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Heavy cavalry armed with a lance. Good against infantry.
—In-game description

The Elmetto (Elmeti before Knights of the Mediterranean) is a mercenary heavy cavalry in Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs. It is identical in role and performance to the Lancer.

Overview[]

The Elmetto has lower base damage than other cavalry, such as the Hackapell and the Stradiot, but it has a large attack bonus against infantry. It can kill most infantry in just one hit, and if there are many, the Elmetto can devastate an army of enemy infantry. Despite having a multiplier against heavy infantry, they must be used with caution and should not be pitched against an army of heavy infantry, because the heavy infantry are much cheaper and more expendable so will likely outnumber the Elmetto. Heavy infantry are reasonably effective against Elmetti, especially by the Industrial Age when Elmetti are available. Elmetti should not be fielded against enemy cavalry as they are inferior in direct battle.

With a 1,000 hit points and a very high attack of 120 against infantry, players should use Elmetti as they would use (Jat) Lancers. Despite their low speed, they massacre nearly everything that gets in their way, and players should produce them instead of Hussars if possible. Available by shipment in the Industrial Age, six of them can greatly influence a battle. Although they are tough, Agents/Assassins/Spies/Ninjas or any type of cavalry will kill them with relative ease.

The Elmetto is more powerful and slower than other typical lancer units. Compared to the Tokala Soldier, it is much slower and has less attack but is more powerful versus infantry and is more durable. Compared to the mass-produced Spanish Lancer, the Elmetto surpasses them in all aspects except for speed. Compared to the Jat Lancer, it is much better, considering their similar price. The Elmetto has higher stats in every category than the Jat Lancer except for 10% less resistance and 1.0 less speed.

Civilization differences[]

Revolutions[]

  • Argentina has the "Hire Italian Elmetti" card, which ships 6 Elmetti. However, if revolting from the Germans, it still ships 7 Elmetti for them.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Infantry, artillery
Weak vs. Heavy infantry, light ranged cavalry, ranged shock infantry, MercType2
Improvements
Hit points Cavalry Cuirass Cavalry Cuirass (+10%)
Comanche Horse Breeding Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Pillage Pillage (+25% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings)
Wind horses Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Resistance Kapikulu Corps Kapikulu Corps (+10% hand resistance; Ottomans only)
Sudanese quilted armor Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Speed Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Wind horses Wind Horses (+0.5)
Train time Cheyenne Horse Trading Cheyenne Horse Trading (-40%)
Mass Cavalry Mass Cavalry (-35%)
Terror Charge Terror Charge (-20%; Indians only)
Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Shaman drums Shaman Drums (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Africans only)
Wallensteins Contracts Wallenstein's Contracts (-10%; Germans only)
Cost Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Wallensteins Contracts Wallenstein's Contracts (-15%; Germans only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Yemeni Relations Yemeni Relations (exchanges cost for 50% coin, 50% influence; Ethiopians only)
Other Multinationalism Multinationalism (ships 8 random European mercenaries)
Wallensteins Contracts Wallenstein's Contracts (-50% mercenary shipments cost; Germans only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Elmetto
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)

All[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Damage) Cavalry Damage Cavalry get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Hitpoints) Cavalry Hitpoints Cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Cavalry get +15% hit points and damage
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Caballeros) Caballeros Lance cavalry get +1.0 hand attack bonus damage against infantry and +1 hand attack range
Age III tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 3 (Liberation March) Liberation March Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +5% speed and -35% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Riding School) Riding School Cavalry train time -40%; Cuirassier and Oprichnik train time -35% instead; Gatling Camel train time -20% instead (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
Baja California Home City (Outlaw Combat) Outlaw Combat Outlaws and mercenaries get +15% hit points and damage (costs 500 coin for Baja California)
Revolution
  • "Cavalry Damage" is available to the British and Lakota.
  • "Cavalry Hitpoints" is available to the British and Haudenosaunee.
  • "Cavalry Combat" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Lakota, Mexicans, Ottomans, Russians, and Spanish.
  • "Caballeros" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish, and also Germans and Italians upon revolting to Argentina.
  • "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.
  • "Riding School" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese and Spanish) and Indians.
  • "Outlaw Combat" is available to the Mexicans upon revolting to Baja California and Europeans upon revolting to the Barbary States, Hungary, and Mexico.

