Barbary States

This article is about the revolutionary civilization. For the Historical Battles civilization, see Barbary Pirates.

Barbary States
Revolutionary nation
Nation information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition
Revolt from	Italians Maltese Ottomans Portuguese
Revolt Age	Industrial Age
Continent	Africa
Home City	Algiers
Demonym	Barbary Pirates
Features/Characteristics
Unique units	Barbary Warrior Corsair Marksman Corsair Captain

The Barbary States is one of the revolutionary nations in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, available to the Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, and Portuguese.

Effects

• Sets population space to 200.
• Removes training Settlers/Yörüks and Fishing Boats.
• Turns all villagers into Barbary Warriors instead of Revolutionaries; Barbary Warriors can be trained at Barracks, Forts, Galleons, and Privateers.
• Ships 10 Corsair Marksmen; Corsair Marksmen can be trained at Barracks, Forts, Galleons, and Privateers.
• All treasures are revealed to the player.
• Privateers can be trained at Docks with a train limit of 5, and train the same units as Galleons in addition to Falconets and Culverins.
• Falconets become available for the Portuguese.
• The in-game demonym changes to "Barbary Pirates".

Home City Cards

• Green: TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
• Purple: Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times

Card	Description
Salé Rovers	Ships 1 Xebec and 10 Corsair Marksmen
Recruit Xebec	Ships 1 Xebec
Recruit Xebecs	Ships 2 Xebecs; costs 500 coin
1 Fort Wagon	Ships 1 Fort Wagon; Fort build limit +1
16 Corsair Marksmen	Ships 16 Corsair Marksmen
18 Barbary Warriors	Ships 18 Barbary Warriors
3 Falconets	Ships 3 Falconets
Dhimma	Ships 6 Settlers; Settlers can be trained at Town Centers; Fishing Boats can be trained at Docks
Loyal Warriors	Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15%; "TEAM 4 Zenata Rider", "Recruit Xebec", "Recruit Xebecs", and "15 Berber Allies" cost no coin
Outlaw Combat	Outlaws and mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack
Barbary Combat	Barbary Warriors get +20% hit points and attack; Corsair Marksmen get +25% hit points and attack
Corsair Captain	Ships the Corsair Captain; Corsair Marksmen, Corsair Captain, Barbary Warriors, and Explorer are able to gather crates, get greater resource rewards from treasures and yield coin from destroyed ships and buildings (instead of kill XP)
Aïr Berbers	Ships 1 Berber Nomad for every Town Center and Trading Post built
15 Berber Allies	Ships 15 Berber Camel Riders; costs 1,000 coin
TEAM 4 Zenata Rider	Ships 4 Zenata Riders; costs 500 coin
Ottoman Expeditionary Army	Ships 12 Baghdad Janissaries and 2 Great Bombards; costs 1,600 coin

Strategy

Barbary States is a revolution focused on outlaws, mercenaries, and navy. However, it also provides some economic shipments. Like most revolutions in Age of Empires III, it can be a finishing move, as Barbary States transform all Villagers into Barbary Warriors, while also shipping 10 Corsair Marksmen. Barbary States is a revolution that also brings some advantages of the Berber minor civilization available in some African maps by providing Berber Nomads and Berber Camel Riders via shipments.

Barbary Warriors are non-outlaw Rodelero-like units. They have the same speed (6.0), the same 40% hand resistance, and counter cavalry and shock infantry. The Barbary Warrior's stats are like a scaled-down Espadachin (Royal Guard Rodelero), including a lower cost. The main differences are that Barbary Warriors have lower multipliers versus cavalry and shock infantry, and have a x2 multiplier versus villagers.

Corsair Marksmen are light infantry. In addition to the usual light infantry multipliers, they have multipliers against ships, treasure guardians, and villagers (a low one of x1.25). They will still struggle to counter ships completely due to the great stats of ships, especially when too far away to use their siege attack versus them. It has high range and low hit points.

Xebecs are mostly slightly stronger than Frigates. Privateers are frail warships with relatively low hit points, ranged resistance, and speed, but with a very high damage output and are cheap.

The Corsair Captain is an outlaw, hand infantry hero, which is a non-light, non-heavy infantry unit. It has the Crescent Swing and Lightning Kilij abilities to enable it to deal a lot of damage at the expense of being micro-intensive. It counters cavalry, shock infantry, and villagers. This shipment also enables Corsair Marksmen, the Corsair Captain, Barbary Warriors, and the Explorer to gather crates, get greater resource rewards from treasures, and yield coin when destroying buildings or ships (instead of xp).

