Which is better.
Hand cannoneers -> have one melee armor, devastating attack power. slow rate of fire
Arbalest -> zero melee armor ( both have pierce armor zero ), you can start making them very early as xbow and then research it, where as hand cannoneers appear much later only after chemistry ( turk excluded ), much faster rate of fire especially with thumb ring.
Hand cannoneers -> have one melee armor, devastating attack power. slow rate of fire
Arbalest -> zero melee armor ( both have pierce armor zero ), you can start making them very early as xbow and then research it, where as hand cannoneers appear much later only after chemistry ( turk excluded ), much faster rate of fire especially with thumb ring.