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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires IV. For the unit in other games of the series, see Longbowman. |
| “ | Cheap long-ranged infantry with good damage vs. unarmored targets. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Longbowman is the unique light ranged infantry unit of the English in Age of Empires IV which replaces the Archer. It is also available to the Byzantines as a mercenary unit after researching Western Mercenary Contracts.
Overview[]
Longbowmen can be produced from Archery Ranges, Keeps (including Landmarks that act as Keeps), and the Council Hall landmark (at half the production time). To sustain constant production of Longbowmen from one Archery Range, 4 villagers on food and 5 on wood are required (double the amount for Council Hall), assuming no economic upgrades.
Abilities[]
Place Palings (Active): The Longbowman places down defensive palings. Enemy cavalry will be stunned for 2.5 seconds and receive 25 damage when trying to charge the Longbowman. Palings disappear upon moving. 30 second cooldown.- Arrow Volley (active, unlock with Arrow Volley): Activate to receive a 70% increase in attack speed for 5 seconds. 45 seconds cooldown.
Unit comparison[]
 Archer
|
 Yeoman
|
 Longbowman
| |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | 30 food, 50 wood | 50 food, 45 wood | 40 food, 50 wood |
| Ranged Attack | 5 (Regular)
7 (Veteran) 8 (Elite) |
5 (Regular)
7 (Veteran) 8 (Elite) |
6 (Regular)
8 (Veteran) 9 (Elite) |
| Attack vs Light melee infantry | +5 (Regular)
+7 (Veteran) +8 (Elite) |
+5 (Regular)
+7 (Veteran) +8 (Elite) |
+6 (Regular)
+8 (Veteran, Elite) |
| Range | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Speed | 1.25 | 1.31 | 1.12 |
| Abilities | Synchronized Shot | Place Palings
Arrow Volley |
Tactics[]
As a replacement Archer for the English, Longbowman tactics are similar to those of the Archer. However, due to the Council Hall, they can be created much faster and earlier than Archers. Sending Longbowmen to harass a woodline or Gold Mine immediately after advancing to the Feudal Age is a common tactic. Additionally, since attack speed bonuses benefit ranged units significantly more than melee units, bringing up forward Villagers to build Outposts and activate the Network of Castles bonus is essential. With this bonus, especially after researching Network of Citadels and Arrow Volley, English Longbowmen can scale better into the late-game than regular Archers. They especially make a better counter to enemy Handcannoneers in the Imperial Age because they outrange them by an extra tile compared to Archers. While it can be tempting to try and use Palings as a reaction to seeing enemy cavalry, they are slow to set up and immobilize the user, allowing the cavalry to close in and cut down the Longwboman before they are set up. They are much better to use proactively when trying to hold an area.
When facing the English and defending against Longbowmen, building a Stable for Horsemen should be the immediate response. These Horsemen should be used to try and pick off small groups of Longbowmen and cut off reinforcements, since once Longbowmen reach critical mass, they can take down Horsemen better than Archers due to their increased range and attack. Because most English players will supplement their Longbowmen with either Spearmen or Men-at-Arms, a defending player should also start combining their Horsemen with Archers of their own. Despite their range disadvantage, Archers are faster, so they can keep up with Longbowmen trying to kite, and they are cheaper and easier to scale than Horsemen as well. Outposts can also be an alternative way of defending against Longbowmen, for example if trying to Fast Castle with limited army investment. However, because Longbowmen outrange Outposts, they must be built slightly forward from Gold Mines and woodlines, so that when Villagers garrison the Outpost, they will be able to reach attacking Longbowmen.
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Light melee infantry, |
| Weak vs. | Horsemen, Lancers, Mangonels, Javelin Throwers |
| Conditional matchups | Horse Archers, Crossbowmen, Handcannoneers |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Attack |  Steeled Arrow (+1) Balanced Projectiles (+1) Platecutter Point (+1) Incendiary Arrows (+20%, +3 siege damage vs buildings)
|
 Range
|
 Silk Bowstrings (+1.5)
|
| Armor |  Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
|
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Ability |  Siege Engineering (Can build Battering Rams and Siege Towers) Arrow Volley (Grants Arrow Volley ability)
|
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Range
|
 Wall Defense (+1)
|
| Damage resistance | Wall Defense (-25% ranged, -50% siege)
|
 Attack speed
|
 Network of Castles (+20%, or +30% with Network of Citadels) Arrow Volley (+70% for 5 seconds)
|
| Line of Sight |  Set up Camp (+30%)
|
| Civilization bonuses | |
|---|---|
| Creation speed | (+100% from Council Hall, +75% from The White Tower) |
Mercenary Longbowmen[]
The Byzantines can purchase Longbowmen with Olive Oil from a Mercenary House after researching Western Mercenary Contracts. Once unlocked, they can train automatically from the Golden Horn Tower. In addition to the generic upgrades, they benefit from the following Byzantine unique bonuses:
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
 Regeneration
|
 Pilgrim Flask (25 hp/s for 6 seconds, requires Cistern of the First Hill)
|
| Armor |  Camel Support (+2 melee/ranged, requires Foreign Engineering Company)
|
| Attack speed
|
Arrow Volley (+70% for 5 seconds, requires Foreign Engineering Company)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Naval Deployment (+50% speed for 12 seconds after unloading from a Transport Ship)
|
| Creation speed |   Conscriptio Influence (+20% per Cistern water level) Trade Post (+50%)
|
Dialogue lines[]
- Main article: /Dialogue lines
Changelog[]
- Originally, the elite upgrade took 90 seconds. With update 8324, it takes 60 seconds.
- Originally, Longbowmen can be trained from the Wynguard Palace through Wynguard Army. With update 6.0.878, they can no longer be trained there.
- Originally, Longbowmen could obtain the Setup Camp ability (required research), which increased vision range and heal nearby allied Longbowmen by 1 HP/s. With update 8.0.185, the ability would deactivate when entering combat. With the Season One Update, the ability could no longer be triggered in combat. With update 7.0.5861, this ability was removed and given to Men-at-Arms instead.
- Originally, Longbowmen cost 500 olive oil to hire. With patch 12.1.2454, they cost 520 olive oil
Gallery[]
