Archaic infantry (AbstractArchaicInfantry in the game code) is a tag in Age of Empires III introduced in update 13.4412 that affects certain bow and hand weapon infantry, which fits more the medieval times rather than the Modern gunpowder line infantry.
The tag is only related to the Spanish, who have a great synergy thanks to some of their Home City Cards that affect this class: "TEAM Hidalgos" allows faster training of archaic units for the whole team, while "Reconquista" ships 1 Conquistador for every 5 archaic infantry units lost.
All Pikeman and foot archers units are considered archaic infantry. Note that the Rodelero, although it could seem an archaic infantry, doesn't have that tag, while the War Dog does.
Most hand infantry that is not a Pikeman is not considered archaic infantry.
List of archaic infantry[]
Archaic Pikeman[]
All units tagged as Pikeman are considered archaic infantry:
Berber Spearman
Javanese Spearman
Levied Spearman
Maya Holcan Spearman- Maya Holcan Javelineer
- Papal Guard
- Pikeman
- Plumed Spearman
- Puma Spearman
- Qiang Pikeman
- Quechua Huaminca
- Sentry
- Sohei Naginata
- Spearman
- Swiss Pikeman
- Trabant
Archaic foot archers[]
All foot archers are labeled as archaic infantry
- Aenna
- Arrow Knight
- Azap
- Berber Archer
- Carib Ambusher
- Carib Blowgunner
- Cetan Bow
- Chu Ko Nu
- Crossbowman
- Desert Archer
- Fulani Archer
- Iron Troop
- Jungle Bowman
- Longbowman
- Maya Holcan Javelineer
- Otontin Slinger
- Pavisier
- Quechua Bolas Warrior
- Seminole Sharktooth Bowman
- Shinobi
- Sudanese Dervish
- Tupi Blackwood Archer
- Wokou Monk
- Yumi Archer
Other[]
Upgrades[]
- Initially, in Age of Empires III, before the expansions, European archaic units (Pikemen, Crossbowmen, and Longbowmen) weren't upgradable past the Veteran level by normal means, except the Spanish Pikeman by the Royal Guard, Crossbowmen by the Portuguese Besteiros Church technology, and the use of the Yeoman card for British Longbowmen.
- The Definitive Edition introduced the The Papal Guard politician that allows Guard and Imperial upgrades and discounts for it to Pikemen and Crossbowmen for some civilizations, and the Royal Guard for the Portuguese Crossbowman. The Swedish Crossbowman is an exception that can't be upgraded beyond the Veteran level.
- The Definitive Edition also introduced more Archaic Royal Guards to new civilizations: Swedish Pikeman (Dalkarl) and Maltese Crossbowman (Arbalester).
| Tags in Age of Empires III | |
|---|---|
 Infantry | |
 Heavy infantry | Hand infantry ·  Pikeman · Musket infantry |
 Light infantry | Foot archer · Rifle infantry · Hand skirmisher |
| Other | Counter skirmisher · Grenade trooper |
 Cavalry /  Shock infantry | |
 Heavy cavalry |  Hand cavalry · Ranged heavy cavalry · Lance cavalry |
 Light ranged cavalry | Gunpowder cavalry |
| Shock infantry |  Hand shock infantry ·  Ranged shock infantry |
| Other | Camel · Elephant |
| Siege units | |
 Siege unit ·  Artillery ·  Siege Elephant · Gatling Camel* · Fixed Gun* · Arrow Knight* | |
 Ship | |
Fishing boat · Warship ·  Recruiting ship | |
 Building | |
 Resource enclosure ·  Wall · Frontier fortification · Barracks | |
| Other | |
 Hero ·  Mercenary · Monk ·  Outlaw ·  Pet ·  Villager | |
| Mother nature | |
 Huntable ·  Treasure guardian | |
| Support tags | |
| Gunpowder unit · Archer · Healing unit · Native warrior · Elephant · Camel · Archaic infantry · Ranged infantry · Ranged cavalry · Consulate unit | |
| All tags with icons are related to the bonus and penalties counter system, except *hidden tags that aren't in the UI | |