Longboat
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.
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Longboat
Castle
Elite Longboat
ImperialThe coach's briefing
The Longboat is the Viking unique ship. It fires arrows very quickly and has bonus damage vs ships. Multiple arrows per volley means it shreds enemy ships faster than Galleys. Vikings dominate water with mass Longboats backed by their free Wheelbarrow/Hand Cart eco bonus.
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 Longboat is your **naval superiority unit**. It wins water fights through raw damage output.
Tactical Playbook
Multi-Arrow Volleys
Fires multiple arrows per attack. Higher effective DPS than Galleys.
Ship Bonus
+9 bonus damage vs ships. Combined with multi-arrow, devastates enemy fleets.
Mass Production
Vikings should build many Docks and mass Longboats. Overwhelm with numbers and DPS.
Critical Point
**Fire Ships counter you**. Despite high DPS, Fire Ships close and deal devastating fire damage. Mix with your own ships or kite carefully.
Understanding The Stats
The Longboat is a high-DPS warship that dominates ship-to-ship combat.
Multi-Arrow Attack
Fires multiple arrows per volley. Shreds ships faster than any Galley-line.
Ship Bonus
Massive bonus damage. Galleys melt under Longboat fire.
Fast Speed
Faster than Galleys. Can kite or chase as needed.
Fast Production
Very fast train time. Overwhelm with numbers.
Coach's Tip
130 HP is solid. Your real advantage is multi-arrow fire rate. Focus fire targets to exploit your superior DPS.
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
Imperial Age
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Longboat is the Viking unique Warship, listed at 100 wood and 50 gold, 25 seconds to train, 125 HP, 5 attack, 0/3 armor, 6 range, 1.46 speed and 8 line of sight. Its repository bonuses are +9 versus Ships and Fishing Ships. The official help gives the strong categories: Fire Galleys, land units and buildings; this string does not state a Weak vs category. Multiple arrows make the unit dangerous against compact targets and shoreline positions, while the higher wood-and-gold cost keeps it a deliberate Viking water plan. It is fast and versatile, but not automatically superior to the standard fleet in every naval exchange.
History & balance
The Longboat turns the Viking naval identity into a multi-projectile platform that can influence both water and shore. The official help emphasizes Fire Galleys, land units and buildings, so the ship is not confined to a single naval triangle; it can support a landing or punish a dockside economy. The absence of a Weak vs category in the official string is itself useful editorial information: the counter must be read from the actual naval mechanics and the opponent's composition, not assigned to a category the game does not print. Its 25-second train time and 1.46 speed support aggressive movement, while only 3 pierce armor keeps careless exposure dangerous.
In pro play
Use Longboats in a moving line that can fire on ships, shore units or buildings without committing to a single lane. Their 1.46 speed is a major positioning tool: rotate around a dock, protect a transport and threaten the landing at the same time. The multiple-arrow pattern rewards targets that cannot spread, but it also makes a tight Viking fleet vulnerable to area damage, so keep the hulls offset. The 25-second train time supports continuous production once the Viking economy has enough wood and gold; do not stop fishing or land production just to make one impressive group. The best timing is a hybrid pressure where the opponent cannot answer the water without exposing the land.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is assuming the Longboat has a printed naval weakness and sending the same answer every time. The official help gives the categories: strong versus Fire Galleys, land units and buildings, with no stated Weak vs category. In practice, Galleons carry +8 versus Ships and contest the Viking line at range; Fire Ships and Heavy Demolition Ships answer when the formation is trapped. Spread the fleet, deny the shoreline and attack production instead of feeding hulls to the +9 Ship bonus. If you keep losing to Longboats without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.