enemies, and if they hit anyone on the arm or leg or neck, it cuts through all. And with these they carry on much fighting, and are very dexterous with them. | ” |
| —The Portuguese chronicler Duarte Barbosa wrote (c. 1516) of the chakram being used in the Delhi Sultanate. | ||
Gallery[]
Video[]
ELITE CHAKRAM THROWER vs EVERY UNIQUE UNIT (Total Resources) - AoE II- Definitive Edition
