Despite the utter futility (based on the success of this train of thought in previous threads), let me try this one more time. Which are the best CA is completely dependent on what thier mission is.
If they are supposed to slaughter villagers, Egypt (4 AT) will take 7 shots to kill one, i.e., 10.5 seconds. As will Assy, but they will finish in 7.7 seconds. Hittite (5 AT) takes only 5 shots, for a villager kill every 7.5 seconds.
How about their sworn foe, Priests. If S_Hemlock is correct in his figures for conversion rates, (as I recall, one chance at 1.5 seconds, one chance every 3 seconds thereafter) Hittie and Assy will have to withstand 3 attempts, Egypt has to withstand 4. After the priest has 50 HP, the 13 Assy shots take 14.3 seconds (5 conversion attempts), 13 Egypt takes 19.5 seconds (6 conversion attempts), 10 Hittite shots take 15 seconds (5 conversion attempts).Let's take the example of broadswordsmen, a typical Roman Bronze unit. They have 2 PA (1 base + bronze shield), meaning that Egypt and Assy are doing a net 2 AT. Broadies have 70 HP, meaning that it will take 35 shots to get a kill, 52.5 seconds for the Egyptian, 38.5 seconds for the Assy. The lowly Hittite has a net 3 AT, and requires 14 shots, or 21 seconds.
How about our CA encountering another common enemy, the ST? Since I usually have several packs of around 6 CA at this point in the game, and I am not the only one doing this, lets have them meet a ST. They hear the "sproing" of the ST and move to engage. The rock falls behind them somewhere and 6 arrows streak towards the ST. The ST has 75 HP. The Assy and Egyptian do 24, the Hittite does 30. Thinking quickly, this will take 4 volleys from the Egy/Assy, 3 from the Hittie with plenty damage left over in any case. Before they get a second shot off, they will have to move or get hit. Hittie has to dodge successfully twice, maybe 3 times depending on the exact timing of the dodge. Egy and Assy have to dodge 3 or 4 times. You can fail to dodge once and still be OK. However, once Nobility kicks in, Egypt gets the luxury of surviving even if hit twice. Before Nobility, Hittite is still ahead, afterwards, advantage Egypt.
Slingers. Their 3 PA means Egypt takes 25 shots (37.5 seconds), Assy takes 25 shots (27.5 seconds), Hittite takes 13 shots (19.5 seconds).
The CA vs CA battles have been done to death. Advantage - Egypt.
So in the above cases, only in the case of CA vs CA and STs vs Nobility CA does Egypt have the advantage.
I don't remember who did the workup, but someone showed that Palmy and Phoe should also be in the running for best CA, since they should outnumber any of the others approximately 1.3-1 (a bonus roughly equal to Egypt HP and a full point more damage than Hittite), and I believe Cherub Lobby pointed out that Shang should be in the running since their CA are running amok at least a full minute earlier.Keep your stick on the ice.