Elite Fire Lancer

Elite Fire Lancer
Unit information
Introduced in	Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - update 141935
Type	Infantry
Civilization	Chinese Jurchens Khitans Koreans Vietnamese
Age	Imperial Age
Training
Trained at	Barracks
Wood	40
Gold	45
Training time	25 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	85
Melee attack	10
Attack bonus	+1 vs Standard building +15 vs Cavalry +15 vs Elephants +12 vs Camels +12 vs Ship
Reload time	2
Melee armor	2
Pierce armor	1
Armor class	Infantry Shock infantry Gunpowder
Speed	0.96
Line of Sight	8
Ability	Charged ranged attack every 30 seconds
Garrison firepower	+4.5
Upgraded from
Upgraded from	Fire Lancer

“	Gunpowder Shock Infantry that fires a short ranged firearm before enganging in melee combat.	”
—In-game description

The Elite Fire Lancer is an infantry unit in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, added with update 141935. It can be upgraded from the Fire Lancer at the Barracks if the Imperial Age is reached. It is a regional unit, available to the Chinese, Jurchens, Khitans, Koreans, and Vietnamese.

Ability

When fighting units (except siege weapons), Elite Fire Lancers can shoot a volley of three projectiles with low accuracy in a range of 5 (thus being better vs groups of units). Each projectile deals 4 pierce attack (unaffected by armor) and +2 vs rams. The ability recharges in 30 seconds.

Despite not being able to target siege weapons and buildings, the projectiles may hit them. Its armor-ignoring ability does not work against siege units, ships, and buildings, just like other armor-ignoring abilities.

Tactics

The Elite Fire Lancer is the only infantry in the game that does not cost food. It has a ranged ability attack, making it one of the few units in the game capable of dealing pierce and melee damage, though not at the same time. Their ranged charged attack works great against masses of units, in particular slower-moving units like other infantry. This means they can be a counter to infantry units such as Teutonic Knights if the player micromanages them properly and uses hit-and-run tactics.

Despite being able to kite some other infantry, Elite Fire Lancers should avoid direct combat against heavy infantry due to the high attack bonus they have against them. They should also avoid encounters with the Condottiero (due to its anti-gunpowder attack bonus) and units with attack bonuses against infantry, such as Hand Cannoneers.

When fighting in melee, the Elite Fire Lancer is a good counter against cavalry units. However, Halberdiers are still much better in this role.

The Elite Fire lancer is a very versatile unit able to deal with most army compositions if properly supported by units that cover their weaknesses.

Comparison among civilizations

Each civilization that has access to Elite Fire Lancers has specialties that benefit them in different ways:

Chinese

Chinese Elite Fire Lancers move 10% faster and all technologies that affect them are 15% cheaper. This makes Chinese Fire Lancers the most mobile and easiest to upgrade. Since the Chinese lack access to Camel Riders, Fire Lancers are their counter to cavalry, but the lack of Gambesons makes them weaker against archers. Chinese Fire Lancers can be paired with Chu Ko Nus to form a strong army with high damage, with Rocket Carts covering their weakness against archers.

Jurchens

Jurchen Elite Fire Lancers are the strongest in melee combat, thanks to their civilization bonus that grants them +20% attack speed, while also having +2 Line of Sight thanks to their team bonus, and taking 50% less friendly damage per the other civilization bonus. This makes Jurchen Fire Lancers exceptionally strong against cavalry and, to a lesser extent, other units. However, with the lack of Plate Mail Armor, Jurchen Fire Lancers are the weakest at taking damage, especially against ranged units. To offset this, the Jurchens can pair Fire Lancers with Iron Pagodas, while Grenadiers and Rocket Carts (whose friendly fire is less problematic for the civilization) can deal with infantry and archers, respectively.

Khitans

Khitan Elite Fire Lancers receive double benefit from Blacksmith attack upgrades, which completely offset the lack of Blast Furnace in the Imperial Age, while saving the cost and research time as well. In addition, Khitan Fire Lancers have all other upgrades and technologies available, with Lamellar Armor giving the ability to reflect 25% melee damage (which makes them better against infantry) and having +2 attack against archers thanks to their team bonus. All of this makes Khitan Elite Fire Lancers the most well-rounded, having a strong synergy with Liao Dao with high damage, especially against cavalry.

