Villager

The Villager (known as the Settler in Age of Empires III) is a common civilian unit for almost every game of the Age of Empires series. They are the backbone of all civilizations. The Villagers are arguably the most important unit in the game because they are able to collect natural resources such as Food, Wood, Stone, Gold, and Coin. The Villagers are also able to construct buildings, repair them along with Boats and Siege Weapons and if the civilization should be attacked they can defend for their towns. Villagers are one of your most important resources, because as long as they live, they produce resources and pay for themselves. One of the best ways to disrupt an enemy's plan is by killing their villagers at the beginning of the game, as they will have to make new ones, costing them time and resources. Cavalry are a fast and effective way to deal with Settlers or Villagers, they are good for hit and run tactics and can mow down Villagers quickly.

Age of Mythology
In Age of Mythology each of the four civilizations has its own type or types of villagers.

Greek and Egyptian
Greek s and Egyptian s are exactly as their counterparts in AoE series with Egyptians working slower and Greeks generating favor by praying at their Temples

Norse
The villagers of the Norse are represented by and  and can't build or repair (which is left for Norse Infantry). Dwarves are better at gathering gold but not as good for other resources. They both can be upgraded to Ulfsarks

Atlantean
Atlantean Citizens have donkeys with them which enable them to deposit resources without visiting a drop point; they are expensive but effective workers. Citizens can be promoted to Heroes which improves their building and gathering rates. Once made heroes, they can collect relics.

Age of Empires III
In Age of Empires III most European villagers are known as Settlers, but the Native American and Asian civilization equivalents are still called Villagers. They function the same as in previous games, but no longer require dropsites to deposit resources. Even with all upgrades, settlers are too weak to fight very many military units or treasure guardians. The French civilization have stronger settlers called Coureur des Bois which can collect resources faster and can also double as treasure gatherer if the Home City card Northwest Passage is sent. The German civilization also has a stronger settler unit called the Settler Wagon. Most settlers and villagers deal more damage in melee than at range, multipliers may allow them to do more at range only after the Market upgrade has been purchased and only against Artillery, Pets and Treasure Guardians. The Coureur is an exception to this, having 8 ranged attack instead of 3 but a x0.25 multiplier versus settlers and villagers. All villagers only inflict 2 damage against each other at range, 3 following the market upgrade and around 5 for Unction boosted Spanish settlers. With melee attacks (lacking any negative/positive multipliers) they are easily capable of killing one another, Explorers and non-upgraded infantry units granted they gang up on it and can catch it. Sometimes this may be a better option than fleeing with them, depending on the size and type of the enemy force harassing them and the number of settlers or villagers.

They are especially useful against enemy pets (the Coureur against guardians with a card shipment), as all pets have a negative x0.1 multiplier versus villagers with exception to Fluffy, the Explorer Dog (no negative/positive multipliers), War Dogs (negative multiplier of x0.3) and Tigers (negative multiplier of x0.2). Only the cheat unit Fluffy, or Unction enhanced pets pose any type of real threat to Villagers.