UNIT - Creature Balance + Visual Changes

Yes, the damage is high. But you also need to consider that there will be a lot of them. And what if it's Dugald? Either the Piercing Shot needs to be adjusted or removed.

Dugald already strengthened the original archers, and it didn't seem like cheating. Here, the archers will have slightly less damage, so I don't see a problem with that.
And if changes are made to Piercing Shot, then the mages will undergo similar changes, and that's the last thing I want, because I'm completely satisfied with their mechanics.
Besides, what's the purpose of changing or removing it? Units should have significant differences; each type of upgrade/alternative upgrade should have its own advantages and disadvantages; otherwise, what's the point of making them "carbon copies"? Just so the models are different?

I'm willing to consider other ability combinations, but for now, this one is the most appealing to me. Although the first option wasn't bad either...

Wouldn't a box be an option for archers? Or for mages/archmages?

I meant that you would have to find a workaround for this, just like with mages/archmages.