Cavalry Archer

Overview

A mobile mounted archer that attacks while repositioning. In the current Definitive Edition roster, Mounted Crossbowmen replace Cavalry Archers for most European civilizations; other civilizations retain the Cavalry Archer line.

Availability and investment

Cavalry Archer becomes available in Castle Age. Its listed production context is Archery Range. The listed cost is 40 Wood, 60 Gold and the training time is 37 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: Cavalry Archer → Heavy Cavalry Archer (civilization availability varies)
• Upgrade path: Cavalry Archer → Heavy Cavalry Archer

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: 50
• Melee armor: 0
• Pierce armor: 0
• Ranged attack: 6
• Range: 4
• Line of sight: 5
• Reload time: 2 seconds
• Movement speed: 1.4
• Accuracy: 50%

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
• Armor class: Cavalry
• Armor class: Cavalry archer
• Cavalry Archer deals +2 bonus damage to units in the Spearman class

Related unit plan: Cavalry Archer kiting economy

Cavalry Archer: Cavalry Archers can harass slow melee units and relocate quickly, but they need numbers and regular micro to stay out of contact. Their cost makes the economy and the control loop part of the strategy Build a group before crossing the map, then fire while moving away from units that can reach them. Use open ground for retreat paths and focus on slow targets or exposed Villagers. Recheck the army between volleys so the group does not drift into a corner or defensive fire Skirmishers and fast cavalry can punish a poorly controlled group. Do not split a small force across too many targets or keep producing Cavalry Archers if the economy cannot support the required mass