Arbalester

Overview

The final standard foot archer upgrade for sustained ranged pressure.

Availability and investment

Arbalester becomes available in Imperial Age. Its listed production context is Archery Range. The listed cost is 25 Wood, 45 Gold and the training time is 27 seconds. This tells you when it can first join an army and which resources must be reserved alongside Villager production, upgrades, and other military lines.

• Upgrade path: Archer → Crossbowman → Arbalester

Combat profile

The available combat values are included here so the numbers can be read as a profile rather than an isolated list. Hit points and armor describe how long the unit can remain exposed; attack and any bonus damage describe what it threatens; range, reload, accuracy, and movement describe how reliably it can engage or disengage. A value shown for a whole upgrade line applies to the listed stages as recorded, so compare the stage names instead of treating the line as one base unit.

• Ranged attack: 6
• Hit points: 40
• Melee armor: 0
• Pierce armor: 0
• Ranged attack: 6
• Range: 5
• Line of sight: 7
• Reload time: 2 seconds
• Movement speed: 0.96
• Accuracy: 90%

Field use

Preserve space between this unit and melee attackers so it can keep firing. Pair it with a screen, focus fire on reachable targets, and avoid letting a faster force surround it.

Armor classes and counters

Armor-class bonuses are separate from base attack and the target’s melee or pierce armor. The class list below shows the unit’s documented combat categories and bonus-damage relationships; use it to judge matchups instead of relying on the unit label alone.

• Armor class: Archer
• Arbalester deals +3 bonus damage to units in the Spearman class

Related unit plan: Arbalester formation and kiting plan

Arbalester: Arbalesters gain value in a compact group that can focus volleys on units unable to close the distance. Research the relevant Blacksmith upgrades, then use short firing stops and retreats to keep the group out of cavalry reach Keep a screen between Arbalesters and fast melee units, and use them to punish exposed Halberdiers or Heavy Camel Riders from a safe angle. Move the formation together so damaged units do not trail into an isolated fight; when defending, place the group where it can cover an approach without sitting under siege fire Cavalry can catch an unsupported archer mass, while Skirmishers and siege can punish predictable volleys. Do not keep shooting from one position after the opponent has assembled the counter; reposition or add a suitable screen