“ | These are your standard long-range troops. Their lack of armor makes them one of the quickest units in the game but in hand-to-hand combat, archers are virtually useless. They have a long firing range and are very effective against units that don't wear metal armor. | ” |
— Official Description |
The archer is a light ranged European unit in the Stronghold games.
Description[]
Archers are the basic missile unit requiring very few resources to train. They use a bow to fire arrows at distant targets at a high rate. While quick to deploy, their lack of armor grants them little survivability in a direct engagement.
The archer fires flaming arrows when positioned near a brazier, allowing him to ignite pitch ditches.
The archer is trained at the barracks.
Information[]
Stronghold Crusader[]
Stronghold 2 & Legends[]
Stronghold Crusader 2[]
Tactics[]
Archers are most effective in large groups against unarmored and lightly armored units, as their fire rate allows them to quickly drain their health. They are best used in defense atop a player's walls and towers, or in the offensive behind the main army lines, where their long range can be taken advantage of with less fear of reprisal.
Provided they are on higher elevation than the targeted area, archers in the original Stronghold gain extra range when using the "Attack Here" command, allowing them to barrage an area from beyond their normal range. The extra range scales based on how much higher the archers are than the targeted area. This feature does not appear in later Stronghold Crusader, Stronghold 2, or Stronghold Legends, but makes a return in Stronghold Crusader 2 in the form of the Volley ability.
Archers can also harass worker lines to disrupt resource flow. In conjunction with cats and mantlets, their lifespan can be prolonged by a lot. They are also quite fast, able to maneuver quickly in the battlefield.
Weaknesses[]
The Archer has no armor and little health, making them one of the weakest units, easily defeated in both missile and melee combat. They also have to be stationary to fire, making for a distinct disadvantage in the field. Fast units can quickly close the distance and force archers to run or fight.
Quotes[]
Trivia[]
- Archers in all Stronghold iterations speak with a Geordie accent, suggesting that they may have been recruited from Newcastle.
- Judging from their unit responses they are very enthusiastic. For example, they don't complain when asked to march long distances. This is probably due to the fact that they are arguably carrying the lightest equipment out of any infantry unit.
- In Stronghold and Crusader, archers can climb ladders. They need a considerable time to get atop and if their ladderman killed, they fall down and die.
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Stronghold Crusader Units | |
---|---|
Barracks | Archer • Spearman • Maceman • Crossbowman • Pikeman • Swordsman • Knight |
Mercenary Post | Arabian bowman • Slave • Slinger • Assassin • Horse archer • Arabian swordsman • Fire thrower |
Siege & Cathedral | Engineer • Ladderman • Tunneler • Monk Mantlet • Fire ballista • Catapult • Trebuchet • Battering ram • Siege tower Mangonel • Ballista |
Related Articles | Peasant • Weapons • Horse |
Stronghold 2 Units | |
---|---|
Barracks | Armed Peasant • Spearman • Archer • Maceman • Crossbowman • Pikeman • Swordsman • Knight |
Mercenary Post | Pictish Boat Warrior • Outlaw • Hobilar • Assassin • Horse Archer • Axe Thrower • Berserker • Thief |
Monastery | Fighting Monk • Warrior Monk |
Engineer's Guild & Siege Camp |
Engineer • Ladderman • Mantlet • Fire Ballista • Catapult • Burning Cart • Cat Battering Ram • Siege Tower • Trebuchet • Tower Mangonel • Tower Ballista |
Related Articles | Peasant • Weapons • Horse |
Stronghold Crusader 2 Units | |
---|---|
Barracks | Conscript • Man-at-arms • Archer • Ranger • Crossbowman • Maceman • Pikeman • Swordsman • Templar knight • Sergeant-at-arms |
Mercenary Post | Slave • Arabian bowman • Horse archer • Oil pot thrower • Arabian swordsman • Assassin • Slave driver • Healer • Whirling Dervish • Sassanid knight |
Siege Camp | War wolf • Mantlet • Catapult • Trebuchet • Burning cart • Fire ballista • Battering ram • War wagon Mangonel • Ballista • Haybale launcher |