The Tatar Archer is a mountedarcher. It is available starting in the Commerce Age and is cheap in comparison with other mounted archers, being similar to the Chinese Keshik, but having a wood cost in addition to food.
Unlike other ranged light cavalry, like the typical Dragoon, Tatar Archers have less hit points, a very low attack, and faster Rate of Fire. This makes them more effective at performing hit-and-run tactics, attacking almost instantly and taking down enemy cavalry more easily. In addition, their hand resistance allows them to handle melee heavy infantry for longer, especially in hand attack mode, but they can be taken down by light infantry such as foot archers or Skirmishers.
Their higher attack multiplier versus cavalry and artillery makes them more specialised in their role as a counter unit. They also counter enemy light cavalry, unlike the more typical Dragoon, though less so than heavy cavalry (they have a x2.25 attack multiplier versus them when their cavalry and light ranged cavalry multipliers are taken together). Their much higher dps in hand attack mode and their hand resistance make them more effective at hand combat mode than a Dragoon.
Lacking a decreased multiplier versus villagers in ranged mode makes them more effective at raiding, though the player might still want to sometimes put them in hand attack mode for the higher dps (even with the hand resistance of Settlers) and snaring.
Berber Camel Riders are tagged as light ranged cavalry despite not having a ranged attack to avoid units like this being unusually effective versus them.
For African civilizations, native warriors are upgraded automatically and for free.
Civilization differences[]
The Russians can get a separate version of Tatar Archers named Bashkir Archers if the player sends the "Bashkir Rebellion" Home City Card, which turns all Cossacks in the map into Bashkir Archers, and grants Tengri Discipline Training upgrade (if not already). It also allows Bashkir Archers to train at Trading Posts on Tengri Shrines and Native Embassies, along with Tatar Archers, upgrades them to Honored, and removes their training limit in exchange for 1 population cost.
Each different allied native tribe sends a shipment of their respective native warriors (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans)
Native Alliance
Native warrior train limit +20% and cost -10% (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Native Warriors
Native warriors cost -25% (also +3 Uhlans for the Germans)
Native Warrior Combat
Native warriors get +15% hit points and damage
TEAM Native Weapon Trade
Native warrior train limit +20%
Blood Brothers
Upgrades native warriors to Elite/Disciplined/Veteran and Champion/Honored/Royal Guard; Native Embassies get +40% hit points and +5 build limit (also +4 Uhlans for the Germans)
Cavalry train time -40%; Cuirassier and Oprichnik train time -35% instead; Gatling Camel train time -20% instead (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
"Cavalry Damage" is available to the British and Lakota.
"Cavalry Hitpoints" is available to the British and Haudenosaunee.
"Cavalry Combat" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Lakota, Mexicans, Ottomans, Russians, and Spanish.
"Native Treaties" is available to Africans, Europeans (except the Maltese), Federal Americans, and Native Americans, and ships 3 Tatar Archers if the player had built a Trading Post on a Tengri settlement.
"Native Alliance" is available to the Aztecs, Inca, Indians, and Japanese.
"Native Warriors" is available to Europeans, the Lakota and Mexicans.
"Native Warrior Combat" is available to the French, Haudenosaunee, and Inca, and also Mexicans upon revolting to the Maya, and British upon revolting to Haiti.
"TEAM Native Weapon Trade" is available to the Dutch and Lakota, and also British and French upon revolting to Canada.
"Blood Brothers" is available to the Aztecs, French, Germans, Haudenosaunee, Lakota, Portuguese, Russians, and Spanish, and also British upon revolting to Canada or Haiti.
"Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.
"Riding School" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese and Spanish) and the Indians.
Each different allied native tribe sends a large shipment of their respective native warriors and upgrades them to Elite and Champion; native warriors train time -10%; native warrior shipments and "Native Treaties" arrive time -50%; costs 500 food, 500 wood
"Indian Friendship" is available to the United States and "Chimayo Genizarios" to the Mexicans.
"Indian Friendship"/"Chimayo Genizarios" ships 6 Tatar Archers, and upgrades them to Honored (if not already), if the player had built a Trading Post on a Tengri settlement.
The player gains +10% XP from training units and other players receive -10% XP from defeating them; Sansculottes gather resources from Crates 50% faster; food from Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 25% faster; wood from trees and Mango Groves and coin from mines 20% faster; food from huntable and herdable animals, Mills, Farms and coin from Estates 15% faster
"Cult of the Supreme Being" is available upon revolting to Revolutionary France.
