Characters / Age Of Empires III Other Civilizations

Age of Empires III character sheets
"Blood", "Ice" and "Steel" | "Fire" and "Shadows" | "Japan", "China" and "India" | Deathmatch/Skirmish AI | Major Civilizations (European | Non-European) | Other Civilizations

Here we're listing the minor and campaign civilizations from Age of Empires III and their tropes.

For major civilizations, go here.

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Minor Factions

These civilizations are located in settlements scattered across the maps. Building a Trading Post on their settlements allows the player to spawn new, tribe-specific units as well as research new techs, granting different bonuses. Building a Native/Royal Embassy allows players to train these units outside of Trading Posts, as long as they're allied with beforehand. These units are classified as "native units", which are cheaper than their equivalent counterparts and don't add to the population limit, but are weaker and have a build limit.

Native American Tribes

Tribes of the New World which can be found in the New World-based maps. They provide soldiers and technologies to whoever builds a Trading Post in their village. Age of Empires III introduced the Aztec, Carib, Cherokee, Comanche, Cree, Incas (Quechua), Iroquois, Lakota (Sioux), Maya, Nootka, Seminole, and Tupi, while The WarChiefs added the Apache, Klamath, Mapuche and Navajo, and replaced the Promoted to Playable Iroquois, Lakota and Aztec tribes with the Cheyenne, Huron and Zapotec tribes. They also allow any civilization to build Canoes at the Dock.

Tribes marked with (*) were removed in The WarChiefs.

In general

• Ascended Extra: When the Aztecs, Iroquois and Lakota became playable in The WarChiefs, the Canoe became a basic naval unit for them.

Apache

Units: Apache Cavalry

Techs: Apache Cactus Use^note Villagers get extra hitpoints and speed, Apache Endurance^note Military units get extra speed, Apache Raiders^note Apache Cavalry deal more damage to villagers.

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• Badass Bystander: "Apache Cactus Use" strengthens your Worker Units by giving them extra HP and speed.

Aztec(*)

Units: Aztec Eagle Warrior, Aztec Jaguar Warrior

Techs: Aztec Initiation^note Heroes get extra hitpoints and attack, Aztec Chocolate Recipe^note Ships coin crates every 2 minutes during 30 minutes, Aztec Chinampa^note Villagers gather food from mills faster, fishing boats gather food faster, Aztec Garland Wars^note Upgrades Aztec Eagle Warriors and Jaguar Warriors to Garland, requires Champion upgrade.

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• Ascended Extra: The Eagle Warriors and Jaguar Warriors became part of the Aztecs' unit roster when they were Promoted to Playable in The WarChiefs.
• The Bus Came Back: After becoming a proper civilization and have their settlements replaced by Zapotecs, the minor native Aztecs were reintroduced as part of the Mexican tech tree through the combination of the Tlaxcala and Guerrero Federal States.
• Demoted to Extra: Zig-Zagged. They were present in II as a playable civilization, then made it for the base game of III as a native settlement, then they became playable again in The WarChiefs.

Carib

Units: Carib Blowgunner, Carib Ambusher

Techs: Carib Kasiri Beer^note Melee infantry units and archers get extra attack, Carib Garifuna Drums^note Archers deal more damage to villagers, Carib Ambush Party^note Heroes can train Carib Ambushers, Carib Ceremonial Feast^note Carib Blowgunner and Ambusher get extra hitpoints, must research Elite and Champion upgrades first

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• Blow Gun: The Carib Blowgunners and Ambushers excel at fighting villagers.
• Enemy Summoner: "Carib Ambush Party" allows Hero Units to train up to 5 Carib Ambushers, which can come in handy at certain situations.

Cherokee

Units: Cherokee Rifleman

Techs: Cherokee War Dance^note Native warriors get extra speed, Sequoyah's Cherokee Syllabary^note Ships more settlers, Cherokee Basket Weaving^note Removes wood cost from economy-based techs.

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• Reduced Resource Cost: "Cherokee Basket Weaving" removes the wood cost of economy-based techs at the Market, Dock, Mill, Farm, Rice Paddy, Estate, and Granary. It also halves the wood cost of "Subsistence Farming", "Crop Rotation", "Swing Plow", "New World Crops", "Vegetable Carbon" and "Cash Crops". It's especially useful on water maps, as more wood is freed for ship production.

Cheyenne

Units: Cheyenne Riders

Techs: Cheyenne Hunting Grounds^note Ships 12 bison, Cheyenne Horse Training^note Military units train faster, Cheyenne Fury^note Cheyenne Riders deal more damage to cavalry.

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• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To the Lakota. Their unique units are mounted ranged cavalry units (Lakota Axe Rider and Cheyenne Rider). They also have a tech that ships 12 bisons for livestocking^note "Lakota Hunting Grounds" and "Cheyenne Hunting Grounds" and a cavalry-boosting "Horse Trading" tech^note "Lakota Horse Trading" reduces training time of all cavalry units, while "Cheyenne Horse Trading" reduces training time of european and native cavalry while also applying a slight reduction to some Chinese armies. As for their differences, the Lakota's third tech, "Lakota Dog Soldiers", ships one namesake unit every 3 minutes up to 30 minutes, while the Cheyenne's own "Cheyenne Fury" duplicates the Cheyenne Riders' attack against enemy cavalry units.

Comanche

Units: Comanche Horse Archer

Techs: Comanche Trade Language^note Improvements cost less gold, Comanche Horse Breeding^note Cavalry and light infantry units get extra hitpoints, Comanche Mustangs^note Cavalry units get extra speed

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• Horse Archer: The Comanche Horse Archers have quite the mobility and range, and they have melee armor, however, they're also vulnerable to ranged attacks.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Comanche Trace Language" reduces the gold cost of improvements.

Cree

Units: Cree Tracker

Techs: Cree Tanning^note Infantry, cavalry, and light infantry units get extra hitpoints, Cree Kinship^note Increased unit limit for Cree Trackers, Cree Textile Craftsmanship^note Buildings cost less wood.

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• Reduced Resource Cost: "Cree Textile Craftsmanship" reduces the wood cost for buildings, a tech especially useful on water maps, as it frees more wood for ship production.

Huron

Units: Huron Mantlet

Techs: Huron Sun Ceremony^note Increased unit limit for the Huron Mantlet, Huron Trade Dominance^note Ships a Huron Mantlet every 2 minutes during 30 minutes, Huron Fish Wedding^note Fishing boats gather food faster.

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• Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: The Huron Mantlet is a giant shield pushed around by warriors, deals siege damage and is highly resistant to ranged attacks.
• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To the Iroquois. They have a short-ranged siege unit called "Iroquois/Huron Mantlet". Their techs also involve sending said Mantlets every two minutes up to 30 minutes^note "Iroquois Morning Wars" and "Huron Trade Dominance" and a military boost^note "Iroquois Lacrosse" gives an attack bonus to ranged infantry, while "Huron Sun Ceremony" duplicates the train limit for its Mantlets. As for their differences, the Iroquois have another military-based tech^note "Iroquois League", which allows Tomahawks and Mantlets to be trained in military buildings while the Huron have an economy-based one^note "Huron Fish Wedding", which gives a boost to boat/ship-based fishing, and the Huron lacks equivalents to the Iroquois Tomahawks and Canoes.

Iroquois(*)

Units: Iroquois Tomahawk, Iroquois Mantlet

Techs: Iroquois Lacroose^note Ranged infantry unit get extra attack, Iroquois League^note Barracks can train Iroquois units, Iroquois Morning War^note Ships an Iroquois Mantlet every 2 minutes during 30 minutes.

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• Ascended Extra: The Iroquois' Tomahawks and Mantlets became part of the Iroquois/Haudenosaunee's unit roster when they were Promoted to Playable in The WarChiefs.
• Luckily, My Shield Will Protect Me: The Iroquois Mantlet, a giant shield pushed around by their respective warriors. They deal siege damage and are highly resistant to ranged attacks.

Klamath

Units: Klamath Rifleman

Techs: Klamath Work Ethos^note Villagers gather all resources faster, Klamath Huckleberry Feast^note Ships a food crate every 3 minutes during 30 minutes, Klamath Strategy^note Klamath Riflemen get extra attack.

Lakota(*)

Units: Lakota Axe Rider, Lakota Dog Warrior

Techs: Lakota Hunting Grounds^note Ships 12 bison, Lakota Horse Training^note Cavalry units trains faster, Lakota Dog Soldiers^note Ships a Lakota Dog Soldier every 3 minutes during 30 minutes.

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• Ascended Extra: The Axe Riders and Dog Soldiers became part of the Sioux/Lakota's unit roster when they were Promoted to Playable in The WarChiefs.

Lenape (Definitive Edition)

Units: Lenape Warrior

Techs: Lenape Ceremony^note Lenape Warrior build limit increased by 10, Lenape Clans^note War Cry ability takes less time to be recharged, Lenape Three Sisters^note Villagers gather food from Mills, Farms, Rice Paddies, Fields and Haciendas faster.

