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Battleship. A mighty Ship of the Line that rules the waves and everything on it.
—In-game description

The Battleship is a warship in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition that is available to any civilization in the Dock (for Asians, Europeans, Federal Americans, and Native Americans) or Port (for Africans) after building a Trading Post on a European Royal House. It is the strongest warship in the game, but has no unique abilities by default, unlike other European warships. Additionally, all European civilizations have access to the Battleship through their Home City.

Overview[]

The Battleship is by far the most resistant warship in the game, with a hefty 4,500 hit points and 75% ranged resistance. It pays for this with one of the lowest speeds; only 4.75 (compared to the 6.5 of an already slow Monitor). A player can only have one Battleship at a time, and acquiring a new Battleship after destruction will cost the player 1,000 wood, 1,000 coin, which makes it an expensive unit. Though the build limit of the Battleship is 1, Spanish players are able to have 2 Battleships on the field with the "Nuestras Señoras" card, which ships 2 Battleships. This also increases the build limit by one. British players are able to have several Battleships through the card "Rule, Britannia".

Though slow, the Battleship can garrison up to 100 units, double that of any other European warship. This, along with its hit points and resistance, makes it an excellent ship for transporting large armies to the enemy base. However, its exceedingly fast Rate of Fire of 0.5 and range of 35 (outranging most warships) mean it also possesses great battling capabilities. The Spanish also have access to the "Armada" card, which allows the Battleship to train infantry, cavalry, and artillery units. This makes it a mobile Barracks, Stable, and Artillery Foundry.

If the Germans ship the "Adler von Lübeck" card, their Battleship can train mercenary units, making it a mobile Tavern/Mercenary Camp.

Promotion[]

Battleships benefit from the Defence Promotion (with the "Valmy" Home City Card). This ability increases their hit points for each enemy military unit they defeat, up to a maximum of three units. They also benefit from Home City Cards or upgrades that improves warship units' hit points, such as Armor Plating or Byzantine Legacy.

Promotion Bronze Rank Silver Rank Gold Rank
Defence Promotion +5% hit points +10% hit points +15% hit points

Special abilities[]

  • Health Regeneration: Regenerates hitpoints when idle (0.25% per second after 3.5 seconds idle).
  • Deflection (requires the "Holy League" Home City Card): Absorb 25% of the damage inflicted to nearby allies within 12 range.
  • Detonate (requires the "Willem" Home City Card): Self-destructs to inflict 300 siege damage (with a ×5.0 multiplier against ships and buildings, ×0.2 against villagers, and no damage against hunted resource) to all units and buildings (including ally) in a range of 20. Automatically triggered when destroyed. Can be manually activated instead.

Upgrades[]

The Battleship is automatically upgraded in the Imperial Age.

