Xianbei Raider

Overview

Mounted archers that periodically charge up a volley of multiple projectiles.

Availability and investment

Xianbei Raider becomes available in Castle Age. Its listed production context is Wei. The listed cost is 65 Wood, 35 Gold and the training time is 29 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.

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: 5
• Melee armor: 0
• Pierce armor: 0
• Ranged attack: 5
• Range: 4
• Line of sight: 6
• Reload time: 1.8 seconds
• Movement speed: 1.4
• Accuracy: 80%

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: Unique unit
• Armor class: Archer
• Armor class: Cavalry
• Armor class: Cavalry archer
• Xianbei Raider deals +1 bonus damage to units in the Infantry class
• Xianbei Raider deals +3 bonus damage to units in the Spearman class

Related unit plan: Xianbei Raider charged-volley ambush

Xianbei Raider: Xianbei Raiders have a weaker sustained ranged profile than a standard Cavalry Archer, but their charged attack releases an extra volley. Use that burst to punish a brief opening rather than stand and trade shots Keep the Raiders mobile, wait for the charged attack, then fire into a compact or distracted target and retreat while the opponent turns. Use scouting to choose the approach and focus the volley on a unit that cannot immediately reach the ranged line Their lower durability and attack make a prolonged exchange unfavorable, especially if cavalry closes the gap. Do not treat the charge as a reason to fight head-on; preserve an exit and avoid exposing the group to archers or defensive fire