Koreans

Korean Elite Fire Lancers are the cheapest of all, as they cost 50% less wood thanks to their civilization bonus, allowing them to be fielded in larger numbers than other civilizations. However, the lack of Blast furnace for the Koreans makes Korean Fire Lancers the weakest in melee combat, especially against other infantry. Korean Fire Lancers are a perfect addition with Rocket Carts (which are stronger than others with Shinkichon) to create a powerful, but expensive army in the late game.

Vietnamese

Vietnamese Elite Fire Lancers are the most durable of all, as they receive +20% hit points thanks to their civilization bonus, having 102 hit points in total, which makes them last longer in every situation. Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese lack access to Gambesons, which means the extra durability is less impactful against ranged units, but they are still better against melee units. Like the Koreans, the lack of Blast Furnace limits their damage as well. Fortunately, the more resistant Vietnamese Arbalesters can help against infantry, while Rattan Archers and Imperial Skirmishers can help against other ranged units, as well as Vietnamese Battle Elephants with Chatras to absorb damage in the frontline. As a result, the Vietnamese can create specialized armies that last longer than others.

Comparison table

Civilization	Chinese	Jurchens	Khitans	Koreans	Vietnamese
Cost	40 wood 45 gold	40 wood 45 gold	40 wood 45 gold	20 wood 45 gold	40 wood 45 gold
Hit points	85	85	85	85	102
Attack	10+4	10+4	10+4	10+2	10+2
Reload time	2	1.67	2	2	2
Armor	2+3/1+4	2+2/1+3	2+3/1+5	2+3/1+5	2+3/1+4
Movement speed	1.06	0.96	0.96	0.96	0.96
Extras		+2 Line of Sight	Reflect 25% melee damage +2 attack vs archers

Further statistics

Strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Cavalry, Skirmishers
Weak vs.	Infantry

Technologies
Attack	Forging (+1, +2 for Khitans) Iron Casting (+1, +2 for Khitans) Blast Furnace (+2) Arson (+2 against standard buildings)
Armor	Scale Mail Armor (+1/+1) Chain Mail Armor (+1/+1) Plate Mail Armor (+1/+2) Gambesons (0/+1)
Conversion resistance	Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted, Khitans only)
Movement speed	Squires (+10%)
Creation speed	Conscription (+33%)
Ability	Lamellar Armor (25% non-projectile damage reflection, Khitans only)

Civilization bonuses
Hit points	Vietnamese (+20%)
Damage resistance	Jurchens (-50% friendly fire damage)
Attack speed	Jurchens (+20%)
Movement speed	Chinese (+10%)
Resource cost	Koreans (-50% wood)

Team bonuses
Attack	Khitans (+2 vs archers)
Conversion resistance	Teutons (+3 min, +1 max)
Line of Sight	Armenians (+2) Jurchens (+2)
Creation speed	Goths (+20%) Turks (+25%)

Changelog

The Three Kingdoms

• Originally, the Elite Fire Lancer cost 40 wood, 50 gold. With update 147949, it costs 40 wood, 45 gold.

Trivia

• This is the only Barracks unit line to not cost food.
• The ability to do a charged shot before attacking is similar to the Ethiopian Oromo Warrior and the Royal Musketeer from Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, where all do an initial charged attack before engaging in combat.
• Although unique to East Asian civilizations, the in-game Elite Fire Lancer wields a polearm with its blade curved inwards toward the shaft, which resembles a European halberd.
  • The proper Chinese polearm, the Ji (戟), has a spearhead and typically also a dagger axe (used in-game by the White Feather Guard), a crescent blade (used by the Elite White Feather Guard) or two crescent blades (used by Lü Bu) that curve outwards away from the shaft.

Gallery

Views of the Elite Fire Lancer

Fire Lancer and Elite Fire Lancer (right)

A fire lance depicted in the Huolongjing, a late 14th century Chinese military manual

Fire Lancers overview by Ornlu the Wolf