Somali Arquebusier
Somali Arquebusier is Industrial Age ranged infantry in the Somalians roster in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. Its bonuses make it a specialist against Heavy Infantry and mobile ranged classes, while penalties reduce its effectiveness against Cavalry and Shock troops.
Recorded values
- Available
- Industrial Age
- Training
- 30 sec · 1 population · 12 XP per train
- Durability & mobility
- 100 hit points · 20% ranged resistance · 5.5 speed · 24 line of sight
- Hand attack
- 4 damage · 1.5 attack interval · bonuses: 3.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 3.0x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 3.0x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 0.75x vs. Cavalry; 0.75x vs. Shock troops
- Ranged attack
- 17 damage · 2–20 range · 3.0 attack interval · bonuses: 3.75x vs. Light ranged cavalry; 3.75x vs. Ranged shock trooper; 3.0x vs. Heavy infantry; 0.6x vs. Cavalry; 0.6x vs. Shock troops
- Siege attack
- 9 damage · 6 range · 3.0 attack interval
Role, availability & values
It costs 40 Food and 75 Coin, takes 30 seconds to train, uses one population and grants 12 Experience. It has 100 hit points, 20% ranged resistance, 5.5 speed and 24 line of sight. Its ranged attack deals 17 damage at range 2–20 every 3 seconds: bonuses are 3.75× against Light ranged cavalry and Ranged shock troopers, 3× against Heavy Infantry, and 0.6× against Cavalry and Shock troops. Its 4-damage hand attack has 3× against Heavy Infantry, Light ranged cavalry and Ranged shock troopers, but 0.75× against Cavalry and Shock troops. Siege deals 9 at range 6 every 3 seconds.
Matchup & timing
Add Arquebusiers when the opponent relies on the classes they counter and screen them from Cavalry or Shock troops, which receive reduced damage and can exploit their modest health. Their long line of sight and range support a protected firing line, but their Industrial Age access means they arrive later than early-game infantry. Reassess the mix if the opponent changes composition; their bonuses are not a general damage increase.
The penalties are part of the unit’s role
The strongest multiplier is against Light ranged cavalry and Ranged shock troopers, while Heavy Infantry also takes triple ranged damage. Against Cavalry and Shock troops, the ranged multiplier falls to 0.6×, so this unit should not be the only defensive answer to a mounted attack. Pair the Arquebusiers with units that can hold or counter those approaches, then let the Arquebusiers focus on the targets for which their cost and Age timing were chosen.