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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 Thrower (Age of Empires III).

Gurjara unique infantry unit 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. Of note is that when targeting a building, the unit does not do any passthrough damage.

Chakram Throwers can be upgraded to Elite Chakram Throwers in the Imperial Age.

Tactics[]

With the Gurjaras' heavy focus on light cavalry and camel units, infantry can become a problem for them to handle. Chakram Throwers are the Gurjaras' main answer to large groups of light infantry, able to hit multiple targets in a line, akin to a Scorpion. They also perform well against Elite Skirmishers. Whether Hussars, Huszars and camel units counter them or are countered by them depends on the situation. They are a bit more difficult to handle and should be dealt with via the Gurjaras' very strong Camel Riders.

However, the Chakram Thrower's base attack is actually quite low (akin to rams). Due to lacking Blast Furnace, an Elite Chakram Thrower can only attain up to 6 attack, so their damage is heavily reduced by melee armor; anything that can reach 4 (5 against Elite, 6 for infantry units) or more melee armor will make Chakram Throwers' damage ineffective. Additionally, high HP units such as Battle Elephants or Paladins will easily withstand the damage that Chakram Throwers can put out. Since Shrivamsha Riders absorb all types of projectiles, they are also very good at dealing with Chakram Throwers.

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 longer creation time for a unique infantry unit, massing them can be difficult, especially if the Gurjaras lose any Castles.

Since they are infantry with no base pierce armor, 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) and very low HP, Onagers and Scorpions will easily demolish them, though they take significant damage if the Chakram Throwers are able to hit them.

One often overlooked advantage for Chakram Throwers is their moderately good speed. They are as fast as Celts' Spear units. This is a good comparison since both civilization lack Squires. Units like Huskarls and Berserks with Squires and Eagle Warriors without Squires sit in the same speed tier.

Comparison with similar units[]

Ranged infantry[]

ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman line GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto line Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower line
Cost 55 food, 25 gold 50 food, 40 gold 65 food, 30 gold
Training time 17 seconds 17 seconds 15 seconds
Line of Sight Range + 2 Range + 1 Range + 2
Rate of Fire 2 2 2
Movement speed 1 1.25 1.15
Other properties Range can be increased by 1
Civilization has access to Blast Furnace
Food cost can be decreased by 25%
Causes 100% pass-through damage
Civilization lacks Squires
CastleageDE Castle Age Non-Elite
Hit points 60 35 40
Melee attack 7 10 3
Attack bonus +1 vs Eagle Warrior +1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1 vs Standard Building
Range 3 5 5
Attack delay 1 1 0.8
Armor 0/0 0/0 1/0
Upgrade cost 1,000 food, 750 gold 900 food, 600 gold 1,000 food, 650 gold
Upgrade time 45 seconds 45 seconds 45 seconds
ImperialageDE Imperial Age Elite
Hit points 70 45 50
Melee attack 8 13 4
Attack bonus +1 vs Eagle Warrior +2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2 vs Standard Building
+2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Infantry
Range 4 6 6
Attack delay 0.82 1 0.8
Armor 1/0 0/0 1/0

Gurjara units[]

MilitiaDE Militia line Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower line Archer aoe2DE Archer line Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cost 45 food, 20 gold 65 food, 30 gold 25 wood, 45 gold 45 food, 50 gold
Training time 21 seconds 15 seconds 27 seconds 34 seconds
Movement speed 0.9 1.15 0.96 0.96
Rate of Fire 2 2 2-0.3 3.45
Attack delay N/A 0.8 0.35 0.35
Attack properties N/A Attacks in a straight line
Causes 100% pass-through damage
Can track moving targets Attacks in a straight line
CastleageDE Castle Age Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman
Hit points 60 40 35 N/A
Attack 9+2 melee 3+2 melee 5+2 pierce
Attack bonus +6 vs Eagle Warrior
+3+2 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Eagle Warrior
+1+2 vs Standard Building
+3 vs Spearmen
Range 0 5 5+2
Line of Sight 6 Range + 2 Range + 2
Armor 1+2/1+2 1+2/0+2 0+2/0+2
Upgrade cost 300 food, 100 gold 1,000 food, 750 gold N/A
Upgrade time 60 seconds 45 seconds
ImperialageDE Imperial Age Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman Aoe2de Chakram Elite Chakram Thrower Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Hit points 60 50 35 40
Attack 12+2 melee 4+2 melee 5+3 pierce 17 pierce
Attack bonus +8 vs Eagle Warrior
+4+2 vs Standard Building
+2 vs Eagle Warrior
+2+2 vs Standard Building
+1 vs Infantry
+3 vs Spearman +10 vs Infantry
+2 vs Ram
+1 vs Spearman
Range 0 6 5+3 7
Line of Sight 7 Range + 2 Range + 2 Range + 2
Armor 1+3/1+4 1+3/0+4 0+2/0+2 1+2/0+2

