Harquebusiers have very high damage but relatively low hit points compared to other mercenary cavalry. Besides, they have a short ranged attack that offers them to guarantee the first attack, but not enough to enable hit-and-run tactics. Without proper micro-management, they might allow enemy melee units to retaliate.
Although Harquebusiers can strike with great force (they can kill Zamburaks with one hit in melee), they should not be used on their own during battle, since their low hit points make them vulnerable to enemy attacks. They excel at raiding enemy Villagers: they can kill a villager in two strikes in melee, four strikes with ranged attack. Harquebusiers should be used like Hussars, but mixed with regular hand cavalry or other heavy cavalry mercenaries.
Cavalry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Villager for the Indians)
Outlaw Combat
Outlaws and mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack (also upgrades Filibusters to Veteran for Baja California; costs 750 coin for Baja California, Hungary, and Revolutionary Mexicans)
"Cavalry Damage" is available to the British, Haudenosaunee, and Lakota.
"Cavalry Hitpoints" is available to the British and Haudenosaunee.
"Cavalry Combat" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Lakota, Mexicans, Ottomans, Russians, and Spanish.
"Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.
"Riding School" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese and Spanish) and Indians.
"Hire Highland Mercenary Army" is available to the British, Dutch, Germans (with 1 extra Swiss Pikeman, Highlander, and Harquebusier), Spanish, and Swedes.
"Mercenary Loyalty" reduces the cost of "Hire Highland Mercenary Army" by 10% and "Hire British Harquebusiers" by 25%.
"Hire British Harquebusiers" is available to the British, Dutch, Germans (with 2 extra Harquebusiers), Portuguese, and Russians.
"Blandengues" is available to the Germans, Italians, and Spanish upon revolting to Argentina.
"Loyal Warriors" is available to the Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, and Portuguese upon revolting to the Barbary States.
"Albion Mercenary Legion" is available to the Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish upon revolting to Gran Colombia.
"Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.
Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +10% speed, +20 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military units' train time -20%; Banner army train time -10%
Ships 13 random mercenaries; up to 3 random mercenaries available at Saloon; costs 3,500 coin
Indiana Mobilization
Ships 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game including this one; unit train time (except Heavy Cannons), technology research time, and age-up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Ships 9 Hussars; hand cavalry get +15% hit points and attack, and +5% speed; cavalry train time -10%
"Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
"Hamilton's Own" is available upon selecting the New York Federal State.
"Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.
Changelog[]
Definitive Edition[]
Originally, Harquebusiers had 97 ranged damage and a ranged rate of fire of 1.5. Since update 5208, they have 80 ranged damage, a ranged rate of fire of 2.0, and a ranged area of effect of 1.
Originally, Harquebusiers had 30% ranged resistance. With update 13088, they have 20% ranged resistance.
With update 43871, the Harquebusier portrait has been updated to align with his in-game appearance.
Knights of the Mediterranean[]
Although it is not listed in the patch notes, with update 13.9057, Harquebusiers have a ×1.0 ranged multiplier against pet and hand shock infantry, and a ×0.5 ranged multiplier against Pikeman (same as Hakkapelits).
The harquebusier was the most common form of cavalry found throughout Western Europe during the early and mid 17th century. This type of cavalryman was characterised by the use of a form of carbine, the earliest type of carbine used was called a "harquebus" derived from arquebus. The switch of the harquebusier from a mounted support role, reliant on firearms, to one of shock-capable close combat cavalry came from Sweden (Hakkapelit). The harquebusier was first invented in France. The later harquebusier was used in a shock role by cavalry leaders of the English Civil War. They employed harquesbusiers very aggressively: charging with sword in hand, thus relegating their firearms to a secondary function.
The harquebusier would usually have been armed with a carbine, wheellock, snaphaunce or doglock flintlock, hung from a swivel attached to a baldric, pistols in saddle holsters, and a stout, straight-bladed, sword and a typical harquebusier would have an iron cuirass with a breast and backplate, and an open faced helmet such as a lobster-tailed pot.