Gbeto
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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Gbeto
Castle
Elite Gbeto
ImperialThe coach's briefing
You're ranged infantry - you attack from 5 range but deal melee damage (ignores pierce armor). With 40 HP, 10 attack, and 1.25 speed, you're fast and hit hard. Your 0/0 armor means you're fragile to everything. At only 50F/40G, you're very affordable. Mass them and focus fire high-value targets before they can close the distance.
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 Gbeto is a **ranged melee infantry**. Throws javelins that deal melee damage, ignoring pierce armor.
Tactical Playbook
Melee Damage Ranged
Ignores pierce armor. Deals full 10 damage to high-pierce targets.
Very Fast
1.25 speed is faster than most infantry. Good kiting potential.
Cheap and Quick
50F/40G with fast train time. Easy to mass.
Critical Point
**Extremely fragile**. 40 HP with 0/0 armor. Dies to almost anything that reaches you.
Understanding The Stats
The Gbeto offers unique ranged melee damage for bypassing pierce armor at the cost of extreme fragility.
Ranged Melee
Melee damage type. Ignores pierce armor.
Very Fast
Faster than most infantry. Good for kiting.
Very Fragile
No armor. Dies fast to anything.
Cheap
Very affordable. Mass them easily.
Coach's Tip
10 melee damage at range ignores pierce armor. Huskarls (6 pierce armor) take full 10 damage. You counter them.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Eagle Warrior | +1 |
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 Gbeto is the Malian unique infantry, but its identity breaks the normal infantry rule: it throws from range 5 while dealing melee damage. The current profile is 40 HP, 10 attack, 0/0 armor, 1.25 speed, and a 50 food/40 gold price, so it is fast and cheap yet extremely fragile. The official help gives the categories: Strong vs. Infantry and Siege Weapons; Weak vs. Ranged Soldiers. Malians add pierce armor to Barracks Units by age, making the unit more resilient against arrows while its attack still ignores pierce armor. It is a mobile pressure piece, not a front line.
History & balance
Gbeto gives the Malians a way to make infantry pressure feel mobile without turning the unit into a conventional archer. The design package is clear in the current data: a short train time of 17 seconds, a low 50 food/40 gold cost, range 5, and 1.25 speed are paid for with only 40 HP and no armor. Malian bonuses reinforce the context rather than replacing it: buildings cost 15% less wood, villagers drop off 10% more gold, and Barracks Units gain +1/+2/+3 pierce armor in Feudal, Castle, and Imperial Age. The result is a specialist unit built around tempo, positioning, and focus fire.
In pro play
Use the Gbeto where its speed and ranged melee attack can decide small engagements before a real front line forms. A 17-second train time and 50 food/40 gold cost let Malians add numbers without starving the rest of the army, while range 5 lets the first volley land before contact. Keep the group moving: 1.25 speed is an asset for focus fire, side attacks, and retreating from heavy cavalry, but 40 HP and 0/0 armor make every caught unit expensive. Pair the pressure with a sturdier infantry screen, raid exposed workers, and choose targets that cannot answer with ranged fire.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is answering Gbetos with Archers and assume their pierce armor will matter. The official help gives the weak category: Ranged Soldiers. Use Hand Cannoneers, who carry +10 against Infantry, or Slingers with +4 against Infantry; Heavy Scorpions also carry +2 against Infantry. These answers exploit 40 HP and 0/0 armor, while melee damage is not reduced by the Gbeto attack mode. Do not chase with a slow screen: force the Gbetos to stand and trade, then close only when the ranged answer has softened them. If you keep losing to Gbetos without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.