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• The Paralyzer: Lenape Warriors can stun an enemy with their charged war cry.
• Unique Enemy: They only appear in the "Battle of Queenston Heights" Historical Battle, or one of the many possible settlements on the "Unknown" skirmish map. Only the Haudenosaunee can get to ship their unit through a Home City card.

Mapuche

Units: Mapuche Ironwood Clubman, Mapuche Bolas Rider (introduced in DE)

Techs: Mapuche Ad-mapu^note All units cost less gold, Mapuche Tactics^note Melee infantry units get extra siege attack, Mapuche Treaty of Quillin^note Ships a coin crate every 2 minutes during 30 minutes.

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• Carry a Big Stick: The Mapuche Ironwood Clubman carries wooden clubs that give them an attack bonus against cavalry and light infantry.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Mapuce Ad-mapu" reduces the gold cost for all units.

Maya

Units: Maya Holcan Spearman (Maya Holcan Javelineer in DE), Healer

Techs: Maya Cotton Armor^note Melee infantry units get extra hitpoints, Maya Calendar^note Villagers gather food faster. Maya Pyramids (DE only)^note ships an American Citadel Travois to construct the same named fort

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• Demoted to Extra: Zig-Zagged and Downplayed. They were originally a playable civilization in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, however, by the time of III, they were made into a native settlement. Then they made it for Definitive Edition as one of the nations the Mexicans can revolt into.
• Expy Coexistence: The Maya are a revolutionary option for the Mexican civilization in Definitive Edition, and are also present as a native village in several maps.
• Javelin Thrower: Compared to the Holcan Spearman, the Holcan Javelineer attacks at range while keeping the same effectiveness against cavalry, effectively making them archaic Musketeers.
• Pyramid Power: As a Mythology Gag to the pyramid-shaped Castles used by the Mesoamerican civilizations in Age of Empires II, the "Maya Pyramids" in Definitive Edition unlocks the construction of American Citadels, which are colossal pyramids that function like Forts and can also train Maya units.

Navajo

Units: Navajo Rifleman

Techs: Navajo Weaving^note Infantry and cavalry units get extra hitpoints, Navajo Shepherds^note Livestocks fatten faster; Indian livestock generates experience faster; Japanese livestock generates Shrine resources faster, Navajo Craftsmanship^note Increases gold mining speed.

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• Developer's Foresight: Because Livestock mechanics are different for both India and Japan, instead of fattening the livestock, it makes it generate experience (Indians) or Shrine resources (Japanese) faster.

Nootka

Units: Nootka Clubman, Nootka War Chief

Techs: Nootka Bark Clothing^note Villagers get extra hitpoints, Nootka Potlatch^note Nootka Clubmen cost less and train faster, Loyal Nootka War Chief^note Heroes can train a Nootka War Chief.

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• Badass Bystander: "Nootka Bark Clothing" makes Villagers sturdier by giving them extra HP.
• Carry a Big Stick: The Nootka Clubmen carry wooden clubs that give them an attack bonus against cavalry and light infantry.
• Mook Maker: "Loyal Nootka War Chief" allows the Hero Unit to train a Nootka War Chief.

Quechua (Incas before Definitive Edition)

Units: Quechua Huaminca, Quechua Bolas Warrior

Techs: Quechuan Metalworking^note Villagers gather gold faster, Quechuan Diet^note Military units train faster, Quechuan Mountaineering^note Infantry units get extra speed.

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• Ascended Extra: The Bolas Warriors became part of the Inca roster when they were Promoted to Playable in the Definitive Edition.
• Demoted to Extra: Zig-Zagged. They were present in II as a playable civilization, then made it for the base game of III as a native settlement, then they became playable again in Definitive Edition.
• Sudden Name Change: When the Inca were introduced as a playable civilisation, the pre-existing Inca minor was renamed Quechua, and their technologies were renamed from Incan Metalworking to Quechuan Metalworking, Incan Chasquis Messengers to Quechuan Diet and Incan Road-Building to Quechuan Mountaineering.

Seminole

Units: Seminole Sharktooth Bowman

Techs: Seminole Guerilla Wars^note Seminole Sharktooth Bowmen deal more damage to buildings, Seminole Bowyer^note Archers get extra attack, Seminole Invincibles^note Seminole Sharktooth Bowmen gets increase hitpoints and regeneration.

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• Anti-Structure: Seminole Guerilla Wars allows Seminole Sharkooth Bowmen to easily siege enemy buildings.

Tupi

Units: Tupi Blackwood Archer

Techs: Tupi Poison Arrow Frogs^note Archers get extra attack, Tupi Forest Burning^note Buildings cost less wood, Tupi Animal Lore^note Town centers can train Buttercup the Pet Cougars.

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• Reduced Resource Cost: "Tupi Forest Burning" reduces the wood cost of buildings, useful in water maps as more wood is freed for ship production.

Zapotec

Units: Zapotec Lightning Warrior

Techs: Zapotec Cloud People^note Ships a wood crate every 2 minutes during 30 minutes, Zapotec Cult of the Dead^note Melee infantry units get extra attack, Zapotec Food of the Gods^note Settlers gather food faster.

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• Suspiciously Similar Substitute: To the Aztecs. The Lightning Warrior uses a sword, making it the stand-in for the Aztec's Jaguar Warrior and its obsidian sword. Both civs also get a "free resource" tech which sends a crate every two minutes during 30 minutes^note "Aztec Chocolate Recipes" grants coin crates while "Zapotec Cloud People" grants wood crates, a tech that grants an attack bonus^note "Aztec Initiation" grants it and a hitpoint bonus to Heroes, while "Zapotec Cult of the Dead" grants it to melee infantry and a food-gathering-based economy tech^note "Aztec Chinampa" increases it for mills and fishing, while "Zapotec Food of the Gods" increases it for every unit able to gather food. They differ in that the Zapotec lack an equivalent to the Aztec's Eagle Warrior^note a javelin-launching infantry unit.

Asian Religious Groups

Religious groups found in the Asian-based maps^note the Jesuit and Sufi can also be found in other regions, such as South American maps for the former, West and Central Asian maps for the latter, and African maps for both., introduced by The Asian Dynasties. Definitive Edition also introduces the Tengri Shrine for Central and Northeast Asian maps. Depending on the map, they also allow any civilization to build Marathan Catamarans or Wokou Junks at the Dock.

Bhakti Temple

Units: Tiger Claws, War Elephant (introduced in DE)

Techs: Yoga^note Infantry and cavalry units get extra attack, Reinforced Gauntlet^note Tiger Claws get extra hitpoints, Vegetarianism^note Villagers gather food from berry bushes faster.

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• War Elephants: They can provide War Elephants from Definitive Edition onwards, which are known for high hitpoints and attack that can deal siege damage. It is capable of dealing trample damage and endure ranged attacks due to its high resistance to it.
• Wolverine Claws: The aptly named Tiger Claws carry a real life equivalent of this trope.

Jesuit Mission

Units: Conquistador

Techs: Flying Buttress^note Buildings get extra hitpoints, Smokeless Powder^note Gunpowder units get extra siege attack, Christian Schools^note Villagers train faster.

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• Martial Pacifist: The Jesuits are primarily missionaries and scholars. They also excel at siege warfare and can provide mounted gun-slinging Conquistadors.

Shaolin Temple

Units: Rattan Shield

Techs: Clenched Fist^note Ranged infantry units get extra melee attack, Wood Clearing^note Villagers gather wood faster, Dim Mak^note Rattan Shields get extra attack.

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• Warrior Monk: The Rattan Shields are powerful Monk units.

Sufi Mosque

Units: War Elephant (pre-DE), Qizilbash (introduced in DE)

Techs: Pilgrimage^note Ships a fattened Goat every 2 minutes during 30 minutes, Fasting^note Villagers lose hitpoints but gather faster, Sharia^note Villager train limit increased.

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• Discard and Draw: "Fasting" dramatically decreases your villager's hitpoints but it allows them to gather resources faster.
• Horse Archer: The Qizilbash are riders mainly attacking with a shortbow. Unlike other cavalry archer types, they are classified as heavy cavalry, which means they don't get attack penalty against villagers. This allows them to better raid enemy settlements through Hit-and-Run Tactics.
• Stance System: Qizilbash are also armed with lances on melee mode to ward off infantry units.
• War Elephants: Prior to Definitive Edition, they provided War Elephants, which are known for high hitpoints and attack that can deal siege damage. It is capable of dealing trample damage and endure ranged attacks due to its high resistance to it. The Elephants were moved to the Bhakti Temple in Definitive Edition with the Qizilbash taking its place.

Tengri Shrine (Definitive Edition)

Units: Tatar Archer, Tengri Wolf

Techs: Kumis^note Ships a semi-fattened Yak every 3 minutes during 30 minutes, Shaman Drums^note Cavalry and shock troopers train faster, Wind Horses^note Cavalry and pets move and attack faster

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• Horse Archer: Tatar Archers are mobile ranged units.

Udasi Temple

Units: Chakram (Chakram Thrower in DE)

Techs: Sikh Gurus^note Heroes get extra hitpoints, Punjabi New Year^note Villagers gather from Mills faster; livestock fattens faster; Indian livestock generates experience faster; Japanese livestock generates Shrine resources faster, Army of the Pure^note increases the Line of Sight and range of Chakram Throwers

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• Developer's Foresight: Due to Livestock mechanics working different for India and Japan, instead of fattening it faster, they generate experience (Indians) or Shrine resources (Japanese) faster.

Zen Temple

Units: Sohei (Sohei Naginata in DE)

Techs: Meditation^note Experience shipping, Master Lessons^note Melee infantry units get extra attack, Meritocracy^note Unit upgrades cost less.

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• Reduced Resource Cost: "Meritocracy" reduces the cost for unit upgrades.
• Warrior Monk: The Sohei are powerful Pikemen who wield naginatas, comparable to the Swiss Pikeman mercenaries.

African Tribes

Tribes of Africa which can be found in the Africa-based maps, introduced by The African Royals. They also allow any civilization to build Privateers at the Dock.

In General

• Elite Mooks: Askaris, which are European-style African riflemen available from Somali and Sudanese settlements after researching their respective Local Forces tech. They are more expensive, but considerably more powerful than most other African units.

Akan

Units: Akan Ankobia, Akan Tufohen

Techs: Akan Asafo^note Ships an Akan Tufohen, Akan Fontomfrom^note Infantry training and movement speed improved, Tufohen takes less time to respawn, Akan Gold Economy^note Ships 1 Gold Prospector Wagon, Villagers gather Coin faster from mines, Akan Cocoa Beans^note Villages gather food faster from berry bushes and Farms, Akan Palm Oil Exports^note All Food is converted into equal amounts of Wood and Coin

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• Discard and Draw: "Akan Palm Oil Express" turns all food into equal amounts of wood and coin.
• Extra-ore-dinary: "Akan Gold Economy" ships a Gold Prospector Wagon that can turn into a gold mine.
• Hero Unit: Akan Tufohen is a native hero that only appears once "Akan Asafo" is researched. It has the "Chaos" and "Fealty Aura" just like regular African explorer units.

Berber

Units: Berber Camel Rider, Berber Nomad, Salt Camel, Berber Sultan

Techs: Berber Fantasia^note Berber cavalry gain a charged musket attacks, Berber Kings of the Desert^note Villages gain more hitpoints, Berber Nomads gain bonus damage against cavalry and shock infantry, Berber Dynasties^note Ships a Berber Sultan and enables Barbary Corsairs and Zenata Riders, Berber Salt Caravans^note Provides a Coin trickle that increases the more Food and Wood is stockpiled, Berber Ghofras^note  Enemy units are slowed near Farms and Plantations.

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• Anti-Cavalry: Berber Camel Riders, as their camels scare horses.
• Hero Unit: The Berber Sultan, summoned by the "Berber Dynasties" tech, is a one-of-a-kind unit.
• Worker Unit: Berber Nomads are villagers that gather natural resources faster, but work slower on structures such as Mills and Estates.

Somali

Units: Somali Darood Militia, Somali Issa Warrior

Techs: Somali Local Forces^note Allows Askaris to be recruited from Somali Trading Posts, Somali Coinage^note Improves trade routes and Villagers and Fishing Boats gather Coin faster, Somali Jile Daggers^note Skirmishers do increased melee damage, Somali Ajuran Engineers^note Increases the build limit of frontier fortifications and increases the damage dealt by siege units and warships against them, Somali Oryx Hide Shields^note Infantry gain increased ranged armor and melee infantry are cheaper, Somali Lighthouses^note Outpost, Dock, and Trading Post LOS greatly increased, allows Lighthouse ability to be used at Somali Trading posts

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• Defog of War: Once "Somali Lighthouses" is researched, it not only increases the line-of-sight for Outposts, Docks, and Trading Posts, but the latter also gains the ability to temporarily reveal most of enemy buildings on the map.

Sudan

Units: Sudanese Dervish

Techs: Sudanese Local Forces^note Allows Askaris and Sennar Horsemen to be recruited from Sudanese Trading Posts, Sudanese Hakura System^note Farms cost less wood and are built faster, Sudanese Quilted Armor^note Cavalry and shock infantry get additional melee armor, Sudanese Red Sea Trade^note Ships two Red Sea Wagons, can be researched twice.

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• Blade Enthusiast: The Sudanese Dervish throws knives.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Sudanese Hakura System" reduces the wood cost and building time of Farms.

Yoruba

Units: Yoruba Oyo Legionary, Yoruba Eso Rider

Techs: Yoruba Ida Swords^note Yoruba Legionaries do potion damage in melee, Yoruba Twins^note Each Yoruba unit clones itself, Yoruba Herbalism^note Villages gather wood faster, all units heal slowly when near trees or berry bushes, Yoruba Wrestling^note All short-term units keep more hitpoints and lose health more slowly, Yoruba Eredo Legacy^note Ships 2 Outpost Wagons, Walls and Gates grant XP.

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• Call-Back: "Yoruba Herbalism" uses the same icon as Herbal Medicine from Age of Empires II.
• Poisonous Person: "Yoruba Ida Swords" gives Yoruba Oyo Legionaries the ability to inflict poison-based damage over time at melee range.

European Royal Houses

Royal houses of Europe which can be found in the Europe-based maps, introduced by Knights of the Mediterranean. In addition to the usual features, Royal Houses provide a unique ability and more units and technologies on average than other minor civilizations, but these are staggered across multiple ages rather than being available in the Exploration Age. They also allow any civilization to build Battleships at the Dock.

In general

• Multinational Team: Due to their international nature, most Royal Houses draw from several different European nations.

House of Bourbon

Units: Royal Musketeer, Royal Dragoon

Techs: Bourbon Reforms^note Grants XP for each technology and shipment, Royal Tax^note Grants Coin for each building, Chouannerie^note Villagers inflict more damage to infantry, Maison Du Roi^note Ships a Royal Horseman with all future shipments and allows them to be recruited at Bourbon Trading Posts,

Ability: Royal March^note Temporarily causes all units to move faster, especially infantry

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• Discard and Draw: Researching "Maison Du Roi" not only ships Royal Horsemen with all future Home City shipments, but also allows them to be recruited from Trading Posts.
• The Musketeer: The aptly named Bourbon Royal Musketeer carries not just a musket but also a Royal Rapier and pistol like The Three Musketeers.

House of Habsburg

Units: Line Infantry, Mounted Infantry

Techs: Congress of Vienna^note Grants one free shipment, Crown Lands^note Grants XP for each building, Multinationalism^note Ships a number of random European mercenaries, Austro-Hungarian Empire^note Radetzky March spawns Hungarian Grenadiers,

Ability: Radetzky March^note Spawns more Magyar Hussars the longer the wait

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• Multinational Team: In addition to German-speaking Line Infantry, the Habsburgs can also deploy Hungarian units.
• Stance System: Line Infantry gain different benefits in each stance.

House of Hanover

Units: Black Brunswicker, Totenkopf Hussar, Drummer

Techs: Royal Scots Grey^note Ships a number of Totenkopf Hussars and has them start with their Death Strike ability charged, Royal Card Games^note Immediately sends a random card, Acts of Union^note Enables Drummers to plant Inspiring Flags that spawn one English, Scottish, and Irish Mercenary upon being planted, Victorian Era^note Directly advances to the Imperial Age and grants a Factory Wagon; gets cheaper based on XP earned,

Ability: Royal Fireworks^note Unleashes a dazzling display of lights to stun enemy units

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• Confusion Fu: "Royal Card Games" sends a random card from your deck.
• Mook Commander: Drummers are primarily used to buff friendly units with their "Cadence Support" skill. Researching "Acts of Union" also allows them to plant Inspiring Flags like Federal American generals to increase friendly units' attack.
• Multinational Team: Hanover represents both Germany and Britain.

House of Jagiellon

Units: Lipka Tatar, Shock Rider

Techs: Pancerni^note Increases hand cavalry ranged armor, Jagiellonian Legacy^note Units and resources from previous age-ups are granted again, Sarmatism^note Ships a number of Lipka Tatars and increases the range of bow-armed units, Folwarks^note Grants resources for each present and future farming building.

Ability: Balance of Powers^note Equalizes resource stockpile

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• Continuity Nod: It is the continuation of the Polish and Lithuanian civilizations in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.
  • In the previous game, the Folwark, which replaces Mills for the Poles, immediately collects a portion of the food yield when a Farm is built next to it. In this game, the House of Jagiellon's Folwarks technology gives a portion of the cost of each farming building built by the player—food from Farms and Mills, coin from Estates, and both from Rice Paddies, Fields, and Haciendas. In addition, the icon for the technology is based on the Castle/Imperial Age Folwark.
  • The Lipka Tatar, who speaks Lithuanian, reuses the Lithuanian military voice lines from the previous game.

House of Oldenburg

Units: Royal Huntsman, Northern Musketeer

Techs: League of Armed Neutrality^note Upgrades Royal Huntsmen to Royal Hunters who may no longer gather Food, but become better in combat and have a higher build limit, Hunting Expeditions^note Villagers and Fishing Boats gather Coin while hunting and fishing, Kalthoff Repeaters^note Skirmishers do more damage against other skirmishers, particularly Royal Huntsmen, Oresund Customs^note Warships and defensive buildings trickle Coin.

Ability: Scientific Expeditions^note Spawns a Hot Air Balloon with a huge line of sight that lasts for a short period of time

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• Discard and Draw: "League of Armed Neutrality" exchanges the Royal Huntsmen's ability to gather food into better combat prowess and a higher building limit.
• Multinational Team: While primarily representing Denmark and Norway, they also represent Russia through the Northern Musketeer.

House of Phanar

Units: Evzone, Boyar

Techs: Armatoloi^note Ranged infantry inflict more damage, particularly Evzones, Athos Monasteries^note Ships two Athos Monastery Wagons which can be placed on mines for Coin generation and unique technologies, Byzantine Legacy^note Buildings and ships have more hitpoints, Greek Shipyards^note Docks work much faster and can construct an additional Battleship, Catharsis^note Grants a small trickle of XP whilst no damage has been inflicted in the last 30 seconds, Phanarion^note Ships an Evzone for every two buildings, Filiki Eteria^note Heroes spawn Evzones upon being knocked out.

Ability: Greek Revolution^note Spawns Sacred Band Infantry and improves Villagers in combat for a short period of time

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• Composite Character: Rather than just one noble house, the Phanar represent various prominent families from the chief Greek quarter of Constantinople, where the Ecumenical Patriarchate is located, alternatively serving the Ottoman Empire and seeking an independent Hellenic nation.
• Continuity Nod: The "Byzantine Legacy" tech reuses the icon for the Byzantine civilization in Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition.
• The Remnant: Of the Byzantine Empire and the Greek civilization in general.
• Thanatos Gambit: "Filiki Eteria" allows Hero Units to summon two Evzones upon being knocked out.

House of Vasa

Units: Royal Arquebusier, Winged Hussar

Techs: Golden Liberty^note All units cost less Coin, Tar Kilns^note All units gain slightly more hitpoints, particularly warships, Koncerz^note Ships a number of Winged Hussar and improves their Charged Attack, Hanseatic League^note Ships a number of Torp Wagons.

Ability: Order of Vasa^note All gather rates increased; bonus improves the longer the wait

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• Multinational Team: Vasa represents both Sweden and Poland.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Golden Liberty" reduces the gold cost for all units.

House of Wettin

Units: Trabant, Saxon Cuirassier

Techs: Leipzig Trade Fair^note Resets Market buy and sell rates, Konigstern^note Ships a Fort Wagon as well as a Battery Tower Wagon for each 10 minutes of game time, up to 30 minutes, Marriage Politics^note Age-ups are cheaper, Royal Saxon Grenadiers^note Ships a Giant Grenadier with all future shipments.

Ability: Goldener Reiter^note Significantly boosts cavalry and shock infantry armor

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• Made of Iron: "Goldener Reiter" temporarily increases the armor of cavalry and shock infantry to make them nigh-invulnerable to attacks, making them very effective in raids.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Marriage Politics" cheapens the cost of age-ups.

House of Wittelsbach

Units: Mountain Trooper, Chevauleger

Techs: Oktoberfest^note Each unit trained so far refunds a fraction of its cost, Ducal Berg Lancers^note Ships a number of Chevaulegers and arms them with lances for bonus damage against infantry, Philhellenism^note Natives, outlaws, and mercenaries are cheaper and train faster, Schutzenfest^note Skirmishers gain more range, particularly Mountain Troopers,

Ability: Alpine Horns^note Spawns more Mountain Troopers the longer the wait and reveals all enemy buildings

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• Continuity Nod: The icon for "Philhellenism", featuring the Greek Parthenon on a sunset backdrop, is a call-back to the title screen of Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Philhellenism" reduces the cost and training time of Natives, Outlaws and Mercenaries.

Revolutions

Exclusive to the Definitive Edition, Revolutionary nations replace the Revolution nations and leaders in The WarChiefs and also includes nations outside of the Americas.

Revolutionary Nations

The Revolutionary nations available to all European civilizations.

Argentina

Home City: Buenos Aires
Home European Nation: Germans, Italians, Spanish
Bonuses:

Ten Cows and Gauchos^note modified Comancheros that throw bolas appear at the Home City shipment point
Gauchos can be trained at Stables, Forts, Galleons, and Saloons. Cost food instead of Coin. Cost less population. Can build Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather food from livestock. Their ranged attacks slow enemies.

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• A Commander Is You: Unit Specialist (Cavalry). Most of their unit shipments consist of both melee (Elmetti, Lancers) and ranged (Gauchos, Legion Dragoons) cavalry. Mounted Granaderos is unique that they are Grenadiers on horseback. Some cards such as "Blandengues" and "Caballeros" encourages on training cavalry.
• Cowboy: Their Gauchos are modified Comancheros that can build Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather food from livestocks.
• Hero Unit: San Martin can be shipped from the Home City with the namesake card, who is accompanied by an army of Granaderos and Dragoons.
• Stuff Blowing Up: Argentina sure loves their Mortars, especially with their "Argentine Mortars" which turn their Mortars into Imperial Howitzers. In addition, their "Granaderos" Home City card allows them to train Granaderos, which are basically mounted grenadiers.

Barbary States

Home City: Algiers
Home European Nation: Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, Portuguese
Bonuses:

Ten Corsair Marksman^note cheaper skirmishers with more speed and ranged resistance but less hitpoints appear at the Home City shipment point
Settlers become Barbary Warriors^note Barbary Corsairs with stats comparable to Revolutionaries instead of Revolutionaries
All infantry units gather treasure and deal extra damage to villagers and buildings
Corsair Marksman and Barbary Warriors can be trained at the Barracks, Fort, Galleons, and the Saloon.
Privateers can be trained at the Docks and trained the same units as Galleons in addition to Falconets
Falconets become available to the Portuguese

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• Ascended Extra: The original Age of Empires III represents the States through Barbary Corsairs as a mercenary unit similar to the Rodelero. In the Definitive Edition, they became a Revolutionary Nation.
• A Day in the Limelight: The civilization can be played during the "Algiers" Historical Battle.
• Pirate: The States notoriously employed state-sanctioned pirates that terrorize the Mediterranean Seas, which is represented by their units being refer to as corsairs. In addition, they can send the "Corsair Captain" Home City card to summon the Corsair Captain, which allow units to gather from enemy crates, collect twice as many resources from treasures, and gain coins from destroyed ships and buildings instead of experience.

Brazil

Home City: Rio de Janeiro
Home European Nation: Dutch, Italians, Portuguese
Bonuses:

Settlers become two Voluntarios da Patria^note Revolutionaries with half of their stats
Voluntarios da Patria appear at the Home City shipment point, with the amount doubling the number of Villagers the player had when they revolted
Town Centers spawn Voluntarios da Patria every 146 seconds

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• Cowboy: With the "Jaguncos" Home City card, they ship 10 Cows and the Jaguncos, which are mounted Outlaws equipped with rifles that counters heavy infantries and cavalry. They cost food instead of coin, cost less Population, can construct Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather from livestock. They can be produced in Stables, Fort, Galleon, and Saloon.
• Zerg Rush: They can overwhelm any enemies with weak but numerous Voluntarios da Patria.

Canada

Home City: Quebec
Home European Nation: British, French
Bonuses:

Still need to support Population
Villagers get extra ranged attack
Longbowmen, Rangers and Skirmishers/Voltigeur turn into Fencibles^note Skirmisher-type infantry
Settlers/Coureurs des Bois become Métis Pathfinders/Métis Voyageurs^note Merely cosmetic changes instead of Revolutionaries

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• Badass Bystander: The Métis Pathfinders and Métis Voyageurs might not be so different from ordinary Settlers but their extra attack can be useful.
• Bears Are Bad News: One of their Home City cards, "7 Grizzlies," ship 7 Honcho the Pet Grizzly Bears, one of the most strongest pets in the game.
• A Day in the Limelight: The civilization can be played during the Queenston Heights Historical Battle.

Chile

Home City: Santiago
Home European Nation: Spanish
Bonuses:

10 Hussars of Death^note Guard Hussar with extra attack appears at the Home City shipment point

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Egypt

Home City: Cairo
Home European Nation: Ottomans
Bonuses:

Settlers and Nizam Fusiliers become Khevite Fusiliers^note Revolutionaries with bonus damage against artillery in stagger mode
Receives Mameluke with every Shipments, including INFINITE ones^note except "Egyptian Fleet" which produces Privateers instead
Mamelukes and Stradiots can be trained at Stables, Forts, Galleons, and the Saloon.

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• Ascended Extra: The original Age of Empires III represents Egypt through their mercenary, Mamelukes. In the Definitive Edition, they become a Revolutionary Nation.
• Demoted to Extra: From being a base game civilization in all previous games (including 2 as the Saracens), to a Revolutionary Nation for the Ottomans in the Definitive Edition of 3.

Finland

Home City: Helsinki
Home European Nation: Russians, Swedes
Bonuses:

Still need to support Population
Four Blockhouse Wagon appear at the Home City shipment point
Settlers become Karelian Jaegers^note Veteran Skirmishers instead of Revolutionaries. Karelian Jaegers can be trained at Town Centers, Barracks, Forts, and Galleons. Can gather from crates or trees. Build Houses/Torps, Trading Posts, Blockhouses, Stables, and Artillery Foundries.
Blockhouses are upgraded to Frontier Blockhouses (if not already upgraded by Russians), and limit is removed.

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• Ascended Extra: Just as the Hakkapelit became an unique unit for the Swedes, Finland became a Revolutionary Nation.

Gran Colombia

Home City: Bogota
Home European Nation: Germans, Portuguese, Spanish
Bonuses:

2 Ironclads appear at the Home City naval shipment point
Settlers/Settler Wagons become Independence Guards^note veteran musketeers with more hitpoints but less speed, instead of Revolutionaries
For Germans, revolting to Gran Columbia allows them to train Musketeers and unlocks the Veteran and Guard upgrades.

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• Cowboy: With the "Llaneros" Home City card, they ship 10 Cows and the Llaneros, which are mounted Outlaws equipped with lances that are effective against infantries. They cost food instead of coin, cost less Population, can construct Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather from livestock. They can be produced in Stables, Fort, Galleon, and Saloon.
• Hero Unit: In addition to their Explorers, they can summon Símon Bolívar through the "National Hero" Home City card.

Haiti

Home City: Port-au-Prince
Home European Nations: British, French
Bonuses:

Settlers become Maroons^note  Have less HP but more range; previously have more hitpoints and train bounty, but cost more and have extra kill bounty.
Pirates can be trained at Barracks, Forts, Galleons, Privateers, and Saloon and cost less population.
Town Centers and Saloon spawns 1 Pirate every 48 seconds.
Privateers can be trained at Docks and train the same units as Galleons.

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• Pirate: Haiti is notorious for being a haven for pirates, allowing them to being terrors of the Caribbean. As a result, they can train Pirates and Privateers through normal methods, in addition to spawning more pirates through their Town Centers and Saloon.
• Slave Revolt: An update reworked the revolution to be less pirate-based, with their unique revolutionaries being African slaves picking up arms to fight against their colonial masters. More African-themed Home City cards were also added with The African Royals expansion, such as "24 Akan Allies", "African Roots", and "Royal Dahomets".

Hungary

Home City: Budapest
Home European Nation: Germans, Maltese, Ottomans, Russians
Bonuses:

Settlers/Settler Wagons become Grenzers^note Revolutionaries with extra range and collect treasures but has less hitpoints instead of Revolutionaries.
Outposts spawn units depending on the civilization: Germans spawn Pandour^note Jaegers with more speed, Ottomans spawn Magyar Hussars^note Guard Hussars with more hitpoints, Russians spawn Hungarian Grenadiers^note Grenadiers with extra range.
Receive an Outpost/Blockhouse Wagon with every Home City shipments, including INFINITE ones, and increases build limit of Outposts/Blockhouses by 1.

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• Mighty Glacier: Magyar Hussars have double the amount of hitpoints of regular Hussars, putting them on par with the likes of Cuirassiers or Elmeti.

Indonesia

Home City: Yogyakarta
Home European Nation: Dutch, Portuguese
Bonuses:

Four Cetbang Cannons^note Mobile artillery units, effective against ships and infantry appear at the Home City shipment point and can be trained at Artillery Foundries, Forts, Galleons/Fluyts, and Wokou Junks.
Settlers become Javanese Spearman^note Pikeman with high hitpoints and ranged resistance, and these can be trained at Barracks, Forts, Galleons/Fluyts, and Wokou Junks.
Wokou Junks can be trained at the Docks and train the same units as Galleons/Fluyts.

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• Continuity Nod: It is the continuation of the Malay civilization from the HD expansions of Age of Empires II, which primarily covers islands that make up modern-day Indonesia. They also specialize in cheap melee infantry and elephants, light artillery, and navy.
• Infinite Supplies: With the "Aceh Pepper Exports" Home City card, they will trickle food for every second and can re-train settlers and fishing boats.
• Low-Tech Spears: The Javanese Spearmen are reskins of the Chinese and Japanese Sentries, carrying sharpened bamboo sticks to battle.
• War Elephants: The "Sumatran Elephants" card ships War Elephants with every home shipment after this card is used, promotes them to Honored (if not already), and allows them to be trainable.

Peru

Home City: Lima
Home European Nation: Portuguese, Spanish
Bonuses:

Símon Bolívar appears at the Home City shipment point.

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• Composite Character: With the addition of Inca-themed cards to the revolution, Peru combines the features of both a European/American civilization with a Native American one.
• Cowboy: One of the bonuses of the "Morochucos" Home City is the shipment of 10 Morochucos, which are modified Comancheros armed with revolvers that fire burst of bullets like the organ guns. They cost food instead of coin, cost less Population, can construct Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather from livestock. They can be trained in Stables, Fort, Galleon, and Saloon.
• Hero Unit: Simón Bólivar is summoned upon revolting as Peru. He has an aura that raise hitpoints (which was Peru's original effect in The WarChiefs), has high stats, has the ability Eye of the Assassin (which lets him deal massive damage against infantry or cavalry) and Heavy Strike, can construct Town Centers, Trading Posts, train Revolutionaries, and can receive Home City shipments.
• Living Distant Ancestor: It is possible to pit Spanish/Portuguese-revolting Peruvians against their Inca ancestors.

Revolutionary France

Home City: Paris
Home European Nation: France
Bonuses:

Coureur des Bois become Sansculottes.
Enables the training of Surgeons at the Church.
Native Scouts became Eclaireurs
Royal Musketeers became Foot Carabineers
Royal Dragoons became Horse Carabineers
"Edict of Nantes" card is automatically shipped.
Can further advance in age via the "Napoleonic Era" card.

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• Army Scout: Eclaireurs are fast cavalry units that replaces all preexisting Native Scouts and trainable at Town Centers and Native Embassies. They benefit from Agility promotion as well, allowing them to be even faster.
• Badass Bystander: Sansculottes are Settlers who are better at fighting than they are at gathering, and both capabilities can be improved by sending certain cards such as "Reign of Robespierre" (which causes them to frighten enemies) and "Guillotine" (which makes them better against heroes).
• Composite Character: Revolutionary France combines the Republican period, Robespierre's Reign of Terror, and a much more pronounced nod to Napoleon's French Empire.
• Elite Army: Several of the cards available after sending the "Napoleonic Era" card improve the French army in various respects to make them outclass their opponents in quality, such as "French Royal Army" (which enables Musketeers and Halberdiers to benefit from Combat promotions to receive extra hitpoints and damage for each defeated enemy military unit) and "Grande Armée" (which allows Imperial upgrades to be researched and at half the cost).
• Grenade Launcher: Royal Musketeers from the House of Bourbon turn into Foot Carabineers under this Revolution, where they exchange their charged pistol attack for a grenade one.
• Mechanically Unusual Fighter: Unlike other Revolutionary Nations, Revolutionary France has the unique ability to advance to the Imperial Age via the "Napoleonic Era" card. This card also expands their deck with several new cards. Even without said card, Revolutionary France's card deck is far larger than that of the average Revolutionary Nation, with it being comparable to that of the Mexican Revolutionary Nations.
• Rule of Symbolism:
  • The "Napoleonic Era" pseudo-age-up card costs 1,789 food, 1,804 wood and 1,815 coin. 1789 was the year of the Storming of La Bastille, Napoleon himself got appointed as Emperor on 1804 and 1815 was the year of his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.
  • The Napoleonic Era tech "Grand Battery" costs 1,804 coin. 1804 was the year the Napoleonic Code was instituted and ended with the coronation of Napoleon I.
  • The Napoleonic Era tech "Rustam's Regiment" costs 1,798 coin. This reflects the arrival of Napoleon's troops in Egypt on that year's July 1st.
  • The Napoleonic Era tech "Continental Blockade" costs 1,806 coin. 1806 was the year said blockade was announced.
• Stuff Blowing Up: As a nod to Napoleon's background as an artillery officer, several of the new cards gained from the "Napoleonic Era" card revolve around artillery, such as "Grand Battery" (ships 3 Heavy Cannons and 3 Horse Artillery) and "Flying Battery" (which increases artillery move and attack speed).
• Zerg Rush: Several of their cards allow them spam Revolutionaries such as "National Guard" (which sends 2 Revolutionaries for each shipment sent so far) and "Client States" (which spawns Revolutionaries for each Trading Post).

Revolutionary Mexico

Home City: Mexico City
Home European Nation: Spanish
Bonuses:

Settlers become Cuerudos^note Comancheros armed with lances that are strong against artillery and light infantry instead of Revolutionaries. They cost food instead of coin, cost less Population, can build Livestock Pens, train Cows, and gather from livestock. They can be trained in Stables, Fort, Galleon, and Saloon.

For the playable civilization, check the playable civilizations page.

