 |
This article is about the unit in Age of Empires IV. For other uses, see Grenadier. |
| “ | Advanced ranged infantry with thrown explosive canisters that deal damage in a small area. | ” |
| —Age of Empires IV description | ||
The Grenadier is a unique ranged gunpowder infantry unit in Age of Empires IV. The regular Grenadier is available to the Chinese after unlocking the Ming Dynasty and the Early Grenadier is available to Zhu Xi's Legacy in the Castle Age with no dynasty requirement. It is trained at the Archery Range.
The Grenadier is also available to the Byzantines as a mercenary unit after choosing the Silk Road Mercenary Contract.
Tactics[]
The Grenadier throws projectiles that deal Area of Effect siege damage in a 0.625 radius where they land, scaling down to 66% and then 33% of max damage farther away from the center of impact.
Although Grenadiers deal less damage than a Handcannoneer, they deal Area of Effect, similar to the Mangonel or Ozutsu. