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This article is about the unit of the Maltese. For the unit of Knights of St. John, see Hoop Thrower.

Light Infantry that attacks with incendiary weapons which inflict burning damage. Counters Heavy Infantry and Light Cavalry.
—In-game description

The Fire Thrower is a ranged gunpowder siege infantry in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean that is unique to the Maltese. It is a lesser version of the Grenadier, but it is classified as light infantry and is more effective against heavy infantry and light ranged cavalry.

Overview[]

The Fire Thrower is a light infantry unit that attacks with incendiary weapons which inflict burning damage. It counters both heavy infantry and light cavalry. It replaces the Grenadier as the main siege infantry unit.

In the early game, the Fire Thrower is essentially a weaker, more specialized version of the Grenadier. Their attack is weaker in terms of raw damage, which makes them quite mediocre when used against buildings, though this is compensated by anti-infantry and anti-light/ranged cavalry multipiler, as well as longer ranges.

When the "Rockets" Home City Card is sent, the Fire Thrower becomes a highly cost-efficient and easily massable anti-army unit. As the rocket has longer range and additional bonus damage, a large group of Fire Throwers (30 or more) can quickly eliminate a formation if not taken care off soon enough, and capable of dealing a significant damage against buildings.

Unlike the Grenadier, the Fire Thrower is considered Light Infantry rather than Heavy Infantry, and it does not receive bonus damage from light infantry. Furthermore, it will effectively counter enemy light infantry when upgraded with rockets.

The Fire Thrower is not without weakness, however. Their main drawback is the relatively low hit points, which makes them vulnerable against a group of cavalry and artillery.

With all upgrades, at maximum range it always uses the Rocket attack. Once the target enemy unit is within Grenade attack range, it switches to only Grenade attack. Finally, if the target enemy unit is within Flamethrower range, it uses the charged Flamethrower attack, then switches to the other weapons as mentioned.

Special abilities[]

  • Passive flamethrower Flamethrower Attack (requires the "Flame Throwers" Home City Card; has a cooldown of 60 seconds): Charged Ability: Close-range attack which deals 5 Siege damage every 0.75 second for up to 6.1 seconds. Does not deal damage to Treasure Guardians and wildlife.
  • Maltese Home City 2 (Rockets) Rocket Attack (requires the "Rockets" Home City Card): Equips Fire Throwers with Rockets in addition to their other weapons. Rockets inflict bonus damage to ALL infantry and have significantly more range. Replaces the default Siege attack.
  • Passive burning damage Burning Damage (Passive): Burning damage inflicts further damage after the target was hit.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age III tech tree aoe3
Veteran grenadier Veteran Fire Throwers 200 wood
200 coin
Upgrade Fire Throwers to Veteran (+20% hit points and attack)
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Guard grenadier Guard Fire Throwers 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrade Fire Throwers to Guard (+30% hit points and attack); requires Veteran Fire Throwers
Imperial Age
Imperial grenadier Imperial Fire Throwers 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrade Fire Throwers to Imperial (+50% hit points and attack); requires Guard Fire Throwers

Further statistics[]

As Fire Throwers are unique to the Maltese, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Heavy infantry, infantry (Rocket Attack), buildings
Weak vs. Cavalry, shock infantry, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Flint lock Flint Lock (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Incendiary grenades Incendiary Grenades (+15% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings and +1 ranged attack Area of Effect)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Clenched Fist Clenched Fist (+25% hand attack)
Paper cartridge Paper Cartridge (+15%)
Smokeless Powder Smokeless Powder (+10%)
Armatoloi Armatoloi (+5%)
Counter Infantry Rifling Counter Infantry Rifling (+0.75x multiplier vs. Heavy Infantry)
Kalthoff repeaters Kalthoff Repeaters (+0.1x multiplier vs. Light Infantry)
Armor Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+10% ranged resistance)
Range Schutzenfest Schützenfest (+1)
Speed Military Drummers Military Drummers (+10%)
Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Train time Standing Army Standing Army (-25%)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Train cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)

Home City Cards[]

As Fire Throwers are unique to the Maltese, only their cards and other civilizations' TEAM cards are shown in the following tables:

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Fire Thrower
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
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

British[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Musketeers and Longbowmen Hitpoints) TEAM Musketeer/Grenadier Hitpoints Musket Infantry and grenade trooper get +15% hit points
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ethiopian Home City 2 (TEAM Coffee Consumption) TEAM Coffee Consumption Ranged Infantry get +5% speed
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

French[]

Card Description Age
Team ranged infantry damage TEAM Senegalese Riflemen Ranged infantry get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 LOS
Age II tech tree aoe3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Infantry and civilian units get +5% speed; +1 Chasqui
Age I tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Japanese[]

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

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
Maltese Home City 2 (9 Fire Throwers) 9 Fire Throwers Ships 9 Fire Throwers
Age III tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 2 (7 Fire Throwers) 7 Fire Throwers Ships 7 Fire Throwers
Age III tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 2 (13 Fire Throwers) 13 Fire Throwers Ships 13 Fire Throwers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Maltese Home City 2 (8 Fire Throwers INF) 8 Fire Throwers Ships 8 Fire Throwers
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Maltese Home City 2 (Rockets) Rockets Fire Throwers now use rockets with a range of 22 and a 1.75× multiplier against infantry
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Maltese Home City 2 (Flame Throwers) Flame Throwers Ships 1 Artillery Foundry Wagon; Fire Throwers get the 'Flamethrower' charged action which deals burning damage in close range
Age II tech tree aoe3
Maltese Home City 2 (Sovereign Order of Malta) Sovereign Order of Malta Sentinel, Hospitaller and Fire Thrower get +15% attack and hit points
Age III 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