  • +50% hit points and damage

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Ships, infantry and buildings close to shore
Weak vs. Artillery especially Culverins, defensive structures
Improvements
Hit points Armor Plating (+50%)
Heavy Riverboats (+25%; Africans only)
Rawhide Covers (+20%; Haudenosaunee only)
Byzantine Legacy (+15%)
Cipactli Worship (+10%; Aztecs only)
Tar Kilns (+10%)
Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Attack Carronade (+25%)
Flaming Arrows (+25%; Lakota only)
River Skirmishes (+25%; Africans only)
Cipactli Worship (+10%; Aztecs only)
Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight Town Watch (+3)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Train time Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Africans only)
Other Greek Shipyards (+1 train limit)
Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Öresund Customs (auto gather 1.125 coin/s)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Battleship
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Purple Shipment that can be sent an INFINITE number of times
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)
Shared
Card Description Age
Advanced Dock Dock damage +100%, heal work rate for ships +85%; war ship train time -33%
Improved Warships War ship hit points and damage +25%
TEAM Improved Warships War ship hit points and damage +10%
Naval Gunners War ship damage +20%
Offshore Support War ship damage +15%, Line of Sight and ranged attack range +2
European Cannons War ship damage +15%, Line of Sight and ranged attack range +2
Admiralty Dock war ship technology cost and research time -60%
  • "Advanced Dock" is not available to Africans.
  • "Improved Warships" is not available to the Chinese, Lakota, and United States.
  • "TEAM Improved Warships" is available to the Chinese and Maltese.
  • "Naval Gunners" is available to the British, French, Italians, Maltese, Russians, Swedes, and United States.
  • "Offshore Support" is available to the Aztecs, Germans, Inca, Maltese, and Ottomans.
  • "European Cannons" is not available to Europeans and Native Americans.
  • "Admiralty" is not available to Africans and Native Americans.
Africans
Card Description Age
Advanced Port Port damage and heal work rate for ships +100%; war ship train time -33%
Feudal Armies Unit train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Aztecs
Card Description Age
Artificial Islands War ship wood cost -35%
British
Card Description Age
Rule, Britannia Delivers 1 Battleship; costs free the first time sent and 1,000 coin thereafter
Chinese
Card Description Age
Western Reforms Unit hit points and damage +8%
Acupuncture Unit (except monk) train time -20%; Summer Palace banner army, Flying Crow, and Heavy Cannon spawn time -5%
Dutch
Card Description Age
Dutch States Army Mercenary train time -15%, speed (except Napoleon Gun and Li'l Bombard) +7%; mercenary shipment arrive time -20%; enables Highlander to be trained at Barracks and Taverns, Royal Horseman at Stables and Taverns; Pikeman, Halberdier, Skirmisher, Hussar, and Ruyter cost +10%
Willem Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleship speed +2, gets the Detonate ability; costs 1,500 coin
  • "Dutch States Army" reduces the arrive time of "1 Battleship" and "Willem" cards by 20%.
Ethiopians
Card Description Age
Ignatian Spirituality Unit (except herded animals) hit points +5%, regeneration rate +1.0 (even in combat)
Land of the Sea The Ras increases the attack of war ships he is garrisoned in by +35% (stacks if multiple Rases are garrisoned in one ship)
Europeans
Card Description Age
Mercenary Loyalty Mercenary and native warrior shipment cost -25%, infinite shipment cost -10% instead, the "Hire Indian Jat Lancer" shipment cost -50% instead, the "Hire Ronin Army" shipment cost -33% instead
1 Battleship Delivers 1 Battleship; costs 1,000 coin
Brethren of the Coast Delivers 1 Battleship with 10 Pirates in it; enables Battleships to train American, African and European outlaws (if available), Pirates, Duber the Pet Monkeys, and some pets; costs 1,000 coin
Royal Dahomets Dahomey Amazon hit points and damage +15%, and enables to be trained at Taverns, Native Embassies, and Battleships
Lantakas Artillery, building, and ship damage +15%
  • "Mercenary Loyalty" reduces the cost of "1 Battleship" card by 10% and all other unique European Battleship cards by 25%.
  • "Brether of the Coast" and "Royal Dahomets" are available to the British and French upon revolting to Haiti.
  • "Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
French
Card Description Age
Valmy Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleships now benefit from Defence promotions; costs 1,500 coin
Germans
Card Description Age
Adler von Lübeck Delivers 1 Battleship and 1 Privateer; enables Battleships to train mercenaries; costs 900 food, 900 wood, 900 coin
Haudenosaunee
Card Description Age
Wampum Unit train bounty +35%, train time -20%, siege unit and artillery train time -5% instead; building build bounty +35%
Indians
Card Description Age
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics Unit hit points and damage +5%
Bombay Marine Ship train time -30%, train bounty +30%; +1 Hindu Villager
Italians
Card Description Age
Holy League Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleships get the "Deflection" ability, which enables to protect nearby war ships; costs 1,500 coin
Japanese
Card Description Age
TEAM Sengoku Unit upgrades cost -20%
Lakota
Card Description Age
Winter Counts Unit train bounty +40%; building build bounty +20%
Maltese
Card Description Age
TEAM Knights of the Round Table Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; unit hit points +2%
Speronaras Ship speed +10%; Fishing Boat and Order Galley speed +30% instead
Morgan's Flagship Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleship regeneration rate +0.75%; costs 1,500 coin
Mexicans
Card Description Age
TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
Colegio de San Nicolas Delivers 1 Large Collection of Books (500 XP); unit Line of Sight +4; building (except Wall) Line of Sight +8; reveals enemy units' positions for 20 seconds
National Servant Unit (except herded animals) hit points +10%; Padre heal work rate +200%
Imperial Age
Imperial Age
Native Americans
Card Description Age
Water Ceremony Enables Water Ceremony at the Community Plaza
  • "Water Ceremony" is not available to the Lakota.
Ottomans
Card Description Age
Mahmudiye Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleship damage +150%, but ranged attack Rate of Fire +0.5; costs 1,500 coin
Portuguese
Card Description Age
Navigation School War ship cost and train time -20%
Naval Infantry Enables Caravels to train Crossbowmen, Ordinance Riflemen (if available), Pikemen, and Halberdiers; Monitors and Ironclads to train Musketeers, Cassadores, and Grenadiers (if available); Frigates to train all Barracks units; Battleships to train all Barracks units and Grenadiers; Caravels, Frigates, Monitors, Ironclads, and Battleships now tagged as recruiting ships
Nossa Senhora da Conceição Delivers 1 Battleship; enables Battleships to heal other ships; costs 1,500 coin
Russians
Card Description Age
TEAM Cold Water Port War ship cost -15%
Imperator Delivers 1 Battleship; Battleship damage +20%, but hit points -20%; the "1 Battleship" shipment cost -20%; costs 1,000 coin
Spanish
Card Description Age
TEAM Spanish Inquisition Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic unit Line of Sight +10
Armada War ship hit points +20%, Line of Sight +2; enables Caravels to train Barracks units; Frigates to train Stable and Artillery Foundry units; Monitors to train Mortars; Battleships to train Barracks, Stable, and Artillery Foundry units
Nuestras Señoras Delivers 2 Battleships; Battleship train limit +1; costs 2,000 coin
Swedes
Card Description Age
Vasa Delivers 1 Battleship; Frigates and Galleons return 100 coin, and Battleships 200 coin when sunk by enemy unit; costs 1,000 coin
United States
Card Description Age
Indiana Mobilization Delivers 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game, including this one; unit train time, technology research time, Age up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Connecticut Shipwrights War ship train time -50%; building build time -35%; artillery train time -15%, Heavy Cannon train time -10% instead
Imperial Age
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Connecticut Shipwrights" is available upon selecting the Connecticut Federal State.

