Quote Originally Posted by Pharnakes
The syrinas aren't the best archers, they have missile 4, so do archer spearmen, most other eastern and steppe foot achers have 5 (including indians), and Kretikoi have 6.
I've just taken at look at Arkatreides' relevant unit card.

The Cretans indeed have a higher missile value compared to the Syrians: 6 versus 4, however they have only 20 arrows versus 25. They also have significantly less armour, from the looks of it they'd get butchered by the Syrians. And that's not even considering the fact that they have less men per unit.