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition All units get +10 LOS; +1 Inquisitor
Age II tech tree aoe3

Changelog[]

Age3DE Icon Knights of the Mediterranean[]

History[]

During the Siege of Malta in 1565, the defenders of Malta (the Knights of St. John) relied heavily on incendiary weapons, including ones called the "firework hoop." These weapons, made of gunpowder and wood, were used against advancing Janissaries as they attempted to storm Fort St. Elmo. The incendiary weapons were highly effective, forcing the Janissaries to fall back from their attack. Approximately 2,000 elite Janissaries were killed during the assault on Fort St. Elmo, while only about eighty of their enemy died. After the siege the Knights of St. John, also known as the Knights Hospitaller, controlled Malta until 1798.

Trivia[]

  • The Fire Thrower reuses the campaign unit Hoop Thrower's portrait.

Gallery[]

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer · Militiaman de Militiaman · Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman · Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman · Halberdier de Halberdier · Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer · Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher · Grenadier de Grenadier · Hussar aoe3de Hussar · Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon · Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer · Falconet aoe3de Falconet · Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin · Mortar de Mortar · Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon · Caravel aoe3de Caravel · Galleon aoe3de Galleon · Frigate aoe3de Frigate · Monitor aoe3de Monitor
3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior · Horse art de Horse Artillery · Petard aoe3de Petard · Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy · Native canoe aoe3de Canoe · War canoe aoe3de War Canoe · Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar · Sloop aoe3de Sloop · Steamer aoe3de Steamer · Battleship portrait Battleship
Age3DE Icon The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman · Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman · Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner · Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe · Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
Unique units
Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman · Ranger portrait Ranger · Rocket de Rocket
Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter · Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr · Doppel de Doppelsoldner · Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan · War wagon de War Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk · Janissary aoe3de Janissary · Ottomans azap portrait Azap · Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier · Ottomans deli portrait Deli · Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner · Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci · Great bombard de Great Bombard · Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir · Spahi de Sipahi · Galley aoe3de Galley
Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman · Cacador de Cassador · Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet · Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut · Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik · Cossack de Cossack · Oprichink de Oprichnik
Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero · Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief · Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout · Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner · Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger · Puma spearman de Puma Spearman · Arrow knight de Arrow Knight · Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight · Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight · Warrior priest de Warrior Priest · Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight · Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief · Aenna de Aenna · Tomahawk de Tomahawk · Forest prowler de Forest Prowler · Kanya de Kanya Horseman · Musket rider de Musket Rider · Ram aoe3de Ram · Iro mantlet de Mantlet · Light cannon de Light Cannon
Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief · Cetan de Cetan Bowman · Club warrior de Club Warrior · Wakina de Wakina Rifle · Axe rider de Axe Rider · Bow rider de Bow Rider · Rifle rider de Rifle Rider · Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler · Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master · Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu · Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman · Changdao de Changdao Swordsman · Arquebusier de Arquebusier · Steppe rider de Steppe Rider · Keshik de Keshik · Iron flail de Iron Flail · Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer · Flamethrower de Flamethrower · Hand mortar de Hand Mortar · Flying crow de Flying Crow · Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk · War junk aoe3de War Junk · Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin · Sentry IN de Sentry · Irregular IN de Irregular · Rajput de Rajput · Sepoy de Sepoy · Gurkha de Gurkha · Urumi de Urumi Swordsman · Sowar de Sowar · Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak · Mahout de Mahout Lancer · Howdah aoe3de Howdah · Flail elephant de Flail Elephant · Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer · Sentry cn jp de Sentry · Irregular cn jp de Irregular · Yumi archer de Yumi Archer · Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer · Samurai aoe3de Samurai · Naginata de Naginata Rider · Yabusame de Yabusame · Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow · Morutaru de Morutaru · Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo · Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa · Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi · Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi · Fune aoe3de Fune · Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune · Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief · Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui · Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman · Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman · Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner · DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior · Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca · Inca Maceman Icon Maceman · Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean · Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit · Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General · Us marine aoe3de Minuteman · State militia aoe3de State Militia · Regular aoe3de Regular · Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter · Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun · Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General · Padre revolution portrait Padre · Insurgente portrait Insurgente · Soldado portrait Soldado · Emboscador portrait Salteador · Chinaco portrait Chinaco · Desperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras · Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior · Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya · Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior · Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya · Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir · Fulani Fulani Archer · Raider aoe3de portrait Raider · Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight · Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier · Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere · Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard · Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone · Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer · Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave · Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard · Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank · Galleass portrait Galleass
Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master · Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller · Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel · Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower · Order galley portrait Order Galley · SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
Revolution Revolution
Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior · Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar · Californio portrait Californio · Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon · Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain · Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman · Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger · Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry · Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo · Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur · Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster · Gatlin de Gatling Gun · Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho · Comanchero icon aoe3de Jagunço · Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman · Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero · Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer · Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco · Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero · Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary · Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter · San martin portrait San Martin · Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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