= Horse Archer =

Learn about the Horse Archer unit in Age of Empires IV: its stats, costs, upgrades, and historical context. Your go-to guide for mastering this fast unit!

Alright, let's talk about the Horse Archer in Age of Empires IV. These guys are super fast and hit pretty hard from a distance, making them a really flexible unit once you get them rolling.

To get your hands on some Horse Archers, you'll first need to have your Town Center, Barracks, and Archery Range built. Once that's done, you can train them at the Archery Range.

Cost: 50 Food, 70 Gold

Stats:

• Hit Points: 60
• Attack: 7
• Armor: 0
• Piercing Armor: 2
• Range: 7
• Speed: Fast
• Special: +2 piercing armor against Ballista, Helepolis, and missile weapons.

Think of the Horse Archer as a mobile ranged threat. They can really put the pressure on your enemy, especially since they can move around the battlefield so easily. They can even be upgraded to the Heavy Horse Archer later on, making them even more potent.

Keep in mind, there are other mounted archers out there like the Chariot Archer and Elephant Archer, but the Horse Archer is often a solid choice for its speed and accessibility.

Upgrades to Consider:

• Nobility: Increases hit points.
• Alchemy: Increases attack strength.
• Ballistics: Increases accuracy.
• Armor Upgrades: Leather Armor, Scale Armor, and Chain Mail all boost your armor.
• Range Upgrades: Woodworking, Artisanship, and Craftsmanship extend their attack range.

Historically, the Horse Archer was a game-changer. They started replacing chariot archers around 1200 B.C. because they were just as deadly, way more mobile, and you didn't lose half your firepower if a horse went down. Plus, no need to build expensive chariots! Armies like the Assyrians and various steppe nomads really leaned into these units. They were so effective that places like the Great Wall of China were built partly to defend against them. While they might not have always dominated head-on against heavy cavalry or infantry later on, their speed and ability to harass made them a crucial part of many armies.