Editing Archery

{{Secondary skills}}{{Secondary skill
 | B_effect = increases the damage done by range attacking creatures by 10%.
 | A_effect = increases the damage done by range attacking creatures by 25%.
 | E_effect = increases the damage done by range attacking creatures by 50%.
}}

'''Archery''' is a [[secondary skill]] that increases the [[damage]] of [[ranged attack]]s, which also includes [[ballista]] and [[cannon]]{{-wh}}. As opposed to slightly misleading in-game skill description Archery increases the ''base damage'' of ranged attacks by 10%, 25% or 50% depending on the level of the skill. This does not mean that the total damage (final damage) is necessarily increased by the same percentage, as it might also be increased by other factors, such as high [[Primary skill#Attack skill|Attack skill]] - compare [[Damage#Damage calculation of creature stacks|damage formula]]. 

'''Bug:''' The archery skill reduces damage done by arrow towers (fixed in {{hota}}{{-wh}}).

'''Heroes with Archery as a starting skill:'''
* {{H2|Calh|Demoniac}}
* {{H2|Gelu|Ranger}} {{withmaped}}
* {{H2|Ivor|Ranger}}
* {{H2|Jabarkas|Barbarian}}
* {{H2|Jenova|Ranger}} (Advanced Archery)
* {{H2|Kyrre|Ranger}}
* {{H2|Valeska|Knight}}
* {{H2|Wystan|Beastmaster}}
* {{H2|Anabel|Captain}}{{-wh}}
* {{H2|Tancred|Mercenary}}{{-wh}} (Advanced Archery)
* {{H2|Wynona|Mercenary}}{{-wh}}

'''Heroes with {{PAGENAME}} as a specialty and a starting skill:'''
* {{H2|Orrin|Knight}}
* {{H2|Murdoch|Mercenary}} {{withmapedhota}}

'''Artifacts affecting the skill:'''
* {{An|Bow of Elven Cherrywood}} (+5%)
* {{An|Bowstring of the Unicorn's Mane}} (+10%)
* {{An|Angel Feather Arrows}} (+15%)
* {{An|Bow of the Sharpshooter}} (+30%)

The effect of these artifacts is additive with the skill (e.g. a hero with a [[Bowstring of the Unicorn's Mane]] and Advanced Archery will increase ranged damage of their units by 35%), similar to the way the bonus for other skill-boosting artifacts (such as the [[Dead Man's Boots]], [[Emblem of Cognizance]], [[Boots of Polarity]], etc.) is calculated. 

If a hero does not have the archery skill, these artifacts have no effect. 

== Chance to get ==
{{Secondary skill chance explanation}}
{{ZET SEC SKILL CHANCE TABLE| 5| 3| 8 (highest) {{withsod}}| 5| 5| 2 (lowest)| 6| 4| 5| 2 (lowest)| 6| 2 (lowest)| 7| 4| 7| 3| 8 (highest) {{withsod}}| 2 (lowest)| 9 (highest){{-wh}}| 6| 7| 4}}

==Comparison to Attack skill==

This table shows how much extra Attack skill the unit of the attacking hero would need, in order to reach the same effect in damage increasing as with the Archery skill ( = how much is the Archery skill worth in terms of attack), assuming no other damage modifiers - regardless of shooting distance.

{| class="wikitable"
! Archery skill / Difference between Attack skill and Defense skill || -20 || -19 || -18 || -17 || -16 || -15 || -14 || -13 || -12 || -11 || -10 || -9 || -8 || -7 || -6 || -5 || -4 || -3 || -2 || -1 || 0+
|-
| Basic || 2 || 2,1 || 2,2 || 2,3 || 2,4 || 2,5 || 2,6 || 2,7 || 2,8 || 2,9 || 3 || 3,1 || 3,2 || 3,3 || 3,4 || 3,5 || 3,6 || 3,3 || 2,9 || 2,4 || 2
|-
| Advanced || 5 || 5,2 || 5,5 || 5,7 || 6 || 6,2 || 6,5 || 6,7 || 7 || 7,2 || 7,5 || 7,7 || 8 || 7,6 || 7,2 || 6,9 || 6,5 || 6,1 || 5,7 || 5,4 || 5
|-
| Expert || 10 || 10,5 || 11 || 11,5 || 12 || 12,5 || 13 || 13,2 || 13 || 12,7 || 12,5 || 12,2 || 12 || 11,7 || 11,5 || 11,2 || 11 || 10,7 || 10,5 || 10,2 || 10
|}


{{fanopinion|
The usefulness of the Archery secondary skills depends on how much you rely on ranged units. It is very useful for towns with multiple shooters (e.g. [[Castle]], [[Tower]], or [[Dungeon]]). However, for towns whose primary attacking force is not ranged ([[Inferno]], [[Fortress]]), Archery can also help by increasing the potential of [[Gog and Magog|Magogs]] or [[Lizardman and Lizard Warrior|Lizardmen]].

Archery gives +50% bonus damage, which is significantly more in comparison with expert [[Offense]] which only gives +30%. This can give a significant increase in damage dealt by ranged attacks. [[Tower]] with [[Titan]]s and [[Magi]] (and [[Master Gremlin]]s), or [[Stronghold]] with [[Cyclops]] and [[Orc]]s are good examples of towns that may benefit greatly from choosing Archery. However, as the skill only affects ranged attacks, it can be entirely useless if the hero has no creatures capable attacking at range. For example [[Fortress]] has only one low tier – although quite powerful – ranged creature ([[Lizardman and Lizard Warrior]]), which makes Archery a rather less useful skill for Fortress heroes. 

There are also three artifacts that can increase the effect of archery: [[Bow of Elven Cherrywood]], [[Bowstring of the Unicorn's Mane]] and [[Angel Feather Arrows]]. Although the increase is quite small, it can sometimes be enough to turn the tide of a battle. [[Golden Bow]], as well as [[Bow of the Sharpshooter]] (a combination or super artifact found only in the {{sod}} expansion) do not directly affect Archery skill, but they work well together with it.
}}<!-- end of fan opinion -->

{{secondary skill 'see also'|top=*[[Comparison of Armorer, Offense and Archery]]}}

[[Category: Secondary skills]]
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