Galleon (Age of Empires III)

This article is about the unit in Age of Empires III. For the related unit in Age of Empires II, see Galleon (Age of Empires II).

Galleon
Information
Introduced in	Age of Empires III
Type	Ship War ship Siege trooper Recruiting ship*
Civilization(s)	See description
Age	Commerce Age
Training
Trained at	Dock
Cost	300 Wood 300 Coin
Train time	40 seconds
Train limit	3
Statistics
Hit points	1,500
Resistance	75% Ranged
Speed	8.5
Line of Sight	26
Garrison	50
Ability	Transports land units Trains infantry and cavalry (only if close to shore)
Train XP	60
Kill XP	60
Ranged attack
Damage	50 Siege
Area of Effect	1
Range	20
Rate of Fire	2.0
Bonus damage	0.5× vs. Artillery

“	Galleon. Slow, powerful ship resistant to building fire that can train units.	”
—In-game description

The Galleon is a military ship in Age of Empires III that can be trained at the Dock once the Commerce Age is reached. It can transport land units and train infantry and cavalry, and are resistant to defensive structures due to being classified as a siege unit; Outposts and Town Centers do half their damage against them.

Galleons are available to European civilizations (except the Dutch, who have Fluyts instead), and the Indians.

Overview

The Galleon is a fast and powerful military main battle ship that is capable of training infantry and cavalry directly onto foreign soil, acting as a mobile Barracks and Stables. Note that it will be unable to fire with its cannons during this process. They are significantly more resilient than the Caravel due to increased health and resistance. They may not have as high a DPS output as Caravels, but they still perform sufficiently as an attack vessel.

Most civilizations will find the Galleon capable of surviving battles in the early ages, especially when compared to a Caravel and make good tanks in the frontline while the latter exploit their higher damage. However Spanish Galleons (with cards) make excellent attack vessels and damage sponges in any age.

The Galleon can produce units normally available at a Barracks or Stable for that civilization, as well as Grenadiers and Abus Gunners. The Spanish Galleons can also produce Pirates if a Home City Card is sent, though this is no longer the case in the Definitive Edition.

Spanish Galleons and countering them

The Spanish have the strongest Galleons in the game if they take advantage of their cards. If they choose to do so the Spanish galleon has more hit points than any other ship sailing the seas in Age of Empires III and The WarChiefs, except the Spanish Frigate which has only 525 more.

With the release of The Asian Dynasties expansion, the Spanish Fuchuan becomes the highest hit point vessel in the game (25 more hit points than the Spanish Frigate) when received via the "TEAM 1 Fuchuan" card sent by a Chinese ally. Spanish Galleons can easily hold their own against the more expensive Frigates, Tekkousen, and Fuchuan or outrun them if necessary.

While extremely durable, the Spanish Galleon is slower than a Tlaloc Canoe and can't retreat effectively from combat with them. It also lacks the range of many other ships, this can be exploited by an opponent as a means of overcoming the durability and shoreline attack power. Particularly dangerous are the Fuchuan (with "European Cannons"), Tlaloc Canoes (with Water Ceremony and "Offshore Support"), Canoe (with Water Ceremony, "Offshore Support", or Charging Ceremony) and Monitors or Ironclads due to their long-range shots. When attacking enemy shores with the ship, Culverins can be dangerous to the Galleon. Augmented Fire Ships (with Home City Cards, etc.) can also be dangerous in large groups.

Blocking Galleon training

Walling up the shore so that there is no free space will prevent Galleons from training units onto the shore, as well as preventing any ships from being able to land troops. Even if a 1-2 area gap is left somewhere along the walled up coast (between the shore and wall), only 1-2 units will be landed or trained; units will not appear behind the enemy wall.

Units

The Galleon must be close to the shore to train the units, and will also be unable to move and attack while doing so.

