Crossbowman
Hits far harder than an archer and costs like it.
- Gold
- 45
- Attack
- 8
- Defence
- 5
- Hit points
- 12
- Damage
- 3–6
- Speed
- 4
- Range
- 9
- Muster
- 10
- Front rank
- 8
The heavy shooter. Pierce ignores part of the target’s defence, bracing included, so crossbows are the answer to Shieldmen, Bulltoads and Shrinebacks that shrug off arrows.
What the numbers mean
- One Crossbowman costs 45 gold; a full stack of 10 costs 450 gold and has 120 hit points. 1000 gold, the quick battle’s draft, buys 22 of them.
- Only the front rank strikes: at most 8 of a stack hit at once, so a full stack deals 24–48 before attack and defence are counted.
- Attack above the target’s defence adds damage and attack below it takes damage off; How to play has the exact rule.
- It shoots up to 9 tiles; with an enemy standing next to it, it shoots at half damage. A shot draws no swing back.
Keywords
- Pierce. Ignores 50% of the target's defence, bracing included.
Where to hire it
In Conquest, the Vale Host hire Crossbowmen at the town’s Archery Butts (600 gold, 3 wood, 3 ore to build) and the Bolt Works dwelling on the map, 4 a week. In the quick battle it is bought in the draft, with gold only.
Against every other fighter
The game’s own strike preview on an open board, keywords on and no hero powers: a shot from 4 tiles away, no enemy next to the shooters. Damage and kills are the low and high roll; the swing back is what the target’s survivors hit back with.
| Target | Size | Damage | Killed | Swing back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peat Cutter | 50 | 31–62 | 2–5 | – |
| Reed Slinger | 36 | 32–65 | 5–10 | – |
| Eelcatcher | 24 | 31–62 | 2–5 | – |
| Stilt Lancer | 14 | 30–60 | 2–4 | – |
| Bulltoad | 9 | 28–55 | 0–1 | – |
| Fen Lamplighter | 6 | 30–60 | 1–3 | – |
| Heron Rider | 4 | 30–60 | 1–2 | – |
| Shrineback | 3 | 28–55 | 0 | – |
| Target | Size | Damage | Killed | Swing back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spearman | 40 | 30–60 | 3–6 | – |
| Dire Wolf | 30 | 31–62 | 3–6 | – |
| Archer | 24 | 31–62 | 3–7 | – |
| Shieldman | 16 | 29–58 | 1–3 | – |
| Knight | 5 | 28–55 | 0–1 | – |
| Mage | 4 | 30–60 | 1–3 | – |
| Drake | 3 | 26–53 | 0 | – |
More: The Vale Host · Commander · All keywords
Play Draft Crossbowmen in the quick battle.