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Marksman – Goodgame Empire

Marksman

Offensive Ranged Special

A versatile attacking ranged unit with attack 97, defense 132 against ranged and zero food upkeep. In the attack it does roughly the work of a Veteran crossbowman, and at home it holds against ranged just like a Veteran bowman. As a special unit you don't have it available at any time, but when you get it, use it in both attack and defense and complement it on the wall with melee defenders.

97Attack
59Melee defense
132Ranged defense
30Speed
—Food upkeep

Quick overview

TypeOffensive, Ranged
SourceSpecial
Game stageSpecial
Cost80
RecommendationYes

rating

Attack
Defensive
Cost
Speed

The Marksman is an attacking ranged unit and attacks at range. Its attack 97 is the base level 1 value before bonuses, so in the attack it does roughly as much as the Veteran crossbowman with attack 98. For an attacking unit though it has unusually strong defense, 132 against ranged and 59 against melee, and on top of that it consumes no food. It is a special unit that you get from events.

How to use it

Its main place is in the attacking army, in the ranged part of the wave. Attack 97 is measured against the target's ranged defense, so it does the most where the defender relies mainly on infantry. It carries 25 loot, so you can take it along on raids and plundering too. When it happens to be standing in the castle, it is not a wasted garrison unit, with defense 132 against ranged it matches the Veteran bowman. The cost is 80, but since it is a special unit, how many of them you can get from events matters more than the price.

What to combine it with

In the attack, complement it with attacking infantry. Against a pure ranged wave the defender gets by with ranged defense, while a mixed wave forces them to cover both sides at once. Add attack tools based on the spy report. In defense it is the other way around, its weaker side is defense 59 against melee, so next to it on the wall you need melee defenders, for example the Veteran spearman (142 against melee) or the Halberd (135). The Marksman then covers the ranged wave and the melee defenders cover the infantry.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

Don't make it the only defense of your castle just because it has high ranged defense. Against an army built on infantry, 59 won't hold you and the attacker gets through. Don't send it alone at a target with strong ranged defense either, where attack 97 shatters and only it takes the losses. And don't expect the performance of the strongest attacking ranged units from it, for example the Master bowman has attack 162. As with any special unit, you'll be dealing more with how many you have than with how many to build.

Pro player tipZero food upkeep is a big advantage for it. You can keep a lot of them without watching your stocks, and between attacks they still hold your ranged defense. Before the attack, go through the spy report and send it where the defender has little ranged defense. If a neighbor regularly attacks you with ranged units, leave part of your Marksmen at home, just keep in mind that units on the march don't defend the castle.
Common mistakeThe most common mistake is to look only at its melee attack, which ranged units always have at zero, and conclude it is a pure defender. Its real attack is ranged, at 97, so it normally belongs in the attacking army, and leaving it permanently sitting on the wall is a waste. The second mistake is putting only Marksmen on the wall and thinking you are impregnable. A melee army arrives, runs into defense 59 and the castle falls. Always complement it with melee defenders.

Related units

BowmanBowmanCrossbowmanCrossbowmanVeteran crossbowmanVeteran crossbowmanHeavy crossbowmanHeavy crossbowmanVeteran heavy crossbowmanVeteran heavy crossbowmanVeteran deathly horrorVeteran deathly horror

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