Age	Unit	Cost	Pop.	Limit	Civ.
	Crossbowman	40 food 40 wood	1	∞	EU
	Pikeman	40 food 40 wood
	Musketeer	75 food 25 coin
	Hussar	120 food 80 coin	2
	Grenadier	120 food 60 coin
	Longbowman	60 food 40 wood	1
	Doppelsoldner	75 food 125 coin	2
	Uhlan	50 food 100 coin
	Sentinel	60 food 40 coin
	Hospitaller	120 food 80 coin
	Janissary	90 food 25 coin	1
	Azap	55 food 35 wood
	Abus Gunner	50 food 100 coin	2
	Humbaraci	110 food 75 coin
	Deli	110 food 90 coin
	Cassador	80 food 35 coin	1		Portuguese
	Strelet	37 food 10 wood	1
	Rekrut	56 food 19 coin
	Poruchik	37 food 52 coin
	Cossack	75 food 75 coin
	Rodelero	65 food 35 coin			Spanish
	Carolean	65 food 40 coin
	Rajput	90 food 35 wood			Indians
	Sepoy	90 food 30 coin
	Gurkha	70 food 50 coin
	Sowar	80 food 80 coin	2
	Zamburak	60 food 60 coin	1
	Insurgente	70 food
	Soldado	90 food 80 coin	2
	Salteador	60 food 60 coin	1
	Chinaco	110 food 90 coin	2
	Halberdier	50 food 70 coin	1		EU
	Skirmisher	50 food 65 coin
	Dragoon	90 food 90 coin	2		EU
	Cuirassier	150 food 150 coin	3
	Landwehr	40 food 40 wood	1
	War Wagon	150 food 150 coin	3
	Cassador	80 food 35 coin	1		Portuguese
	Cavalry Archer	100 food 60 coin	2
	Oprichnik	90 food 60 coin
	Lancer	110 food 90 coin			Spanish
	Hakkapelit	90 food 100 coin
	Nizam Fusilier	60 food 70 coin	1	20
	Regular	55 food 50 coin		∞	Texas

• The Swedes can train Crossbowmen since update 14825.
• The French, Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish can train Grenadiers as well once the "Grenade Launchers" Home City Card is sent.

Civilization differences

• The British Galleons can train Rangers instead of Longbowmen after researching the Queen's Rangers technology.
• The German Galleons can train Prinz Chevaulegers instead of War Wagons after sending the "Princely Bavarian Chevaulegers" Home City Card.
• The Mexicans can get Galleons through the "Captured Galleons" Home City Cards. These Galleons can train Insurgentes, Soldados, Salteadores, Chinacos, and Dragoons. These Galleons can train Regulars instead of Mexican infantry after revolting to Texas.
• The Swedes' Galleons can train different mercenaries depending on the Home City Card sent.

Revolutionary

• Revolting to Argentina allows Galleons to train Gauchos, and also Mounted Granaderos after sending the "Granaderos" Home City Card.
• Revolting to the Barbary States allows Galleons to train Barbary Warriors and Corsair Marksmen.
• Revolting to Brazil allows Galleons to train Jagunços.
• Revolting to Chile allows Galleons to train Mapuche Bolas Riders after sending the "7 Mapuche Bolas Riders" Home City Card.
• Revolting to Egypt allows Galleons to train Stradiots and Mamelukes.
• Revolting to Finland allows Galleons to train Counter Jaegers after sending the "Grand Duchy of Finland" Home City Card.
• Revolting to Gran Colombia allows Galleons to train Llaneros.
• Revolting to Haiti allows Galleons to train Pirates, and also Dahomey Amazons after sending the "Royal Dahomets" Home City Card.
• Revolting to Hungary allows Galleons to train Hungarian Grenadiers for the Germans and Maltese, and replaces Humbaraci with Hungarian Grenadiers for the Ottomans.
• Revolting to Hungary and Romania allows Galleons to train Hajduks, Crabats, and Pandours after sending "Hajduks", "12 Crabats", and "10 Pandours" Home City Card respectively.
• Revolting to Indonesia allows Galleons to train Javanese Spearmen and Cetbang Cannons, and also War Elephants after sending the "Sumatran Elephants" Home City Card.
• Revolting to South Africa allows Galleons to train Trek Wagons.