Further statistics[]

As Chakram Throwers are unique to the Gurjaras, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:

Strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Non-ranged units with less melee armor, Elite Skirmishers
Weak vs. Ranged siege weapons, heavy infantry, heavy cavalry, Shrivamsha Rider
Conditional matchups Monks, archers
Technologies
Attack Forging aoe2de Forging (+1)
IronCastingDE Iron Casting (+1)
ArsonDE Arson (+2 against standard buildings)
Armor ScaleMailArmorDE Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1)
ChainMailArmorDE Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1)
PlateMailArmorDE Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2)
Conversion resistance Devotion icon AoE2DE Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)
HeresyDE Heresy (die upon getting converted)
Resource cost UniqueTechCastle-DE Kshatriyas (-25% food)
Creation speed ConscriptionDE Conscription (+33%)
UniqueTechCastle-DE Kasbah (+25%, with Berber allies only)
Team bonuses
Conversion resistance Teutons AoE2 Teutons (+3 min, +1 max)
Line of Sight Armenians AoE2 Armenians (+2)

Team bonuses[]

Changelog[]

AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India[]

  • Originally, Chakram Throwers had 50% pass-through damage like other units. With update 73855, it was changed to 100%.
  • Originally, (Elite) Chakram Throwers had 5 (6) attack. With update 73855, it was reduced to 3 (4).
  • With update 73855, Elite Chakram Throwers have +1 attack vs Infantry. With update 78174, they receive the intended +1 vs Condottieri.

Trivia[]

  • The Chakram Thrower lacks the most technologies as a unique unit in their own civilization, lacking Squires and Blast Furnace as an infantry.
  • The typical chakram weapon usually has an outer diameter of 12–30 cm, much smaller than the one depicted in-game and in the unit icon, which is enlarged for visual aid.

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[]

Videos[]