The Barbary States are more suitable for the player in water maps, as this revolution gives access to Privateers at the Dock, while also enabling Xebec shipments (which will not count for the creation limit of other ships); in cases when there are still treasures on the map in the late game, especially big treasures; or if the player went heavy on mercenaries or outlaw-type units, as both Corsair Marksmen and Barbary Warriors are outlaws, and the Barbary States can also ship mercenary Zenata Riders. Another advantage of picking the Barbary States for a revolution is that Barbary Warriors can gather resource crates, and if an opponent player went heavily on crate shipments, they can gather some resources after the mass attack.

15 Berber Allies does not upgrade the Berber Camel Riders, so they are Commerce Age units in the Industrial Age. Accounting for the missing unit upgrades, the shipment is worth 1,600 resources (2,700 with no accounting for it). Overall, it is mediocre to send after Loyal Warriors. Berber Camel Riders are light cavalry, countering cavalry (including light cavalry), shock infantry and artillery. The card is much stronger on maps with the Berbers, as the Berber Camel Riders can get their missing upgrades.

For the infinite shipments, 16 Corsair Marksmen is worth 1,840 resources, 16 Barbary Warriors is worth 1,600 resources (but all of that is food, so it is worth significantly less in real terms), and 3 Falconets is worth 1,500. They all have pretty good value and high utility, which helps the Barbary Pirates in the late game and early on if the player really needs those units. Infinite Recruit Xebec and infinite 1 Fort Wagon can also be used occasionally for their utility.

Overall, the Barbary States are a pretty all-in revolt, but has some late-game power if they manage to deal enough damage early, but not enough to win outright. It is particularly good at defending from an enemy all-in, due to the stronger unit for that situation the villagers turn into and the immediate shipment of 10 Corsair Marksmen.

Synergistic shipments

For all civilizations

• Privateer Shipments: they will be able to train units. The Portuguese and Ottomans have 2 of these shipments with the "Privateer Fleet" shipment, while the Maltese and Italians only have the "Recruit Privateers" shipment.
• Theaters: Reduces the population cost of Outlaw-type units.
• Mercenary Loyalty: Reduces the cost of the Zenata Rider shipment.
• Improved Warships: It benefits both Xebecs and Privateers. The Maltese have a team version of this shipment.
• Offshore Support: It benefits Privateers and Xebecs. The Portuguese lack this shipment.
• Economic upgrades that benefit villagers: This benefits the Berber Nomads. However, the Medicine shipment is useless, since the player can't train Berber Nomads.
• Advanced Arsenal: Improvements allowed by this shipment benefit all the units the Barbary States provide. The Italians lack this shipment, but have the better "Milanese Arsenal Shipment".
• Advanced Trading Posts: The Berber Nomads shipment sends 1 Berber Nomad per Town center and Trading Post, so it is a good idea to have cheaper and better Trading Posts. The Maltese lack this shipment.
• Advanced Dock: as the Barbary States provide access to Xebecs and Privateers, having Docks that heal ships faster and have better workrate is a good idea.
• Factory Shipments (Robber Barons and Factory). Having trickles of resources may be needed when revolting. The Ottomans and Portuguese have access to both Robber Barons and Factory, while the Italians and Maltese only have access to one of these shipments.
• Pioneers: Its effect applies to Berber Nomads. The Italians lack this shipment, but have the better Florentine Football shipment.
• Hero upgrade cards: Benefit the Corsair Captain.

For Italians

• Naval Gunners: Benefits both Xebec and Privateers.
• Capitalism: Since the economy stops momentarily, it is good to have a trickle of resources
• TEAM Marco Polo Voyages: Doubles Treasure rewards, which is helpful, as the player can sent the Corsair Captain
• Lombard shipments (Particulalrly Uffizi, Usury, and Advanced Lombards): Lombards provide a way to balance out the economy of a player even without Villagers, so it is useful for revolting.
• Milanese Arsenal: Enables more Arsenal Improvements that help all land units that the Barbary States provide. It also reduces the cost of all Arsenal technologies by 50% and gives one Arsenal wagon.
• Venetian Arsenal: Gives one Arsenal Wagon, and Arsenals improve the work speed of nearby Military buildings and Docks, which is helpful for creating more Corsair Marksmen, Privateers, and Barbary Warriors.
• Florentine Football: Settlers get +40% hit points, +25% speed, and +40% hand attack, and this applies to Berber Nomads.
• Fencing School: Infantry train time -40%, which applies to Corsair Marksmen and Barbary Warriors.
• 1 Covered Wagon: since the Berber Nomad shipment ships 1 Berber Nomad per Town Center and Trading Post, it is convenient to maximize this effect.