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs.	Infantry and cavalry close to shore, Monitors
Weak vs.	Most warships such as Caravels and Frigates, artillery especially Culverins, defensive structures
Improvements
Hit points	Armor Plating (+50%) Byzantine Legacy (+15%) Tar Kilns (+10%)
Attack	Carronade (+25%) Somali Ajuran Engineers (+20% multiplier vs. Frontier fortification)
Line of Sight	Town Watch (+3)
Cost	Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost) Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Train time	Immigrants (-10%)
Other	Queen's Rangers (can train Rangers instead of Longbowmen; British only) Savolax Jaegers (can train Jaegers; Swedes only) Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost) Öresund Customs (auto gather 0.3 coin)
Penalties	High Crusade (-5% hit points; Knights of St. John only)

Home City Cards

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Galleon

Some cards are highlighted with:
Green	TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Blue	Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

Shared

Card	Description	Age
Advanced Dock	Dock damage +100%, heal work rate for ships +85%; war ship train time -33%
Improved Warships	War ship hit points and damage +25%
TEAM Improved Warships	War ship hit points and damage +10%
European Cannons	War ship damage +15%, Line of Sight and ranged attack range +2
Admiralty	Dock war ship technology cost and research time -60%

• "TEAM Improved Warships" is available to the Chinese and Maltese.
• "European Cannons" is not available to Europeans and Native Americans.
• "Admiralty" is not available to Africans and Native Americans.

Europeans

Card	Description	Age
1 Galleon	Delivers 1 Galleon
Naval Gunners	War ship damage +20%
Offshore Support	War ship damage +15%, Line of Sight and ranged attack range +2
Hajduks	Each Outpost/Blockhouse spawns 1 Hajduk; enables Hajduks to be trained at Outposts/Blockhouses, Barracks, Taverns, Forts, and Galleons, +1 Outpost Wagon; Outpost/Blockhouse build limit +1
12 Crabats	Delivers 12 Crabats; enables Crabats to be trained at Outposts/Blockhouses, Stables, Taverns, Forts, and Galleons, +1 Outpost Wagon; Outpost/Blockhouse build limit +1
10 Pandours	Delivers 10 Pandours; enables Pandours to be trained at Outposts/Blockhouses, Barracks, Taverns, Forts, and Galleons, +1 Outpost Wagon; Outpost/Blockhouse build limit +1
Rhode Island Militia	Delivers 10 State Militia and 5 Militiamen; Caravels, Galleons/Fluyts, Frigates, and Ironclads get +10% ranged attack damage per garrisoned State Militia and/or Militiaman (up to +60%); fully replaces Crossbowmen/Longbowmen, Pikemen, and Halberdiers with State Militia at Barracks, Forts, and on the map; grants Veteran State Militia; enables Guard State Militia

• "Naval Gunners" is available to the British, French, Maltese, Russians, and Swedes.
• "Offshore Support" is available to the Germans, Maltese, and Ottomans.
• "Hajduks", "12 Crabats", and "10 Pandours" are available upon revolting to Hungary and Romania.
• "Rhode Island Militia" is available to the British, Dutch, French, and Swedes upon revolting to the United States.

Indians

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Shivaji's Tactics	Unit hit points and damage +5%
Foreign Trading Companies	Adds 0.75 to export trickle rate; banner army export cost -15%; Indian unit cost +2.5% (Hindu Villager, Fishing Boat, and Sacred Cow cost +5% instead), +1 Hindu Villager
Bombay Marine	Ship train time -30%, train bounty +30%; +1 Hindu Villager

Japanese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Sengoku	Unit upgrades cost -20%

Maltese

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Knights of the Round Table	Delivers 1 Hospitaller for each Town Center and Command Post present on the map; unit hit points +2%
Speronaras	Ship speed +10%; Fishing Boat and Order Galley speed +30% instead

Mexicans

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Mariachi	For the next 30 seconds, military building training and research work rate +400%, unit speed +10%
2 Captured Galleons	Delivers 2 Galleons; costs 300 food, 300 wood
3 Captured Galleons	Delivers 3 Galleons; costs 300 food, 300 wood
Colegio de San Nicolas	Delivers 1 Large Collection of Books (500 XP); unit Line of Sight +4; building (except Wall) Line of Sight +8; reveals enemy units' positions for 20 seconds
National Servant	Unit (except herded animals) hit points +10%; Padre heal work rate +200%	Imperial Age

• "Colegio de San Nicolas" is available upon selecting the Michoacán Federal State.
• "National Servant" is available upon selecting the Estado de México Federal State.

