Mounted archer unit (Age of Empires II)

Mounted archers in Age of Empires II are a cross between foot archer units and mounted units, and are a branch of archer units.

General information

Mangudai, one of the strongest mounted archer units

All mounted archer units possess a ranged attack, giving them an edge over non-ranged units. Most mounted archers are characterised by mediocre (infantry-like or light-cavalry-like) hit points, no armor, and fast (cavalry-like) speed.

All mounted archers are available from the Castle Age and are trained at either Archery Range or Castle. Most mounted archers cost less wood, more gold, and no food.

Mounted archers excel at massed battles against non-ranged or slower units, and in battles in narrow passages and densely developed areas, like forests and towns. There, they can use their range to fire over each other, while non-ranged units have to 'dig' themselves through an army of archers. In battles with few units, though, archers have trouble holding ground. In such cases, their high mobility comes in play, which helps them run away.

Mounted archers are superior to infantry and Monks, rival both cavalry and foot archers, and can very effectively eliminate Villagers. They struggle heavily against siege units which deal Area of Effect damage (especially the Mangonel) and can eliminate entire armies of mounted archers quickly if not paid attention. Mounted archers are, however, better at dealing with siege units than foot archers, because they have almost double the survivability and superior mobility. Battering Rams are also a useful supportive semi-counter against large mono-archer armies, especially for players using archers themselves. While rams deal little to no damage to archers on their own, they can be sent close to the archers, drawing automatic fire, which they resist thanks to their high pierce armor, allowing other ranged units to quickly dispatch the distracted enemy archers. This tactic forces the opponent to use intense micromanagement. The easiest counter against archers is the Skirmisher, a trash unit that is cheap, easy to mass, and both resists archer attacks and deals attack bonus against archers.

Other notable counters are Huskarls, Eagle Warriors, Ghulams, Rattan Archers, Genitours, Camel Archers, and War Wagons, the latter three being mounted archers themselves.

All mounted archer units share the Archer armor class and the Cavalry archer armor class. Except Camel Archers (which have the Camel armor class), all mounted archers have the Cavalry armor class as well. Elephant Archers have the Elephant armor class as well.

Despite being ranged mounted units, the following are not considered mounted archer units, since they are not archers:

• Arambai
• Ballista Elephant
• Conquistador
• Mameluke

List of mounted archer units

Mounted archer unit	B	Age	HP	At	Ar	PA	Ra	RoF	FD	Ac	LoS	Sp	Food	Wood	Gold	TT	Civilization
Cavalry Archer	Ar. Range		50	6	0	0	4	2	35	50	5	1.4	0	40	60	34	38
Heavy Cavalry Archer	Ar. Range		60	7	1	0	4	2	46	80	6	1.4	0	40	60	27	30
Elephant Archer	Ar. Range		250	6	0	2	4	2	24	70	7	0.9	80	0	70	32	3
Elite Elephant Archer	Ar. Range		280	7	0	2	4	2	24	85	7	0.9	80	0	70	32	3
Mangudai	Castle		60	6	0	0	4	2.1	23	95	6	1.4	0	55	65	26	Mongols
Elite Mangudai	Castle		60	8	1	0	4	2.1	23	95	6	1.4	0	55	65	26	Mongols
War Wagon	Castle		150	9	0	3	4	2.5	32	100	7	1.2	0	200	60	21	Koreans
Elite War Wagon	Castle		200	9	0	4	5	2.5	32	100	8	1.2	0	200	60	21	Koreans
Camel Archer	Castle		55	7	0	1	4	2	15	95	5	1.4	0	50	60	25	Berbers
Elite Camel Archer	Castle		60	8	1	1	4	2	15	95	5	1.4	0	50	60	25	Berbers
Genitour	Ar. Range		50	3	0	3	4	3	30	90	5	1.35	40	35	0	25	Berbers and allies
Elite Genitour	Ar. Range		55	4	0	4	4	3	30	90	6	1.35	40	35	0	25	Berbers and allies
Kipchak	Castle		40	4+3	0	0	4	2.2	0	90	6	1.4	0	60	35	20	Cumans
Elite Kipchak	Castle		45	5+3	0	0	4	2.2	0	90	6	1.4	0	60	35	20	Cumans
Elite Kipchak	Castle		45	5+3	0	0	4	2.2	0	90	6	1.4	0	0	0	12	Cumans and allies
Ranged Ratha	Castle		105	5	3	2	4	2	14	80	6	1.3	0	60	60	18	Bengalis
Ranged Elite Ratha	Castle		115	6	3	3	4	2	14	90	6	1.3	0	60	60	18	Bengalis
Khan	Scenario Editor		160	12	2	2	4	2.1	23	95	6	1.45

Despite not being classified as mounted archers, Melee Rathas get upgraded as Ranged Rathas (mounted archers) with respect to Line of Sight, armor, and attack bonus vs spearmen.

