Skull Knight

The Skull Knight is a powerful infantry unit unique to the Aztecs in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. It the strongest infantry unit of Native American civilizations.

Overview
Similar to the German Doppelsoldner and the Japanese Samurai, the Skull Knight possesses high hit points, deals AoE damage, and has multipliers against cavalry. Although highly effective in melee combat, its low speed renders it vulnerable to artillery.

The Skull Knight is only trained from the Fire Pit with Garland War Dance avaible in the Industrial Age on the Fire Pit, otherwise it only can be trained by Home City Shipments or Tezcatlipoca Worship (special technology in the Plantation for Aztec Civilitation).

The Skull Knight automatically upgrades as player advances in Age from the  Colonial Age, having three upgrades (Elite, Champion and Legendary).

Skull Knights work well when used in numbers due to effects of their splash damage and resists against melee damage, but it is recommended to support them with Arrow Knights, since the latter's high range deals increased damage to counter artillery. Another strong combination is with the Coyote Runner, since they reach and attack ranged units more quick, not only artillery but also infantry.

All Unit Clasification

 * Heavy infantry
 * Infantry
 * Melee infantry

Strategies

 * When they are marching to enemy artillery it is highly recommended to use "In cover" mode against shots and then change to normal mode once they are in melee range.
 * Another form to avoid too much range damage from artillery and infantry is placing only one unit in front, as units automatically attack the enemy units closer to them, leading to the artillery waste shots.
 * Remember to place him a good distance or in a different way from your army because artillery has AOE attacks, which could lead to the Skull Knight's death.
 * Against professionals this strategy is less effective as they will use their artillery more efficiently.
 * Try a Coyote and Arrow Knight combination with your Skull Knight army, making a more versatile composition.
 * With the Arrow Knight composition, it is preferrable to place them in front, in that form if you see artilley you will attack as soon as possible. Otherwise, it is not necessary because it makes the arrow knights too exposed.
 * Protect them from infantry and cavalry attacks with your Skull Knight army.
 * If your enemy uses his cavalry or infantry to kill your Arrow Knights, carry a Coyote army to ambush the artillery and long range infantry.
 * With the Coyote Runner composition, guide them in the front and the flanks of your Skull Knight army.
 * When the Skull army sees the enemy's army, retreat them a short distance and try to see if there are enemy artillery or skirmisher units with a Coyote or with a Knight, if there are don't attack first with Skull Knights but if there is, let them attack first and retreat your Skull army, waiting for the cavalry or infantry to pursue it. Once they get close, ambush with Coyotes.
 * This tactic won't work if your enemy doesn't move his cavalry or infantry but the Arrow Knight composition will help.
 * Always make tactic compositions.

Fire Pit Train Time
Only Mayor Native Civilitations can bring a maximum of 25 Villagers to dance in the Fire Pit and each one counts as 1 Dancer for a maximum power of 25 Dancers, but Aztecs have the Warrior Priest which can dance at Fire Pit like a Villager and counts as 2 Dancers, allowing up to 35 dancers power in the Fire Pit with 10 of them and 15 Villagers.

Note that the maximum cap of units that can dance in the Fire Pit is the same for Aztecs (25 units), additionally one Fire Pit only allows 10 Warrior Priest to dance on it.

Upgrades
This Unit Auto-Upgrades with the Age technologies. All bonuses from these upgrades increases the base amount, not total.

History
"In Aztec society, membership in the calpulli established each individual's religious and secular schooling, as well as how they would be trained in warfare. The men of a calpulli served together in battle and on the numerous public works projects. Their soldiers wielded weapons of wood and stone, and they often sought prisoners to be sacrificed in religious ceremonies. The most-feared and powerful division in the Aztec army was made up of skull knights. Their name, Tzitzimitl, translates as "frightful specters," the skull knight dressed as a kind of undead horror, and the enemy often fled at their advance."

In other languages

 * Spanish: Caballero Cráneo
 * French: Chevalier Crâne
 * German: Totenkopfritter 
 * Italian: Cavaliere del Teschio
 * Japanese: 髑髏の騎士 (Dokuro no Kishi)
 * Portuguese: Cavaleiro Caveira
 * Russian: Рыцарь черепа (Rytsar' cherepa)

Trivia

 * Despide the in-game history information, Tzitzimitl was the name of minor female deities depicted as skeletal female figures wearing skirts often with skull and crossbone designs.
 * His real name in the Mixeca (Better know as Aztec) Culture was Tlacochcalcatl.
 * His military role was similar as a modern high general. The Tlatoani (Aztec king) was the only role to be more high that him.
 * TheTlacateccatl (Looks like a a Champion/Legendary Puma SpearmanPuma Spearman 4.jpg but with a shield in addition) was second-in-command to him and the Tlatoani.
 * His weapon's name is Huitzauhqui.
 * Is the only Aztec Knight to have an Elite upgrade in addition of the Champion & Legendary upgrades.
 * Spanish_Home_City_3_%28Fencing_School%29.pngng school doens't affect Skull Knight Train Time dispite his description.