Airborne units are units that are capable of flying of hovering in the air. They appear in Age of Mythology and Age of Empires III, and they are the third type of units there after land units and ships. Flying units are much more rarely seen, and it is by no means certain any will appear in a given game. The main advantage of flying units is that they are not constrained by any obstacles on the map. They can fly over land, sea, rocks, forests, cliffs, and walls, exploring every corner of the map. Additionally, they can only be attacked by ranged units (including, in some cases, other flying units).
In Age of Empires and Age of Empires II, the only flying units to appear are the occasional birds added for atmosphere. They are purely ornamental and cannot be interacted with in any way.
Age of Empires[]
Other than birds, there is also the Flying Dutchman cheat unit in Age of Empires, which, though called a flying unit, can still be attacked by melee units. The game also features the decorative cheat unit Dragon.
Age of Empires II[]
Like its prequel, all flying units i.e. the birds and the cheat units Stormy Dog and Sharkatzor are purely decorative.
Age of Mythology[]
- Main article: Flying unit (Age of Mythology)
Age of Empires III[]
Only two flying units appear in Age of Empires III, both exclusive scouts: the Hot Air Balloon and the Advanced Hot Air Balloon. The ability to create them is obtained from a Home City Card in the Commerce Age for all European civilizations. It grants the Explorer the ability to set a hot air balloon anywhere on the map, where it can explore until it dies. The Advanced Hot Air Balloon is a single-use unit, available with one per game, that does not die after some time. These balloons can only be killed through direct targeting of them, meaning AI players cannot take them down.
Age of Empires IV[]
Other than gaia birds, the game also features a falcon summoned by one of the special abilities of the Khan.