Xianbei Raider
Cavalry ArcherBase 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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Xianbei Raider
CastleThe coach's briefing
Commander, the Xianbei Raider is Wei's mobile harassment unit. At 1.4 speed with 4 range, they excel at hit-and-run tactics. Their +3 bonus against siege makes them perfect for sniping enemy trebuchets and mangonels. Use Xianbei Raiders to control the map and destroy enemy siege lines. They're cheap at 65W/25G.
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
Fast cavalry archer and siege sniper
Tactical Playbook
Siege Hunter
+3 vs siege makes Xianbei Raiders excellent at destroying trebuchets and mangonels. Dive in, kill siege, retreat.
Extreme Speed
1.4 speed outpaces most units. You can escape almost anything and choose your fights.
Economic Pressure
Use speed to raid enemy economies. Kill villagers and retreat before military arrives.
Critical Point
Only 30 HP with 0/0 armor. Extremely fragile - a few hits mean death. Never stop moving.
Understanding The Stats
Xianbei Raiders sacrifice durability for extreme speed and siege-killing potential. Pure glass cannon raiders.
Light Attack
Base damage plus siege bonus
Short Range
Modest range for a cavalry archer
Very Low HP
Extremely fragile
Very Fast
Among the fastest units in the game
Coach's Tip
30 HP means 2-3 hits from anything kills you. Never let enemies get close. Micro or die.
Mechanics & Bonuses
Attack Bonuses
| Target | Bonus Dmg |
|---|---|
| Spearman | +3 |
| Infantry | +1 |
Armor Classes
Cavalry Archer
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Cavalry
Takes heavy bonus damage from Pikemen/Halberdiers and Camels.
Unique Unit
Vulnerable to units with bonus damage vs this class.
Key Upgrades
Civilizations
* 1 civilizations have access to this unit.
Other Units
AoE Coach analysis
Context & meta
The Xianbei Raider is the Wei unique Mounted Archer: 65 wood, 25 gold, 30 HP, 5 attack, 0/0 armor, 4 range, 1.4 speed, 6 line of sight and a 29-second train time. The official help gives the same categories and mechanic: a charged Mounted Archer, strong versus Infantry and weak versus Skirmishers and Camel Riders. Its low HP and no armor demand a mobile plan, while Wei's later HP bonus gives the unit more room to operate without changing the counters.
History & balance
The official strings define the design: charged ranged attack, Infantry strength, Skirmisher and Camel weakness, with Blacksmith, Stable, Archery Range and University support. Wei context supplies the civilization angle, but the unit remains a fragile mounted archer.
In pro play
Treat the Xianbei Raider as a mobile pressure queue, not as permission to stand under fire. Use the 1.4 speed to scout the opponent's counter production, keep the charge for a high-value target and retreat before Skirmishers can form a firing line. A 29-second train time makes two production points meaningful once the opponent is forced to answer, but the 25-gold cost still asks for a stable economy. Wei can use the Raider while its free economic-upgrade Villagers accelerate the next transition; do not sacrifice the unit merely to preserve a raid route. Repeat small attacks, force the defender to guard two resources, then decide whether the game wants more Xianbei or a different cavalry layer.
How to counter it
The classic mistake is preparing a generic anti-Cavalry answer without checking the ranged class. The official help gives the categories: strong versus Infantry and weak versus Skirmishers and Camel Riders. Elite Skirmishers carry +2 versus Cavalry Archers and +4 versus Archers; Camel Riders carry +9 versus Cavalry. Use those real bonuses, close escape routes and stop chasing one body across the map. The unit wins only while it has space to reset its charge. If you keep losing to the Xianbei Raider without knowing what to produce or when, AoE Coach reads your match-up and gives you the counter composition and timing.