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Veteran heavy crossbowman – Goodgame Empire

Veteran heavy crossbowman

Offensive Ranged Veteran

For the late game it's the best archer from research, and if you attack regularly, the research will pay for itself. The difference from the basic version isn't just in attack but also in speed and shorter recruitment, so take it as a full replacement, not as an expensive add-on. It's worth it mainly against castles with infantry defense and in an army with attack infantry and tools.

110Attack
16Melee defense
26Ranged defense
28Speed
4Food upkeep

Quick overview

TypeOffensive, Ranged
SourceBarracks level 6
Cost150
RecommendationYes

rating

Attack
Defensive
Cost
Speed

Crossbowman Veteran is the strongest archer you'll research in the late game. You get it through research in the Research Tower, where it replaces the regular Crossbowman, and further research levels increase its level according to the game description. Attack of 110 puts it above the basic version with 92, and the game description speaks clearly—very strong in attack, ideal for fighting defenders at close range. The price is 150 gold per piece versus 110 for the basic version.

How to use it

It's the core of the ranged part of your attack army against castles and camps where the defender mainly builds infantry and has weaker ranged defense. An attack of 110 matches exactly this value, so check the scout report before attacking and deploy it on flanks where the defender underestimated archers. Speed of 28 is noticeably better than 20 on the basic archer, and long marches won't slow it down as much. Recruitment takes 647 seconds, much less than 878 for the regular version, so you'll replenish your army faster.

What to combine it with

Always mix it with attack infantry, preferably with the Two-Handed Swordsman Veteran, who has 121 attack and handles close combat defense. The defender sets their own defense distribution between close and ranged, a one-sided army always hits a wall somewhere. Battering rams, ladders, and ditch tools are a must, otherwise fortifications will take part of your attack before the battle even starts. In the Research Tower, also research reserves for attack veterans—that research reduces recruitment costs for Crossbowman Veterans, and with hundreds of pieces you'll notice it in your wallet.

Weaknesses and what to avoid

It doesn't belong in castle defense. Defense of 16 against close combat and 26 against archers is useless for such an expensive unit when its defensive counterpart from research, the Longbowman Veteran, has 134 against archers. Don't send it to targets where the defender is betting on archers either—its 110 attack will break against high ranged defense. And don't raid with it for loot—it carries 25, less than the basic Crossbowman with 32.

Pro player tipWatch the strength value. A veteran counts 5 strength points per piece versus 3 for the basic version, so an army of veterans will raise your castle strength rating faster. On a flank, the sum of attacks counts, so even a smaller group of veterans topped up with cheaper archers will do its job—you don't need the whole flank made of them. Deploy them where the scout report shows the weakest ranged defense, and staff the rest of the flanks with regular units.
Common mistakeThe most common mistake is looking only at attack and forgetting about food. Consumption of 4 per piece looks innocent, but a large army of veterans sitting in your castle will drag your food balance into the red without doing anything. The second mistake is sending it to weak camps that regular archers could handle—every dead veteran costs 150 gold, and on a camp without proper defense its attack is unnecessary luxury.

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