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Frigate. Heavy war ship.
—In-game description

The Frigate is a military ship in Age of Empires III that can be trained at the Dock once the Fortress Age (Industrial Age in the vanilla Age of Empires III and The WarChiefs) is reached. It is one of the strongest and most durable warships in the game.

Frigates are available to European civilizations except Knights of St. John (Act I: Blood campaign), the Indians, the United States, and the Mexicans. The Hausa can train them through the British Alliance Age-up.

Overview[]

The Frigate, with a base hit points of 2,000, it has 800 more than the next warship, the shore-ravaging Monitor. As the Monitor can't really fight anything tougher than a Caravel, this is the high-end ship-to-ship warship of choice for use past the Fortress Age. Moreover, because of its long sight radius and relatively good speed for its large size, it can also double up for exploration although the large hull may make steering and maneuvering somewhat more cumbersome and clunky. Like all warships, the Frigate can transport 50 units, and blast close-to-shore buildings and units. However some buildings such as fully upgraded Outposts or Forts will decimate the ships. The Frigate can be upgraded to an Imperial Age Man-of-War (Ship of the Line). Frigates can also be upgraded at a Dock with the Armor Plating and Carronade bonuses.

Special ability[]

  • Broadside attack Broadside Attack: Fires a volley of cannon shots at an enemy within attack range, with doing 40×5 siege damage in an Area of Effect of 1 with a ×2.0 multiplier against ships. 60 seconds cooldown.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Imperial Age
Imperial navy Imperial Men-o'-War 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Frigates to Imperial Men-o'-War (+50% hit points and attack)

Civilization differences[]

  • The Hausa can train 1 Frigate at the Port when allying with the British, which has +30% hit points and attack in the Imperial Age, but cannot be upgraded to an Imperial Man-o'-War.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Ships, infantry and buildings close to shore
Weak vs. Artillery especially Culverins, defensive structures
Improvements
Hit points Armor Plating Armor Plating (+50%)
Heavy Riverboats Heavy Riverboats (+25%; Hausa only)
Byzantine legacy Byzantine Legacy (+15%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+10%)
Attack Carronade Carronade (+25%)
River Skirmishes River Skirmishes (+25%; Hausa only)
Percussion Lock Percussion Lock (+50% Broadside Attack damage)
Som ajuran engineers Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Train time Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Hausa only)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Oresund customs Öresund Customs (generates 0.5 coin/sec.)
Penalties Coffee Trade Coffee Trade (-10% speed; Dutch only)

Home City Cards[]

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

All[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 3 (Advanced Dock) Advanced Dock Docks get +100% attack and heal ships 85% faster; warships' train time -33% (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age I tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 5 (1 Frigate) 1 Frigate Ships 1 Frigate (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 5 (Improved Warships) Improved Warships Warships get +25% hit points and attack (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Team improved warships TEAM Improved Warships Warships get +10% hit points and attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
British Home City 5 (Naval Gunners) Naval Gunners Warships get +20% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Indian Home City 5 (European Cannons) European Cannons Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range (also +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Spanish Home City 5 (Admiralty) Admiralty Dock warship technologies cost and research time -60% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Hindu Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
  • "Advanced Dock" is not available to Africans.
  • "1 Frigate" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese), Indians, Mexicans, and United States.
  • "TEAM Improved Warships" is available to the Chinese and Maltese.
  • "Naval Gunners" is available to the British, French, Italians, Maltese, Russians, Swedes, and United States.
  • "European Cannons" is not available to Europeans.
  • "Admiralty" is not available to Africans.

