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 Longship is shared by Danes, Saxons, Varangians and Vikings. Its multiple arrows and ship bonus reward a mobile fleet, while each civilization brings different naval bonuses.
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 Longship 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.
Multi-Arrow Fire
Several arrows per volley reward focused fire against enemy fleets.
Mass Production
Build several Docks and mass Longships. Overwhelm with numbers and DPS.
Critical Point
**Avoid trapped formations**. Demolition Ships punish tightly grouped Longships; keep a retreat lane.
Understanding The Stats
The Longship 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.
Multi-Arrow Fire
Focused volleys pressure opposing fleets.
Fast Speed
Faster than Galleys. Can kite or chase as needed.
Fast Production
Very fast train time. Overwhelm with numbers.
Coach's Tip
125 HP and 3 pierce armor give some staying power; the multiple arrows reward focused fire.
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
* 4 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Longship is a Nordic warship shared by Danes, Saxons, Varangians and Vikings, 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. Official help lists Fire Galleys, land units and buildings as strengths, but no Weak vs category. Multiple arrows reward mobility and focused fire; each civilization supports the ship differently.
History & balance
The Longship 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 Longships 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 Longship has a printed naval weakness and sending the same answer every time. Official help lists it as strong versus Fire Galleys, land units and buildings, with no stated Weak vs category. Galleons can contest its firing line at range, while Heavy Demolition Ships punish a trapped formation. Spread the fleet, deny the shoreline and attack production rather than taking repeated unfavorable volleys. If you keep losing to Longships, AoE Coach reads your matchup and suggests a counter composition and timing.