Africans[]

Card Description Age
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Loyal warriors Loyal Warriors Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15% (also affects shipments)
Age III tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except monks) train time -20%; Heavy Cannon, Flying Crow, and Summer Palace banner army spawn time -5%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 5 (Dutch States Army) Dutch States Army Mercenary train time -15% and shipments arrive time -20%; mercenaries (except Napoleon Guns and Li'l Bombards) get +7% speed; Highlanders can be trained at Barracks, Royal Horsemen at Stables, and both at the Tavern; Pikemen, Halberdiers, Skirmishers, Hussars, and Ruyters cost +10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 5 (Mediterranean Mercenary Army) Hire Mediterranean Mercenary Army Delivers 1 Li'l Bombard, 3 Elmetti, and 4 Zouaves; costs 2,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 5 (Hire Elmeti) Hire Italian Elmetti Delivers 6 Elmetti; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Blandengues Blandengues Hand cavalry cost -20%
Revolution
Loyal warriors Loyal Warriors Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15%; "TEAM 4 Zenata Rider", "Recruit Xebec", "Recruit Xebecs", and "15 Berber Allies" cost no coin
Revolution
United States Home City 2 (Georgia Hussars) Junín Hussars Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry get +5% speed and -30% train time (only get -20% train time if stacked with "Liberation March")
Revolution
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land military units and land villagers get +5% hit points; land villagers and construction wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
  • "Hire Mediterranean Mercenary Army" is available to the British, French, Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, Portuguese, and Spanish.
  • "Hire Italian Elmetti" is available to the Germans (with +1 extra Elmetto), Portuguese, and Spanish, and also Italians upon revolting to Argentina.
  • For the Germans upon revolting to Argentina, the "Hire Italian Elmetti" card still sends 7 Elmetti.
  • "Blandengues" is available to the Germans, Italians, and Spanish upon revolting to Argentina.
  • "Loyal Warriors" is available to the Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, and Portuguese upon revolting to the Barbary States.
  • "Junín Hussars" is available to the Portuguese and Spanish upon revolting to Peru.
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
Revolutionary French Home City (Cult of the Supreme Being) Cult of the Supreme Being The player gains +10% XP from training units and other players receive -10% XP from defeating them; Sansculottes gather resources from Crates 50% faster; food from Berry Bushes and Cherry Orchards 25% faster; wood from trees and Mango Groves and coin from mines 20% faster; food from huntable and Herded animals, Mills, Farms and coin from Estates 15% faster
Revolution

Germans[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% damage; Germans-only heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% damage instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
German Home City 3 (Spanish Riding School) Spanish Riding School Cavalry get +10% speed; +4 Uhlans
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
German Home City 5 (Improved Mercenaries) Improved Mercenaries Mercenaries get +15% hit points and damage
Age III tech tree aoe3
German Home City 5 (Adler von Lübeck) Adler von Lübeck Delivers 1 Battleship and 1 Privateer; Battleships can train mercenaries; costs 900 food, 900 wood, 900 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the Italian "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

Hausa[]

Card Description Age
Hausa Home City Cards 5 (Sahelian Kingdoms) Sahelian Kingdoms Native warriors get +15% hit points and damage; mercenaries and outlaws get +10% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (Road Building) Road Building Land military units get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% all melee attack damage; Rajputs get +20% all melee attack damage instead; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry get +10% damage; Italian-only heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% damage instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
Italian Home City 2 (Schiavoni Swords) Schiavoni Swords Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% all melee attack damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Cavalry Attack" does not stack with the German "TEAM Cavalry Attack" card.