Technologies

Technology	Researched at	Age	Civilization	Effect
Thumb Ring	Archery Range		28	Increases Rate of Fire and accuracy (the latter to 100%)
Parthian Tactics	Archery Range		13	Increases armor by +1/+2 and attack vs Spearman by 2, except for Genitours
Bloodlines	Stable		31	Increases hit points by +20
Husbandry	Stable		38	Increases movement speed by +10%
Fletching	Blacksmith		All	Increases range and attack by +1
Bodkin Arrow	Blacksmith		All	Increases range and attack by +1
Bracer	Blacksmith		37	Increases range and attack by +1
Padded Archer Armor	Blacksmith		All	Increases armor by +1/+1
Leather Archer Armor	Blacksmith		All except Burmese	Increases armor by +1/+1
Ring Archer Armor	Blacksmith		34	Increases armor by +1/+2
Ballistics	University		All	Track moving targets
Chemistry	University		All	Increases attack by +1
Herbal Medicine	Monastery		41	Garrisoned units heal 6x faster
Heresy (die upon getting converted)	Monastery		26	Converted units die instead of changing color
Devotion (+1 min, +1 max)	Monastery		All	Increases conversion resistance by 15%
Faith (+4 min, +4 max)	Monastery		41	Increases conversion resistance
Conscription	Castle		All	Increases creation speed by +33%
Atlatl	Castle		Aztecs	Genitours +1 attack and range
Paiks	Castle		Bengalis	Rathas and Elephant Archers attack 20% faster
Kasbah	Castle		Berbers	Castle production and research speed increased by +25%
Maghrebi Camels	Castle		Berbers	Camel Archers regenerate 15 HP per minute
Steppe Husbandry	Castle		Cumans	Cavalry Archers created 100% faster
Cuman Mercenaries	Castle		Cumans	Allows Cumans and their allies to train 5 Elite Kipchaks per Castle for free
Medical Corps	Castle		Dravidians	Elephant Archers regenerate 30 HP per minute
Kshatriyas	Castle		Gurjaras	Units cost -25% food
Frontier Guards	Castle		Gurjaras	Elephant Archers get +4 melee armor
Andean Sling	Castle		Incas	Removes minimum range of Genitours
Recurve Bow	Castle		Magyars	Increases range and attack by +1
Hul'che Javelineers	Castle		Mayans	Genitours throw additional javelin
Tower Shields	Castle		Lithuanians	Genitours get +2 pierce armor
First Crusade (+4 min, +4 max)	Castle		Sicilians	Increases conversion resistance
Silk Armor	Castle		Tatars	Increases armor by +1/+1
Sipahi	Castle		Turks	Increases HP by +20

Civilizations

Civilizations which can circumvent some of these limitations can perform really good Cavalry Archer rushes. The most famous civilizations are Mongols (faster firing), Tatars (extra vision, free Thumb Ring), Magyars (25% faster creation), and Huns (10% discount, no need for Houses; because cavalry archers are meant to be massed, and are also easy to keep alive).

Some other civilizations also get help from their civilization bonuses, but lack key technologies, which limits them from going for cavalry archer rushes. These civilizations are Cumans (free movement speed bonus, cheaper Archery Ranges and Stable; lack Bracer), Koreans (-50% wood cost, free Archer Armor upgrades; lack Bloodlines) and Portuguese (-20% gold cost; lack Heavy Cavalry Archers).

Cavalry Archers become more viable in later stages of the game and are used for various purposes. With all relevant technologies researched, Magyars have the best Cavalry Archers in the game for offensive purposes, with extra range, attack, and faster creation. Even in the late game, Mongols and Huns have their reputation of good cavalry archer civilizations, with the former often preferring its unique unit over the Heavy Cavalry Archer. Following them are Tatars and Turks, which have very good survivability. Most civilizations also lack either Ring Archer Armor or Parthian Tactics, which means that Saracens and Japanese, who have both of these upgrades and other relevant upgrades, but no bonuses, are considered above average. Since both these civilizations also have Arbalesters, Heavy Cavalry Archers are seldom used. Vietnamese Heavy Cavalry Archers are underused, despite having free hit points while having all relevant upgrades (except Parthian Tactics). Elite Camel Archers are very popular units, because being ranged, mobile, and self-healing, they are very easy to keep alive, with their tendency to counter other mounted archers being icing on the cake. Dravidian and Bengali Elite Elephant Archers are also beastly and provide the tough ranged support role very well.

Although not prominent, some civilizations have almost fully upgradeable (lacking either Parthian Tactics or Ring Archer Armor, but not both) Cavalry Archers without bonuses, and as such these civilizations can use them if need be. These civilizations are Berbers, Bulgarians, Chinese, Hindustanis, Lithuanians, and Spanish.

Technology trees

Civilizations which completely lack mounted archers altogether (Aztecs, Bohemians, Incas and Mayans) are excluded from this list.

