Improved Bowman

Improved Bowman is a unit in Age of Empires. Note that it is not an upgrade of the Bowman, since a new tile slot appears once the "upgrade to improved bow" is researched. Improved Bow must be researched at the Archery Range before they can be created.

Improved Bowmen are available to all civilizations except for the Assyrians, Greeks, Hittites, and Sumerians.

The Improved Bowman is not generally used in combat, since most civilizations that can train this unit can improve it to Composite Bowmen. Improved Bowmen have more hit points, attack, and range than the Bowman, but still need to be upgraded to compete with other Bronze Age units. Their primary role in combat is taking out Stone/Tool Age infantry such as the Axeman.

Upgrades Edit

Tool Age Edit

•  Leather Armor Archers: increases armor by 2.
•  Woodworking: increases range by 1.

Bronze Age Edit

•  Scale Armor Archers: increases armor by 2.
•  Artisanship: increases range by 1.
• Improved Bowman can be upgraded to Composite Bowman.

Iron Age Edit

•  Alchemy: increases attack by 1.
•  Ballistics: increases accuracy.
•  Chain Mail Archers: increases armor by 2.
•  Craftsmanship: increases range by 1.

Archery Range Tree
Tool Age Archery Range Bowman Bronze Age Improved Bowman Chariot Archer Composite Bowman Iron Age Horse Archer Elephant Archer Heavy Horse Archer

Civilization bonuses Edit

• Minoans: Improved Bowmen have +2 range.
• Macedonians: Improved Bowmen are four times more resistant against enemy conversion.
• The Improved Bowman is not available for Assyrians, Greeks, Hittites, and Sumerians.

History Edit

“The simple bow was improved by using better materials and by better training. Employing better wood or strips of laminated wood increased the tensile strength of the bow, increasing power and thus range. Arrows were improved also by such changes as metal arrowheads. In modern times, hundreds of bronze arrowheads were recovered from an archaeological excavation of the battlefield at Thermopylae. On this site a Spartan force under Leonidas had perished under a hail of Persian arrows after delaying the huge Persian army for many days.”

Gallery Edit

A group of Improved Bowmen, facing all possible directions.

An Improved Bowman in the Definitive Edition

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Units in Age of Empires
Age of Empires
Priest · Villager · Trade Boat · Merchant Ship · Fishing Boat · Fishing Ship · Light Transport · Heavy Transport
Infantry	Clubman · Axeman · Short Swordsman · Broad Swordsman · Long Swordsmen · Legion · Hoplite · Phalanx · Centurion
Archers	Bowman · Improved Bowman · Composite Bowman · Chariot Archer · Elephant Archer · Horse Archer · Heavy Horse Archer
Cavalry	Scout · Cavalry · Heavy Cavalry · Cataphract · Chariot · War Elephant
Siege	Stone Thrower · Catapult · Heavy Catapult · Ballista · Helepolis
Navy	Scout Ship · War Galley · Trireme · Catapult Trireme · Juggernaught
The Rise of Rome
Armored Elephant · Camel Rider · Fire Galley · Scythe Chariot · Slinger
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