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Crossbowman – Goodgame Empire

Crossbowman

Offensive Ranged

Without research, the Crossbowman is the strongest attacking ranged unit you get from the Barracks early in the game. Attack 36 for 50 coins and 2 food, speed 73 and loot 22 make him a reliable core of the ranged part of your army, next to infantry that covers the target's melee defense. Do not count on him for the walls, 6 against melee drags him down there. Ideal for getting started, and after researching the Veteran crossbowman or unlocking stronger ranged units from higher Barracks, keep him as a cheap reserve.

36Attack
6Melee defense
36Ranged defense
73Speed
2Food upkeep

Quick overview

TypeOffensive, Ranged
SourceBarracks level 2
Cost50
RecommendationRather yes

rating

Attack
Defensive
Cost
Speed

You get the Crossbowman from the Barracks already at level 2, and without research he is the strongest attacking ranged unit you can get from the Barracks early in the game. He attacks from a distance with attack 36 for 50 coins and 2 food, while the Bowman from the same level has 24. Defense is his weakness, 36 against ranged but only 6 against melee. He is an offensive unit, so treat him as one.

How to use it

The Crossbowman's main job is the ranged part of the attack army. Attack 36 is measured against the target's defense against ranged, so he does the most against a defender who builds mainly on infantry and neglected defense against ranged units. Speed 73 is good for the start of the game and he carries 22 loot, more than the Bowman with 13, so he also suits resource raids. Upkeep of 2 food is low and you can afford to hold many of them. Attack 36 is the base level 1 value before bonuses.

What to combine it with

Never send the Crossbowman alone in attack. A defender has separate defense against melee and against ranged, so a purely ranged wave hits only one of those numbers. Complement him with infantry, early in the game the Maceman with attack 38 for 45 coins or the cheaper Spearman with attack 26 are a good fit. Take the Bowman as a cheaper addition when you need to even out numbers quickly, he recruits in 35 seconds, the Crossbowman in 70. Against the Bowman you do get more attack per food though, 36 against 24 for the same 2 food. Against castles full of defenders with strong defense against ranged, such as the Longbowman with 125, send more infantry and fewer ranged units.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

Do not put the Crossbowman on the walls as your main defense. Against melee he has just 6, so an attacker with infantry sweeps him away, and even his 36 against ranged is less than the Archer from Barracks level 3 has (55). In defense take him at most as emergency filler against ranged units until you have better defenders. Do not send him at a target defended mainly by ranged units either, there attack 36 runs into high defense against ranged and you lose your troops. As stronger ranged units arrive, gradually phase him out of the core of your army.

Pro player tipBefore you send an attack, look at what the target defends with, and deploy Crossbowmen where the defender holds more infantry than ranged units. Early in the game he is your best ranged unit from the Barracks, so keep more of them in stock. Recruiting takes 70 seconds per unit, so keep the Barracks queue running continuously and replace losses right after an attack. Through research in the Research tower he is later replaced by the Veteran crossbowman with attack 98.
Common mistakeA classic mistake is seeing the Crossbowman's 36 against ranged and building castle defense out of him. But the Crossbowman is an offensive unit, 6 against melee will not hold him on the walls, and an attacker with infantry will pick your garrison apart. Defenders like the Archer belong on the walls. The second mistake is sending Crossbowmen in attack without infantry. A ranged attack is counted against the target's defense against ranged, and when the defender has it high, the whole wave breaks against it and nobody exploits the target's weaker melee defense.

Related units

BowmanBowmanVeteran crossbowmanVeteran crossbowmanHeavy crossbowmanHeavy crossbowmanVeteran heavy crossbowmanVeteran heavy crossbowmanVeteran deathly horrorVeteran deathly horrorDeathly horrorDeathly horror

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