Changelog[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Battleships have 35 range.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

In-game dialogue[]

The Battleship uses the French Monitor's dialogue files when acquired by Africans, Asians, the Maltese, and Native Americans, while for the British it has its own dialogue files, and for other European civilizations it uses the civilization Monitor's dialogue files. The Battleship acquired by Federal American civilizations does not have dialogue lines and is mute in the game.

Trivia[]

  • The Battleship represents Man-of-War ships, and its model is inspired by the Swedish Vasa warship.
  • It appears in the game's trailer, and was included in the release of the United States DLC as a Scenario Editor unit.
  • Most European civilizations (except the Swedes) have a unique skin after sending their unique Home City Card that ships a Battleship. Hull color changes to black and white and the golden statue at the front of the Battleship changes (originally, all civilizations have a statue of an angel with only one wing).
    • British, Dutch, and Spanish Battleships have a lion.
    • French and German Battleships have an eagle.
    • Italian, Maltese, and Portuguese Battleships keep the angel.
    • Ottoman Battleships have a wolf.
    • Russian Battleships have a bear.

History[]

During the 17th-19th centuries, naval tactics evolved towards a heavy reliance on broadside bombardments. This led warship construction to favor larger vessels with more cannons and greater integrity. The pinnacle of this development was the ship of the line, so named for the "line", a broadside tactic. These early battleships ruled the seas in their heyday, but were gradually superseded by ironclad frigates during the later part of the 19th century.

Gallery[]

Mercenary and outlaw units in Age of Empires III
Mercenaries
Infantry Armored Pistoleer · Arsonist · Askari · Barbary Corsair · Cannoneer · Dahomey Amazon · Fusilier · Giant Grenadier · Highlander · Irish Brigadier · Iron Troop · Jaeger · Landsknecht · Ninja · Pandour · Ronin · Swiss Pikeman · Zouave
Cavalry Black Rider · Bosniak · Elmetto · Gatling Camel · Hackapell · Harquebusier · Jat Lancer · Kanuri Guard · Mameluke · Manchu · Mounted Rifleman · Royal Horseman · Sennar Horseman · Stradiot · Yojimbo · Zenata Rider
Artillery Li'l Bombard · Napoleon Gun · Gatling Camel
Ship Battleship · Privateer · War Dhow · Wokou Junk · Xebec
Outlaws
Infantry African Vagabond · Colonial Looter · Corsair Marksman · Cossack Daredevil · Desert Archer · Desert Warrior · Hajduk · Highwayman · Inquisitor · Marathan Dacoit · Marathan Thuggee · Pistolero · Renegado · Wokou Monk · Wokou Ronin
Shock infantry Pirate · Wokou Pirate
Cavalry Comanchero · Cossack Daredevil · Crabat · Desert Raider · Highwayman · Wokou Horseman
Artillery Captured Mortar
Ship Marathan Catamaran
Federal Americans Desperado · Cuatrero · Bandido · Gunslinger · Cowboy · Owlhoot