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This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For the unit in Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas, see Envoy (Age of Empires II).

Dutch reconnaissance unit with a good line that benefits from villager upgrades.
—In-game description

The Envoy is a scout unit in Age of Empires III that is unique to the Dutch and can be trained at the Town Center and by the Explorer. In standard random map games, Dutch players start with an Envoy alongside their Explorer.

Overview[]

Intended for early-game scouting, the Envoy is much like the Native Scout, having higher line of sight, but slower movement and lacking stealth ability. Envoys are primarily used for scouting and exploration, since they are not strong military units and have a wide line of sight. They are useful in the start of the game, since they can be used in the first age, to explore the map and scout out enemy towns. They are not very useful later in the game, with the exception of checking up on the enemy and uncovering stealth units. Their cheap cost provides an effective early warning against impending attacks, although they will usually die in the process.

Envoys have temporary ×0.5 attack multipliers against heroes and villagers in the Exploration Age.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Nothing
Weak vs. Everything
Improvements
Hit points Nootka Bark Clothing Nootka Bark Clothing (+15%)
Eastern Medicine Eastern Medicine (+10%; Asians only)
Frontiersmen Frontiersmen (+10%; Federal Americans only)
Great Coat Great Coat (+10%; Europeans only)
Spirit Medicine Spirit Medicine (+10%; Native Americans only)
Tribal Societies Tribal Societies (+7%; Africans only)
Apache Cactus Use Apache Cactus Use (+5%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Blunderbuss Blunderbuss (+2; Europeans only)
Eastern Medicine Eastern Medicine (+1; Asians only)
Spirit Medicine Spirit Medicine (+1; Native Americans only)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Royal Hunters Royal Hunters (+3; Africans only)
Frontiersmen Frontiersmen (+2; Federal Americans only)
Eastern Medicine Eastern Medicine (+2; Asians only)
Spirit Medicine Spirit Medicine (+2; Native Americans only)
Blunderbuss Blunderbuss (+1; Europeans only)
Speed Apache Cactus Use Apache Cactus Use (+5%)
Tribal Societies Tribal Societies (+3%; Africans only)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Envoy
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 3 (Alpaca Wool) Alpaca Wool Villagers get +50% hit points and +30% resistance; units affected by villager upgrades get +15% hit points and +10% resistance
Age I tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Pioneers) Pioneers Villagers get +65% hit points; units affected by villager upgrades get +20% hit points (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
Iroquois Home City 3 (Warrior Culture) Warrior Culture Villagers get +20 attack, and now attack enemies automatically; units affected by villager upgrades get +3 attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "Alpaca Wool" is available to the Inca, and also Portuguese and Spanish upon revolting to Peru.
  • "Pioneers" is available to Asians (except the Japanese), Europeans (except the Italians), Federal Americans, and Native Americans (except the Inca).
  • "Warrior Culture" is available to the Mexicans (upon revolting to the Maya) and Native Americans (except the Inca).

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Chinese Home City 1 (TEAM Yongle Infrastructure) TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Ships 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villagers, healing units, Envoys, and Disciples get +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
  • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 1 (3 Envoys) TEAM Orangists Ships 3 Envoys
Age I tech tree aoe3
Dutch Home City 1 (Peace of Munster) Peace of Münster Ships 2 Envoys; Envoys can build Trading Posts, Barracks, Stables, and Artillery Foundries
Age I tech tree aoe3
Dutch Home City 4 (Dutch East Indian Company) Dutch East India Company Envoys can build Banks; Banks get +100% hit points and -15% cost
Age I tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Shiftas Shiftas Villagers get +35% hit points; outlaws get +15% hit points and take -1 population; units affected by villager upgrades get +10% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3
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
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land units get +5% hit points; land villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.

Hausa[]

Card Description Age
Hc dambe wrestling Dambe Wrestling Villagers get +50% hit points and -33% hand attack Rate of Fire, but their ranged attack now have a minimum range of 8; units affected by villager upgrades get +15% hit points and -33% hand attack Rate of Fire
Age I tech tree aoe3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Ships 1 Chasqui; infantry, villagers, healing units, and Envoys get +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians[]

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

Italians[]

Card Description Age
Italian Home City 3 (Florentine Football) Florentine Football Settlers get +40% hit points and hand attack, and +25% speed; units affected by villager upgrades get +10% hit points and hand attack, and +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Japanese Home City 3 (Pioneers) TEAM Jujutsu Villagers get +35% hit points; Surgeons, Priests, Architects, Native Scouts, and Envoys get +20% attack; Disciples and Shaolin Masters get +10% attack; units affected by villager upgrades get +10% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3

Maltese[]

Card Description Age
Maltese Home City 2 (TEAM Knights of the Round Table) TEAM Knights of the Round Table Ships 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center owned by the player; all units get +2% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
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 Ships 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

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

United States[]

Card Description Age
US Home City 5 (French Immigrants) French Immigrants [Immigrant] Ships 3 Coureur des Bois; villagers get +35% hit points, +100% ranged attack, +0.5 speed, and now resist ranged attacks; units affected by villager upgrades get +10% hit points and speed; costs 225 wood
Age I tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
40

Dutch[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dutch Home City 1 (3 Envoys) TEAM 3 Envoys Ships 3 Envoys
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Indians[]

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

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

Age of Empires III[]

  • Envoys have a train time of 30 seconds and the in-game description is "Dutch reconnaissance unit with a good line of sight but weak attack."

Definitive Edition[]

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 13.12327, Envoys benefit from villager upgrades.
  • With update 13.27885, Envoys get temporary ×0.5 multipliers against heroes and villagers in the Exploration Age and the in-game description is "Dutch reconnaissance unit with a good line that benefits from villager upgrades."

