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A Crate, also generally called a resource crate, cache, or supply, is a pile of resources in Age of Empires III which can be extracted by villagers (like Settlers and Villagers) extremely fast. There are several types of resource piles with different names. They all have the word "crate" in their name in the Scenario Editor.

Players begin standard games with some crates spawning near their starting Town Centers, and sometimes also from those constructed later. When resources are shipped from the Home City, they nearly always are in the form of crates. Players can gather resources from their own crates as well as from those of other players, including enemies. Unlike other resources, idle villagers automatically collect from crates nearby. This is convenient, as crates can be shipped from the Home City with a few villagers left idle or collecting other crates nearby, and they will start collecting when the new crates arrive, without the player having to manually task them.

The amount of resources in a crate depends on its size and name: the one named tiny have 50, normal ones (without any special prefix) have 100, huge/plentiful usually have 500, though they can also have 400 or 600, while some normal ones may have variant amounts like 85 or 150. Each individual crate can be usually gathered by a maximum of eight units at a time. By default, each Villager or Settler collects resources at the rate of 460/minute, a Coureur des Bois or Cree Coureur des Bois at 600/minute, and a Settler Wagon at 900/minute. Home City Cards like Silk Road and the technology Nanban Trade increase collection rates of specific types of crates.

Food[]

Food supplies are in the form of Tiny Crate of Food, Crates of Food, Huge Crates of Food, Crates of 400 Food, Pile of Wheat, Large Pile of Wheat, Crate of Surströmming, Pile of Squash, Large Pile of Squash, Maya Crops, Delicious Feast, and Huge Delicious Feast. Wheat, squash, and turkey come in amount variants of 100 and 500 only. The Maya Crops always contain 300 food and look identical to Large Pile of Squash.

  • Tiny Crates of Food: 50 food
  • Crates of Food: 85 food
  • Crates of Food: 100 food
  • Crates of 400 Food: 400 food (max. gatherers 6)
  • Huge Crates of Food: 500 food (max. gatherers 7)
  • Huge Crates of Food: 600 food (max. gatherers 7)
  • Delicious Feast: 100 food
  • Huge Delicious Feast: 500 food
  • Pile of Squash: 100 food
  • Large Pile of Squash: 500 food
  • Pile of Wheat: 100 food
  • Large Pile of Wheat: 500 food
  • Maya Crops: 300 food
  • Gift Food: 250 food

Food crates look different for European, Native American/African, and Asian civilizations.

Crate of Surströmming[]

A Crate of Surströmming is unique as it "fattens" over time like herdable animals do. It starts at 100 food and fattens at 1 food/second, with no upper limit. It is only available to the Swedes, and only 10 such crates can be present at a time. It looks identical to the Asian variant of a Huge Crates of Food. Once a player starts to harvest it, its food amount stops increasing.

Wood[]

Wood supplies are in the form of Cords of Wood, Cords of 400 Wood, and Huge Cords of Wood. Like food crates, wood cords also have three regional aesthetic variants: European, Native American/African, and Asian.

  • Cords of Wood: 85 wood
  • Cords of Wood: 100 wood
  • Cords of 400 Wood: 400 wood
  • Huge Cords of Wood: 500 wood
  • Gift Wood: 250 wood

Coin[]

Coin supplies are always in the form of Chests of Coin, Chests of 400 Coin, or Huge Chests of Coin.

Unlike food and wood, chests of coin come in four regional variants, with the Native American and African civilizations having distinct styles of gold chests.

  • Chests of Coin: 85 coin
  • Chests of Coin: 100 coin
  • Chests of 400 Coin: 400 coin
  • Huge Chests of Coin: 500 coin
  • Spanish Treasure Chest: 330 coin
  • Chests of Coin (The Imam*): 150 coin
  • Gift Coin: 250 coin

XP[]

Experience comes in the form of Collection of Books and Large Collection of Books.

Influence[]

Influence for the African civilizations comes in the form of Tokens of Influence, Plentiful Tokens of 400 Influence, and Plentiful Tokens of Influence. The bags seem to contain cowry shells.