Turns all Cossacks into Bashkir Archers; grants Tengri Discipline Training; Bashkir Archers can be trained and upgraded to Honored at Trading Posts on Tengri Shrines and Native Embassies; removes Bashkir Archers' training limit, but now they take 1 population
Delivers 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game including this one; unit train time (except Heavy Cannons), technology research time, and age-up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Seminole Ponies
Delivers 9 Hussars; hand cavalry get +15% hit points and damage, and +5% speed; cavalry train time -10%
"Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
"Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.
Originally, the Tatar Archer had 140 hit points, a ×3.5 multiplier against hand shock infantry, and costs 90 food, and 60 wood. With update 13.27885, the Tatar Archer has 150 hit points, a ×3.5 multiplier against Shock Infantry, and costs 90 food, and 55 wood.
With update 13.27885, the Tatar Archer portrait has been updated.
With patch 15.30007, Tatar Archer ranged Rate of Fire changed from 1.0 to 1.25, and multiplier vs. artillery from 2.5 to 2.
With update 15.59076, Tatar Archer ranged Rate of Fire changed from 1.25 to 1.2, and multiplier vs. artillery from 2 to 2.5.
Trivia[]
The Tatar Archer could be modeled after the Tatars from the Crimean Khanate. They were usually represented in ancient Turkish fashion, armed with bows and arrows, bowcase, sword and a wing in a style similar to the ones used by the Winged Hussars. These representations can be found in the artwork for the book "Polish Armies 1569-1696 Vol. II" by Richard Brzezinski.
This could be one of the reasons why the Tatar Archer speaks Cuman, as the Tatars from the Crimean Khanate spoke Crimean Tatar language, which is also derived from Kipchak languages, particularly the Kipchak-Cuman subdivision.
The Lipka Tatar and the Cavalry Archer are units which are also inspired by Tatars. Additionally, the Keshik could be considered a Tatar horse archer, as they were initially bodyguards for the Mongolian Royal Family from Genghis Khan and his Mongol and Tatar successors.
History[]
“
In the daily lives and belief systems of steppe peoples horses were indispensable as mounts to communicate and travel in the vastness of the steppe. Horse archery started out as a way to hunt fast or distant animals but very quickly evolved into the chief component of steppe warfare. The swiftness and agility of horses paired with the rider's archery skills were the ideal fit for surprise raids and flanking maneuvers. Prime examples for the effectiveness of such warfare were the Mongol Empire under the leadership of Genghis Khan as well as the Golden Horde and its Tatar successor states.
”
Gallery[]
Tatar Archer image from the Compendium section
An in-game Tatar Archer
"Mirza Ali Giray, son of the Crimean Khan, during the siege of Vienna in 1683." Jacob von Sandrart, 1684.
"Charles X Gustav in skirmish with Tatars at the battle of Warsaw, July 29, 1656." Johan Philip Lemke, oil on canvas, 1684.
Tengri Discipline Training
Tengri Honor Training
Legendary Native Warriors
Exalted Natives
Cavalry Damage
Cavalry Hitpoints
Cavalry Combat
Native Treaties
Native Alliance
Native Warriors
Native Warrior Combat
TEAM Native Weapon Trade
Blood Brothers
Liberation March
Riding School
Feudal Armies
Loyal Warriors
Native Warrior Hitpoints
Native Warrior Attack
Western Reforms
Acupuncture
Ignatian Spirituality
Sevites
Louverture Liberation
Wanderlust
Indian Friendship/Chimayo Genizarios
Wilderness Warfare
TEAM French Auxiliaries Combat
Cult of the Supreme Being
TEAM Cavalry Attack
Spanish Riding School
Native Warrior Conscription
Wampum
Sahelian Kingdoms
Road Building
Couriers
Dravidian Martial Arts
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
Schiavoni Swords
TEAM Sengoku
Bakufu
TEAM Mustangs
Black Arrow
Winter Counts
TEAM Knights of the Round Table
Squires
TEAM Mariachi
Colegio de San Nicolás
National Servant
Akincis
7 Tengri Allies
TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions
Bashkir Rebellion
TEAM Spanish Inquisition
Indiana Mobilization
Seminole Ponies
Knights of the Mediterranean[]
