Mansa's uu can't attack early, so he doesn't have any advantage early on.
What do you mean, it can't attack early? Of course it can. It's easy to beeline, and it doesn't require resources. Plus it's fairly low cost. It's a great early-rush unit.
Also, doesn't defend better either. I mean, ok, it does, but really... any fortified archer will kill the barbarian archer anyway, so who cares.
The people who care are probably the people who get into early wars. Axemen vs Archers can often go in the Axemen's favour. Axemen vs Skirmishers? Not so much. Even Swordsmen going against them don't necessarily have an advantage.
or with a warrior which can take cities on emperor/immortal since the ai starts with archers and not warriors...
Wait, so a str 2 warrior that gets 100% against Archers, making it effectively str 4 vs Archers is better than a str 4 Archer? Give the Skirmisher any promotion and it's going to be better than the Quecha, thanks to the higher base str.
Bh