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to Crates
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
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)
Shared
Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (300 Food) Crates of 300 Food Delivers 3 Crates of Food
Age I tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (600 Food) Crates of 600 Food Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food and 1 Crates of Food
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (700 Food) Crates of 700 Food Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food and 2 Crates of Food
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (1000 Food) Crates of 1000 Food Delivers 2 Huge Crates of Food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Portuguese Home City 1 (1600 Food) Crates of 1600 Food Delivers 3 Huge Crates of Food and 1 Crates of Food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 1 (1500 FWC Inf) Crates of 500 Food, 500 Wood, and 500 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food, 1 Huge Cords of Wood, and Huge 1 Chests of Coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 1 (300 Wood) Cords of 300 Wood Delivers 3 Cords of Wood
Age I tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (600 Wood) Cords of 600 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 1 Cords of Wood
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (700 Wood) Cords of 700 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 2 Cords of Wood
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (1000 Wood) Cords of 1000 Wood Delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
French Home City 1 (1600 Wood) Cords of 1600 Wood Delivers 3 Huge Cords of Wood and 1 Cords of Wood
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Inca Home City 1 (1200 Wood INF) Cords of 1200 Wood Delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood and 2 Cords of Wood
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 1 (1000 Wood) Cords of 1000 Wood Delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 1 (300 Coin) Chests of 300 Coin Delivers 3 Chests of Coin
Age I tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (600 Coin) Chests of 600 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 1 (700 Coin) Chests of 700 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 2 Chests of Coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 1 (1000 Coin) Chests of 1000 Coin Delivers 2 Huge Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Portuguese Home City 1 (1600 Coin) Chests of 1600 Coin Delivers 3 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Aztec Home City 1 (1000 Coin TEAM) TEAM Chests of 1000 Coin Delivers 2 Huge Chests of Coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "Crates of 600 Food" is not available to the Inca.
  • "Crates of 700 Food" is not available to the Haudenosaunee and Japanese.
  • "Crates of 1000 Food" is not available to the Aztec, Haudenosaunee, Inca, and Ottomans.
  • "Crates of 1600 Food" is available to the Chinese, Dutch, Hausa, Italians, Maltese, Mexicans, Portuguese, Russians, Spanish, Swedes, and United States.
  • "Crates of 500 Food, 500 Wood, and 500 Coin" is available to the Haudenosaunee, and also French upon revolting to Revolutionary France.
  • "Cords of 600 Wood" is not available to the Haudenosaunee, Inca, Indians, and Japanese.
  • "Cords of 700 Wood" is not available to the Haudenosaunee, Inca, and Japanese.
  • "Cords of 1000 Wood" is available to all civilizations.
  • "Cords of 1600 Wood" is available to the Aztecs, Chinese, Dutch, French, Italians, Mexicans, Portuguese, Russians, and Swedes.
  • "Cords of 1200 Wood" is available to the Ethiopians, Hausa, and Inca.
  • "Cords of 1000 Wood" is available to the Russians, and also Mexicans upon revolting to Yucatán.
  • "Chests of 600 Coin" is not available to the Aztecs, Inca, Indians, and Japanese.
  • "Chests of 700 Coin" is not available to the Aztecs, Haudenosaunee, and Japanese.
  • "Chests of 1000 Coin" is not available to the Aztecs, Haudenosaunee, Inca, Japanese, Lakota, Maltese, and Spanish.
  • "Chests of 1600 Coin" is not available to the Aztecs, British, Dutch, French, Germans, Haudenosaunee, Inca, Indians, Japanese, Lakota, Maltese, Ottomans, Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "Chests of 1000 Coin" is available to the Aztecs and Ottomans.
Africans
Card Description Age
Hc infinite tokens of 300 influence Tokens of 300 Influence Delivers 3 Tokens of Influence
Age I tech tree aoe3
Hc tokens of 600 influence Tokens of 600 Influence Delivers 1 Plentyful Tokens of Influence and 1 Tokens of Influence
Age II tech tree aoe3
Hc tokens of 700 influence Tokens of 700 Influence Delivers 1 Plentyful Tokens of Influence and 2 Tokens of Influence
Age II tech tree aoe3
Hc tokens of 1000 influence Tokens of 1000 Influence Delivers 2 Plentyful Tokens of Influence
Age III tech tree aoe3
Hc tokens of 1600 influence Tokens of 1600 Influence Delivers 3 Plentyful Tokens of Influence and 1 Tokens of Influence
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Aztecs
Card Description Age
Aztec Home City 1 (600 Coin) Chests of 600 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
