Leveraging Magic Bows

[Jarkko]

Originally Posted by Stavis_L

Sleepers also have a large standard effect, which can be helpful if standing in a block of normal archers of puny morale.

A sleeper with a Horn of Valor and a magic bow amongst archers is a wonderful boost to morale (not to mention the sleeper is quite a killer shooter with his high precission, as mentioned above).

[LumenPlacidum]

With a strength of 17, they're rather nice with the lightning bow, too; especially if you can give them quickness.

[AreaOfEffect]

Originally Posted by Executor

Don't know if this was mentioned at all, but the bows are best used on scouts from my experience.
Especially if you get several of them with bows of war, you get a really big archer army that is completely unexpected.

If cheap scouts is your preference, try playing Caelum (pre 11 flying scouts), Man (pre 12 foresters), Tir na n'Og and Formoria (pre 12 fir bolg scouts), Vanheim and Helheim (pre 12 glamored van scouts), and Jomon (pre 14 ninjas).

[Executor]

It's not so much that cheap is my preference, rather the stealthy part with the scouts, so you can surprise your enemy with a rain of arrows.
Chances are that he most likely won't be preparing for archers if he doesn't see them in the army, eg. mist, storm, darkness, while you can prepare flaming arrows, wind guide.

[sum1lost]

Originally Posted by Executor

It's not so much that cheap is my preference, rather the stealthy part with the scouts, so you can surprise your enemy with a rain of arrows.
Chances are that he most likely won't be preparing for archers if he doesn't see them in the army, eg. mist, storm, darkness, while you can prepare flaming arrows, wind guide.

If stealthed archers are what you want, they're really accessible already as national troops and many indies. No need to spend precious gems.

[Executor]

Yes, however while I do find stealthy units reasonable often, I rarely find stealthy commanders to lead the units.