Archer

[e][h] Archer

Unit Information

Built From:

Ancient of War

Cost:

 130  10  20  2

Hotkey:

A

Hit Points:

255

HP Regeneration:

0.5 at Night

Armor:

0 (3)

Race:

Nightelf

Sleeps:

no

Formation Rank:

2

Sight:

1400 / 800

Acquisition Range:

800

Level:

2

Selection Priorty:

2

Movement

Speed:

270

Turn Rate:

0.6

Move Type:

foot

Collision Size:

32

Cargo Size:

1

Icon

Combat

Damage:

16 - 19 (23 - 31)

Range:

500 (700)

Weapon Type:

missile

Cooldown:

1.5

Targets:

• ground
• structure
• debris
• air
• item
• ward

The first rank of the Sentinel army is comprised of Archers. These brave warrior women are expert marksmen and use the concealing forests of Kalimdor to their advantage. Their lightning quick ambushes are legendary - for few warriors can match the speed and cunning of the proud Archers. Like all Night Elf women, Archers are able to Shadowmeld at night.

Basic long-ranged attacker. Has the Elune's Grace ability. Can learn the Marksmanship, Improved Bows and Hippogryph Taming upgrades. Attacks land and air units.

Their low hit points and medium armor makes Archers extremely vulnerable to melee attacks. The Shadowmeld ability can be used to keep Archers alive.

Archers can be combined with Hippogryphs to Hippogryph Riders, if Hippogryph Taming has been researched.

Strategy

Archers are mostly used in the early game to help creeping with the Ancient of War. If the Night Elf faces pressure early on, more Archers can be produced. However most late game strategies do not include Archers.

Archers are part of a mass ranged strategy together with Druids of the Talon. This strategy is sometimes played in Night Elf mirror.

Spells & Abilities

Hide
	Cast Type : Active Target Type : No Target Lie in wait for enemies without attacking. (Will respond to attacks). Units will hold position and hold their fire, so when they are Shadowmelding, they will not break their own invisibility. It's very handy for running away from a battle. The Hide ability is disabled during the day.
Fade Duration : 1.5 seconds Hotkey : I

Notes

The Archer, Huntress, Priestess of the Moon, and Warden are invisible to all other units at Night. The units are only invisible when they are not moving/attacking.

Elune's Grace
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Reduces the damage taken from Piercing attacks to 65%, and spells and Magic attacks to 80%.
Notes : Both Magic and Spell damage is reduced to 80%.

Mount Hippogryph
	Cast Type : Active Target Type : No Target Mounts a Hippogryph so that the Hippogryph Rider can attack from the air.
Hotkey : U

Improved Bows
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Increases the Archer's and Hippogryph Rider's attack range.
Range Bonus : 200
Upgrade: Improved Bows
Cost : 50 100  Research Time:  35 Researched at : Ancient of War  Hotkey : I  Requirements : Tree of Ages

Marksmanship
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Increases the damage of Archers and Hippogryph Riders.
Damage Bonus : 4
Upgrade: Marksmanship
Cost : 100 175  Research Time:  40 Researched at : Ancient of War  Hotkey : M  Requirements : Tree of Eternity, Hunter's Hall

Unit Inventory (Night Elf)
	Cast Type : Passive Target Type : No Target Allows the unit to carry 2 items.
Item Capacity : 2 Notes : Items cannot be used by the unit and are dropped, if the unit dies.
Upgrade: Backpack (Night Elf)
Cost : 50 25  Research Time:  20 Researched at : Tree of Life Requirements : Ancient of Wonders

Upgrades

Ultravision

Gives Night Elves the ability to see as far at night as they do during the day. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : U  Cost : 50 50  Research Time:  45 Requires : Tree of Ages

Strength of the Moon

Increases the damage of Archers, Huntresses, Glaive Throwers, and Hippogryph Riders. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : M  Cost : 125 75  Research Time:  60 Damage Dice Bonus : 1

Improved Strength of the Moon

Cost : 175 175  Research Time:  75 Requires : Tree of Ages Damage Dice Bonus : 2

Advanced Strength of the Moon

Cost : 225 275  Research Time:  90 Requires : Tree of Eternity Damage Dice Bonus : 3

Moon Armor

Increases the armor of Archers, Huntresses, and Hippogryph Riders. Researched at : Hunter's Hall  Hotkey : A  Cost : 150 75  Research Time:  60 Armor Bonus : 2

Improved Moon Armor

Cost : 200 150  Research Time:  75 Requires : Tree of Ages Armor Bonus : 4

Advanced Moon Armor

Cost : 250 225  Research Time:  90 Requires : Tree of Eternity Armor Bonus : 6

Trivia

• Archers have the highest dps per food against ground units
• Archers have the lowest hit points of all combat units

Version History

Balance Patch History
Version	Release	Balance Changes
1.32.9	2020-10-21	Archer hit points reduced from 260 to 255.
1.30.0	2018-08-08	Archer Hit Points increased from 245 to 260. Undocumented change: Marksmanship Upgrade damage bonus increased from 3 to 4.
1.17	2004-09-20	Archer hit points increased to 245 from 240.
1.10	2003-07-03	Archers now have a new passive ability, Elune's Grace. This ability grants them 35% damage reduction against Piercing attacks, and 20% damage reduction against spells. Archer hit points reduced to 240 from 310.

References

http://classic.battle.net/war3/nightelf/units/archer.shtml