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Obsidian Arrows was a technology in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten that was unique to the Mayans and researched at the Castle. It granted Archers and their upgrades a +6 attack bonus against standard buildings, and stone defense (the latter between patches 4.8 and update 42848).

In update 44725 for the Definitive Edition, it was replaced by Hul'che Javelineers.

Strategy[]

Archer armies are usually completely dependent on siege units to deal any damage to buildings, since their overall damage is lower than melee units and buildings naturally have armor. The Mayans are particularly dependent on archers, having a limited tech tree for other unit types and no access to cavalry.

With the addition of Obsidian Arrows, a large group of Mayan Archers actually became a severe threat to buildings. As ranged units, all units in the group can be damaging the same building at the same time without having to surround it, letting them pile on the damage quicker and from a safe distance. For example, Castle Age Crossbowmen with Bodkin Arrow can outrange all Town Centers (except Lithuanians' with Hill Forts), and a group of 20 or so could take one down in a reasonable amount of time. This made them an extraordinary raiding party if paired with units to handle their counters, such as Pikemen for cavalry or Eagle Warriors for Skirmishers. Blacksmith upgrades should still be prioritized since they added the same damage against units plus range while being overall cheaper. Additionally, Plumed Archers did not benefit from Obsidian Arrows. When allied with Saracens, it also added the team bonus of +2 attack bonus against standard buildings for the Archer line for a total of +8.

Changelog[]

AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten[]

AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms[]

AoEIIDE icon Definitive Edition[]

AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West[]

Trivia[]

  • At launch, the additional +6 (+4 in The Forgotten) attack against stone defenses did not trigger due to a bug. However, this was fixed with patch 4.8.
  • In real life, obsidian arrows are extraordinarily sharp, but also very brittle and often aren't re-usable. Despite their sharpness, they are not well suited to destroying masonry or walls, and are in fact easily defeated by as little as a wooden board.
  • Competitive players thought that having large foot archer bonuses against buildings was not healthy for the game, as archers are supposed to be stopped by buildings, and the Mayans were already considered a great civilization without this technology.
    • While the technology was strong during most of its existence, it only came into attention in the Definitive Edition, as previously the Plumed Archer (which was nerfed in the Definitive Edition) was the better option for the Mayans.
  • Unlike most removed technologies, which were useless for being locked behind a price tag (like Tracking and Madrasah), Obsidian Arrows was removed for being too strong.

Gallery[]

Unique technologies in Age of Empires II
AoE2-DLCicon-0 The Age of Kings civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Britons Yeomen · CivIcon-Byzantines Greek Fire · CivIcon-Celts Stronghold · CivIcon-Chinese Great Wall · CivIcon-Franks Bearded Axe · CivIcon-Goths Anarchy · CivIcon-Japanese Yasama · CivIcon-Mongols Nomads · CivIcon-Persians Kamandaran · CivIcon-Saracens Bimaristan · CivIcon-Teutons Ironclad · CivIcon-Turks Sipahi · CivIcon-Vikings Chieftains
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Britons Warwolf · CivIcon-Byzantines Logistica · CivIcon-Celts Furor Celtica · CivIcon-Chinese Rocketry · CivIcon-Franks Chivalry · CivIcon-Goths Perfusion · CivIcon-Japanese Kataparuto · CivIcon-Mongols Drill · CivIcon-Persians Citadels · CivIcon-Saracens Counterweights · CivIcon-Teutons Crenellations · CivIcon-Turks Artillery · CivIcon-Vikings Bogsveigar
AoE2-DLCicon-1 The Conquerors civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Aztecs Atlatl · CivIcon-Huns Marauders · CivIcon-Koreans Eupseong · CivIcon-Mayans Hul'che Javelineers · CivIcon-Spanish Inquisition
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Aztecs Garland Wars · CivIcon-Huns Atheism · CivIcon-Koreans Shinkichon · CivIcon-Mayans El Dorado · CivIcon-Spanish Supremacy
AoE2-DLCicon-2 The Forgotten civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Incas Andean Sling · CivIcon-Italians Pavise · CivIcon-Magyars Corvinian Army · CivIcon-Slavs Detinets
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Incas Fabric Shields · CivIcon-Italians Silk Road · CivIcon-Magyars Recurve Bow · CivIcon-Slavs Druzhina
AoE2-DLCicon-3 The African Kingdoms civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Berbers Kasbah · CivIcon-Ethiopians Tigui · CivIcon-Malians Royal Heirs · CivIcon-Portuguese Carrack
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Berbers Maghrebi Camels · CivIcon-Ethiopians Farimba · CivIcon-Malians Torsion Engines · CivIcon-Portuguese Arquebus
AoE2-DLCicon-4 Rise of the Rajas civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Burmese Howdah · CivIcon-Khmer Tusk Swords · CivIcon-Malay Thalassocracy · CivIcon-Vietnamese Chatras
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Burmese Manipur Cavalry · CivIcon-Khmer Double Crossbow · CivIcon-Malay Forced Levy · CivIcon-Vietnamese Paper Money
AoE2-DLCicon-5 The Last Khans civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bulgarians Stirrups · CivIcon-Cumans Steppe Husbandry · CivIcon-Lithuanians Hill Forts · CivIcon-Tatars Silk Armor
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bulgarians Bagains · CivIcon-Cumans Cuman Mercenaries · CivIcon-Lithuanians Tower Shields · CivIcon-Tatars Timurid Siegecraft
AoE2Icon-LordsWest Lords of the West civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Burgundians Burgundian Vineyards · CivIcon-Sicilians First Crusade
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Burgundians Flemish Revolution · CivIcon-Sicilians Hauberk
Dawn of the Dukes icon Dawn of the Dukes civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bohemians Wagenburg Tactics · CivIcon-Poles Szlachta Privileges
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bohemians Hussite Reforms · CivIcon-Poles Lechitic Legacy
AoE2Icon-DynastiesIndia Dynasties of India civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Bengalis Paiks · CivIcon-Dravidians Medical Corps · CivIcon-Gurjaras Kshatriyas · CivIcon-Hindustanis Grand Trunk Road
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Bengalis Mahayana · CivIcon-Dravidians Wootz Steel · CivIcon-Gurjaras Frontier Guards · CivIcon-Hindustanis Shatagni
AoE2Icon-ReturnRome Return of Rome civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Romans Ballistas
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Romans Comitatenses
AoE2Icon-MountainRoyals The Mountain Royals civilizations
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Armenians Cilician Fleet · CivIcon-Georgians Svan Towers
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Armenians Fereters · CivIcon-Georgians Aznauri Cavalry
Removed technologies
UniqueTechCastle-DECivIcon-Persians Boiling Oil · CivIcon-Saracens Camelry · CivIcon-Saracens Madrasah · CivIcon-Mayans Obsidian Arrows · CivIcon-Slavs Orthodoxy · CivIcon-Koreans Panokseon
UniqueTechImperialDECivIcon-Vikings Berserkergang · CivIcon-Persians Mahouts · CivIcon-Sicilians Scutage · CivIcon-Saracens Zealotry
Revised technologies
UniqueTechImperialDE Couriers · UniqueTechImperialDE Manipur Cavalry · UniqueTechImperialDE Paper Money · UniqueTechCastle-DE Royal Heirs
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