Hc infinite 900 gold Chests of 900 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 4 Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Aztec Home City 1 (1000 Coin) Chests of 1300 Coin Delivers 2 Huge Chests of Coin and 3 Chests of Coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Aztec Home City 1 (600 Coin TEAM) TEAM Chests of 600 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Ethiopians
Card Description Age
Jesuit influence Jesuit Influence Delivers 2 Tokens of 100 Jesuit Influence with every future Home City shipment, including this one
Age II tech tree aoe3
Ge'ez Script Ge'ez Script Delivers 1 Plentyful Tokens of 400 Influence for each mountain monastery present on the map
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Hc gidan sarkin Fasilides' Castle Delivers 1 Palace Builder and 3 Tokens of Influence (300 influence); Palace build limit +1
Age II tech tree aoe3
Europeans
Card Description Age
Finland Home City (Coin Crates) Chests of 1600 Coin Delivers 3 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Revolution
South Africa Home City (Xhosa Foods) Xhosa Foods Delivers 1 Large Pile of Squash and 4 Piles of Squash (900 food), 3 Cows, 3 Goats, 3 Sheep, and 1 Homestead Wagon
Revolution
  • "Chests of 1600 Coin" is available to the Russians and Swedes upon revolting to Finland.
  • "Xhosa Foods" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa.
French
Card Description Age
Revolutionary French Home City (Client States) Client States Delivers 3 Chests of Coin (300 coin) and 5 Revolutionaries for each Trading Post present on the map
Revolution
  • "Client States" is available upon revolting to Revolutionary France.
Haudenosaunee
Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 1 (300 FWC) Crates of 100 Food, 100 Wood, and 100 Coin Delivers 1 Crates of Food, 1 Cords of Wood, and 1 Chests of Coin
Age I tech tree aoe3
Haudenosaunee Home City 1 (800 FWC) Crates of 300 Food, 300 Wood, and 200 Coin Delivers 3 Crates of Food, 3 Cords of Wood, and 2 Chests of Coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 1 (900 FWC) Crates of 300 Food, 300 Wood, and 300 Coin Delivers 3 Crates of Food, 3 Cords of Wood, and 3 Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 1 (1200 FWC) Crates of 400 Food, 400 Wood, and 400 Coin Delivers 4 Crates of Food, 4 Cords of Wood, and 4 Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 1 (1800 FWC) Crates of 600 Food, 600 Wood, and 600 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food, 1 Huge Cords of Wood, Huge 1 Chests of Coin, 1 Crates of Food, 1 Cords of Wood, and 1 Chests of Coin,
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Iroquois Home City 5 (Onodaga Support) Onondaga Support Delivers 14 Tomahawks and 1 Huge Cords of Wood (500 wood); costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Hausa
Card Description Age
Hc infinite tokens of 1000 influence Tokens of 1000 Influence Delivers 2 Plentyful Tokens of Influence
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Hc sokoto chronicle Sokoto Chronicle Delivers 1 Kingdom Builder for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; enables Kingdom Builders to transform into Tokens of Influence
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Hc palace of amina Palace of Amina Delivers 1 Palace Builder and 3 Tokens of Influence (300 influence); Palace build limit +1
Age II tech tree aoe3
Inca
Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 1 (600 Wood) Cords of 600 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 1 Cords of Wood
Age II tech tree aoe3
Inca Home City 1 (TEAM Seasonal Labor) TEAM Seasonal Labor Delivers 2 Villagers, 2 Llamas carrying additional 350 food, and 2 Cords of Wood (200 wood)
Age III tech tree aoe3
Indians
Card Description Age
Indian Home City 1 (900 Wood) Cords of 900 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 4 Cords of Wood, +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 1 (500 Wood) Cords of 500 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood
Age II tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City (900 Wood) Cords of 900 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 4 Cords of Wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 1 (1300 Wood) Cords of 1300 Wood Delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood and 3 Cords of Wood
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 1 (900 Coin) Chests of 900 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 4 Chests of Coin, +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
Italians
Card Description Age
Italian Home City 1 (TEAM Pizza) TEAM Pizza Delivers 1 Crates of Food, 1 Cords of Wood, 1 Chests of Coin, and 1 Collection of Books (100 food, 100 wood, 100 coin, 100 XP)
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese
Card Description Age
Japanese Home City 1 (600 Food) Crates of 600 Food Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food and 1 Crates of Food
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 1 (1000 Food) Crates of 1000 Food Delivers 2 Huge Crates of Food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 1 (600 Wood) Cords of 600 Wood Delivers 1 Huge Cords of Wood and 1 Cords of Wood
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 1 (1000 Wood) Cords of 1000 Wood Delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 1 (600 Coin) Chests of 600 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin and 1 Chests of Coin
