The Horse Archer is probably the most verstaile unit in the game. It combines lightning speed, with a very good ranged attack, and when put to good use by a player who knows how to play them, they can be the deadliest unit in the game.
In conclusion, I have found Horse Archers to be a very able and powerfull unit, which takes a bit of practise to get used to, but when they are mastered, can cope with nearly any situation you can throw at them. Remember this though, as a fast attacking force, they are second to none... However, when a bigger punch is needed, say to attack the enemy's city, or kill the 25+ elephants coming your way, then more hand combat efficient units are needed. Hope you have enjoyed reading this article as I have writing it
I first started using horse archers to pick off my opponents infantry units such as the various swordsmen,
These units are very vulnerable to the horse archer attack. When they were moving to attack me it would be a quick click of the mouse, and they would have to start all over again, as my HArchers would be 3/4 of a screen away from them because of the speed deficit. So the message here is
Horse Archers are a deadly enough unit on their own, but when they are combined with amicable foot troops, they become even more deadlier. Its the classic combination of Horse Archer and Swordsman/Hoplite/Cavalry that has won so many games for me.In this instance the Horse Archers are positioned behind the infantry, as they pile the shots onto the oncoming enemy, and if there are any enemy left, they will have to deal with the foot troops. When comnined with cavalry they are even better. The main downfall of the Horse Archer in general is enemy cavalry. Enemy cavalry can combat the Horse Archers speed with their own speedy movement, and also far greater armour than infantry. So when HA are combined with friendly cavalry, you get the best of both worlds - Lightning Speed and Ferocious Combat power to equal that of the enemy cavalry's.
I see so many players on the zone saying 'Horse Archers are useless in hand to hand combat though, so I dont use them'.. aarrgghhhhhhh!!!!! Thats the whole idea of backing them up, so that if they do get in combat, they will have troops fighting with them who can deliver a big punch.
Horse Archers are THE most annoying unit in the game if you are playing against someone who is good with them. What I find is a good tactic is this. You group about 5 - 8 HArchers and start to scurry around the board. Eventually, ,if your opponent is remotely aggressive, you will find some of his units. Use the HArchers to 'bully' his units by rushing them and killing a couple, and if he starts to fight back, then just simply run away and find someone else to pick on hahaha. Eventually the group will start to diminish, and he would have killed them all, but not before devoting precious attention to it, meanwhile you have been building more!. Annoying isn't it. I remember once, I had about 20 HArchers on this tactic, in the early Iron Age, and in the end, my opponent got so intimidated by them running around, he was too afraid to do certain things, such as expand his town, out of sheer fear of my mounted menaces.
One of the things that can really mess Horse Archers up, is hilly or elevated terrain. One of the BIG advantages of the Horse Archer is their speed, and their ability to retire away from troops when they feel like, so when you start to get bogged down by mountinous terrain, and the enemy start to catch you up, then you have to start worrying. So if the map is set at Highland or the terrian is generally hilly or restrictive, then try to avoid basing your army around Horse Archers.
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