Age of Empires Series Wiki
Register
Advertisement

Template:FA

Info icon
This article is about the civilization in Age of Empires III. For the civilization in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, see Aztecs (Age of Empires II).
Civilization Technology tree Strategy

Template:Infobox CivThe Aztecs are one of the three major Native American civilizations featured in the Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs.

Overview

File:Aztectenochititlan.jpg

Tenochititlan, the Aztec Home City

The majority of Aztec military units are unique to the civilization, with the exception of Canoes and War Canoes. The entire Aztec army is composed of infantry. They can build the Nobles' Hut and War Hut which act as a European Blockhouse; they have identical range to that building unless using the Stone Towers card which allow Aztec defensive buildings (0-24>0-30 and 0-40>0-46) to have greater range than all European structures (including European Forts lacking the Revetment upgrade). This extra range is enough to outrange many artillery pieces as well and most enemy ships (with exception to long-range special attacks).

Almost all of the Aztec units are melee units (including their War Chief), with the exception of Macehualtin, Eagle Runner Knights, and the longest ranged archer, the Arrow Knight.

Like the Aztecs of Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, the Aztecs lack cavalry and artillery units that other native civilizations have access to. To compensate for this, the Aztecs also have specialized infantry units that fulfill similar roles. The Coyote Runner makes up for their lack of cavalry. Their ranged cavalry unit is represented by the Eagle Runner Knight. The Arrow Knight, whose range is the best of all archers, is specially designed to tear down buildings and fulfills the role as a weak Mortar and anti-artillery Culverin to protect their vulnerable all-infantry armies from artillery fire.

Instead of Medicine Men, the Aztecs have Warrior Priests who can heal just as well as the Medicine Man, but also have a high attack, and dance at the Fire Pit, counting as two Villagers.

At the beginning of each match, the locations of all Trading Posts will be revealed to Aztec players, regardless of their Home City level. They will also have the 3 Trading Post Travois (Colonial Age) card available to them once they reach a level 10 Home City.

Features

Unique units

Unit Description
Aztec war chief
Aztec War Chief
The leader of your Tribe. Possesses many powerful bonuses and abilities. Explores, fights, builds Town Centers and Trading Posts.
Native american villager
Villager
Villager that gathers resources.
Warrior portrait
Warrior
Quick-training Native defender who quickly loses hitpoints, becoming less effective over time.
Warrior priest
Warrior Priest
Heals injured units and are also effective in combat. Warrior Priests are extremely effective when dancing at the Fire Pit.
Coyote runner
Coyote Runner
Fast armored warrior. Good against skirmishers and artillery.
Macehualtin
Macehualtin
Slinger. Good against heavy infantry.
Puma spearman
Puma Spearman
Warrior armed with a deadly spear. Good against cavalry and buildings.
Arrow knight
Arrow Knight
Long-ranged noble that fires flaming arrows. Good against artillery and buildings.
Eagle runner knight
Eagle Runner Knight
Nobleman that flings javelins from an atlatl. Good against cavalry and Coyote Runners.
Jaguar prowl knight
Jaguar Prowl Knight
Stealthy noble armed with an obsidian sword. Good against cavalry and heavy infantry.
Skull knight
Skull Knight
Aztec elite berserker.
Aoe3 canoe
Canoe
Native boat that can attack or transport units.
War canoe
War Canoe
Strong in naval combat when built in number.
Tlaloc canoe
Tlaloc Canoe
Strong in naval combat when built in number.

Unique buildings

Building Description
FarmIII icon
Farm
Slow, infinite source of Food. Limited to 10 gatherers.
Fire pit icon
Fire Pit
Task Villagers on the Fire Pit to perform powerful dances.
Warhut icon
War Hut
Trains and upgrades infantry units as well as defends an area with a ranged attack.
Nobles Hut Portrait
Nobles' Hut
A powerful temple that provides an excellent defense and trains elite Aztec units.

Unique Fire Pit dances

Dance Effect
Healing dance
Healing Dance
Units regenerate hit points while idle
Garland war dance
Garland War Dance
Spawns Skull Knights

Home City Cards

Main article: Aztec Home City Cards

In-game dialogue

Aztec units speak an unknown variant of Nahuatl, since the in-game dialogues are neither classical nor modern Nahuatl.

  • Komansay
  • Kuu/co (While?)
  • Ok/oc (What else?)
  • Bante'ni
  • Ichok
  • Asku/ageku (Hunt)
  • Isay/agesay (Wood)
  • Sakunam/sakonan (Collect)
  • Ahsak (Build)
  • Zabbeo (Attack)
  • Bajunki (Attack)

History

The most densely populated region of the New World in 1492 was Mesoamerica, where North and Central America meet in modern Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. The people living here were called the Aztecs (also Mexica or Tenochca); they built an amazing civilization centered on their great capital city of Tenochtitlan (modern Mexico City). This was one of the largest cities in the world (with an estimated population of 200,000), and arguably more beautiful and cleaner than any contemporary capital in Europe.

The Aztecs were just one of several tribes in the area, but had risen to prominence due to their ferocity in battle and adept diplomacy. Their soldiers wielded weapons of wood and stone, and they often sought prisoners to be sacrificed in religious ceremonies. Their society depended on sophisticated agricultural techniques; from them the world learned of foodstuffs including tomatoes, corn, cocoa, and chili peppers. They were handicapped by the lack of large domesticated animals (they had no horse or ox), and the use of the wheel only in toys. Everything to be moved was carried by human porters.

Despite their large population and fighting prowess, the Aztecs fell relatively quickly to the determined Spanish conquistadores under Cortez. This was due in large part to the epidemics the Europeans brought ashore. By some estimates the Aztec population of 12 million people in 1520 had fallen to one million by 1600. The Spanish also allied with the Aztecs' enemies to increase the size of their armies, and had the advantages of steel and gunpowder weapons.

Template:Civilizations (AoE3)

Advertisement