Age II tech tree aoe3
Japanese Home City 1 (1000 Coin) Chests of 1000 Coin Delivers 2 Huge Chests of Coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Lakota
Card Description Age
Sioux Home City 1 (600 Food) TEAM Crates of 600 Food Delivers 1 Huge Crates of Food and 1 Crates of Food
Age III tech tree aoe3
Sioux Home City 1 (1000 Food) TEAM Crates of 1000 Food Delivers 2 Huge Crates of Food
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Sioux Home City 5 (Sans Arc Support) Sans Arc Support Delivers 16 Club Warriors and 5 Cords of Wood (500 wood); costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Sioux Home City 5 (Oglala Support) Oglala Support Delivers 14 Cetan Bowmen and 5 Crates of Food (500 food); costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Maltese
Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 1 (Shipping Supplies) Shipping Supplies Delivers 4 Huge Cords of Wood (2,000 wood) the first time sent; delivers 2 Huge Cords of Wood and 3 Cords of Wood (1,300 wood) thereafter
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Mexicans
Card Description Age
Mexican Home City 1 (TEAM Pinatas) TEAM Piñatas Delivers resources at random, the total amount of which depends on the Age this card is sent: 200 at Exploration Age; 400 at Commerce Age; 600 at Fortress Age; 1,000 at Industrial Age; 1,600 at Imperial Age
Age I tech tree aoe3
Mexico card Mexican Mint Mexican Mint Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin (500 coin); villager gather work rate for mine, Estate, Rice Paddy (coin), Field (coin), and Hacienda (coin) +15%; Hacienda auto gather coin work rate for coin +15%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Federal card maya crops Maya Crops All existing and newly constructed Haciendas spawn 1 Maya Crops (300 food)
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas 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
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card panuco waterway Pánuco Waterway Home City crates shipments cost 0, but arrive time +200%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Yucatan Home City (1000 Food INF) Crates of 1000 Food Delivers 2 Huge Crates of Food
Revolution
Aztec Home City 1 (1000 Coin) Chests of 1000 Coin Delivers 2 Huge Chests of Coin
Revolution
Maya Home City (Maya Ceramics) Maya Ceramics Delivers 2 Chests of Coin (200 coin) for each shipment sent so far this game, including this one; grants "Tonalá Ceramics"
Revolution
  • "Maya Crops" is available upon selecting the Chiapas Federal State.
  • "Colegio de San Nicolas" is available upon selecting the Michoacán Federal State.
  • "Pánuco Waterway" is available upon selecting the Tamaulipas Federal State.
  • "Crates of 1000 Food" and "Chests of 1000 Coin" are available upon revolting to Yucatán.
  • "Maya Ceramics" is available upon revolting to the Maya.
  • "TEAM Piñatas" is also available upon revolting to the California.
Ottomans
Card Description Age
Ottoman Home City 1 (Silk Road) Silk Road Crates contain +25% resources; Trade Routes yield +25% resources
Age I tech tree aoe3
Ottoman Home City 1 (TEAM 400 Coin) TEAM Chests of 500 Coin Delivers 1 Huge Chests of Coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Egypt Home City (Flood of the Nile) Flood of the Nile Delivers 4 Citizens; Citizen train limit +4; each Mill spawns 1 Crates of Food (100 food); each Estate spawns 1 Chests of Coin (100 coin); villager gather work rate for Berry Bush, Mill, and Estate +10%
Revolution
  • "Flood of the Nile" is available upon revolting to Egypt.
Spanish
Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 5 (Spanish Gold) Spanish Gold Delivers 1 Spanish Treasure Chest (330 coin) with every future Home City shipment, including this one
Age III tech tree aoe3
Swedes
Card Description Age
Swedish Home City 1 (Sursrtömming) Surströmming Delivers 2 Crates of Surströmming
Age I tech tree aoe3
United States
Card Description Age
US Home City 3 (TEAM Lewis & Clark Expedition) TEAM Lewis & Clark Expedition Delivers 1 Collection of Books (100 XP); reveals all treasures, resources, Trade Routes, and Native settlements, and enemy units' positions for 20 seconds
Age I tech tree aoe3
United States Home City 4 (Washington Lumber Mills) Washington Lumber Mills Delivers 4 Cords of Wood (400 wood); villager gather work rate for tree and Mango Grove +10%
Age II tech tree aoe3
United States Home City 4 (Minneapolis Mills) Minneapolis Mills Delivers 2 Crates of 400 Food (800 food); villager gather work rate for Mill, Farm, Rice Paddy (food), and Hacienda (food) +10%; Hacienda auto gather food work rate for food +10%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Federal card plymouth settlers Plymouth Settlers Delivers 3 Pile of Squash (300 food) and 1 Native Scout; each Town Center and Command Post spawns 3 Pilgrims
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card new jersey seaports New Jersey Seaports Crate shipments from cards are delivered directly into stockpile and deliver +300 additional resources; any resource shipments which have been sent may be sent again
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "Plymouth Settlers" is available upon selecting the Plymouth Federal State.
  • "New Jersey Seaports" is available upon selecting the New Jersey Federal State.

