Unique Unit Discussion: Elephant Archer

So its been a while, but i'll be finishing off the last few unique unit discussions for u/ChuKoNoob after he retired from all things aoe2. The following is in his words, i'm just reposting it.

Today we are journeying over the Himalayas and into the Indian subcontinent for the first time in this discussion, looking at the Indian unique unit, the War Elephant Elephant Archer!

First, though, the stats:

• Cost: 100F, 80G

• Base Attack: 6 (7 elite)

• Base Armor: 0/3

• Hit Points: 280 (330 elite)

• Speed: 0.8

• Range: 4

• Accuracy: 100%

• Rate of Fire: 2.5

• Training Time: 25 seconds

• Attack Bonuses: +3 (+4 elite) vs stone defense, +3 (+4 elite) vs standard building

• Elite Upgrade Cost: 1000F, 800G

Questions:

The Elephant Archer is described as a “heavy mounted archer,” implying a relationship to the cavalry archer. However, the elephant archer is much slower, more expensive, and tankier than the cavalry archer. Others have compared the elephant archer to the War Wagon (similar HP, attack, cost, but War Wagon is faster) or to the Ballista Elephant (lower attack, pass-through damage, similar cost and speed, not affected by blacksmith techs or Ballistics). Which one of these units is the Elephant Archer most like? What purpose (if any) does it serve in an Indian army?

Besides the tankiness of the unit, the cost is a striking feature. 100 food and 80 gold is a steep price for any unit. Is the elephant archer worth it? [add to this]

Because of the interesting combination of high cost, high HP, and high attack (but with mediocre range), what is the best situation for the elephant archer? The worst?

Elite upgrade - worth it? When? If not, why not?

How important are blacksmith and stable techs for this unit? Upgrades often have a proportionally higher effect on low-stat units like the Karambit Warrior, but for a unit with already high HP, 100% accuracy, and decent attack and pierce armor, are the upgrades less important for this unit to be viable? If so, why? If not, why not?

Resources:

Elephant Archer - Aoe2 Wiki)

Elephant Archer Theme Song

Spirit of the Law’s Indians Civ Overview

SotL Overview - post-African Kingdoms update

Civ Discussion: Indians

Resonance22 - Mass Elephant Archers!

Previously on: Discussing Elephant Archers

Previous Unique Unit Discussions