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• Bandito: The original iteration of Mexico in The WarChiefs spawn 10 Outlaw Pistoleros and Outlaw Riders upon revolting. This is downplayed in the Definitive Edition with the "Charros" Home City card turning Renegados into Charros. They cost food instead of coins and occupy less population slots, and they trade attack for increased rate of fire and extra range
• Divergent Character Evolution: To avoid confusion with the playable Mexicans, the civilization was later renamed to Revolutionary Mexicans.
• Expy Coexistence: It's possible to have Spanish-revolting Mexicans and proper playable Mexicans battling against each other.
• Cowboy: The Cuerudos are modified Comancheros with stats comparable to Revolutionaries.

Romania

Home City: Bucharest
Home European Nation: Germans, Ottomans, Russians
Bonuses:

Settlers become Dorobants^note Revolutionaries with more hitpoints but less range.
Every Outposts/Blockhouse spawn Roșior Dragoons^note Guard Dragoons with more attack and speed but less hitpoints.
Receives Outpost/Blockhouse Wagons with every Home City shipments, including INFINITE ones, and increases build limit of Outpost/Blockhouse by 1.

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• A Commander Is You: Turtle/Unit Specialist (Cavalry). They get free Outpost/Blockhouse Wagons with each shipment. In turn, these can train Roșior Dragoons and Wallachian Horse archers. They also have several cards that bolster their cavalry units.

South Africa

Home City: Pretoria
Home European Nation: British, Dutch
Bonuses:

All Houses turn into Trek Wagons. Trek Wagons are transports that can be garrisoned by Settlers and get faster and stronger for every garrisoned Settler.
Settlers gather more resources rather than becoming Revolutionaries.
Dutch Banks' coin trickling rate increased.

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• Awesome Personnel Carrier: Trek Wagons can be used as a transport for Settlers in addition to gaining attack the more Settlers garrisoned in them. They can also be used as a shield for backline units.
• Badass Bystander: Once it is full of Settlers, Trek Wagons can be powerful through their abilities. Combine this with the "Wanderlust" Home City card, which increases Settlers and Trek Wagons' speed and all other unit's hitpoints, and the fact that this card can be sent three times.
• A Commander Is You: Economist. Their bonuses completely climb up their resource gathering as their Settlers gather more than usual and don't become Revolutionaries. Dutch Banks trickle even more Coin, while the British can build up to 2 Banks as well (plus another 2 with the "2 Bank Wagons" card). In addition, their Home City cards involve improving their economy like "Huguenots"^note allows them to train Coureur des Bois, "Factory Wagon" and "Robber Barons"^note lets them build Factories, and "Diamond Rush"^note ships a Diamond Prospector Wagon that creates a diamond mine holding 100000 Coin.
• Discard and Draw: Shipping "Wagon Warfare" allows South Africa to train War Wagons instead of Dragoons or Ruyters. However, existing Dragoons/Ruyters aren't replaced by this shipment.

United States

Home City: New York City
Home European Nation: British, Dutch, French, Italians, Swedes
Bonuses:

A Fort Wagon appears at the Home City shipment point and increases the Fort limit by 1.
Existing and new Forts spawn Gatling Guns.
Gatling Guns can be trained at Artillery Foundries and Forts.
A General appears at the Home City shipment point.

For the playable civilization, check the playable civilizations page.

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• A Commander Is You: Ranger. Some of the United States's strongest units are long-ranged units, which include their Gatling Guns and the Sharpshooters, long-ranged snipers that deal more damage against heavy infantry and light ranged cavalry, which are shipped from the "Morgan's Continental Sharpshooters" Home City card.
• Badass Bystander: Through the "Conscription" Home City card, they can ship a load of Minutemen, and they no longer lose hitpoints over time. This means that you can grow an army in an instant, especially since Forts get the technology "Levy" as well.
• Expy Coexistence: It's possible to have British/Dutch/French/Italian/Swede-revolting United States and a playable United States battling against each other.
• More Dakka: In both their original and definitive iteration, they specialize in the use of Gatling Guns, with them being more durable than others. Combine the fact that they'll get more from Forts, it'll allow them to mow down any infantry armies.

Mexican Revolutionary Nations

Mexico is a unique civilization with access to a unique set of Revolutionary Nations. It can choose between two different Revolutionary Nations each age, and can also revert back to Mexico (and in the process age up to the next age) in most cases while retaining bonuses and cards from the Revolution.

Entries will be listed in order of age availability.

Baja California (Commerce Age)

Home City: La Paz
Bonuses:

Settlers become Filibusters^note Musketeers that can construct buildings and use dynamite to blow up buildings instead of Revolutionaries.
2 Post Wagons appear at the Home City shipment point.
Can revert back into Mexico (and advance to the Industrial Age in the process).

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• Discard and Draw: The "Bad Boys" card switches out Mexican Outlaws for their American counterparts at the Saloon.
• The Engineer: Filibusters can construct buildings.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Revolting into Baja California turns the Mexican General and Padre into Revolutionary versions, who wear different outfits.
• Throw Down the Bomblet: Filibusters can throw dynamite.

Central America (Commerce Age)

Home City: Guatemala City
Bonuses:

7 Settlers appear at the Home City shipment point.
Artillery Foundry, Arsenal, Falconet, Culverin, Mortar, and Petard are immediately available.
Can revert back into Mexico (and advance to the Industrial Age in the process).

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• Action Bomb: The "Santamaria's Fire" card allows them to receive a Petard with every shipment.
• Badass Bystander: The "Catrachos" card makes Settlers turn into Revolutionaries when killed.
• Discard and Draw: The "Tehuantepec Route" card sells all warships while returning the resources spent to train them.

Río Grande (Fortress Age)

Home City: Laredo
Age: Fortress Age
Bonuses:

Grants free Guard upgrades for units.
Unlocks the Mortar and Horse Artillery units.
Can revert back into Mexico (and advance to the Imperial Age in the process).

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• Stuff Blowing Up: They gain immediate access to the Mortar and Horse Artillery.
• Zerg Rush: The "Nuevo Leon Militia" card ships 2 Revolutionaries for every Home City shipment sent before it, and the "Sierra Madre Republic" card ships a Settler for every Revolutionary lost before this card is sent, up to a total of 99. In tandem with the "Plan of Monterrey", which turns all Settlers into Revolutionaries and allows most unit shipments to be sent again, and there is the potential for a horde of Revolutionaries.

Yucatán (Fortress Age)

Home City: Mérida
Age: Fortress Age
Bonuses:

Insurgentes become Yucateco Insurgentes^note stronger Insurgentes with the Lasso Attack ability.
Hacienda and Factory technologies are free.
Can revolt further into Maya.
Can revert back into Mexico (and advance to the Imperial Age in the process).

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• Badass Bystander: The "Amparo" card significantly increases the hitpoints of Settlers and makes them train faster.
• Master of All: They can upgrade their Haciendas into all-purpose economic buildings with the "Henequen Industry" (which allows them to trickle resources) and "Solís Shredders" (which allows Haciendas to generate Wood) cards.
• Poisoned Weapons: The "Jungle Warfare" card allows Insurgentes, Salteadores, and Maya Holcan Javelineers to poison the enemy when attacking.
• Serial Escalation: Yucatán is a Revolutionary Nation that is able to revolt into a different Revolutionary Nation.

California (Industrial Age)

Home City: Sonoma
Age: Industrial Age
Bonuses:

Settlers become Californios^note Ranged cavalry with a Lasso ability that excels against other cavalry instead of Revolutionaries.
Cow train limit +60 and work at Haciendas 100% faster.

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• Composite Character: While not to the same extent as Texas, this Revolution grants access the cards that the United States gains when they age up with California, as well as a few other cards normally exclusive to that civilization.
• Cowboy: Californios act like any other Revolutionary variant of the Comanchero in that they can gather from livestock and Haciendas. They also have access to a unique lasso attack that snares enemies like the Cuatrero.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Revolting into California turns the Mexican General and Padre into Revolutionary versions, who wear different outfits.

Texas (Industrial Age)

Home City: Austin
Bonuses:

Settlers become Volunteers instead of Revolutionaries.
Levy/Conscription changed to the United States version which spawns Minuteman instead of Militiaman, available at Outposts and Forts as well, and can be used repeatedly but with a long global cooldown.
Insurgentes, Soldados, and Salteadores are replaced by Volunteers, Regulars, and Sharpshooters, respectively.

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• Composite Character: Texas combines features from both Mexico and the United States.
• Discard and Draw: Texas replaces the entire Mexican infantry roster with American infantry units, in the process trading staying power and cost for better firepower.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Revolting into Texas turns the Mexican General and Padre into Revolutionary versions, who wear different outfits.

Maya (Yucatán/Imperial Age)

Home City: Chan Santa Cruz
Bonuses:

Advances the Mexican player into the Imperial Age.
Soldados and Revolutionaries became Cruzob Infantry.
Salteadores became Cruzob Avengers.
Stables became Strong War Huts.
Turns all Chinacos and Dragoons into Cuatreros.
Falconet, Culverin, Mortar, and Horse Artillery are replaced by Light Cannon and Captured Mortar.
Sloop is replaced by War Canoe.
Steamer and Frigate are replaced by Chaac Canoe^note Tlaloc Canoe which can train Yucateco Insurgentes, Cruzob Infantry, and Cruzob Avengers.
Set the training limit of Privateers to 5.
Maya Holcan Javelineer available at Barracks, War Hut, and Fort.
Native Scout available at Town Center.
Maya Cotton Armor, Maya Calendar, and Maya Pyramids available at Native Embassy.
Grants Maya Warrior Societies and Champion Maya (if not already).
The player is treated as allied with the Maya for "Native Treaties".
Every Home City shipment increases the train limit of Maya Holcan Javelineers by 3.

