Caroleans have a lower base damage on their ranged attack, but a quicker rate of fire, which makes them do the same amount of damage per second as the European Musketeer. They have a stronger hand attack when compared to most of Musketeer-type units, even Janissaries and Sepoys, but their hand attack does not have a multiplier against cavalry or shock infantry. Instead, Caroleans have a multiplier against heavy cavalry and shock infantry on their ranged attack. They cost less food and more coin compared to regular Musketeers, and also move slightly faster.
Caroleans become very effective upon reaching the Fortress Age and Industrial Age, due to the availability of upgrades through Home City Cards. They can get 15 range through the Snaplock card, which is the highest range for a Musketeer-type unit, beating the Regular (14 range) and Tomahawk (gets 14 range through Lacrosse). They also gain more attack bonus against heavy cavalry and shock infantry through the Platoon Fire card. The Svea Lifeguard card provides 15% hit points and also converts the hand resistance to ranged resistance. With all of the upgrade cards and Arsenal upgrades combined, they become one of the strongest late-game Musketeer units in the game, similar to the Ashigaru Musketeer.
They have a unique Carolean Charge ability that increases their speed for a limited time and locks them on melee mode, which can be used to perform a surprise attack, especially against light infantry, or to catch units that are trying to flee or to retreat from an unfavorable fight.
Special ability[]
Carolean Charge: For the next 8 seconds, all Caroleans have their speed increased by 1 but are locked into Melee Mode. 90 seconds cooldown; shared across all Caroleans.
Blockhouse build limit +4; enables Imperial upgrades for Caroleans, Hakkapelits, Rekruts, and Cavalry Archers (as well as Counter Dragoons and Counter Jaegers, after sending "Grand Duchy of Finland" Home City Card); Imperial Caroleans, Drabants, Rekruts, Counter Dragoons, and Counter Jaegers cost -50%; costs 500 coin
"Armfelt's Autonomy" is available upon revolting to Finland.
Originally, Caroleans had 20 hand damage. With update 5208, they have 19 hand damage.
Originally, Caroleans gained additional speed when switching to their melee mode. Update 5208 introduced the Carolean Charge ability, which grants all Caroleans +1 speed and locks them into melee mode for 8 seconds. The ability has a 90 second global cooldown.
Originally, Caroleans had 14 ranged damage and a 2.0 ranged Rate of Fire. With update 3552, Caroleans have 19 ranged damage and a 2.5 ranged Rate of Fire.
Originally, Caroleans had a ×1.5 ranged attack multiplier against cavalry. With update 3552, they have a ×1.5 ranged attack multiplier against heavy cavalry and light ranged cavalry. With update 13088, they no longer have a multiplier against light cavalry.
Originally, Caroleans had a ×1.3 ranged attack multiplier against shock infantry. With update 3552, they have a ×1.3 ranged attack multiplier against hand shock infantry.
Originally, Caroleans had no multipliers against ranged shock infantry. With update 3552, they have a ×1.3 ranged attack multiplier against ranged shock infantry. With update 5208, they have a ×1.5 ranged attack multiplier against ranged shock infantry. With update 13088, they no longer have a multiplier against ranged shock infantry.
Originally, Caroleans had 10 range, gained +1 range from Veteran, Guard, and Imperial upgrades, gained +4 range from the Snaplock card, and gained a +1.0x multiplier against heavy cavalry from the Platoon Fire card. With update 13088, they have 12 range, gain no range from Veteran, Guard, and Imperial upgrades, gain +3 range from the Snaplock card, gain a +0.7x multiplier against heavy cavalry from the Platoon Fire card.
Originally, Carolean's in-game description was "Swedish Musketeer that fires quickly and counters Cavalry from range instead of at melee distance. Can charge quickly with his sword equipped. Good in melee combat." With a later update, Carolean's in-game description is "Swedish Musketeer that fires quickly and counters cavalry from range. Can charge quickly with his sword equipped. Good in melee combat."
Although it is not listed in the patch notes, with update 13.10442, Caroleans have a ×0.8 hand attack multiplier against rifle infantry.
With update 14.43676, Caroleans cost 65 food, 40 coin and negative hand damage multiplier against rifle infantry changed to light infantry. The unit's image from the Compendium section was updated. The Carolean's musket no longer shows a knife bayonet.
Trivia[]
The Carolean is based on the Gustavus Adolphus period Swedish Army, particularly as seen in the artwork for "Swedish Infantry" miniatures by Revell.
The Veteran and Guard variants are both based on Great Northern War period Swedish Army.
The Imperial Carolean is based on Napoleonic Wars period Uniform m/1802.
History[]
“
Under Charles XI and Charles XII, the army of the Swedish Empire underwent a series of reforms geared towards creating a more effective military to compete with neighboring rivals with greater populations and more productive land. The result of this quality-over-quantity approach was the creation of the Caroleans, an elite force known for their iconic blue and yellow uniforms. Carolean infantry were primarily musketeers, but were also equipped with a variety of additional weapons such as pikes, swords, bayonets, and even grenades. This made them exceedingly versatile military units, and, combined with their aggressive disposition, won them many victories. Although exceedingly effective and capable of overcoming numerical disadvantages, the small size of the Carolean army made it vulnerable in wars of attrition.
”
—In-game history section
Gallery[]
Carolean image from the Compendium section since update 14.43676
Carolean image from the Compendium section, before update 14.43676
Carolean Charge: For the next 8 seconds, all Caroleans have their speed increased by 1 but are locked into Melee Mode. 90 seconds cooldown; shared across all Caroleans.
Veteran Caroleans
Guard Caroleans
Imperial Caroleans
Flint Lock (+10%)
Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar Kilns (+5%)
Paper Cartridge (+15%)
Smokeless Powder (+10%)
Armatoloi (+5%)
Yoga (+5%)
Socket Bayonet (+20% hand attack)
Clenched Fist (+10% hand attack)
Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Military Drummers (+10%)
Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance (+5%)
Town Watch (+3)
Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Standing Army (-25%)
Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants (-10%)
Jagiellonian Legacy (delivers 10 Caroleans if The King's Musketeer was chosen for the Swedes)
Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
TEAM Senegalese Riflemen
TEAM Grenadier Guards
TEAM Yongle Infrastructure
TEAM Infantry Hitpoints
TEAM Coffee Consumption
Allotment System
TEAM Scout Infantry
TEAM Inca Bridges
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics
TEAM Sengoku
TEAM Knights of the Round Table
TEAM Mariachi
TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints
Ransack
TEAM Spanish Inquisition
8 Caroleans
10 Caroleans
TEAM House of Bernadotte
Platoon Fire
16 Caroleans
9 Caroleans
Snaplock
Svea Lifeguard
Fencing School
Armfelt's Autonomy
