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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten. For the unit in other games of the series, see Slinger. |
| “ | Inca unique unit. Ranged anti-infantry unit that cannot attack at close range. | ” |
| —Age of Empires II description | ||
The Slinger is the second unique unit of the Inca in Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten, the first being the Kamayuk. It can be trained at the Archery Range once the Castle Age is reached. It is an anti-infantry ranged unit.
Unlike most unique units, Slingers do not have an Elite version.
Tactics[]
Slingers have an attack bonus of +10 against infantry. That makes them powerful early anti-infantry units, as they can defeat most infantry that come close enough. They are also one of the best archers at dealing with Huskarls. However, Huskarls can be a devastating threat for Slingers themselves in the close range due to their attack bonus against archers. Another potential risk is the Samurai, provided they can close in, as they have a huge attack bonus against unique units combined with an already quick and massive attack.
In some ways they behave similarly to the Hand Cannoneer, but they are cheaper, available from the Castle Age, and fire more accurately as they are affected by Ballistics and Thumb Ring. When fully upgraded with Bracer, they have more range than their gunpowder counterpart, but still significantly less attack even after all archer attack upgrades. Hence, unlike Hand Cannoneers, Slingers are not as effective against any other unit, especially cavalry.
Like Skirmishers, they have a minimum range, and this remains a problem unless Andean Sling is researched at the Castle. Note that their projectile speed is lower than Hand Cannoneers and most archers. This makes them harder to micro intensively and more vulnerable to archers used by a skilled opponent.
Slingers can be used alongside Kamayuks and Eagle Warriors, each countering the other's weakness. Kamayuks counters cavalry, Eagle Warriors counters archers and siege weapons, and the Slinger counters the eagle-threatening infantry. This is a very gold-intensive army, however, and can be difficult to mass.
Further statistics[]
As Slingers are unique to the Incas, only technologies that are available to them are shown in the following table:
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Infantry, Villagers |
| Weak vs. | Elite Skirmishers, cavalry, Genitours, Rattan Archers, Siege weapons |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Attack |  Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Chemistry (+1) Andean Sling (+1)
|
 Range
|
Fletching (+1) Bodkin Arrow (+1) Bracer (+1) Andean Sling (eliminates the minimum range)
|
| Accuracy |  Thumb Ring (increases accuracy to 100%) Ballistics (hit moving targets)
|
| Armor |  Padded Archer Armor (+1/+1) Leather Archer Armor (+1/+1) Ring Archer Armor (+1/+2) Fabric Shields (+1/+2, since The African Kingdoms)
|
| Conversion resistance |  Devotion (+1 min, +1 max) Faith (+4 min, +4 max) Heresy (die upon getting converted)
|
| Creation speed |  Conscription (+33%)
|
Civilization bonuses[]
Team bonuses[]
Britons: Slingers are created 10% faster. Researching Thumb Ring is 10% faster.- Bulgarians: Researching upgrades at the Blacksmith is 80% faster.
- Lithuanians: Researching Devotion, Faith and Heresy is 20% faster.
- Malians: Researching Chemistry and Ballistics is 80% faster.
- Portuguese: Upgrades that benefit Slingers are researched 25% faster.
- Saracens: Slingers have +3 attack against standard buildings.
- Teutons: Slingers are more resistant to conversion.
Changelog[]
The Forgotten[]
- Slingers require a Castle to be available at the Archery Range.
- Slingers have an attack of 5.
- Couriers gives Slingers +10% movement speed.
- Slingers do not benefit from Thumb Ring.
- Slingers cost 30 food, 40 gold
The African Kingdoms[]
- Slingers no longer require a Castle.
- Slingers reskinned.
- Couriers gives Slingers +1/+2 armor instead of +10% movement speed.
Definitive Edition[]
- Slingers have an attack of 4.
- Couriers renamed Fabric Shields.
Dynasties of India[]
- With update 73855, the internal implementation of Thumb Ring is made cleaner and simpler. As a side effect, Heroes and Slingers benefit from it. This change was not mentioned in the patch notes. With update 81058, this was reverted and classified as a bug fix.
- With update 81058, Incan military units cost -25%/-30% food in the Castle/Imperial Age, to offset which Slingers cost 40 food, 40 gold. Andean Sling now additionally provides +1 attack to Slingers.
The Mountain Royals[]
- Inca: With update 99311, they cost -20%/-25% food in the Castle/Imperial Age.
Heroes[]
There is one hero in the game with the appearance of a Slinger:
Trivia[]
- The Slinger's design might have been partially inspired by Guamán Poma's depiction of Pachacuti as such.
- Historically, Slingers were generic skirmishers fielded by not only Incas but also Aztecs and Maya, among other various Meso-American civilizations; in contrast, Eagle Warriors were exclusive to Aztecs. Still, developers sometimes favored gameplay considerations over historical accuracy, resulting in the Slingers' in-game uniqueness & the Eagle Warrior's in-game genericity.
- The Slinger's shield resembles the Inca civilization icon.
- With update 81058, Slingers gain a fire projectile after researching Chemistry.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
