The Frigate, with a base hit points of 2000, 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. 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 abilities
Ability
Effect
Broadside Attack
Fires a volley of cannon shots at an enemy ship within attack range, with each shot doing 80 siege damage. 60 seconds cooldown.
Caravel train limit +4; Galleon train limit +2; Frigate and Monitor train limit +1 (also +1 Villager for the Indians)
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Since the Frigate is only available for European civilizations (except the Ottomans) and the Indians, the Advanced Docks and Admiralty cards are only relevant to them.
The Offshore Support card is available to British and Ottomans.
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.
Broadside Attack
Imperial Men-o'-War
Armor Plating (+50%)
Carronade (+25%)
Percussion Lock (+50% Broadside Attack damage)
Town Watch (+2)
Apache Endurance (+5%)
Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Coffee Trade (-10% speed, Dutch only)
