Fire Throwers are an early, short-ranged infantry unit that operates like artillery. They are the first unit available that does very good damage to buildings. They are a little faster than proper artillery, but still slower than regular infantry.
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Overview[]
The Fire Thrower is a light infantry unit that attacks with incendiary weapons which inflict burning damage. It counters both heavy infantry and light cavalry. It replaces the Grenadier as the main siege infantry unit.
In the early game, the Fire Thrower is essentially a weaker, more specialized version of the Grenadier. Their attack is weaker in terms of raw damage, which makes them quite mediocre when used against buildings, though this is compensated by anti-infantry and anti-light/ranged cavalry multiplier, as well as longer ranges.
When the "Rockets" Home City Card is sent, the Fire Thrower becomes a highly cost-efficient and easily massed anti-infantry unit. As the rocket has longer range and additional bonus damage, a large group of Fire Throwers (30 or more) can quickly eliminate a formation if not taken care off soon enough, and capable of dealing a significant damage against buildings. When using rockets, players should prioritize getting Counter Infantry Rifling researched, as it gives rockets an additional bonus against all infantry. This drastically improves their ability to defeat enemy rifle infantry or archers.
Unlike the Grenadier, the Fire Thrower is considered Light Infantry rather than Heavy Infantry, and it does not receive bonus damage from light infantry. Furthermore, it will effectively counter enemy light infantry when upgraded with rockets.
The Fire Thrower is not without weakness, however. Their main drawback is the relatively low hit points, which makes them vulnerable against a group of cavalry and artillery. This can be overcome to a degree by combining the unit with Hospitallers or Armored Pistoleers, which possess the deflect ability and counter cavalry extremely well.
With all upgrades, at maximum range it always uses the Rocket attack. Once the target enemy unit is within Grenade attack range, it switches to only Grenade attack. Finally, if the target enemy unit is within Flamethrower range, it uses the charged Flamethrower attack, then switches to the other weapons as mentioned. The Flamethrower attack is especially useful/effective against hand infantry, as they're forced to get into the range of the charged attack. Because Fire Throwers are so poor in melee and do not have a bonus against heavy infantry in hand combat, this can help the unit perform much better against that unit type.
Special abilities[]
Flamethrower Attack (requires the "Flame Throwers" Home City Card; has a cooldown of 60 seconds): Charged Ability: Close-range attack which deals 5 Siege damage every 0.75 second for up to 6.1 seconds. Does not deal damage to Treasure Guardians and wildlife.
Rocket Attack (requires the "Rockets" Home City Card): Equips Fire Throwers with Rockets in addition to their other weapons. Rockets inflict bonus damage to ALL infantry and have significantly more range. Replaces the default Siege attack.
Burning Damage (Passive): Burning damage inflicts further damage after the target was hit.
Originally, Fire Throwers had 40% ranged resistance. With update 13.10442, they have 35% ranged resistance.
Originally, Fire Throwers have ×0.5 melee multiplier against hand cavalry, ×1.34 ranged multiplier against ranged shock infantry, and ×0.5 against hand cavalry and hand shock infantry. With update 13.58326, Fire Throwers have ×0.5 melee multiplier against heavy cavalry and hand shock infantry, ×1.0 ranged multiplier against ranged shock infantry, ×0.4 vs. heavy cavalry, and ×0.3 vs. hand shock infantry.
History[]
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During the Siege of Malta in 1565, the defenders of Malta (the Knights of St. John) relied heavily on incendiary weapons, including ones called the "firework hoop." These weapons, made of gunpowder and wood, were used against advancing Janissaries as they attempted to storm Fort St. Elmo. The incendiary weapons were highly effective, forcing the Janissaries to fall back from their attack. Approximately 2,000 elite Janissaries were killed during the assault on Fort St. Elmo, while only about eighty of their enemy died. After the siege the Knights of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, controlled Malta until 1798.
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Trivia[]
The Fire Thrower reuses the campaign unit Hoop Thrower's portrait.
Gallery[]
Fire Thrower image from the Compendium section
In-game Fire Thrower
In-game Veteran Fire Thrower
In-game Guard/Imperial Fire Thrower
Guard/Imperial Fire Thrower after sending the "Flame Throwers" Home City Guard
Guard/Imperial Fire Thrower after sending the "Rockets" Home City Guard
Flamethrower Attack (requires the "Flame Throwers" Home City Card; has a cooldown of 60 seconds): Charged Ability: Close-range attack which deals 5 Siege damage every 0.75 second for up to 6.1 seconds. Does not deal damage to Treasure Guardians and wildlife.
Veteran Fire Throwers
Guard Fire Throwers
Imperial Fire Throwers
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9 Fire Throwers
8 Fire Throwers
13 Fire Throwers
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Flame Throwers
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