	= Available
	= Unavailable
	= Researched for free or fully covered by a civilization bonus if unavailable

Civilization									All
Armenians
Bengalis
Berbers
Britons
Bulgarians
Burgundians
Burmese
Byzantines
Celts
Chinese
Cumans
Dravidians
Ethiopians
Franks
Georgians
Goths
Gurjaras
Hindustanis
Huns
Italians
Japanese									X
Khmer
Koreans
Lithuanians
Magyars									X
Malay
Malians
Mongols
Persians
Poles
Portuguese
Romans
Saracens									X
Sicilians
Slavs
Spanish
Tatars									X
Teutons
Turks									X
Vietnamese
Vikings

Civilization bonuses

• Aztecs: Mounted archers are created 11% faster.
• Bengalis: Elephant Archers receive -25% bonus damage and are more resistant to conversion.
• Bulgarians: Blacksmith technologies that benefit mounted archers cost -50% food.
• Burgundians: Husbandry is 50% cheaper.
• Burmese: Devotion, Faith, and Herbal Medicine are 50% cheaper.
• Byzantines: Genitours are 25% cheaper.
• Chinese: Technologies that benefit mounted archers are 5%/10%/15% cheaper in the Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age.
• Cumans: Mounted archers move 10%/15% faster in the Castle/Imperial Age. Archery Ranges and Stables cost -75 wood.
• Dravidians: Genitours and Elephant Archers attack 25% faster.
• Franks: Mounted archers have +20% hit points.
• Georgians: Mounted archers regenerate 10/15 hit points per minute in the Castle/Imperial Age.
• Gurjaras: Genitours deal +30%/+40% attack bonus in the Castle/Imperial Age.
• Huns: Mounted archers are 10%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
• Incas: Genitours cost -25%/-30% food in the Castle/Imperial Age.
• Italians: Ballistics and Chemistry are 33% cheaper.
• Japanese: Mounted archers have +2 attack against archers (except Skirmishers and Genitours).
• Koreans: Mounted archers cost -50% wood. Archer armor upgrades are free.
• Mongols: Mounted archers fire 25% faster.
• Persians: Parthian Tactics is available in the Castle Age.
• Portuguese: Mounted archers cost -20% gold.
• Sicilians: Mounted archers receive -33% bonus damage.
• Spanish: Blacksmith technologies that affect mounted archers cost no gold.
• Tatars: Mounted archers deal +20% damage (+50% instead of +25%) when attacking from higher elevation. Parthian Tactics and Thumb Ring are free.
• Turks: Chemistry is free.
• Vietnamese: Cavalry Archers, Genitours, and mercenary Kipchaks have +20% hit points and Conscription is free.

Team bonuses

• Berbers: Genitour available at the Archery Range.
• Britons: Mounted archers which are created at the Archery Range are created and upgraded 10% faster.
• Bulgarians: Blacksmith technologies that affect mounted archers are researched 80% faster.
• Gurjaras: Camel Archers and Elephant Archers are created 25% faster.
• Huns: Bloodlines and Husbandry are researched 20% faster.
• Hindustanis: Camel Archers have +2 attack against standard buildings.
• Lithuanians: Devotion, Faith, Herbal Medicine, and Heresy are researched 20% faster.
• Magyars: Mounted archers are created 25% faster.
• Malians: Ballistics and Chemistry are researched 80% faster.
• Portuguese: Technologies that benefit mounted archers are researched 25% faster.
• Tatars: Mounted archers have +2 Line of Sight.
• Teutons: Mounted archers are more resistant to conversion.

Limitations

Mounted archers are rarely used in the early Castle Age, because of the large number of upgrades required to kickstart production. Cavalry Archers need three production buildings for good production, unlike two for Crossbowmen and Knights, on top of also needing a Stable for relevant upgrades, the wood cost of which adds up very quickly. Cavalry Archers are also pretty short-sighted, having even lesser Line of Sight than an Archer. They are also harder to micromanage than foot archers and unique mounted archers.

Genitours are used for raiding and countering other archers only, and are not seen very often. Elephant Archers cost a lot of food (but no wood), and are too slow to perform the hit-and-run tactics of other mounted archers, and are not seen in the early Castle Age.

Trivia

• Excluding the Berbers, Spanish, and Lithuanians, most civilizations with prominent Cavalry Archers originated in various parts of Asia, including all 14 with access to Parthian Tactics (though the Huns, Magyars, and Bulgarians ended up establishing their empires in Europe).
• Among the 65 unique units in the game, 6 are mounted archers.
• Though superficially similar to the Korean War Wagon, the Bohemian Hussite Wagon is a siege weapon.
• Mercenary Kipchaks can be created even in the Dark and Feudal Ages, provided the player has a Castle, which can happen on some maps, especially Fortress.

Gallery

All Mounted archer units

Official showcase of Mongols with a typical army of Mangudai/Cavalry Archers with Light Cavalry in front

See also

• Ranged cavalry (Age of Empires II)