The Hand Cannoneer is countered by Elite Skirmisher, Condottiero and Elite Huskarl. It is a gunpowder unit of the Hand Cannoneer, and it wins against Elite Eagle Warrior, Halberdier and Siege Elephant.
- Class
- Gunpowder
- Line
- Hand Cannoneer
- Available to
- All civilizations
- Cost
-
45 
50
The Hand Cannoneer
- Hand Cannoneer
Hand Cannoneer stats
-
Hit points - 40
-
Melee attack - 0
-
Pierce attack - 17 / 3.4s
-
Range - 7
-
Melee armour - 1
-
Pierce armour - 0
-
Speed - 0.96
- Accuracy
- 75%
-
Line of sight - 9
-
Training time - 34s
What counters the Hand Cannoneer?
Hard counters beat the Hand Cannoneer decisively and win even at a cost disadvantage — usually through bonus damage, area damage, conversion or a speed advantage it cannot escape. Soft counters win the fight too, but only with good numbers and positioning.
-
Elite Skirmisher hard Attack bonus vs. archers – applies to Hand Cannoneers too -
Condottiero hard Attack bonus vs. gunpowder units (+10) -
Elite Huskarl UU hard Attack bonus vs. archers (+6) -
Hussar soft Fast, can catch Cannoneers -
Onager soft Area damage from safe distance -
Siege Onager soft Area damage from safe distance -
Elite Genitour UU soft Attack bonus vs. archers (+4)
What does the Hand Cannoneer counter?
One representative per unit line — the whole line behaves the same way in this matchup.
-
Elite Eagle Warrior hard High damage vs. Eagle Warriors -
Halberdier soft High base damage vs. infantry -
Siege Elephant UU soft
Unique units the Hand Cannoneer beats
-
Elite Kamayuk hard Anti-infantry -
Flaming Camel soft Annihilates camels from range
Units the Hand Cannoneer has a damage bonus against
Bonus damage says how hard the Hand Cannoneer hits these units, not that it wins every fight — some of them still beat it by outranging or outrunning it.
-
Militia hard Militia Line -
Man-at-Arms hard Militia Line -
Long Swordsman hard Militia Line -
Two-Handed Swordsman hard Militia Line -
Champion hard Militia Line -
Legionary UU hard Militia Line -
Battering Ram hard Rams -
Capped Ram hard Rams -
Siege Ram hard Rams
Civilizations that improve the Hand Cannoneer
7 civilizations have a bonus or unique technology that affects this unit.
Bohemians
- Chemistry and Hand Cannoneer available in Castle Age
- Wagenburg Tactics (unique tech): Gunpowder Units move +15% faster
Burgundians
- Gunpowder Units +25% attack
Hindustanis
- Gunpowder Units +1 melee/+1 pierce armor
- Shatagni (unique tech): Hand Cannoneers +2 range
Italians
- Gunpowder Units cost -20%
- Pirotechnia (unique tech): Hand Cannoneers deal +15% pass through damage and are more accurate
Portuguese
- Arquebus (unique tech): Gunpowder Units fire more accurately at moving targets
Spanish
- Gunpowder Units attack +18% faster
Turks
- Chemistry free; Gunpowder technologies costs -50%
- Gunpowder Units +25% HP
For the strategy behind these matchups — when to build counters, how to mix them and which civs do it best — see the Archer Counters guide.
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