Gastraphetoros (Chronicles)

This article is about the unit in Chronicles. For the unit in Age of Mythology, see Gastraphetoros (Age of Mythology).

Gastraphetoros
Unit information
Introduced in	Chronicles
Type	Archer*
Civilization	Athenians
Age	Imperial Age
Requires	Flaming Arrows
Training
Trained at	Archery Range
Food	45
Gold	50
Training time	34 seconds
Statistics
Hit points	40
Pierce attack	17
Attack bonus	+10 vs Infantry +2 vs Ram +1 vs Spearman
Reload time	3.45
Attack delay	0.35
Range	7
Accuracy	75%
Projectile speed	7.5
Melee armor	1
Pierce armor	0
Armor class	Archer Gunpowder unit
Speed	0.96
Line of Sight	9

“	Advanced unit with powerful attack, but inaccurate at long range.	”
—Chronicles description

The Gastraphetoros (plural: Gastraphetoroi) is an Imperial Age archer unit in Chronicles that can be trained at the Archery Range once Flaming Arrows is researched. It is only available to the Athenians, but is not a unique unit. It is the equivalent of the Hand Cannoneer in Age of Empires II.

It has a powerful attack, low hit points, and low accuracy at range, but does not benefit from standard archer technologies which increase range, attack, or accuracy. It uses a crossbow* (rather than the specific subtype called gastraphetes that its name indicates). However, despite being a Hand Cannoneer, it looks like the Crossbowman from Age of Empires II, and as such, it may be hard to distinguish the two units visually if having a cross-play.

Tactics

Gastraphetoroi have a powerful attack, but a slow firing rate, and their shots fly off in random directions (within radial proximity to the vector leading to their target), so their accuracy at long range is poor. They do +10 bonus damage against infantry and another +1 against Spearmen, and their accuracy is less of a problem against larger cavalry, making them deadly at close range. If maneuvered properly, Gastraphetoroi may also take down siege weapons with great efficiency, but Onagers can still pose a threat to them due to their range.

Gastraphetoroi are treated as archers for the purposes of armor and armor class, so Skirmishers have attack bonuses against them. In addition, Skirmishers and Hippeis also have a high defensive bonus against their piercing damage. Being foot units with low hit points, they are also vulnerable to Mangonels and Scorpions, and they perform poorly against towers and Forts. The food cost of Gastraphetoroi also makes them odd to work with, so special situations or builds are needed in order to use them appropriately, like a Fast Imperial strategy (in closed maps).

They are also considered gunpowder units for the purpose of bonus damage, despite not actually using firearms themselves, but being the counterparts of Hand Cannoneers, giving Condottieri and Winged Hussars attack bonuses against them as well.

Comparison to similar units

	Recurve Bowman	Gastraphetoros
Cost	25 wood, 45 gold	45 food, 50 gold
Training time	27 seconds	34 seconds
Pierce attack	6+4	17
Attack bonuses	+3 vs Spearman	+10 vs Infantry +2 vs Ram +1 vs Spearman
Accuracy	90% + 10%	75%
Range	5+3	7
Rate of Fire	2 - 0.3	3.45
Armor	0+3/0+4	1+3/0+4
Armor classes	Archer	Archer Gunpowder
Upgrade cost	175 food, 100 gold 450 food, 350 gold	300 food, 200 gold
Upgrade time	35 seconds 50 seconds	100 seconds

In general, when compared to Recurve Bowmen, Gastraphetoroi are better against targets with high pierce armor, while the former are better against targets with lower pierce armor.

Further statistics

Strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Infantry, War Chariots
Weak vs.	Skirmishers, Scorpions, Mangonels

Technologies
Armor	Padded Archer Armor (+1/+1) Leather Archer Armor (+1/+1) Ring Archer Armor (+1/+2)
Conversion resistance	Exorcism (+4 min, +4 max) Hemlock (die upon getting converted)

Policies
Resource cost	Naval Policy (-20% gold, Athenians only)

Aura enhancements
Attack	Strategos (+1, Athenians only)

Team bonuses
Conversion resistance	Teutons (+3 min, +1 max)
Creation speed	Britons (+10%) Turks (+25%)
Other	Malians (Flaming Arrows is researched 80% faster) Portuguese (Flaming Arrows is researched 25% faster)

Trivia

• The Gastraphetoros actually uses a late Roman arcuballista, unlike the Gastraphetoros in Age of Mythology.
• Its projectiles move in a straight line like Hand Cannoneers and other gun-armed units, and Composite Bowmen.

Gallery

Views of the Gastraphetoros

Gastraphetoros from Chronicles (left) and Crossbowman from Age of Empires II (right)

GASTRAPHETOROS vs EVERY UNIQUE UNIT (Total Resources) - AoE II- Definitive Edition