Longboat

"Arrow ship. Good against close-combat ships. Can transport units."
In-game description

The Longboat is the Norse archer ship and is available at the Dock from the Classical Age in Age of Mythology.

Compared to other archer ships, it has +1 pierce attack. Prior to Retold, it was the only archer ship to also act as transports (since The Titans) and move slower.

Special Ability

Image	Name	Description
	Solar Flare	Requires Sun Ray, Projectiles reveal the area around where they land.

Technologies, Upgrades & Bonuses

Strengths and Weaknesses

Strong vs.	Close-combat Ships
Weak vs.	Siege Ships, Siege Weapons

Upgrades

Age	Upgrade	Upgrades to	Cost	Effect
Heroic Age	Heavy Warships	Heavy Trireme	150 , 150 , 20 seconds	+15% hit points, +20% damage, +1 Line of Sight
Heroic Age	Champion Warships	Champion Trireme	250 , 200 , 40 seconds	+20% hit points, +30% damage, +1 Line of Sight

General Technologies

Offense

Image	Name	Description
	Copper Weapons	+10% damage
	Bronze Weapons	+10% damage
	Iron Weapons	+10% damage
	Ballistics	Fires more accurately at moving targets
	Burning Pitch	+15% attack and 4x damage vs. Buildings
	Heroic Fleet	+150% attack vs. Myth Units

Defense

Image	Name	Description
	Copper Armor	-10% Hack & crush Vulnerability
	Bronze Armor	-10% Hack & crush Vulnerability
	Iron Armor	-10% Hack & crush Vulnerability
	Copper Shields	-10% Pierce Vulnerability
	Bronze Shields	-10% Pierce Vulnerability
	Iron Shields	-10% Pierce Vulnerability

Utility

Image	Name	Description
	Conscript Sailors	-20% training time
	Enclosed Deck	2× unit capacity

Myth Technologies

Name	God	Description
Oracle	Apollo	+4 Line of Sight
Sun Ray	Apollo	+10% damage, unlocks Solar Flare ability
Dionysia	Dionysus	+5% hit points

Relic Bonuses

	Pelt of Argus	+6 Line of Sight

Gameplay

Longboats are critical in gaining control of water as they are the only warship available in the Classical Age. They are also excellent at sinking enemy Transport Ships. Once in the Heroic Age, they will need support from other warships. Siege Ships will destroy them easily. Naval myth units or siege weapons are also a large threat. Unlike other civilizations' archer ships, the Longboat can transport a few units, which saves valuable population space when planning naval invasions.

History

"Vikings had a long history of naval trading, which eventually developed into coastal raiding. The longboat was a fast warship about 80 feet long. The ships could be rowed or a single mast stepped amidships with a square sail. The maneuverability, high speed and shallow draught allowed the ships to penetrate rivers, which the Vikings used to attack even inland towns. While bulkier vessels could only be moored in a harbor, the longboats could be beached right on the shore. The flexible hull allowed the longboats to traverse the treacherous waves of the North Atlantic, while still loaded down goods and warriors. Viking chieftains were even buried in their ships."
In-game compendium