Elite Longship
ShipBase 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.
Evolution
Longship
Castle Age Elite Longship
Imperial AgeThe coach's briefing
The Elite Longship has 130 HP, 7 attack, 7 range, and 6 pierce armor. Danes, Saxons, Varangians and Vikings can field it. Its multiple arrows reward focused fire, but compare the upgrade investment with the enemy fleet before committing.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
Prepare your next matchup
Choose both civilizations for a game plan, key threats and an army composition.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Elite Longship is a **multi-arrow Galley-type warship**. It performs best when its fleet keeps a clean firing line.
Tactical Playbook
Maximum DPS
7 attack with multi-arrow, plus +1 against galley-type ships. Nothing in the Galley-line matches your damage output.
Range Advantage
7 range ties Galleon. You can trade favorably while maintaining distance.
Armor and DPS
130 HP with 6 pierce armor. Protect the group from demolition bursts and unfavorable naval engagements.
Critical Point
**Fast Fire Ships still dangerous**. Despite superior stats, Fast Fire Ships at 1.56 speed can close distance. Keep some distance or bring support.
Understanding The Stats
The Elite Longship is the best ship for Galley-line combat in the entire game.
Durability
Solid pierce armor, but less health than a Galleon.
Maximum Range
Ties Galleon for best Galley-line range.
Multi-Arrow DPS
Multiple arrows reward focused fire.
Fast Train
Still very fast production. Maintain numerical advantage.
Coach's Tip
130 HP and 6 pierce armor provide resilience, but the Galleon has more HP. Use range and formation rather than assuming every naval fight is favorable.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Galley-type ship | +1 |
Armor Classes
Ship
Takes bonus from Heated Shot, Fire Ships, and Demolition Ships.
Galley-type ship
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 4 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
Elite Longship is the upgraded Nordic warship shared by Danes, Saxons, Varangians and Vikings. It fires multiple arrows, costs 100 wood and 50 gold, trains in 25 seconds, and has 130 HP, 7 attack, 1 melee armor and 6 pierce armor. Its range is 7, speed 1.46, and line of sight 9. The official help gives Fire Galleys, land units and buildings as strengths, without listing a Weak vs category. Keep the fleet moving and protect its firing line.
History & balance
The Elite Longship turns the Viking warship into a fleet weapon whose projectiles multiply across the formation. The design is clearly offensive: it can pressure ships, land units and buildings, but it still needs the water to remain open enough for its range and speed to matter. The official help does not supply a named weakness, so the honest history is one of naval geometry rather than a forced counter list. A Longship fleet wins by keeping the firing line coherent. Break that line with area damage or superior range, and the multiple arrows stop being a guarantee.
In pro play
Use Elite Longships as a moving line, not as isolated raiders. Speed 1.46 and range 7 let the fleet choose where to fire, while the multiple arrows reward a target group that cannot spread quickly. The Viking warship discount helps sustain the 100-wood, 50-gold investment, but 130 HP still punishes a fleet that turns late. Keep a retreat route, focus the closest naval threat, and use shore pressure to make the opponent split attention between ships and buildings. Do not clump so tightly that one demolition blast decides the fight. The fleet should always have a next angle.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is assuming that Fire Galleys counter Elite Longships. The official help gives the categories: Fire Galleys, land units and buildings as strengths, and no Weak vs category is listed. In practice, Heavy Demolition Ships can punish a tight Longship group with an explosive approach, while Cannon Galleons can challenge the fleet from beyond its preferred firing distance; these are mechanical naval answers, not names from the official Weak vs text. Spread your ships, attack the formation, and deny the Viking firing lane. Facing Elite Longships without knowing what to produce or when? AoE Coach reads your matchup and gives you the composition + timing.