Mastering Archer Micro: A Complete Guide
Struggling to win fights with archers? This guide is for you! It contains all the essential secrets to make archers your favorite unit.
Many players think micro requires high APM, but that’s a myth. Instead, knowledge, practice, and vision are what truly matter!
Before we dive in, there’s one crucial step:
👉 Set up a hotkey for the “Stop” command so your archers can fire instantly in micro battles. You can find this in:
Options > Hotkeys > Unit Commands
How to Prepare Before a Fight
Vision is everything. If you understand why seeing your opponent’s army first is key, you’re already on your way to beating even top players!
🔹 Spotting your opponent early allows you to plan your micro before the fight begins. You should never be forced to improvise and panic at the last second.
🔹 Some units have better vision than others. If you’re lacking visibility, pay close attention when moving your army into risky areas like near your opponent’s base or economy.
🔹 Outposts and vision upgrades can give you an edge in the long run, helping you anticipate fights and prepare your micro in advance.
The Golden Rule of Archer Micro
✔ If your opponent has a stronger army → Move away while firing.
✔ If your army is stronger → Push forward while shooting, making it harder for them to escape.
Now, let’s break down how to micro against different types of units.
How to Micro Against Different Units
Vs Archers
🔹 Small numbers (1-5 archers):
- Shoot, then sidestep to avoid incoming arrows.
- Never fire at the same time as your opponent—wait for them to shoot first, then fire back for a more effective trade.
🔹 Medium numbers (up to 10 archers):
- Use Patrol / Attack Move in Aggressive Stance so your archers fire at different timings, making it harder for your opponent to dodge.
- After shooting, move diagonally backward (as if dodging sideways while retreating).
- Press Stop to fire instantly, then move again and repeat the process.
- Keep Aggressive Stance enabled throughout the fight.
🔎 Watch the video below for a better visual explanation!
Vs Archers with Ballistics
Once your opponent researches Ballistics, microing becomes trickier. Now, dodging requires:
✔ Changing direction immediately after your opponent shoots—this is the key to avoiding Ballistics.
✔ Quick left-right movements to make their shots miss.
✔ Pressing Stop to fire only after they shoot.
If you time it right, you won’t need to click frantically. Focus on finding the rhythm, and once mastered, you can efficiently dodge while maintaining pressure.
Final Thoughts
Archer micro isn’t about APM—it’s about smart movement, anticipation, and precision. Master these techniques, and you’ll win more fights, trade better, and dominate your opponents !
🔥 Now go put these tactics into practice! 🔥