Technologies[]

The following technologies affect Crates:

Description[]

A cache of resources that gatherers can collect very quickly. Crates of Food, Cords of Wood, and Chests of Coin are generally delivered from the Home City to Town Centers or Outposts. They provide resources very quickly, but in a very limited amount. Any player can gather from any crate, which means allies can share them or enemies can steal them if they are left at a Town Center. Guard crates carefully, or better yet, use them as soon as possible!
—In-game compendium section

Trivia[]

  • Export is the only resource in Age of Empires III which does not exist in the form of crates.
  • The icon of the technology Supplies in Age of Empires II shows a very similar-looking food crate.
Resources in Age of Empires series
CommonFood · Wood · Gold/Coin · Stone*
Age of MythologyFavorAOM Favor
Age of Empires IIIResource xp XP · Aoe3 export Export · Aoe3de influence Influence
Age of Empires IVAoE4 Bounty icon Bounty · AoE4 Vizier Point icon Vizier Point · Resource olive oil Olive Oil
Extractable resource sources in the Age of Empires series
CommonTree · Gold Mine · Stone Mine· Berry Bush · Farm (I · II · M · III · IV) · Animals (Fish · Herdable animal)
Age of Empires IIFish trap aoe2DE Fish Trap · Oysters Chronicles Oysters
Age of MythologyAoMR Dwarven Mine icon Dwarven Mine · AoM Gold Mine icon Jade Mine
Age of Empires IIICherry orchard portrait aoe3de Cherry Orchard · Coal mine portrait Coal Mine · Copper mine portrait Copper Mine · Food crate icon AoE3DE Crate · Gold mine portrait Diamond Mine · Plantation aoe3de Estate · Field portrait aoe3de Field · Hacienda portrait Hacienda · MangoGroveDE Mango Grove · Mill aoe3de Mill · China rice paddy icon aoe3de Rice Paddy · Rock supply icon AoE3DE Rock · Gold mine portrait Salt Mine · Silver Mine icon AoE3DE Silver Mine · Gold mine portrait Tin Mine
Age of Empires IVAoE4 OliveGrove Olive Grove
* not used in Age of Mythology and Age of Empires III
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