Units in Age of Empires II
CivilianMaleVillDE Villager · Tradecart aoe2DE Trade Cart · FishingShipDE Fishing Ship · Trade cog aoe2DE Trade Cog · King eu aoe2DE King
ReligiousMonk aoe2DE Monk
InfantryMilitiaDE Militia · Manatarms aoe2DE Man-at-Arms · Longswordsman aoe2DE Long Swordsman · Twohanded aoe2DE Two-Handed Swordsman · Champion aoe2DE Champion
Spearman aoe2DE Spearman · Aoe2-infantry-2-pikeman Pikeman · Halberdier aoe2DE Halberdier
ArcherArcher aoe2DE Archer · Crossbowman aoe2DE Crossbowman · Arbalester aoe2DE Arbalester
Skirmisher aoe2DE Skirmisher · Elite skirmisher aoe2DE Elite Skirmisher
Hand cannoneer aoe2DE Hand Cannoneer
Cavalryarcher aoe2DE Cavalry Archer · Heavycavalryarcher aoe2de Heavy Cavalry Archer
CavalryScoutcavalry aoe2DE Scout Cavalry · Lightcavalry aoe2DE Light Cavalry · Hussar aoe2DE Hussar
Knight aoe2DE Knight · Cavalier aoe2DE Cavalier · Paladin aoe2DE Paladin
Camelrider aoe2DE Camel Rider · Aoe2 heavycamelriderDE Heavy Camel Rider
SiegeBattering ram aoe2DE Battering Ram · Capped ram aoe2DE Capped Ram · Siege ram aoe2DE Siege Ram
Mangonel aoe2DE Mangonel · Onager aoe2DE Onager · Siege onager aoe2DE Siege Onager
Scorpion aoe2DE Scorpion · Heavyscorpion aoe2DE Heavy Scorpion
Bombard cannon aoe2DE Bombard Cannon
Trebuchet aoe2DE Trebuchet
Petard aoe2DE Petard
Siegetower aoe2DE Siege Tower
War shipTransportship aoe2DE Transport Ship
Galley aoe2DE Galley · War galley aoe2DE War Galley · Galleon aoe2DE Galleon
Fire galley aoe2DE Fire Galley · Fireship aoe2DE Fire Ship · Fastfireship aoe2DE Fast Fire Ship
Demoraft aoe2DE Demolition Raft · Demoship aoe2DE Demolition Ship · Heavydemoship aoe2de Heavy Demolition Ship
Cannon galleon aoe2DE Cannon Galleon · Elite cannon galleon aoe2de Elite Cannon Galleon
Regional
InfantryEaglescout aoe2DE Eagle Scout · Eaglewarrior aoe2DE Eagle Warrior · EliteEaglewarrior aoe2DE Elite Eagle Warrior
ArcherAoe2de DOI elephant archer icon Elephant Archer · ElephantArcherIcon-DE Elite Elephant Archer
CavalryBattle elephant aoe2DE Battle Elephant · Elite battle elephant aoe2DE Elite Battle Elephant
Steppelancericon Steppe Lancer · Elitesteppelancericon Elite Steppe Lancer
Xolotlicon Xolotl Warrior
AoE2DE Armored Elephant icon Armored Elephant · AoE2DE Siege Elephant icon Siege Elephant
War shipAoE2 Dromon Dromon
Unique
ReligiousMissionaryIcon-DE Missionary · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest
InfantryBerserkIcon-DE Berserk · Aoe2de Chakram Chakram Thrower · CondottieroIcon-DE Condottiero · Aoe2-icon-flemish-militia Flemish Militia · GbetoIcon-DE Gbeto · Aoe2de Ghulam Ghulam · HuskarlIcon-DE Huskarl · JaguarWarriorIcon-DE Jaguar Warrior · KamayukIcon-DE Kamayuk · Karambitwarrioricon-DE Karambit Warrior · AoE2 DE Legionary new icon Legionary · Aoe2-icon--obuch Obuch · SamuraiIcon-DE Samurai · Aoe2-icon-serjeant Serjeant · Shotelwarrioricon-DE Shotel Warrior · TeutonicKnightIcon-DE Teutonic Knight · ThrowingAxemanIcon-DE Throwing Axeman · Aoe2de Urumi Urumi Swordsman · AoE2 WarriorPriest Warrior Priest · WoadRaiderIcon-DE Woad Raider
ArcherArambaiicon-DE Arambai · CamelArcherIcon-DE Camel Archer · ChukoNuIcon-DE Chu Ko Nu · AoE2 CompositeBowman Composite Bowman · ConquistadorIcon-DE Conquistador · GenitourIcon-DE Genitour · GenoeseCrossbowmanIcon-DE Genoese Crossbowman · Imperialskirmishericon-DE Imperial Skirmisher · JanissaryIcon-DE Janissary · Kipchakicon Kipchak · LongbowmanIcon-DE Longbowman · MangudaiIcon-DE Mangudai · PlumedArcherIcon-DE Plumed Archer · Aoe2de ratha ranged Ranged Ratha · Rattanarchericon-DE Rattan Archer · SlingerIcon-DE Slinger · WarWagonIcon-DE War Wagon
CavalryBallistaelephanticon-DE Ballista Elephant · BoyarIcon-DE Boyar · Aoe2de camel scout Camel Scout · CataphractIcon-DE Cataphract · Aoe2de roman unique centurion icon Centurion · Aoe2-icon-coustillier Coustillier · Flaming camel icon Flaming Camel · ImperialCamelRiderIcon-DE Imperial Camel Rider · Keshikicon Keshik · Konnikicon Konnik · Leitisicon Leitis · MagyarHuszarIcon-DE Magyar Huszar · MamelukeIcon-DE Mameluke · AoE2 Monaspa Monaspa · Aoe2de ratha melee Melee Ratha · AoE2 Savar Savar · Aoe2de shrivamsha rider Shrivamsha Rider · TarkanIcon-DE Tarkan · WarElephantIcon-DE War Elephant · Aoe2-icon-winged-hussar Winged Hussar
SiegeAoe2-icon--houfnice Houfnice · Aoe2-icon-hussite-wagon Hussite Wagon · OrganGunIcon-DE Organ Gun
War shipCaravelIcon-DE Caravel · LongboatIcon-DE Longboat · Aoe2de Thirisadai Thirisadai · TurtleShipIcon-DE Turtle Ship
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