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• Composite Character: Combines features of both a European/American civilization with a Native American one.
• Discard and Draw: In transitioning back to a native army, the Maya lose access to most of their cavalry, artillery, and ships, but gain unique infantry units and have access to a wide range of indigenous units, not just the Maya but also the Carib, Mapuche, and Zapotec.
• Going Native: This Revolution effectively switches out a colonial army for a native one.
• Modern Mayincatec Empire: The Maya revolution represents the Mayan State of Chan Santa Cruz, which existed and fought the Mexican government from 1847 to 1915. In contrast to other native American civilizations (both playable and minor) like the Aztecs and the pre-existing Maya minor who represent these peoples before and during the Spanish conquest, the revolutionary Maya have ample access to modernized gunpowder units such as Cruzob Infantry, Cruzob Avengers, and Light Cannons, in addition to their more traditional roster.
• Serial Escalation: It is a Revolutionary Nation only available to another Revolutionary Nation.
• Significant Wardrobe Shift: Revolting into the Maya turns the Yucatán General and Padre into Cruzob versions, who wear different outfits.

Consulate Alliances

These tropes pertain the alliance options for the different Asian civilizations. All Consulate options require 100 export to ally with them (25 with the "Diplomatic Intrigue" Home City card).

Alliances in General

• Disc-One Nuke: You can get late-game units as early as the Commerce Age.
• Discard and Draw: Playing as the Indians and shipping the "Foreign Trading Companies" Home City card reduces the cost of Consulate Armies by -15%, but the rest of the Indian armies are +2.5% more expensive, while Villagers, Fishing Boats and Sacred Cows are +5% mor expensive.
• Elite Army: All Armies and Brigades ship late-game, Royal Guard-tier units.
• Rate-Limited Perpetual Resource:
  • Playing as the Chinese and shipping the "Tea Export" Home City card generates an extra trickle of 0.35 export per second.
  • Playing as the Indians and shipping the "Foreign Trading Companies" Home City card generates an extra trickle of 0.75 export per second.
• Reduced Resource Cost:
  • The "Diplomatic Intrigue" Home City card reduces alliance export cost from 100 to 25.
  • The "Good Faith Agreements" Home City card reduce tech cost by 40%, tech research time by 50% and army train time by 50%, except in the case of Imperial Age Brigades, which only reduces the export cost by 300 and doesn't reduce research time.
  • Playing as the Indians and shipping the "Foreign Trading Companies" Home City card reduces the cost of Consulate Armies by -15%.

British

Available to: Chinese, Indians.
Available Techs: 2 Surgeons^note Commerce Age, ships 2 Surgeons, 4 Spies^note Commerce Age, ships 4 Spies, 5 Petards^note Fortress Age, ships 5 Petards, British Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 16 Roger's Rangers and 5 Falconets.
Available Armies: British Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 6 Redcoats, British Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 9 Redcoats and 1 Falconet, British Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 7 Life Guards and 3 Falconets.
Associated Bonus: +7 HP for all land units.

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• The Medic: "2 Surgeons" ships, well, 2 Surgeons.

Chinese Mercenaries

Available to: Chinese (Act II: China only).
Available Techs:
Available Armies: Chinese Mercenary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Manchus, Chinese Mercenary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 8 Iron Troops, Chinese Mercenary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 24 Rattan Shields and 8 Repentant Monks.
Associated Bonus: +5% gathering speed for Villagers and Fishing Boats.

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Dutch

Available to: Japanese.
Available Techs: Church Wagon^note Commerce Age, ships 1 Church Wagon, Bank Wagon^note Commerce Age, ships 1 Bank Wagon, Arsenal Wagon^note Fortress Age, ships 1 Arsenal Wagon, Livestock Pen Wagon^note Industrial Age, ships 1 Livestock Pen Wagon, Dutch Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 28 Blue Guards and 4 Mortars.
Available Armies:
- Standard Games: Dutch Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 6 Blue Guards, Dutch Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 8 Carabineers and 6 Blue Guards, Dutch Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 16 Carabineers and 2 Mortars.
- Act I: Japan: Dutch Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 1 Horse Artillery, Dutch Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 2 Falconets, Dutch Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 4 Horse Artillery and 3 Mortars.
Associated Bonus: Generates +0.8 coin per second.

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• Rate-Limited Perpetual Resource: Allying with the Dutch generates an extra trickle of 0.8 coin per second, which can be further increased with every Bank's own 2.75 CPS.

French

Available to: Chinese, Indians.
Available Techs: Food Crates^note Discovery Age, ships crates of 400 food, Wood Crates^note Commerce Age, ships crates of 500 wood, Coin Crates^note Fortress Age, ships crates of 600 gold, French Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 15 Gendarmes.
Available Armies: French Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 4 Young Guards, French Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 3 Gendarmes and 3 Young Guards, French Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 6 Gendarmes and 2 Horse Artillery.
Associated Bonus: +5% gathering speed for Villagers, Fishing Boats and Haciendas.

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Germans

Available to: Chinese.
Available Techs: Food Trickle^note Discovery Age, generates 1.5 food per second, Wood Trickle^note Commerce Age, generates 1.25 wood per second, Coin Trickle^note Fortress Age, generates 1.65 coin per second, German Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 19 Prussian Uhlans and 15 Prussian Needle Gunners-
Available Armies: German Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Zweihänders, German Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 3 Zweihänders and 7 Prussian Needle Gunners, German Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 18 Prussian Needle Gunners and 1 Heavy Cannon.
Associated Bonus: -15% Banner Army food cost.

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• Rate-Limited Perpetual Resource:
  • "Food Trickle" generates 1.5 food per second.
  • "Wood Trickle" generates 1.25 wood per second.
  • "Coin Trickle" generates 1.65 coin per second.

Indian Mercenaries

Available to: Chinese (Act II: China only).
Available Techs:
Available Armies: Indian Mercenary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Jat Lancers, Indian Mercenary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 8 Dacoit, Indian Mercenary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 15 Chakram Throwers, 12 Tiger Claws and 1 War Elephant.
Associated Bonus: +50% HP for buildings.

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Japanese Isolationism

Available to: Japanese.
Available Techs: Military Rickshaw^note Commerce Age, ships 1 Military Rickshaw, Bushido Principles^note Commerce Age, allows units to be trained in blocks of 10, Clan Offerings^note Commerce Age, makes Castles spawn 1 Samurai every 45 seconds, Meiji Restoration^note Industrial Age, advances to the Imperial Age without having to build a wonder.
Available Units: Konsha Yamabushi^note Commerce Age, Yamabushi with +10 HP and attack, Shinobi-No-Mono^note Commerce Age, Shinobi with +10 HP and attack, Ninjutsu-Zukai^note Fortress Age, Ninja with +10 HP and attack but no bonus against native warriors, Hatamoto Samurai^note Fortress Age, Ronin with +10 HP and attack.
Associated Bonus: +7% land unit attack.

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• Awesome, but Impractical: "Meiji Restoration" advances the Japanese to the Imperial Age at the cost of 4000 export. Not only the player will advance in age without getting any kind of bonus that they would get by building a wonder, which is a death sentence in most scenarios, but 4000 export is far slower to gather in the Industrial Age compared to 4000 food and 4000 coin, even at the highest export gather rate.

Japanese Mercenaries

Available to: Chinese (Act II: China only).
Available Techs:
Available Armies: Japanese Mercenary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Yojimbos, Japanese Mercenary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 2 Ronin and 2 Ninja, Japanese Mercenary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 12 Ninja and 24 Sohei Naginatas.
Associated Bonus: -5% military unit cost.

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Ottomans

Available to: Indians.
Available Techs: 6 Azaps^note Commerce Age, ships 6 Baghdad Azaps, 4 Villagers^note Commerce Age, ships 4 Hindu Villagers, +4 Hindu Villager train limit, 2 Great Bombards^note Industrial Age, ships 2 Great Bombards, Ottoman Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 13 Baghdad Janissaries and 4 Great Bombards.
Available Armies: Ottoman Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Rumeliots, Ottoman Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 3 Rumeliots and 7 Baghdad Janissaries, Ottoman Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 13 Baghdad Janissaries and 2 Great Bombards.
Associated Bonus: +7 LOS for all units and buildings.

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• Worker Unit: "4 Villagers" ships 4 Hindu Villagers (saving 400 wood or -if "The Raj" Home City card was sent- 400 food) and raises its training limit to 103.

