“ | "These units are slow to move and reload and have a shorter range then archers. They are however very accurate and their deadly bolts can easily penetrate metal armor." | ” |
— Official Description |
The crossbowman is a heavy ranged unit in the Stronghold series recruited at the barracks.
Description
Crossbowmen are disciplined marksmen, who excel taking out targets from a distance. Their armour makes them fairly resistant against most projectiles, and their hand-spanned crossbow shoots armour-piercing bolts. However, their heavy gear makes them slow to move, and their daggers are inadequate to handle combatants in close range.
Information
Tactics
Crossbowmen handle the castle's ranged defense well. Their health and firepower makes them capable facing the advance of massed units, as well as they can soften up armoured adversaries before they have a chance to reach the walls.
On the open field, a crossbowmen squad can act as a deterrent against counterattacks. They work well in conjunction with other units, and they can also harass enemy supply lines, to a limited effect.
Weaknesses
Much like any slow unit, crossbowmen have difficulties getting into the frontline. Against fast units and cavalry, crossbowmen can only inflict limited damage before getting overwhelmed. Macemen and knights (when on horseback) can quickly dispose of a small squad of crossbowmen.
Unit quotes
Trivia
- In Stronghold and Stronghold Crusader the crossbowmen are described to boast shorter range then archers, however, both units have the same range in-game. This is most likely a developer oversight.
- In Stronghold and Stronghold Crusader unused voice lines suggest that crossbowmen were supposed to be able to dig moats.
Stronghold Crusader Units | |
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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 | |
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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 Legends Units | |
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Barracks | Man-at-arms • Archer • Maceman • Crossbowman • Pikeman • Swordsman • Knight |
Siege Camp | Engineer • Ladderman • Mantlet • Fire ballista • Catapult • Burning Cart Cat • Battering Ram • Siege tower • Trebuchet • Tower Ballista • Tower Mangonel |
Round Table | Merlin • Sir Bedivere • Sir Galahad • Sir Gareth • Sir Gawain • Sir Lancelot • Sir Percival • Green dragon |
Ice tower | White wolf • White witch • Shield maiden • Dwarf • Polar bear • Frost giant • Ice Queen • Ice dragon |
Sorcerer's Tower | Demon • Saxon warrior • Hellhound • Werewolf • Bat • Vampiric creeper • Sorcerer • Black dragon |
Stronghold Crusader 2 Units | |
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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 |