Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean is the second expansion for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. The expansion adds two civilizations, the Italians and the Maltese, as well as new maps, game modes, and natives.
It was released on May 26, 2022. The expansion's launch coincided with the release of update 13.9057 that introduced new features, bug fixes, balance changes and a new event.
Features[]
Civilizations[]
| Architecture set | Civilizations |
|---|---|
| South European |  Italians
|
 Maltese
|
Italians: Unite wealthy merchant republics, duchies, and Papal states while new Settlers flock to your booming empire with every technological breakthrough, and use Architects to construct buildings for free! Invest at the Lombard to optimize your economy and turn a quick profit, or construct a towering Basilica and send Papal soldiers to strengthen and complement your army. Use shielded Pavisiers to lure opponents into an ambush of Bersaglieri, or let Elmetti lower their lances and carry the day with a thundering charge!- Maltese: Guard the Mediterranean against incursions with unique fortifications, don shining armor to fend off attacks, and shell opponents from afar with Fixed Guns. Fire Throwers and greatswords win battles, but the superior logistics of your Commandery win wars. Luckily, you can have both! Fighting at sea with Order Galleys may wet the gunpowder, but your Arbalesters won't mind. You can always restock at a Gunpowder Depot, or blow it up when an enemy army marches past!
Random maps[]
30 European random maps:
- Alps
- Anatolia
- Archipelago
- Balkan Mountains
- Baltic Sea
- Black Forest
- Bohemia
- Budapest
- Carpathians
- Corsica and Sardinia
- Courland
- Danish Straits
- Dnieper Basin
- England
- Eurasian Steppe
- Finland
- France
- Hungarian Plains
- Ireland
- Italy
- Lithuania
- Low Countries
- Pripet Marshes
- Pyrenees
- Saxony
- Scandinavia
- Scotland
- Spain
- Vistula Basin
- Wallachia
Treasure guardians and treasures[]
- Wild Boars: Gives food when killed
- Beast of Gévaudan: Can't be targeted with heroes' special abilities.
Outlaws[]
- Hajduk: Popular outlaw armed with a rifle. Good against other skirmishers. Benefits from promotions.
- Cossack Daredevil: Fast Cossack hand cavalry from the Wild Fields with a powerful lance attack that charges while fighting. Can dismount.
- Crabat: Fast light ranged cavalry that performs well against all units. Counters Heavy Cavalry in hand combat. Benefits from promotions.
- Inquisitor: Sinister priest who spies and heals in the name of the faith. Inflicts burning damage.
- Highwayman: Mounted Outlaw armed with a pistol. Can also use a deadly charged rifle attack and dismount from his horse. Good against Cavalry.
Mercenaries[]
- Pandour: Notorious Skirmisher from the Balkans that counters Skirmishers. Can use stealth. (based on Schiavone)
- Giant Grenadier: Heavy ranged infantry mercenary that inflicts area damage with its ranged attack. (based on Soldado)
- Bosniak: Mercenary lancer with a powerful lance attack that charges while fighting. Benefits from Promotions. (based on Chinaco)
- Armored Pistoleer: Heavy ranged infantry mercenary from Savoy who uses his thick darkened armor to deflect some of the damage inflicted to nearby allies. Pistol attack deals area damage.
- Royal Horseman: Guard Cavalry mercenary riding a heavy war horse that damages units while moving. (based on Cuirassier)
- Irish Brigadier: Affordable Muskeeter from Ireland with a high hand attack. Benefits from promotions.
- Mounted Rifleman: Long ranged heavy cavalry mercenary. Strong against Infantry, specially Skirmishers. Countered by other cavalry.
Historical Maps[]
8 Historical maps, a new type of map that is limited to certain civilizations and features special objectives and mechanics:
- The Thirty Years' War (Multiplayer only)
- The Italian Wars: A large river separates four influential Italian City-States which must be captured and held.
- The Eighty Years' War: One player must hold off all others on a fortified peninsula.
- The Deluge: Steppes and temperate woodlands are separated by a single trade route. The southern team must defend against early cavalry aggresion.
- The Great Turkish War: Commanding smaller armies, players must capture trade sites, factories and fixed guns throughout the map.
- The Great Northern War: A frozen coast with thick forests and two trade routes on the water. Abandoned resources crates can ocasionally be discovered inland.
- The Napoleonic Wars: Teams must train their armies quickly during a short period and fight all over the map to seize every strategic point.
- The Russo-Turkish Wars: One team must defend their great city, while the other attacks. The city is surrounded by woodland and natural resources.
Minor civilizations[]
European Royal Houses:
- House of Bourbon
- House of Wittelsbach
- House of Oldenburg
- House of Hanover
- House of Phanar
- House of Jagiellon
- House of Vasa
- House of Habsburg
- House of Wettin
Others[]
- Two new game modes: Tycoon and Diplomacy mode
- 25 new achievements
- New gameplay features:
- New Abilities: Promotions, deflection, dismounting, etc.
- Capturable buildings and other map features: Wind Mills, Battery Towers, Upgraded Trading Posts and Star Forts.
- Skirmisher-type and foot archer-type units are integrated into the new Light Infantry classification
Gallery[]
Age of Empires III- Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean
Release trailer
Italians preview
Maltese preview
Official showcase of the Great Turkish War
An Italian army under ambushed Bersaglieri
Showcase of a Maltese settlement containing a Royal House