Portuguese

Available to: Indians, Japanese.
Available Techs: Fishing Fleet^note Commerce Age, ships 3 Fishing Boats, Exploration Fleet^note Fortress Age, ships 1 Caravel with 3 Petards on it, Expeditionary Fleet^note Industrial Age, ships 1 Ironclad, Portuguese Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 11 Legion Dragoons and 4 Horse Artillery.
Available Armies:
- Standard Games: Portuguese Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 7 Order Besteiros, Portuguese Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 11 Order Besteiros and 1 Culverin, Portuguese Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 15 Legionarios and 3 Culverins.
- Act I: Japan: Portuguese Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 2 Culverins, Portuguese Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 1 Falconet and 2 Culverins, Portuguese Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 3 Heavy Cannons and 3 Culverins.
Associated Bonus: Buildings cost 15% less food and wood (Standard Games), Villagers train 15% faster (Act I: Japan)

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• This Looks Like a Job for Aquaman: This alliance is tailor-made for water maps, with three out of four techs sending ships.

Russians

Available to: Chinese.
Available Techs: Blockhouse Wagon^note Discovery Age, ships 1 Blockhouse Wagon and allows Villagers to build Blockhouses, Fort Wagon^note Fortress Age, ships 1 Fort Wagon, Factory Wagon^note Industrial Age, ships 1 Factory Wagon, Russian Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 25 Counter Jaegers and 3 Culverins.
Available Armies: Russian Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 4 Siberian Cossacks, Russian Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 5 Counter Dragoons, Russian Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 9 Counter Dragoons and 3 Culverins.
Associated Bonus: Villager cost and training time -10%.

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Spanish

Available to: Japanese.
Available Techs: Merchant Marine^note Commerce Age, -50% Home City shipment arrival time, Nanban Trade^note Commerce Age, Crates and Trade Routes contain/generate +25% resources, Bullionism^note Fortress Age, gives +1500 XP, Spanish Brigade^note Imperial Age, ships 17 Espadachins and 15 Garrochistas.
Available Armies: Spanish Expeditionary Company^note Commerce Age, ships 8 Tercios, Spanish Expeditionary Force^note Fortress Age, ships 9 Espadachins and 1 Falconet, Spanish Expeditionary Army^note Industrial Age, ships 7 Garrochistas and 3 Falconets.
Associated Bonus: Generates +0.8 XP per second.

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• Rate-Limited Perpetual Resource: Allying with the Spanish generates an extra trickle of 0.8 XP per second.
• Reduced Resource Cost: "Merchant Marine" reduces the Home City shipment arrival time by -50%.

Campaign Civilizations

These tropes pertain the civilizations of the different campaigns from the game. For the character-specific tropes of its protagonists, antagonists, and other cast, go to these pages:

• "Blood", "Ice" and "Steel"^note Morgan Black, John Black, Stuart Black, Amelia Black, Sahin the Falcon, Elisabet "Lizzie" Ramsey, Kanyenke, Nonakhee, Major Cooper, Colonel/General George Washington, Simon Bolívar, Alain Magnan, Warwick, Pierre Beaumont, Francisco Juan Delgado de León
• "Fire" and "Shadows"^note Nathaniel Black, Chayton Black, Col. Sven Kuechler, William Holme, General George Armstrong Custer
• "Japan", "China" and "India"^note General Sakuma Kichiro, Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu, Daimyo Torii Mototada, Captain Jian Huang, Lao Chen, Admiral Wang Jinhai, Lt. Nanib Sahir, Colonel George Edwardson, Sepoy Pravar Patel, Bahadur Shah

Knights of St. John

Home City: Malta
Unique Units: Rodelero, Hoop Thrower, Lancer

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• Ascended Extra: The Knights of St. John, also known as the The Knights Hospitallers, were an opponent faction in the Saladin campaign in Age of Empires II, where they were represented by the Teutons.
• Crippling Overspecialization: Their Hoop Throwers are effective only against Janissaries... and nothing else. The Ottomans are found as enemies only during the first, second and fourth missions of Blood. By the time of the last mission of Blood, they're fighting at your side.
• Discard and Draw: The "Royal Decree to Claim the New World" Home City Card unlocks Temple techs that give the player advantages and disadvantages:
  • "Corselet" increases the hitpoints of their heavy infantries at the cost of speed.
  • "Tax Burden" periodically ships 100 gold for every minute but drastically reduces the villager's hitpoints.
• Does Not Like Guns: While they have access to Falconets and Mortars, they lack gunpowder infantry units such as Musketeers and Skirmishers.
• Expy: They share many traits with the Spanish. Similar architecture, similar units down to their unique units (with the exception of many gun-toting units), and their Home City is based on the Spanish Home City. It helps that the Spanish are considered a Skill Gate Character civilization, and the KOSJ are as basic as you can get (i.e. cannot advance further than the Fortress Age).
• Historical Hero Upgrade: The in-game Knights of St. John being opposed to slavery and taking free stuff from non-Christians. But it's just a family tall tale... maybe.

John Black's Mercenaries

Home City: Boston
Unique Units: Uhlan, War Wagon

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• Discard and Draw: Upon shipping the "Royal Decree to Claim the New World" Home City Card, you can research the "Customized Merc Weapons" at the temple, which increases the attack of all mercenaries while raising the cost of buildings.
• Expy: Their roster combines that of German cavalry (Uhlans and War Wagons) and French infantry (all 5 units from the European Barracks).
• Noble Wolf: In addition to increasing John Black and Kanyenke's hitpoints, the "Mercenary Drills" Home City Card allows Kanyenke to train up to 5 "Buck the Tame" Wolves.
• Private Military Contractors: A band of mercenaries defending the American colonies from Native American attacks, and later, The Circle's ambitions. They have many upgrades that boost the strength of mercenaries like "Customized Merc Weapons" technology and "Improved Mercenaries" and "Mercenary Loyalty" Home City Cards.

United States

Home City: St. Louis
Feature: Manor produces settlers upon completion
Covered Wagon builds Town Center faster
Unique Units: Rocket
Royal Guard Units: Musketeer (Redcoats), Hussar (King's Life Guard)

For the proper playable civilization introduced as DLC in Definitive Edition, check the playable non-European civilizations page.

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• Discard and Draw: Upon shipping the "Royal Decree to Claim the New World" Home City Card, you can research the "Grand Encampment" technology, which, like the British's "Thin Red Line" tech, increases the Musketeers' hitpoints at the cost of their speed.
• Expy: They have similar traits to the British, including their Royal Guard upgrades and Manor building. They can also build Rockets in their Artillery Foundry instead of being automatically generated from the Factory.

Circle of Ossus

Unique Units: Boneguard, White Jaguar, White Wolf

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• Ancient Conspiracy: The Circle of Ossus is a secretive order that has been around for centuries. It’s not until the 19th century, however, that they’re finally defeated.
• Back for the Finale: The Boneguard swordsman variant is only found in Blood, with the musketeer replacing it afterwards. However, the swordsman variant shows up again in the final scenario.
• Cosmopolitan Council: The Circle of Ossus has members from various European powers.
• Elite Mooks: Their elite troops, the Boneguard, are some of the toughest units that can be found in the campaign. They come in two variants: the swordsman and the musketeer.
• Light Is Not Good: They have white animals at their service and their ships allude to the color white, but they're an evil organization.
• Savage Wolf: The White Wolf, which appears in Act III. Beaumont had two wolves at his side to sic and kill Cooper.
• Screw the Rules, I Have Connections!: While the Circle does have its own army, it's also as likely to use its myriad connections throughout Europe to have others do their dirty work, including Russians in Act II.

Black Family Estate

American (1777)

American (1867)

Home City: Black Family Estate
Feature:

Can train Iroquois and European units
Can build European, Sioux, or Iroquois buildings
Have access to Colonial Militia

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• All Your Powers Combined: The only civ which appears in more than one campaign. Thanks to the way the deck is done, it can use both Iroquois, Colonial Militia and Sioux units, which comes in handy at several points during Shadows.
• BFG: Normally the Sioux/Lakota don't have access to artillery, and their exclusive Fire Ceremony boosts all units' siege damage to make up for it. But the Artillery Foundry is still available near the end of the campaign even after the rest of the tech tree is fully changed to a Sioux/Lakota one. With the Fire Ceremony, Falconets can reduce enemy buildings to shreds in seconds.

Barbary Pirates and Moroccans

Home City: Cherchell (Barbary Pirates), Marrakesh (Moroccans)
Unique Units: Berber Spearman, Berber Archer, Berber Arquebusier, Barbary Corsair, Tribal Horseman, Bedouin Horse Archer

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• Expy: They have similar traits to the Ottomans, but with all of their unit roster changed.

Ethiopians and Somalis

Ethiopia

Unique Units: Spearman, Knife Thrower, Javelin Rider, Shotel Warrior, Somali Arquebusier

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• Early-Bird Cameo: The Ethiopians made their debut in a Portuguese-themed historic battle before they became playable with The African Royals.

Tatars

Unique Units: Cavalry Archer, Keshik, Steppe Rider, Meteor Hammer
Unique Buildings: Village

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• Born in the Saddle: Their forces are entirely made of cavalry units.
• Composite Character: They mix features from the Russian and Chinese civilizations.

Canadians

Feature: Manor produces settlers upon completion
Unique Units: General, State Militia, Musketeer, Sharpshooter, Hussar, Dragoon
Unique Buildings: Manor

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• Composite Character: They mix features from the American and British civilizations.