Ranged Infantry

What does this unit counter?

All units if used properly.

Counters to this unit type

The main units that counters ranged are cavalry, and fast melee units (Miltiades spears, barbarians). They can catch you and charge you, dealing a lot of damage to your unit.

Finally, due to their armour, ranged infantry is vulnerable to missile fire, so to other ranged infantry. For example, slingers counter archers pretty well, and javelins counter all the other ranged infantry if they can get close enough.

General playstyle and general tips

Those tips can be used when playing every ranged infantry type listed below, but their effectiveness varies according to the type of ranged infantry/faction being used

Aim for the rear of your enemy and use Focus Fire as much as possible for maximum effectiveness.

Factions

Greeks

Archers

Tier	Unit name	Description
T1	Mycenean Archers	These archers can be used to weaken the enemy from afar, or deliver a powerful targeted volley.
T2	Archaic Archers	These archers can whittle the enemy down from range until their will is broken.
T3	Ionian Archers	These passionately independent Ionians will shower the enemies of Greece with deadly arrows.
T4	Toxotai	No weapon is beyond the skill of a Greek.
T5	Cycladic Archers	Inspired by the example of their Gods, these bowmen lose their arrows with deadly accuracy.
T6	Lesbos Archers	They'll shoot you dead and then write a beautiful poem about it.
T7	Scythian Archers	Archery is in these men's blood.
T8	Pontic Archers	These natural archers are light on their feet and capable of long-range volleys.
T9	Cimmerian Heavy Archers	Archers hardened on the edges of the world.
T10	Cretan Archers	Famous above all others for their skill as archers, these men have lent their bows to some of the most legendary commanders of the ancient world.

Characteristics

Archers have a good range and a good damage. They can fire over obstacles.

Slingers

Tier	Unit Name	Description
T5	Psiloi	Slings are humble but deadly long-range weapons.
T6	Levy Slingers	Accurate slingers capable of pelting distant enemies with showers of stones.
T7	Gymnatai	Fragile, but capable of delivering volleys of stones with speed and precision.
T8	Helot Slingers	These men know it is better to kill for the Spartans than be killed by them, and will throw flying stones with desperate vigour.
T9	Olympic Slingers	Fast, accurate, and capable of throwing their stones incredible distance, these slingers are paragons of Greek physical perfection.
T10	Rhodian Slingers	"Catch!"

Characteristics

Those units can hit an enemy from long range. They deal low AP damage compared to archers though. They have flat arcs of fire, which makes them unable to fire over obstacles.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Cynane

Alternative choice:
Miltiades

Roman Empire

Tier	Unit name	Description
T1	Tirones	These skirmishers pepper the enemy with javelins, then retreat to safety.
T2	Leves	Agile skirmishers who can evade their opponents while peppering them with deadly javelins.
T3	Republican Skirmishers	These skirmishers can harass and weaken the enemy before the main lines clash.
T4	Socii Javelineers	They may not be Romans, but their javelins are no less deadly for it.
T5	Rorarii	A unit of Rorarii supports the heavy infantry with deadly missiles.
T6	Velites	These eager young fighters will push themselves to the limit to prove their skill and bravery.
T7	Augustan Skirmishers	Among the skirmisher only the fast survive.
T8	Veteran Velites	Fighting on the front lines quickly culls the weak from the strong.
T9	Elite Velites	Adept skirmishers who can strike enemies from beyond their reach.
T10	Imperial Velites	Never take on a man who wears a lion as a hat.

Characteristics

Those javelin units have a short range, but deal a lot of AP damage. They are also more heavily armoured than the other missile units.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Caesar
Sulla

Alternative choice :
Scipio

Barbarians

Tier	Unit name	Description
T3	Huntsmen	With skills developed from a lifetime of hunting, these archers are accurate and deadly.
T4	Cimbri Archers	Inspired by grisly rituals, these archers are ready to deliver death from afar.
T5	Archer Warband	There may be less honour in the bow than the sword - but that doesn't make these archers any less deadly.
T6	Proven Archers	Skilled archers who can harass the enemy from a great distance.
T7	Ambushers	Kill your enemies before they even know you're there.
T8	Night Hunters	You can't fight what you can't see. Shame it doesn't go both ways.
T9	Cernunnos Hunters	The Hun-God blesses the arrows of this faithful.
T10	Archers of Ullr	Each arrow that strikes true is a testament to Ullr's might.

Characteristics

Those archer units have less range than the Greek ones, but trade that for speed.

Commanders who can play them effectively

Ambiorix
Arminius

Alternative choice:
Vercingetorix

Carthage

Tier	Unit name	Description
T9	Iberian Skirmishers	Darting in and out of the fray, these skirmishers harass enemy lines.
T10	Boii Skirmishers	Frontline troops, knowing no fear.

Characteristics

Fast and mobile, more than the Roman javelins, they are lightly armoured compared to them (to be checked)

Commanders who can play them effectively

Hasdrubal

Alternative choices:
Hannibal