Favorite/"Best" Archer?

**Che Roriniho** · 08-02-2008, 16:16

Originally Posted by Obelics

ive checked subeshi archers, sarmatian, thanvare persian and some other one, but no one match the current cretan range in the edu... only the saka are better, with a range of 209 vs a cretan range of 201.9, i dont know... could it be a last minute mistake?

edit: ive only checked foot-archers.

So Saka foot archers? Eastwards, men! (Or at least, it will be when I get home from Holland.)

**Grriffon** · 08-02-2008, 16:23

I don't know why, but for me sneaking a couple units of archers to point blank range directly behind an engaged enemy and decimating them with fire arrows is even more satisfying than almost an other method of routing, except possibly sending elephants into tightly packed infantry. ANY archer units can excel at this, which is why I prefer them to slingers, except when defending cities. However, the longer ranged archers are useful in the field when trying to fend off Horse Archers or driving back other missile troops.

**MerlinusCDXX** · 08-02-2008, 16:39

If you are playing AS, I don't think you'll be able to get the Saka foot archers, I've never seen them recruitable in anything other than a Nomad settlement (they are universally recruitable for the Saka). You do have the mighty Subeshi to use in that region though.

As AS, I usually do my archer recruitment by region anyways, picking the best relatively close option.
Levant/Mesopotamia- Syrians
Western Iran- Persian Heavies
SE Iran- Archer/Spearmen (vs HAs) or Reg. Persians
Armenia/Kappadokia- Caucasians
NE Iran/ E. Steppes- Subeshi
E. TransCaucasus- Skythians
Chersonesos/ Dacia- Bosphoran Heavies
Egypt/ Greece- Kretans
and of course India- Indian Archers (these I do ship around more widely, AP melee weapon= Epic Win)

all these guys are capable archers, I do this regional thing to facilitate the replacement of casualties (it's pretty difficult to ship Subeshis to the Levant, takes forever and they end up missing the battle).

**mp0925** · 08-02-2008, 19:12

im playing as the romans and i am wondering what archer i should use: i controll all of gaul and numidia and parts of greece
so i can get celtic archers greek archers and numidian archers, which one is best?

**Lysimachos** · 08-02-2008, 19:49

From those archers the best would be the numidian, i think. Toxotai are really crappy. I don't know how good exactly the numidians are, but perhaps you would be better off with Iaosatae, who make decent slingers.

**Grriffon** · 08-02-2008, 21:36

On Sardinia and the other small island beside it you can hire as mercs those Balaeric slingers that are the best I have found anywhere in the world. Merc Cretan archers should also be rarely available, and are worth snatching up. Of the three you mentioned, I would also go with the Numidians, I think they have a really nice missile attack rating, don't they?

**russia almighty** · 08-03-2008, 07:40

I'm surprised Indian Archers aren't some of the best.

I mean, they can whip a buster sword out on you if you get too close.

**Che Roriniho** · 08-03-2008, 10:08

Originally Posted by russia almighty

I'm surprised Indian Archers aren't some of the best.

I mean, they can whip a buster sword out on you if you get too close.

Yeh. 2 units of these per opponents siege towrer on your walls, and they will simply not get in. 2 units destroyed an entire army of mine (playing as Baktria)

**satalexton** · 08-02-2008, 21:53

the toxotai can eat their own faces, I'd say you hire mistophoroi toxotai kretekoi.

**Victor1234** · 08-02-2008, 23:42

Which archers and slingers have the longest range?

That's really my only criteria for them, since the only times I use missile troops is when I'm on defense, or when I want to draw the enemy into attacking my well prepared line of troops.

**Danest** · 08-03-2008, 03:23

The cretans seem like they run out of arrows much faster than everyone else. Is it my imagination?

**QuintusSertorius** · 08-03-2008, 13:21

Originally Posted by Victor1234

Which archers and slingers have the longest range?

That's really my only criteria for them, since the only times I use missile troops is when I'm on defense, or when I want to draw the enemy into attacking my well prepared line of troops.

Range is largely an irrelevant comparison between slingers and archers. Slingers might have shorter range, but they'll actually kill things at that range. I've watch the AI do stupid things with their archers, such as shooting at the front of my line troops, and exhausting their ammo getting a handful of kills.

Meanwhile my slingers have decimated their skirmishers and light cavalry before the lines even meet.