Europeans[]

Card Description Age HC level
British Home City 5 (Offshore Support) Offshore Support Warships get +15% attack, +2 Line of Sight and range (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans)
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Egypt Home City (Egyptian Fleet) Baltic Fleet Ships 1 Frigate and 1 Monitor
Revolution
N/A
Indonesia Home City (Lantakas) Lantakas Artillery, buildings, and ships get +15% attack
Revolution
N/A
United States Home City (Rhode Island Militia) Rhode Island Militia Ships 10 Veteran State Militia and 5 Militiamen; Caravels, Galleons/Fluyts, Frigates, and Ironclads get +10% ranged attack per garrisoned State Militia and/or Militiaman (up to +60%); turns all Crossbowmen/Longbowmen/Pikemen into State Militia; State Militia replace Crossbowmen, Longbowmen, Pikemen, and Halberdiers at Barracks and Forts, and can be upgraded to Guard
Revolution
N/A
  • "Offshore Support" is available to the Germans, Maltese, and Ottomans.
  • "Baltic Fleet" is available to the Russians and Swedes upon revolting to Finland.
  • "Lantakas" is available to the Dutch and Portuguese upon revolting to Indonesia.
  • "Rhode Island Militia" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

Hausa[]

Card Description Age
Advanced port Advanced Port Ports get +100% hit points and heal ships 100% faster; Warship train time -33%
Age I tech tree aoe3
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; hero respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Indian Home City 3 (Foreign Trading Companies) Foreign Trading Companies Gives a trickle of 0.75 export; Consulate Armies cost -15% export but Indian units cost +2.5% (except Villagers, Fishing Boats, and Sacred Cows which cost +5%); +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
N/A
Indian Home City 5 (Bombay Marine) Bombay Marine Ships' train time -30% and train bounty +30%; +1 Hindu Villager
Age I tech tree aoe3
1
Indian Home City 5 (2 Frigates) 2 Frigate Ships 2 Frigates; +1 Hindu Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25

Japanese[]

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

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
Spanish Home City 5 (1 Frigate) 1 Frigate Ships 1 Frigate
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 3 (Navigation School) Navigation School Warships cost and train time -20%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25
Portuguese Home City 5 (Naval Infantry) Naval Infantry Caravels can train Crossbowmen, Ordinance Riflemen (if available), Pikemen, and Halberdiers; Monitors and Ironclads can train Musketeers, Cassadores, and Grenadiers (if available); Frigates can train all Barracks units; Battleships can train all Barracks units and Grenadiers; Caravels, Frigates, Monitors, Ironclads, and Battleships now tagged as recruiting ships
Age III tech tree aoe3
N/A

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 5 (Russian North Fleet) Russian North Fleet Ships 1 Frigate and 1 Monitor
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Russian Home City 5 (Cold Water Port) TEAM Cold Water Port Warships cost -15%
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10
Spanish Home City 5 (Armada) Armada Warships get +20% hit points and +2 Line of Sight; Caravels can now train infantry units; Frigates can now train cavalry and artillery units; Monitors can now train Mortars; Battleships can now train infantry, cavalry, and artillery units
Age III tech tree aoe3
10

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 5 (Russian North Fleet) Baltic Fleet Ships 1 Frigate and 1 Galleon
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Swedish Home City 5 (Vasa) Vasa Ships 1 Battleship; Frigates and Galleons return 100 and Battleships 200 of their coin cost when sunk by enemy unit; costs 1,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

United States[]

Card Description Age
US Home City 5 (Virginia Oak) Virginia Oak Docks, Fishing Boats, Sloops, and Frigates get +15% hit points
Age I tech tree aoe3
Federal card indiana mobilization Indiana Mobilization Ships 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 connecticut shipwrights Connecticut Shipwrights Ship train time -50%; building build time -35%; artillery train time -15%, Heavy Cannon train time -10% instead
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Connecticut Shipwrights" is available upon selecting the Connecticut Federal State.

Changelog[]

Age of Empires III[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

Trivia[]

History[]

Frigates changed a lot over time, but began as lean, fast, well-armed ships used for scouting, raiding trade routes, and filling in the line of battle when the larger battleships were scarce. Early frigates carried messages and important passengers. Later, their single deck of 20 to 30 cannon was doubled to two decks of 40 to 60 cannon. British frigate captains still using the swift, lighter frigates were ordered not to engage the heavier, deadly American frigates unless the odds were two-to-one in the British captain's favor.

Approximate weight: 950 tons. Length: 150 feet.

Gallery[]

See also[]

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
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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