Thumb Ring is a technology in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors available at the Archery Range upon reaching the Castle Age. Once researched, all archers (Archers, Skirmishers, and Cavalry Archers) are able to fire faster and with 100% accuracy at non-moving targets (not Gunpowder units).
This technology is different from Ballistics (researched at the University), which improves targeting against moving targets.
Ethiopian foot archers already fire +18% faster due to their civilization bonus and have access to Thumb Ring. As a result, they have the fastest firing foot archers in the game. Mongol Cavalry Archers already fire +25% faster due to their civilization bonus and have access to Thumb Ring. As a result, they have the fastest firing Cavalry Archers in the game.
Cavalry Archers, War Wagons fire 11% faster, Archer-line, Mangudai, Camel Archers, Genoese Crossbowmen, Elephant Archers, Plumed Archers, Rattan Archers and Kipchaks fire 18% faster, and Chu Ko Nu fire 25% faster.
| Available | Unavailable |
|---|---|
Contents
Affected units[]
All units listed below benefit from Thumb Ring. The Longbowman (denoted with a *) does too, but the Britons do not get Thumb Ring. Hence, this is only relevant in games with Full Tech Tree checked.
| Archer unit | Rate of Fire increase | Accuracy increase |
 Archer
|
+18% | yes |
 Crossbowman
|
+18% | yes |
 Arbalester
|
+18% | yes |
 Skirmisher
|
no | yes |
 Elite Skirmisher
|
no | yes |
 Imperial Skirmisher
|
no | yes |
 Cavalry Archer
|
+11% | yes |
 Heavy Cavalry Archer
|
+11% | yes |
 Longbowman*
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Longbowman*
|
+18% | yes |
 Chu Ko Nu
|
+25% | yes |
| Elite Chu Ko Nu
|
+25% | yes |
 Mangudai
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Mangudai
|
+18% | yes |
 War Wagon
|
+11% | no |
| Elite War Wagon
|
+11% | no |
 Plumed Archer
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Plumed Archer
|
+18% | yes |
 Slinger
|
no | yes |
 Elephant Archer
|
+18% | no |
| Elite Elephant Archer
|
+18% | no |
 Genoese Crossbowman
|
+18% | no |
| Elite Genoese Crossbowman
|
+18% | no |
 Camel Archer
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Camel Archer
|
+18% | yes |
 Genitour
|
no | yes |
| Elite Genitour
|
no | yes |
 Rattan Archer
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Rattan Archer
|
+18% | yes |
 Kipchak
|
+18% | yes |
| Elite Kipchak
|
+18% | yes |
Civilization bonuses[]
- Chinese: Thumb Ring is 15%/20% cheaper in the Castle/Imperial Age.
- Portuguese: Researching Thumb Ring is 30% faster.
- Tatars: Thumb Ring is free.
Team bonuses[]
- A team containing Britons: Researching Thumb Ring is 20% faster.
Changelog[]
The Forgotten[]
- Incas: Cannot research Thumb Ring.
The African Kingdoms[]
- Incas: Thumb Ring added to their technology tree.
Definitive Edition[]
- Portuguese: With update 42848, all technologies are researched 30% faster.
- Tatars: With update 36202, Thumb Ring is free.
Trivia[]
- Neither of the civilizations introduced in Lords of the West can research Thumb Ring.
History[]
| “ | The typical archer of the Middle Ages drew the bowstring back to his chest to fire. English longbowmen had the ability to draw back to their cheek, increasing the power and distance of their shots. Archers from Asia developed a thumb ring that made it possible to draw back to their ear or beyond. When this improvement was added to their already very powerful composite bows, their weapons proved quite effective. | ” |
| —The Conquerors manual | ||
