Dragoon

"Ranged cavalry. Good against cavalry."

- In-game description

The Dragoon is a type of ranged counter-cavalry unit in Age of Empires III. Dragoons can be trained in the Stable once the Fortress Age is reached. Exceptions are made when the TEAM Early Dragoons card is used by the Portuguese in the Colonial Age.

Overview
The Dragoon works as a ranged counter-Cavalry Cavalry unit. It is strong against Melee Cavalry, but is weak to Infantry, especially Ranged Infantry and has no resistance to melee attacks. Overall, Dragoons are a formidable unit that is especially good against hand cavalry when used correctly.

If playing as the Portuguese, Dragoons are available in the Colonial Age if the Team Early Dragoons card is shipped. Portuguese Dragoons are also more useful than other civilizations' as they can be upgraded to royal guard, and have the Dragoon Combat card, giving them an advantage in attack and hit points (unction Dragoons have better attack but fewer hit points) compared to other civilizations. The Portuguese can also give them the advantage in range with the Genitours card which increases their max range by 6. Dragoons are also good against heavy infantry by kiting. Skirmishers can also be engaged if the dragoons are put into melee mode.

The Dutch train Ruyters instead of Dragoons, while the Germans train War Wagons.

The Ottomans and the Russians has Cavalry Archers in place of Dragoons; the latter can ship 9 Guard Dragoons through Kalmucks.

Upgrades
The Dragoon is automatically upgraded to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack) at the Fortress Age.

Further statistics
As the Dragoon can only be trained by British, French, Portuguese and Spanish, only improvements available to them (including the campaign-only United States and the Russians who can ship a limited number of Dragoons, and native improvements) are listed here.

Home City Cards
As the Dragoon is exclusive to British, French, Portuguese and Spanish, only other civilizations' TEAM cards that affects them are listed here.

Since the Russians can ship a limited number of Dragoons but otherwise cannot train them, Russian cards that affects Dragoons are included as well. {| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="width: 100%;" ! sab="1148" | Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Dragoon Green : TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
 * - sab="1147"
 * - sab="1149"
 * sab="1150" |

Europeans

 * The 4 Dragoons, 6 Dragoons, 5 Dragoons, and 8 Dragoons cards are only available to French and Portuguese.

Spanish

 * }

Trivia

 * Even though the Dragoon's icon shows a rifle, they use the pistol instead.
 * Portuguese Royal Guard Dragoons are named after the Spanish term for Genitour, jinete (although the Portuguese word ginete would be more appropriate).

History
"Dragoons were a very flexible mounted infantry, using their horses to move swiftly, then often dismounting to fight on foot with carbines, pistols, and sabers. During the eighteenth century in Europe, military leaders maintained dozens of regiments of Dragoons, placing them in a fixed role as medium cavalry. In the Americas, Dragoons were used as both cavalry and infantry. They scouted, raided camps, screened armies, and protected the rear of retreats. Dragoons wore tall helmets, often plumed, and carried a variety of arms. The carbines they used, called "dragons," gave the Dragoons their name. This short-barreled, smoothbore weapon had less range and power than a rifle and required that Dragoons be accompanied by infantrymen or dismounted Dragoons armed with longer-range firearms."