Bow Rider (Ironcap Bowriders) — T2 Cavalry Unit Guide

Overview

  • Unit Type: Mounted Archers
  • Tier: 2 (Chivalric Era)
  • Leadership Cost: 90 → 80 (upcoming patch)
  • Unit Size: 22
  • Armor Type: Light
  • Movement: Very Fast
  • Damage Type: Piercing (Ranged)
  • Range: Short to Medium
  • Era: Base Game

Role & Purpose

The Bow Riders are agile light cavalry archers designed for early-game skirmishing and harassment. Their strength lies in mobility and the ability to fire while moving, making them effective at disrupting enemy formations and targeting vulnerable units.

Core Stats

  • Health: Low
  • Piercing Damage: Moderate
  • Piercing Armor Penetration: Low
  • Slashing/Blunt Defense: Very Low
  • Speed: High
  • Ammo: Moderate

Traits

  • Mounted Ranged: Can shoot while moving, allowing for hit-and-run tactics.
  • Light Armor: High mobility but low durability.
  • Skirmisher: Effective at harassing and disrupting enemy lines.

Strengths

  • High Mobility: Can quickly reposition and evade threats.
  • Fire on the Move: Maintains offensive pressure while retreating or advancing.
  • Early Access: Available early in the game, useful for initial engagements.
  • Cost-Effective: Low leadership cost allows for flexible army compositions.

Weaknesses

  • Fragile: Susceptible to focused fire and melee engagements.
  • Limited Damage Output: Less effective against heavily armored units.
  • Short Range: Must get closer to enemies, increasing risk.

Usage Tips

  • Harassment: Target enemy backlines, artillery crews, and isolated units.
  • Kiting: Engage enemies while maintaining distance to avoid retaliation.
  • Objective Control: Use speed to capture or contest points quickly.
  • Avoid Melee: Keep distance from melee units to prevent losses.

Veterancy Paths

Top Path (Mobility Focused):

  • Increases movement speed and reduces reload time while moving.
  • Recommended for enhancing hit-and-run tactics and survivability.

Bottom Path (Damage Focused):

  • Slightly increases damage output.
  • Not Recommended due to minimal impact on overall effectiveness.

Doctrine Suggestions

Mastery:

Summary

The Bow Riders are a versatile early-game unit that excels in mobility and harassment roles. While they lack durability and high damage output, their ability to disrupt enemy formations and control objectives makes them valuable in the right hands. Mastery of their movement and positioning can provide strategic advantages in various battle scenarios.