Portuguese

Card	Description	Age
Navigation School	War ship cost and train time -20%
Lantakas	Artillery, building, and ship damage +15%

• "Lantakas" is available upon revolting to Indonesia.

Russians

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Cold Water Port	War ship cost -15%

Spanish

Card	Description	Age
TEAM Spanish Inquisition	Delivers 1 Inquisitor; military and economic unit Line of Sight +10
Spanish Galleons	Galleon hit points and damage +30%
Armada	War ship hit points +20%, Line of Sight +2; enables Caravels to train Barracks units; Frigates to train Stable and Artillery Foundry units; Monitors to train Mortars; Battleships to train Barracks, Stable, and Artillery Foundry units
Spanish Treasure Fleet	Delivers 3 Galleons

Swedes

Card	Description	Age
Baltic Fleet	Delivers 1 Frigate and 1 Galleon
Vasa	Delivers 1 Battleship; Frigates and Galleons return 100 coin, and Battleships 200 coin when sunk by enemy unit; costs 1,000 coin
Contract Irish Brigadiers	Delivers 9 Irish Brigadiers; enables Irish Brigadiers to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns, and Galleons; costs 500 coin
Contract Swiss Pikemen	Delivers 12 Swiss Pikemen; enables Swiss Pikemen to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns, and Galleons; costs 1,000 coin
Contract Giant Grenadiers	Delivers 8 Giant Grenadiers; enables Giant Grenadiers to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns, and Galleons; costs 1,000 coin
Contract Black Riders	Delivers 7 Black Riders; enables Black Riders to be trained at Stables and Galleons; costs 1,000 coin
Contract Hessian Jaegers	Delivers 10 Jaegers; enables Jaegers to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, and Galleons; costs 1,000 coin
German Mercenary Contracts	Mercenary hit points and damage +20%; enables Landsknechts and Jaegers to be trained at Barracks, Blockhouses, Taverns (for Landsknechts), and Galleons; enables Black Riders to be trained at Stables and Galleons

Changelog

Age of Empires III

• Galleons cost 300 wood, 500 coin, and give 80 XP when trained or killed.

The African Royals

• With update 38254, Galleons cost 300 wood, 400 coin.

Knights of the Mediterranean

• With update 13.27885, Galleons cost 300 wood, 300 coin.
• With update 13.58326, Galleons give 60 XP when trained or killed.

History

“

These square-rigged, three-masted warships were used primarily by European powers in the fifteenth through eighteenth centuries. Well-suited for carrying cargo and for war, galleons made up the bulk of the famous Spanish Treasure Fleet that carried plunder from the Americas back to Spain's waiting coffers. They carried around 30 cannon, fired from two decks in broadsides. Adaptations to the basic galleon design yielded heavy Spanish Galleons and the lighter, more maneuverable galleons of the British and other European nations. They were eventually replaced as multipurpose ships by the clipper, a fast cargo ship, and the massive Man-of-War. Approximate weight: 500 tons. Length: 120 feet.

”

Gallery

An in-game Galleon

A Galleon during a naval victory

A Galleon in motion

A Galleon on a snow map

A Galleon near a German Colony

In-game Galleon in the Definitive Edition

In-game Ottoman Galleon

Galleon image from the Compendium section

Render of the Galleon in the Definitive Edition

See also

• Fluyt – Dutch counterpart
• Fuchuan – Chinese analogue
• Atakebune – Japanese counterpart
• Steamer – Federal American counterpart
• Galleass – Italians counterpart