Dummy peasants

Offensive

A great specialist against ranged defense, but only if you scout the target in advance with a spy.

Quick overview

Type	Offensive

The farmer dummies are a siege tool that significantly reduces the strength of all ranged defenders, namely archers who are shooting at you from a distance. When you attack a foreign castle and know that there is a garrison built on archers waiting for you, this will break that ranged defense. Among attackers, it is a specialized piece specifically for situations where the opponent builds defense mainly on ranged shooting, and it can make a crucial difference between a bloody failure and a clean breakthrough.

How to use it

Deploy them when you have at least a basic idea of the target and suspect that the defender relies on ranged defense, typically archers. Before a serious attack, it is worth sending a spy to look at the layout of the defense, so you don't drag dummies to a castle packed with close defenders, where they will be of no use to you. You always attack one side of the castle (front, left, or right flank) and the dummies go into the tool slots in the wave you are sending to that side. Their effect then applies to the entire wave, so you weaken the ranged defense protecting the side you are attacking. They are purely offensive tools, so you only deal with them during your own attack; they will be of no use for defending your own castle.

What to combine it with

Combine them with tools that increase close attack or protect your soldiers, so you cover both aspects of defense, not just the ranged one. By themselves, a tool that reduces ranged defense will not win you the attack; it is a supplement to a strong offensive setup. Fill the remaining tool slots in that wave with standard offensive tools for the side you are attacking. It works best when you align the entire wave with the type of troops you are leading into the attack.

Pro player tipBefore deploying the dummies, take a look at the target's defense with a spy. Against a castle defended mainly by close combat units, they are almost useless; you will only draw out their full potential against ranged defense. And remember, the weakening of ranged defense applies to the entire wave you are sending to the chosen side, so the dummies only make sense when there are indeed archers standing against you on that side, not when there are mainly close defenders.

Common mistakeThe most common mistake is to automatically bring dummies into every attack, regardless of what kind of defense the opponent has. Against a castle built on close defense, they will take up a slot that could belong to a more effective tool, and the effect is almost zero. Another classic is relying solely on them and forgetting about close defense; the dummies do not address that at all.

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