The Minoans provide them a range boost of 2 to Composite Bowmen, allowing them to strike before other archers and out-range towers. They can therefore continue using them effectively in the Iron Age.
| Available | Unavailable |
|---|---|
Strategy 
Edit
The Composite Bowman is better than the Improved Bowman. Civilizations that can train the Improved Bowman usually have the ability to upgrade them to a Composite Bowman. Because of this, the Improved Bowman never really makes their full appearance in a random game. Boasting solid overall stats, the Composite Bowman is an excellent ranged choice due to its low cost.
In Deathmatch games, only the Minoans can use them efficiently, thanks to their range bonus. Since all players start with high resources in this type of game, civilizations that can train Cataphracts, or powerful siege weapons such as the Heavy Catapult or Helepolis, can make short work of them due to their fragility.
Upgrades Edit
Tool Age Edit
- Leather Armor Archers: Increases armor by 2.
- Woodworking: Increases range by 1.
Bronze Age Edit
- Scale Armor Archers: Increases armor by 2.
- Artisanship: Increases range by 1.
Iron Age Edit
- Alchemy: Increases attack by 1.
- Ballistics: Increases accuracy.
- Chain Mail Archers: Increases armor by 2.
- Craftsmanship: Increases range by 1.
| Archery Range Tree | ||
|---|---|---|
Civilization bonuses Edit
- Macedonians: Composite Bowmen are four times more resistant against enemy conversion.
- Minoans: Composite Bowmen have +2 range.
Trivia Edit
- Originally, Composite Bowmen were called Longbowmen, this is also the reason why their bow is longer than a traditional composite bow.
- The Composite Bowman in game will not be able to imitate his pose in the icon. In the icon, he is facing southeast while aiming at an enemy, holding the bow with his right arm and arrow with the left, allowing his back to face the player's view. In-game, when he is asked to face same direction and fire at an enemy unit, it is the other way around, exposing his front view to the player instead.
History Edit
“The composite bow was developed in Asia was also known as the oriental or recurved bow. It reached the Mediterranean and Middle East by the beginning of the second millennium B.C. It was made of layers of wood glued together rather than a single piece. The composite material was then bent outward at each end to increase tension. The result was a very powerful bow that doubled the effective range of the short bow. Egyptian engravings depicting the Battle of Kadesh show Rameses II and other Egyptian archers using composite bows.”—Age of Empires manual
Gallery Edit
| Units in Age of Empires | |
 Age of Empires | |
|---|---|
| Priest · Villager · Trade Boat · Merchant Ship · Fishing Boat · Fishing Ship · Light Transport · Heavy Transport | |
| Infantry | Clubman · Axeman · Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman · Long Swordsmen · Legion · Hoplite · Phalanx · Centurion |
| Archers | Bowman · Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman · Chariot Archer · Elephant Archer · Horse Archer · Heavy Horse Archer |
| Cavalry | Scout · Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Cataphract · Chariot · War Elephant |
| Siege | Stone Thrower · Catapult · Heavy Catapult · Ballista · Helepolis |
| Navy | Scout Ship · War Galley · Trireme · Catapult Trireme · Juggernaught |
 The Rise of Rome | |
| Armored Elephant · Camel Rider · Fire Galley · Scythe Chariot · Slinger | |