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +5% speed, +10 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military unit train time -20%, artillery and banner army train time -10% instead
Age III tech tree aoe3

Lakota[]

Card Description Age
Sioux Home City 1 (Morning Star) Morning Star Temporarily reveals all enemies and treasures; Axe Riders can loot treasures for double the resources or XP; hand cavalry get +2.0 attack bonus damage against treasure guardians
Age II tech tree aoe3
Sioux Home City 2 (Mustangs) TEAM Mustangs Cavalry and shock infantry cost -10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post build; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 3 (Squires) Squires Military buildings train and research work 80% faster, except Forts which train and research work 260% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexico card Plan of Casa Mata Plan of Casa Mata Turns all Dragoons into Chinacos; hand cavalry get +5% speed; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 2 (TEAM Mariachi) TEAM Mariachi For the next 30 seconds, military buildings work 400% faster and units get +10% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card colegio de san nicolas Colegio de San Nicolás Delivers Large Collection of Books (500 XP); units get +4 and buildings (except Walls) get +8 Line of Sight; sees what enemies can see for 20 seconds
Age II tech tree aoe3
Federal card national servant National Servant All units get +10% hit points; Padre healing 200% faster
Imperial Age

Russians[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Hitpoints) Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Attack Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Swedish Home City 5 (German Mercenary Contracts) German Mercenary Contracts Mercenaries get +20% hit points and damage; Jaegers and Landsknechts can be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns, and Galleons; Black Riders can be trained at Stables and Galleons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

United States[]

Card Description Age
US Home City 5 (Poker) Poker Delivers 13 random mercenaries; adds up to 3 random mercenaries to training at the Saloon; costs 3,500 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Federal card indiana mobilization Indiana Mobilization Delivers 1 Carbine Cavalry for each shipment sent so far this game including this one; unit train time (except Heavy Cannons), technology research time, and age-up time -10%; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
Federal card hamilton's own Hamilton's Own Delivers 4 Napoleon Guns and 2 Li'l Bombards; mercenary get +25% hit points and damage; costs 2,500 coin
Imperial Age
Federal card seminole ponies Seminole Ponies Delivers 9 Hussars; hand cavalry get +15% hit points and damage, and +5% speed; cavalry train time -10%
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Hamilton's Own" is available upon selecting the New York Federal State.
  • "Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Riding School) Riding School Cavalry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
  • "Riding School" is available to Europeans and Indians.

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' (except monks, Heavy Cannon, Flying Crow, and Summer Palace banner army) train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Cavalry get +15% hit points and damage
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 5 (Hire Elmeti) Hire Italian Elmetti Delivers 6 Elmetti; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10
  • "Cavalry Combat" is available to the Dutch, Ottomans, and Russians.
  • "Hire Italian Elmetti" is available to the Germans (with +1 extra Elmetto), Portuguese, and Spanish.

French[]

Card Description Age HC level
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry and Coyote Runners get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Germans[]

Card Description Age HC level
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack Heavy cavalry, light ranged cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% damage
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
German Home City 3 (Spanish Riding School) Spanish Riding School Cavalry get +10% speed; +4 Uhlans
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
German Home City 5 (Improved Mercenaries) Improved Mercenaries Mercenaries get +20% hit points and damage
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% all melee attack damage; +1 Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and damage
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Japanese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Japanese Home City 3 (Cheaper Unit Upgrades) TEAM Cheaper Unit Upgrades Unit upgrades cost -20%
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
TEAM Cavalry Line of Sight legacy TEAM Cavalry Scouts Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
1

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Hand cavalry get +15% hit points and damage
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Robber Knight[]

The Robber Knight is a Treasure guardian variant of the Elmetto. It uses slightly modified stats from the base unit.

Changelog[]

3WCIcon48px The WarChiefs[]

  • The unit is named Elmeti.

3ADIcon48px The Asian Dynasties[]

  • Due to a bug, the Repentant Elmeti can be trained in the Fortress Age.

Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition[]

Age3DE Icon Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • The unit is renamed to Elmetto.

In-game dialogue[]

The Elmetto speaks Italian, which is also shared with the Li'l Bombard.

