Civilization (Age of Empires III)

This article is about the civilizations in Age of Empires III. For the civilizations in the other games of the series, see Civilization.

The major civilizations of Age of Empires III number fourteen in total. In the single-player campaign and throughout most maps, they are complemented by the introduction of native minor civilizations that players can access using Trading Posts.

Multiple civilizations trick

It is possible to assign the same civilization to several AIs in single player skirmish with the following trick:

First choose the number of players and pick the civilization of the last AI;
Then decrease by one the number of players and pick the civilization of the last slot again;
Repeat until there are two players;
Then put the number of players back to what it was originally; the slots will all contain the civilization that was chosen.

Age of Empires III

British

Civilization bonus: Have Manor Houses, which replace normal Houses and spawn Settlers when built. Good economy in early game and reliable backbone units — Musketeers and Hussars.
Unique units: Longbowman, Rocket
Royal Guard units: Redcoat Musketeer, King's Life Guard Hussar
Home City: London

See also: British Home City Cards

Dutch

Civilization bonus: Villagers cost coin, can build unique buildings called Banks which generate coins. Cheap, population-efficient but decent light cavalry — the Ruyter.
Unique units: Envoy, Ruyter, Fluyt
Royal Guard units: Nassau Halberdier, Carabineer Ruyter
Home City: Amsterdam

See also: Dutch Home City Cards

French

Civilization bonus: Have Coureur des Bois, which replace normal Settlers and gather and fight better than the latter. Also has the strongest cavalry unit (excluding elephants) in the game — the Cuirassier.
Unique units: Coureur des Bois, Cuirassier
Royal Guard units: Gendarme Cuirassier, Voltigeur Skirmisher
Home City: Paris

See also: French Home City Cards

Germans

File:Germanflag.png

Civilization bonus: Receive free Uhlans with every Home City shipment, has an extra type of Settler — Settler Wagons — which gathers and fights better, Mercenaries are available earlier and they have more shipment cards of them.
Unique units: Uhlan, Settler Wagon, Doppelsoldner, War Wagon
Royal Guard units: Needle Gunner Skirmisher, Czapka Uhlan
Home City: Berlin

See also: German Home City Cards

Ottomans

Civilization bonus: Town Centers spawn Villagers for free. Has a wide variety of artillery units including the strongest one in game — the Great Bombard. Also has a reliable backbone infantry unit, the Janissary.
Unique units: Imam, Abus Gun, Janissary, Spahi, Galley, Great Bombard
Royal Guard units: Baractu Grenadier, Gardener Hussar
Home City: Istanbul

See also: Ottoman Home City Cards

Portuguese

Civilization bonus: Extra Covered Wagon for every Age advanced, Explorer has ability to use Spyglass, extra Explorers from Home City shipments.
Unique units: Cassador, Organ Gun
Royal Guard units: Guerreiro Musketeer, Jinete Dragoon
Home City: Lisbon

See also: Portuguese Home City Cards

Russians

Civilization bonus: Villagers and infantry are trained in groups, cheap military units great for overwhelming other players with their large armies, has Blockhouses instead of Outposts and Barracks, which combines the functions of both.
Unique units: Strelet, Cossack, Oprichnik
Royal Guard units: Pavlov Grenadier, Tartar Cavalry Archer
Home City: St. Petersburg

See also: Russian Home City Cards

Spanish

Civilization bonuses: Experience points are earned faster. Home City shipments also arrive faster.
Unique units: Lancer, Rodelero, Missionary, War Dog
Royal Guard units: Garrochista Lancer, Espada Rodelero, Tercio Pikeman
Home City: Seville

See also: Spanish Home City Cards

The WarChiefs

All military units of The WarChiefs civilizations are unique, with the exceptions of Canoes and War Canoes.

Iroquois

War Chief bonus: Boosts hit points of nearby units.
Civilization bonus: Have Travois, and start with one in the beginning of the game that can build most buildings for free. The Iroquois also have a unique Founder Dance in the Fire Pit which spawns Travois.
War Council: Caughnawaga
Most prominent units: Tomahawk, Light Cannon

See also: Iroquois Home City Cards

Sioux

War Chief bonus: Boosts speed of nearby units.
Civilization bonus: Start with 200 population capacity in the beginning of game. Have unique Teepees, which the player can only build up to ten (exception when a special card is sent) to provide a little health bonus to nearby friendly units.
War Council: Hunkpapa
Most prominent units: Dog Soldier, Rifle Rider

See also: Sioux Home City Cards

Aztecs

War Chief bonus: Doubles experience gained in combat by nearby units.
Civilization bonus: Have Warrior Priests that can heal or count as two people at the Fire Pit. Start with one Warrior Priest. Except ordinary War Hut, Nobles' Hut also acts as a Blockhouse, but with a longer range.
Home City: Tenochtitlan
Most prominent Units: Skull Knight, Jaguar Prowl Knight

See also: Aztec Home City Cards

The Asian Dynasties

All military units of The Asian Dynasties civilizations are unique, with the exceptions of Monitors and all Indian ships.

Chinese

Civilization bonus: Have Villages instead of Houses which supports twice the population than the latter, and has migration cards that allow them to spawn one Villager at each Town Center and Village. Trains infantry and cavalry in groups called banner army. Only get one Monk at the start of the game, along with a Disciple. Build Wonders to advance in Age. Build Consulates to influence foreign intervention.
Home City: Beijing
Most prominent units: Iron Flail, Flamethrower

See also: Chinese Home City Cards

Indians

Civilization bonus: Villagers cannot kill livestock for food, but can build unique buildings called Sacred Field which livestock can be stationed to generate XP. There are no Villager cards, but they receive free Villagers with every Home City shipments. All Villagers trained from the Town Center cost wood instead of food. Build Wonders to advance in Age. Build Consulates to influence foreign intervention.
Home City: Delhi
Most prominent units: Mahout Lancer, Sepoy

See also: Indian Home City Cards

Japanese

Civilization bonus: Have Shrines, which replace normal Houses and generate resources. Villagers cannot hunt animals for food, but can build Shrines next to wild animals to increase the resource trickle rate. As a special advantage, most cards in the Japanese Home City may be sent twice. Build Wonders to advance in Age. Build Consulates to influence foreign intervention.
Home City: Edo
Most prominent units: Samurai, Daimyo

See also: Japanese Home City Cards