Berber Archer
Berber Archer is a Commerce Age ranged infantry unit in Barbary Pirates and Moroccan rosters. Its recorded production routes are the European Barracks and Galleon; scenario-specific access can differ.
Recorded values
- Available
- Commerce Age · European Barracks; Galleon; Native Embassy (Unknown); Watch Tower (Unknown)
- Training
- 15 sec · 1 population · 7 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 90 hit points · 20% ranged resistance · 4.0 speed · 24 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 6 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.0x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.0x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 1.25x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.75x vs. Cavalry; 0.75x vs. Shock troops
- Ranged attack
- 14 damage · 20 range · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 2.5x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 2.5x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 1.25x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.6x vs. Cavalry; 0.6x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 11 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
Production is available through European Barracks or Galleon. It has 90 hit points and 20% ranged resistance. It moves at 4.0 speed and uses 1 population. Training costs 35 Food and 35 Wood; it takes 15 seconds to train. Attack profile: Hand attack deals 6 damage. Ranged attack deals 14 damage. Siege attack deals 11 damage. Hand attack bonuses: 2.0× against Light ranged cavalry, 2.0× against Ranged shock trooper, 1.25× against Heavy infantry, 0.75× against Cavalry, and 0.75× against Shock troops. Ranged attack bonuses: 2.5× against Light ranged cavalry, 2.5× against Ranged shock trooper, 1.25× against Heavy infantry, 0.6× against Cavalry, and 0.6× against Shock troops.
Matchup & timing
Hand attack is especially effective against Light ranged cavalry (2×), Ranged shock trooper (2×), Heavy infantry (1.25×). Ranged attack is especially effective against Light ranged cavalry (2.5×), Ranged shock trooper (2.5×), Heavy infantry (1.25×). Its reduced multipliers against Cavalry (0.75×), Shock troops (0.75×), Cavalry (0.6×), Shock troops (0.6×) make it less suitable for those targets. Use ranged fire to focus Light ranged cavalry, Ranged shock trooper, and Heavy infantry before they can close; hold the melee attack for Light ranged cavalry, Ranged shock trooper, and Heavy infantry when they enter contact. Keep a frontline between this unit and threats that can reach it safely.
Long-range archaic archer with anti-infantry bonuses
The Berber Archer is a Commerce Age ranged infantry unit exclusive to the Barbary Pirates and Moroccans in Definitive Edition Historical Battles. It replaces the Longbowman in those scenario armies and trains at a Barracks. The unit costs 35 Food and 35 Wood, takes 15 seconds to train and uses one population. It has 90 hit points, 20% ranged resistance, speed 4.0 and line of sight 24. Its ranged attack deals 14 damage at range 20 every 1.5 seconds, with a 2.5 multiplier against Light Ranged Cavalry and ranged Shock Troops, 1.25 against Heavy Infantry, and reduced damage against Cavalry and Shock Troops. A six-range melee attack deals six damage every 1.5 seconds; siege damage is 11 at range six every three seconds. Its long range and fast firing rate let the Archer pressure infantry before they can close, and its bonuses make it particularly useful against ranged cavalry and ranged shock units. It is not suited to fighting Heavy Cavalry, hand Shock Troops, counter-skirmishers or Artillery. Keep a melee screen in front and focus one target at a time so the unit’s anti-infantry damage removes threats quickly. Its 90 hit points are low, so do not allow cavalry to reach the firing line. A Berber Spearman can provide a direct anti-cavalry screen, while artillery can handle structures and clustered defenders. The scenario version is different from the unit’s native-warrior availability on the Unknown random map. There it can be trained at the Watch Tower or Native Embassy with a limit of ten and no population requirement, and it benefits from cards and technologies that affect native warriors. Moroccan Allegiance at the Native Embassy unlocks Berber Archer training at Barracks for all civilizations on that map. Keep the map-specific unlock separate from Barbary or Moroccan Historical Battle production. Veteran Berber Archers cost 200 Wood and 200 Coin in the Fortress Age and gain 20% hit points and damage. On Unknown, Berber Warrior Societies grants the Veteran upgrade. Legendary Native Warriors or Exalted Natives can add 50% to native warrior hit points and damage in the Imperial Age where available, while African civilizations receive native upgrades automatically and without cost. Since the Archer’s value comes from damage multipliers, upgrades that improve attack can make its counter role more effective, but they do not remove its vulnerability to cavalry or artillery. Use the Archer behind the army to soften infantry as the opponent approaches. Its range 20 and line of sight 24 also make it useful for holding a lane or covering a siege unit, but it should not attack a defended building in place of proper artillery. If the enemy switches into Heavy Cavalry or Artillery, stop adding Berber Archers and invest in appropriate counters. The unit works best as the ranged half of a mixed Berber force alongside spearmen and siege support.
Focus targets and preserve range
The Archer’s fast 1.5-second firing cycle rewards concentrated volleys. Focus one Light Ranged Cavalry or ranged Shock Troop until it is removed, then retarget, instead of splitting damage across the enemy line. Use the range 20 to start firing before the opponent’s infantry reaches the frontline, and retreat while the enemy melee unit closes. A Berber Spearman screen can intercept Hussars and Lancers. If Artillery appears, move the archers out of its firing arc and use a dedicated counter; the Archer’s infantry bonuses do not make it effective against cannon. Its 24 line of sight can help guard a flank, but do not send it away from the army if that leaves the main force exposed.
When to replace the Archer in production
If the enemy changes from infantry to Heavy Cavalry or hand Shock Troops, the Berber Archer has lost its preferred targets. Preserve existing archers behind the army but shift new production toward Berber Spearmen, artillery or another available counter. Veteran Berber Archers add 20% hit points and damage for 200 Wood and 200 Coin, a useful investment only if the anti-infantry role continues to decide engagements. Against a fortified base, let artillery handle structures while the archers protect it from infantry.
Protect against a cavalry switch
If cavalry closes, pull the Archer behind its spearmen instead of switching to its weak hand attack. Its ranged damage is the reason to keep it alive; reposition and resume firing once the screen has stopped the charge.
Reading the ranged multipliers
The Archer’s 14 ranged damage is modified by its target-class multiplier before the target’s resistance is applied. A volley against Light Ranged Cavalry or Ranged Shock Troops is therefore 35 base damage (14 × 2.5), while a Heavy Infantry target takes 17.5 before resistance (14 × 1.25). Cavalry and Shock Troops receive only 8.4 from the ranged shot (14 × 0.6). The 1.5-second firing interval gives it a steady stream of these attacks, but the displayed products are not final hit-point losses when resistance or upgrades apply. The hand attack has a different multiplier table, so do not carry its bonuses into the ranged profile. Keep the Archer firing at classes that reward its range and avoid measuring its value by the nominal 14 damage alone.
Archer target bonuses and Experience
Berber Archer is a ranged Native Archer whose current anti-ranged bonuses are 2.5× against Light Ranged Cavalry and Ranged Shock Troops, up from 2.0× before update 13.58326. Its Heavy Infantry modifier is 1.25×, while its modifiers against Cavalry and Shock Troops are 0.6×. The Cavalry modifier was 0.75× before update 13.58326, and the Shock Troop modifier has moved through 0.5× and 0.75× historical values. It currently awards seven Experience for training and kills, compared with eight before update 13.58326. Its specialized ranged bonuses favor focused fire against appropriate targets; avoid trading it into Cavalry, where its damage modifier is reduced.