Rattan Vipers Quick Guide (Traits, Pros & Cons)
Traits
- Special archer unit whose arrows apply stacking poison damage and slow effects.
- Light rattan armor grants resistance to slashing but vulnerability to incendiary attacks. (doesnt matter die instantly)
- Agile movement allows rapid repositioning and flanking.
- Can use special doctrines (poison damage).
Pros
- Consistent damage over time through poison ticks, highly effective against grouped targets.
- Slowing effect disrupts enemy advances and reduces incoming damage from poisoned foes.
- Cheap resupply and extra ammo doctrines keep them firing longer than standard archers.
- Low leadership cost lets you field larger numbers for area denial.
Cons
- Low initial piercing damage; must rely on stacking poison rather than raw arrow damage.
- Fragile—low health and poor armor make them vulnerable to cavalry and skirmishers.
- Inconsistent accuracy at long range; perform best at medium distances.
- Heavily skill- and doctrine-dependent; underperform without proper buffs.
Tactical Use
Deploy Rattan Vipers to harass enemy lines and siege equipment. Open engagements by poisoning clusters, then reposition to maximize crowd control. Prioritize doctrines that boost movement speed, poison duration, and ammo supply. Keep them behind frontlines and avoid direct melees to exploit their disruption role.