For Portuguese

• Fencing School: Infantry train time -40%, which applies to Corsair Marksmen and Barbary Warriors.
• Treaty of Tordesillas: Provides the Church with Encomienda Manor which effect also applies to the Berber Nomads.
• TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints: Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points. This applies to the Corsair Marksman.
• Town Center Shipments (Donatarios, 1 Covered Wagon and 2 Covered Wagons): Since the Berber Nomads shipment ships 1 Berber Nomad per Town Center and Trading Post, it can be convenient to maximize this as most as possible.

For Maltese

• TEAM Improved Warships: Benefits Xebecs and Privateers.
• Naval Gunners: Benefits both Xebecs and Privateers.
• Speronaras: Increases the speed of ships, including the Xebec and Privateer.
• Sicilian Supply: This not only benefits Berber Nomads, but also provides a trickle of food, and because the economy stops momentarily when revolting, having trickles of resources are very helpful
• Fort Construction, Enables the Grand Master and Sentinels to build Forts, which is useful, as the Barbary States have the infinite Fort Wagon Shipment, and Fort Construction may be helpful for rebuilding lost Forts.
• Gunpowder Mills: Having a Gunpowder Depot Wagon for each shipment is helpful, even when revolting, considering the infinite shipments.
• Squires: Military buildings train and research work rate +80%, except Forts, which get train and research work rate +340%. This of course helps to spam more Corsair Marksmen and Barbary Warriors.

For Ottomans

• Capitalism: Since the economy stops momentarily, it is good to have a trickle of resources.
• TEAM House of Osman: Reduces the cost of Trading Posts, which is useful, as the Berber Nomad shipments will spam a Berber Nomad per Trading Post and Town Center the player has.
• Battlefield Construction: Janissaries can build Barracks, which is helpful for creating more Barbary Warriors and Corsair Marksmen.
• Silk Road: Crates and Trade Routes contain +25% resources. This effect is applied to crates the player takes from an opponent, and considering Barbary Warriors can take resource crates, this can be very convenient.

Recommended politicians

Commerce Age

• The Logistician (Italians and Maltese): Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon, and the next Arsenal technology is free, which benefits military units from any revolution. The Portuguese may age up with him, but the advantage they get makes no synergy with this revolution.
• The Naturalist (all except Italians): She gives an early economic boost that may be used for a fast Revolution strategy.
• The Medici (Italians): Gives a Settler and a Lombard Wagon, which are helpful for performing a Fast Revolution strategy. The Lombard is also useful when revolting, since it can keep the economy going a bit.
• The Philosopher Prince (all except Maltese): Like The Naturalist, he can make up for fast age advancements until Revolution is enabled.
• The Quartermaster (all except Italians): Given that the Barbary States are a navy-focused revolution, having some extra wood early may help.

Fortress Age

• The Admiral of the Ocean Sea (all except Italians): If the player is picking the Barbary States, it is likely that they are playing on a naval map, so this politician should be picked.
• The Gentleman Pirate (Italians): With Advanced Politicians, they get 2 Privateers and 2 Barbary Corsairs. Given that this revolution has some improvements for Privateers, the Italians should pick him.

Industrial Age

• The Tycoon (Ottomans and Portuguese): Some of the shipments the Barbary States offer need coin.
• The Viceroy (Portuguese): Due to the naval focus of this revolution, the Portuguese may prefer to pick The Viceroy for getting some wood and Fishing Ships. Also, Fishing Ships are not affected by the revolution, keeping a bit of economy running.
• The Pope (Italians and Maltese): The Pope gives a substantial amount of experience that can be used for the shipments the Barbary States offer.

Changelog

Definitive Edition

• With update 13088, the Barbary States' Privateers can train Falconets, Culverins, and all units trainable via the Galleon.

The African Royals

• With update 43871, the INF 3 Privateers card was removed, and Salé Rovers, Recruit Xebec, Recruit Xebecs, Aïr Berber, 15 Berber Allies and TEAM 4 Zenata Rider cards were added.

Trivia

• The Barbary States' availability to the Ottomans reflects the fact that multiple North African states were formally vassals of the Ottoman Empire.
• The Barbary States' availability to the Portuguese reflects the Portuguese Empire's presence in North Africa during the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, holding several cities in what is now Morocco.
• Both civilizations introduced in Knights of the Mediterranean have access to the Barbary States revolution.
  • The Barbary States' availability to the Italians reflects the Genoese rule of Tabarka, Tunisia, between 1540 and 1742. It could also represent the Italian colonization of Libya (and its unsuccessful attempts to colonize other North African states).
  • The Barbary States' availability to the Maltese reflects the Hospitaller rule of Tripoli, Libya, between 1530 and 1551.
• The Barbary States have the "Loyal Warriors" card, which also removes the coin cost of the "Recruit Xebec" card, but the "Recruit Xebec" card does not cost coin.