This article is about the unit in Age of Empires. For the unit in Age of Empires IV, see Horse Archer (Age of Empires IV). |
ā | A fast archery unit with strong attack strength and range. | ā |
—In-game description in the Definitive Edition |
The Horse Archer is a ranged cavalry/mounted archer unit in Age of Empires that can be trained at the Archery Range once the Iron Age is reached.
Civilizations[]
Available | Unavailable |
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Gameplay[]
The Horse Archer is a fast ranged cavalry that can be made during the Iron Age in the Archery Range. Horse Archers are one of the more expensive archer units, but their decent attack, good range and, most importantly, high speed makes them one of the best units of the Iron Age.
Although only having a tenth of an Elephant Archer's hit points, the Horse Archer has more than double its speed. Having this key ability allows them to outmaneuver most units in open terrain. Under ideal conditions in one on one combat, horse archers dominate the field. As a result, this makes them a great choice in guerilla warfare. However, due to their fragility, their attacking potential becomes less powerful the more they are bunched together on the battlefield where they can be prime targets for siege weaponry that does area of effect damage. The Horse Archer can be upgraded to the more powerful Heavy Horse Archer.
Further statistics[]
Strengths and weaknesses | |
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Strong vs. | Slow and non-ranged units, Priests |
Weak vs. | Composite Bowmen, Elephant Archers, Ballistae, Camel Riders |
Upgrades | |
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Hit points | Nobility (+15%) |
Attack | Alchemy (+1 pierce) |
Range | Woodworking (+1) Artisanship (+1) Craftsmanship (+1) |
Accuracy | Ballistics (hit moving targets) |
Armor | Leather Armor Archers (+2 melee/ +0 pierce) Scale Armor Archers (+2 melee/ +0 pierce) Chain Mail Archers (+2 melee/ +0 pierce) |
Other | Heavy Horse Archer (upgrade) |
Civilization bonuses[]
- Assyrians: Horse Archers fire 33% faster.
- Hittites: Horse Archers have +1 attack.
- Lac Viet: Horse Archers are trained 25% faster and have +2 armor.
- Macedonians: Horse Archers are four times more resistant to conversion.
- Yamato: Horse Archers cost -15%. Upgrading Horse Archers to Heavy Horse Archers costs -30%.*
Team bonuses[]
- Palmyrans: Upgrading Horse Archers to Heavy Horse Archers and researching technologies that benefit Horse Archers are 30% faster.
- Phoenicians: Horse Archers have +2 Line of Sight.
Changelog[]
Age of Empires[]
- Horse Archers have 2 pierce armor and 7 frame delay.
- Horse Archers can be upgraded to Heavy Horse Archers only if Chain Mail Archers is researched.
- Assyrians: Horse Archers fire 36% faster (but stated 40%).
- Yamato: Horse Archers cost -30% but move 20% slower.
The Rise of Rome[]
- Yamato: Horse Archers cost -25% and move at normal speed.
Definitive Edition[]
- Horse Archers have 1 pierce armor and 30 frame delay.
- With update 9, Yamato Horse Archers cost -20%. With update 38862, the discount was further reduced to -15%.
- Assyrians: Horse Archers fire 33% faster (but stated 25%).
Return of Rome[]
- Team bonuses added:
- Palmyrans: Technologies benefiting Horse Archers are researched 30% faster.
- Phoenicians: Horse Archers have +2 Line of Sight.
- Yamato: Upgrading Horse Archers to Heavy Horse Archers costs -30%.
- Researching Chain Mail Archers is no longer required to upgrade Horse Archers to Heavy Horse Archers.
History[]
ā | Horse archers started to gradually replace chariot archers on the ancient battlefields from the Iron Age on. Two ranged cavalrymen had the firepower of a single Chariot Archer and could move faster on the battlefield. Also, a loss on the battlefield was of only one horse and the archer in contrast to the loss of a chariot, of the men on the chariot and often, of the horses. The horse archers' use was gradually limited when many cultures, such as the Greeks made increasing use of heavy cavalry (such as the Companion cavalry), and skirmishing troops. The Chinese also built the Great Wall to protect themselves against these cavalrymen and other armies from the western steppes. | ā |
Gallery[]
Tech tree[]
Barracks |
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Improved Bow |
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Wheel |
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Units in Age of Empires | |
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Civilian | Villager Ā· Trade Cart |
Other | Priest Ā· Slinger Ā· Artifact |
Civilian ship | Fishing Boat Ā· Fishing Ship Trade Boat Ā· Merchant Ship Light Transport Ā· Heavy Transport |
Infantry | Clubman Ā· Axeman Short Swordsman Ā· Broad Swordsman Ā· Long Swordsmen Ā· Legionary Hoplite Ā· Phalangite Ā· Centurion |
Archer | Bowman Improved Bowman Ā· Composite Bowman Chariot Archer Horse Archer Ā· Heavy Horse Archer Elephant Archer |
Cavalry | Scout Chariot Ā· Scythe Chariot Cavalry Ā· Heavy Cavalry Ā· Cataphract War Elephant Ā· Armored Elephant Camel Rider |
Siege | Stone Thrower Ā· Catapult Ā· Heavy Catapult Ballista Ā· Helepolis |
War Ship | Scout Ship Ā· War Galley Ā· Trireme Catapult Trireme Ā· Juggernaut Fire Galley |
Scenario Editor-only units | |
Chieftain Ā· Donkey Ā· Explorer Ā· General Ā· High Priest Ā· Horse Ā· Mercenary (removed) Ā· Penguin Ā· Pharaoh Ā· Raft Ā· War Chest |