Elite Woad Raider
InfantryBase 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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Woad Raider
Castle Elite Woad Raider
ImperialThe coach's briefing
You now have 85 HP and 15 attack - serious killing power. Still 1.17 speed and still 0/1 armor, but your damage output makes you dangerous in actual fights now, not just raids. The Elite upgrade costs 1000F/800G. With +3 vs buildings and 15 attack, you can delete Town Centers surprisingly fast.
STRONG AGAINST
You win these trades cost-effectively.
WEAK AGAINST
Avoid these fights or bring support.
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Your coach names the counters during the match — not once the game is over.
Strategic Analysis
Tactical Identity
The Elite Woad Raider becomes a **genuine combat infantry** while retaining unmatched mobility for raids.
Tactical Playbook
Combat Viable
15 attack means you trade effectively vs Champions now. Speed lets you pick fights.
TC Deletion
+3 vs buildings with 15 base attack. Groups of Elite Woads can destroy Town Centers quickly.
Chase Everything
1.17 speed catches siege, archers, and even some cavalry. Nothing escapes.
Critical Point
**Still 0/1 armor**. Ranged units remain deadly. Use speed to close gaps or avoid engagements entirely.
Understanding The Stats
The Elite upgrade significantly boosts HP and attack while maintaining the signature speed.
Much More HP
+15 HP over base. Survives longer in raids and fights.
High Attack
+4 over base. Kills villagers in 2 hits now.
Building Bonus
+1 over base. Even better at destroying structures.
Same Speed
Still the fastest infantry. Raiding power unchanged.
Coach's Tip
15 attack at 1.17 speed is devastating. You deal damage equivalent to a Two-Handed Swordsman but can chase down anything.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Standard Building | +3 |
Armor Classes
Infantry
Takes bonus damage from Hand Cannoneers, Slingers, and anti-infantry unique units.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Feudal Age
Castle Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Elite Woad Raider is the Celtic unique infantry unit: 85 HP, 15 attack, 0 melee armor, 1 pierce armor, 1.17 speed and 3 line of sight. It costs 70 food and 25 gold and trains in only 10 seconds, so its value is movement plus volume rather than armor. The official help calls it fast infantry, strong against Infantry and Siege Weapons, and weak against Archery Units and Cavalry. Its Infantry and Unique Unit classes make its counter matchups decisive: anti-infantry attacks are not flavor text. The Elite Woad Raider has +3 attack against Eagle Warriors, so a surviving group can keep pressure on that matchup after the first fight.
History & balance
The Elite Woad Raider is the expression of the Celtic infantry identity: a unique unit that trades conventional protection for speed and a short production cycle. The Celtic civilization data gives Infantry +5/10/15/20% movement speed through the Dark, Feudal, Castle and Imperial Ages, so the unit scales through the game without needing a new gimmick. Its official history inside the tech tree is equally clear: Blacksmith attack and armor, Barracks speed, Castle access to the Elite Woad Raider and Monastery conversion resistance. The result is a unit that starts as a mobile answer to slow infantry and siege and ends as a way to keep contact while the Celtic siege core does the heavy work.
In pro play
Use Elite Woad Raiders to make the opponent answer two locations at once. Their 1.17 speed and 10-second training time support raids on exposed villagers and retreats before a ranged line stabilizes. They are strongest when they reach Infantry or Siege rather than when they wait for a prepared fight; the official strengths tell you exactly which targets to seek. Keep vision ahead and let Celtic siege punish the army that turns to chase. Their 0 melee armor means prolonged stand-up fights are expensive, so use terrain, timing and movement. When the enemy switches to ranged units or cavalry, transition deliberately instead of doubling down on a bad engagement.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is trying to stop Elite Woad Raiders with another melee infantry line, then wondering why the fast Celtic mass keeps reaching the siege. The official help gives the categories: Archery Units and Cavalry. In practice, Hand Cannoneers are a hard ranged answer because they carry +10 against Infantry; Heavy Scorpions also receive an anti-Infantry bonus and punish a group. Keep the ranged line behind a screen, because the Raider still moves quickly and can dive exposed guns. If Elite Woad Raiders keep overrunning your army without you knowing what to build or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.