History[]

Envoys are agents of a government dispatched on diplomatic missions. George Washington served as an envoy to the French with the mission of determining their military strength in the Ohio River Valley and letting the French know that the British wanted them to retreat from the area. He was leading a ragtag group of soldiers to support the construction of Fort Necessity in the valley when his command ran across a small French army. Washington's men killed 10 Frenchmen, including another French envoy carrying a message to the British. Killing an envoy was a breach of military etiquette. This brief exchange was the first in what became the French and Indian War.

Gallery[]

Civilian units in Age of Empires III
General
AllFishing ship aoe3de Fishing Boat · Settler aoe3de Settler · Covered wagon aoe3de Covered Wagon/Town Travois/Town Rickshaw/Town Center Builder · Outpost wagon aoe3de Trading Post Wagon, Lakota trading post aoe3de Trading Post Travois, and Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Trading Post Rickshaw · Outpost wagon aoe3de Dock Rickshaw/Dock Wagon/Dock Travois · Native embassy DE icon Native Embassy Travois/Native Embassy Builder/Royal Embassy Wagon
EuropeansPriest aoe3de Priest · Factory wagon aoe3de Factory Wagon · Fort wagon aoe3de Fort Wagon · Factory wagon aoe3de Homestead Wagon · Outpost wagon aoe3de Military Wagon · Factory wagon aoe3de Prospector Wagon (Factory wagon aoe3de Silver · Factory wagon aoe3de Gold)
Europeans and USSurgeon aoe3de Surgeon · Outpost wagon aoe3de Outpost Wagon · Spc wagon aoe3de Estate Wagon · Spc wagon aoe3de Mill Wagon
Native AmericansVillager aztec aoe3de Villager · Haudenosaunee healer aoe3de Healer · Team native aoe3de Native Scout* · Aztec travois aoe3de Farm Travois · Aztec travois aoe3de War Hut Travois
AsiansChinese castle wagon aoe3de Castle Rickshaw · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Market Rickshaw · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Monastery Rickshaw
AfricansEthiopian fishing canoe portrait aoe3de Fishing Canoe · Camp portrait Camp Builder · Hausa builder portrait Kingdom Builder · Hausa builder portrait Livestock Market Builder · Palace portrait aoe3de Palace Builder · Hausa builder portrait Trade Builder · Watch tower aoe3de portrait Watch Tower Builder
Unique units
Flag DutchDE DutchVillager dutch merchant portrait Merchant · Envoy aoe3de Envoy · Bank wagon aoe3de Bank Wagon
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCoureur aoe3de Coureur des Bois
Flag GermanDE GermansSettler wagon aoe3de Settler Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansVillager ottoman yoruk portrait Yörük · Imam de Imam
Flag SpanishDE SpanishMissonary de Missionary
Flag AztecDE AztecsWarrior priest de Warrior Priest · Aztec travois aoe3de Nobles' Hut Travois
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeTravois portrait aoe3de Travois (Haudenosaunee)
Flag ChineseDE ChineseOutpost Wagon Blockhouse Wagon · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Consulate Rickshaw · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Village Rickshaw · Mongol scout aoe3de Mongol Scout
Flag IndianDE IndiansIndian peasant aoe3de Hindu Villager · Indian castle grove aoe3de Grove Rickshaw · Indian town center rickshaw aoe3de Sacred Field Rickshaw
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseFactory wagon aoe3de Livestock Pen Wagon · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Dojo Rickshaw · Japanese Town Center Rickshaw Military Rickshaw · Japanese grove aoe3de Orchard Rickshaw · Japanese grove aoe3de Rice Paddy Rickshaw · Chinese town center rickshaw aoe3de Shrine Wagon
Flag IncanDE IncaPriestess-icon-aoe3 Priestess · Travois inca AoE3de Builder Travois · Lakota trading post aoe3de Kallanka Travois · Lakota trading post aoe3de Stronghold Travois · Lakota trading post aoe3de Tambo Travois
Flag SwedishDE SwedesSpc wagon aoe3de Torp Wagon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesFactory wagon aoe3de Coal Prospector Wagon · Outpost wagon aoe3de Infrastructure Wagon · Bank wagon aoe3de Meeting House Wagon · Bank wagon aoe3de State Capitol Wagon
Flag MexicanDE MexicansBank wagon aoe3de Cathedral Wagon · Factory wagon aoe3de Hacienda Wagon
Revolution RevolutionFactory wagon aoe3de Diamond Prospector Wagon · Sansculotte portrait Sansculotte
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansAbun portrait aoe3de Abun · Rickshaw1 icon portrait Indian Market Rickshaw · Mountain monastery portrait aoe3de Mountain Monastery Builder
Flag Hausa HausaGriot aoe3de portrait Griot · Bank wagon aoe3de Mosque Wagon · Hausa builder portrait Hausa Builder · University portrait University Builder
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians architect portrait Architect · Bank wagon aoe3de Basilica Wagon · Bank wagon aoe3de Lombard Wagon
Flag MalteseDE MalteseOutpost wagon aoe3de Commandery Wagon · Spc wagon aoe3de Depot Wagon · Fort wagon aoe3de Fixed Gun Wagon
Miscellaneous
Berber nomad portrait Berber Nomad · Berber salt camel portrait Berber Salt Camel · Trading post african aoe3de Red Sea Wagon · Balloon portrait Hot Air Balloon · Cree coreur portrait updated Cree Coureur des Bois · Factory wagon aoe3de Arsenal Wagon · Bank wagon aoe3de Church Wagon · Outpost wagon aoe3de Frontier Post Wagon · Pilgrims icon definitive Pilgrim · Bank wagon aoe3de Athos Monastery Wagon · Outpost wagon aoe3de Battery Tower Wagon · Lakota trading post aoe3de American Citadel Travois
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