History[]

The Elmeti were non-noble knights of Italy. Their name is derived form the Italian term for helmet, referring to the headgear they wore along with their finely crafted plate armor. The Elmeti fought in a series of skirmishes between Italy and other European states during the latter half of the fifteenth century. One key battle occurred in 1487 at Ponte di Crevola, where the Milanese army, led by Trivulzio, defeated Swiss forces in a battle that foreshadowed nearly a half century of further European encroaches into Italy - a period now known as the Italian Wars.

Trivia[]

  • The Elmetto was planned to be a unique heavy cavalry unit for the Italians in the original Age of Empires III. When the civilization was cut, it became a mercenary unit instead.
  • The Elmetto was planned to be the Italians' unique heavy cavalry unit in the Knights of the Mediterranean expansion for the Definitive Edition, and art assets were produced for Veteran, Guard, and Imperial versions. It ultimately became the Papal Lancer, which uses a new skin for what was going to be the Guard horse and Imperial rider models. The Robber Knight treasure guardian uses the Veteran horse and Guard rider models.

Gallery[]

Mercenary and outlaw units in Age of Empires III
Aoe3 unit type mercenary Mercenaries
InfantryMercenary armored pistoleer portrait Armored Pistoleer · Arsonist aoe3de Arsonist · Askari aoe3de portrait Askari · Corsair de Barbary Corsair · Cannoneer portrait aoe3de Cannoneer · Dahomey amazon aoe3de portrait Dahomey Amazon · Fusilier de Fusilier · Mercenary giant grenadier portrait Giant Grenadier · Highlander de Highlander · Mercenary irish brigade portrait Irish Brigadier · Iron troop aoe3de Iron Troop · Jaeger portrait aoe3de updated Jaeger · Landsknecht de Landsknecht · Ninja de Ninja · Mercenary pandour portrait Pandour · Ronin de Ronin · Swiss pikeman aoe3de Swiss Pikeman · Zouave icon aoe3de Zouave
CavalryBlack rider aoe3de Black Rider · Mercenary bosniak rider portrait Bosniak · Elmeti aoe3de Elmetto · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel · Hackapell aoe3de Hackapell · Harquebusier icon Harquebusier · Jat lancer de Jat Lancer · Kanuri guard aoe3de portrait Kanuri Guard · Mameluke aoe3de Mameluke · Manchu de Manchu · Mercenary mounted rifleman portrait Mounted Rifleman · Mercenary royal horseman portrait Royal Horseman · Sennar horseman aoe3de portrait Sennar Horseman · Stradiot aoe3de Stradiot · Yojimbo aoe3de Yojimbo · Zenata rider aoe3de portrait Zenata Rider
ArtilleryLil bombard aoe3de Li'l Bombard · Napoleon gun icon aoe3de Napoleon Gun · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel
ShipBattleship portrait Battleship · Privateer aoe3de Privateer · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow · Wokou junk aoe3de Wokou Junk · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Outlaws
InfantryAfrican vagabond portrait African Vagabond · Colonial looter portrait Colonial Looter · Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman · Cossack daredevil portrait Cossack Daredevil · Dacoit aoe3de Dacoit · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Hajduk portrait Hajduk · Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman · Inquisitor portrait Inquisitor · Pistolero aoe3de Pistolero · Renegado aoe3de Renegado · Thuggee aoe3de Thuggee · Blind monk aoe3de Wokou Monk · Wayward ronin aoe3de Wokou Ronin
Shock infantryPirate aoe3de Pirate · Wokou pirate aoe3de Wokou Pirate
CavalryComanchero icon aoe3de Comanchero · Mounted cossack daredevil portrait Cossack Daredevil · Crabat portrait Crabat · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Highwayman mounted portrait Highwayman · Wokou horseman aoe3de Wokou Horseman
ArtilleryCaptured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar
ShipCatamaran aoe3de Marathan Catamaran
Federal AmericansDesperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido · Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
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