Outpost (Age of Empires III)

Outposts are defensive structures that work like the Age of Empires II Outposts, whereas they guard structures but can also attack enemy units and serve as a Home City drop-off point for shipments. Outposts have a fairly high amount of hitpoints, and a ranged attack. Outposts do 50% more damage to cavalry and infantry, so scouting parties should be careful. They also have an anti-ship attack with an extremely long range, this can be particularly powerful if the TEAM Coastal Defenses card is sent by Spanish, French, Portuguese or Russian allies. They can be upgraded to Frontier Outposts in the Fortress Age and Fortified Outposts in the Industrial Age. They can garrison villagers, making them effective at securing resources such as hunts and mines, and gaining crucial map control. Outposts don't gain more damage by garrisoning Villagers inside (unlike the Town Center). Outposts can first be built in the Discovery Age.

Cost: 250 Wood Hitpoints: 2000 Attack: 30 (24 range) Anti-ship: 100 (40 range)

Frontier upgrade
The Frontier Outpost is an upgraded Outpost in Age of Empires III. The upgrade costs 400 Wood and 200 Coin. It features a greater attack than the Outpost, but same amount of hitpoints and the anti-ship attack also remains unchanged. The Frontier Outpost costs the same 250 Wood to build.

Cost: 250 Wood Hitpoints: 2000 Attack: 45 (24 range) Anti-ship: 100 (40 range)

Fortified upgrade
The Fortified Outpost is the last upgrade of the Outpost in Age of Empires III. It is available in the Industrial Age, costing 800 Wood and 400 Coin. It increases the attack and hitpoints of your outposts, and it gives them a cannon attack. Fortified Outposts have a large number of hitpoints, and their cannon attack is very good at killing infantry. The Fortified Outpost is a powerful defense building, although they will fall quickly to large armies. They are most effective if your army is defending from your opponents army in late game as the enemy is engaged in combat and does not have the time to kill the outposts. The outposts attack give you an edge in combat as well.

Cost: 250 Wood Hitpoints: 3000 Attack: 60 (24 Range, 3 Area Damage) Anti-ship Damage: 200 (40 Range)