Regarding Poison Damage and Tupi Blackwood Archers would it best to evaluate the built in 25% faster fire rate on Blackwood Archers before discussing if changes are needed to Poison Damage?

Blackwood Archers have a base fire rate of 1.50.

Archer-Line starts at base 2.00, when Thumb Ring is applied at 15% faster fire rate, this is reduced to 1.70.

Thumb Ring is 300 F 250 W and only available starting in Castle Age.

Yes, Blackwood Archers require a Castle (650 stone), however, the Blackwood archers have a built in 25% faster fire rate than generic archers and 10% faster than archers with thumb ring.

Not only do Tupi get a similar effect as Thumb Ring or Ethiopian Fire rate civ bonus, but it is free and even stronger. That said it does only apply to Blackwood Archers and not foot archers.

There have been discussions on other channels such as steam that Blackwood archers seem very good late game with poison damage.

But I'm curious do you think it's the Poison Damage UT that makes Blackwood Archers good or is it the built in 25% faster fire rate starting in Castle Age? They also seem to have a very low attack delay and move fast (1.1) so even in Castle Age they are good.