Elite Kipchak
ArcherBase values, before Blacksmith upgrades. The Blacksmith raises attack and armour for infantry, cavalry and archers — Blast Furnace, for instance, gives "+2 Attack for infantry & cavalry". Late in a game, the real numbers are higher.
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Kipchak
Castle Elite Kipchak
ImperialThe coach's briefing
You now have 45 HP and 5 attack on your primary arrow (still 1 for secondary). That's 7 damage per attack total. Still 0/0 armor, still fragile, but slightly more damage. The upgrade costs 1100F/1000W. With Thumb Ring for accuracy and Parthian Tactics for +2 armor, Elite Kipchaks become a devastating mobile archer force.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Just lost against this unit?
Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Elite Kipchak maintains **devastating multi-shot DPS** with slightly improved survivability.
Tactical Playbook
7 Damage/Attack
5+1+1 = 7 damage. Higher DPS than Cavalry Archers.
Slightly Tankier
45 HP survives 1-2 more hits. Still fragile though.
Parthian Tactics
Research for +2 armor. Makes them viable in archer fights.
Critical Point
**Still glass cannons**. 0/0 base armor means they need constant micro. One mistake = dead Kipchaks.
Understanding The Stats
The Elite upgrade modestly improves stats while the multi-shot mechanic remains the core strength.
Higher Primary
+1 over base. 7 total damage per attack.
Slightly More HP
+5 HP. Survives a bit longer.
Same Range
Unchanged. Standard cavalry archer range.
Same Speed
Still fast. Good kiting potential.
Coach's Tip
7 damage per attack cycle is excellent DPS. 20 Elite Kipchaks deal 140 damage per volley - that kills 3-4 Knights instantly.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Spearman | +1 |
Armor Classes
Archer
Vulnerable to Skirmishers and Huskarls.
Cavalry Archer
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Cavalry
Takes heavy bonus damage from Pikemen/Halberdiers and Camels.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
Elite Kipchak is the upgraded Cuman mounted archer that fires multiple arrows. It costs 60 wood and 35 gold, trains in 20 seconds, and has 45 HP, 5 attack, 0 melee armor and 0 pierce armor. Its range is 4, speed 1.4, and line of sight 6. The official help gives the categories: Infantry and Siege Weapons as strengths, and Foot Archers as a weakness. The extra arrows make a moving group dangerous against exposed bodies, but the low health and short range mean the Kipchak must create its own distance. It is a fast firing pattern, not a durable cavalry line.
History & balance
The Elite Kipchak makes the Cuman mounted archer feel like a moving volley rather than a collection of individual shots. Multiple arrows reward focus on a target that cannot turn, while 1.4 speed lets the group change the angle before contact. The unit is balanced by a clear defensive limit: 45 HP and zero armor make Foot Archers a credible answer once they establish range. Its 20-second train time supports a growing mass, but the 60-wood, 35-gold price asks the player to protect every production cycle. The story is simple: speed creates the firing line, and speed must preserve it.
In pro play
Use Elite Kipchaks against a slow infantry or siege army, always with a turn path behind the group. Speed 1.4 and range 4 let the riders fire while circling, and the multiple arrows reward a single focus target rather than scattered clicks. Their 45 HP and zero armor make a stopped formation disappear quickly, so keep moving, use terrain, and leave before Foot Archers establish a clean volley. The 20-second train time means several production buildings are needed for sustained pressure, while 60 wood and 35 gold per unit compete with the Cuman economy. Win through repeated angles, not one frontal trade.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is meeting Elite Kipchaks with slow infantry and letting the multiple-arrow attack choose the distance. The official help gives the categories: Infantry and Siege Weapons as strengths, and Foot Archers as a weakness. In practice, Elite Skirmishers have real bonuses against Cavalry Archers and Archers, so use a protected mass with enough range to punish the 45-HP riders; Elite Longbowmen can also deny the short-range kiting lane by reaching from farther away. Spread the screen, focus one rider, and do not chase into open ground. Facing Elite Kipchaks without knowing what to produce or when? AoE Coach reads your matchup and gives you the composition + timing.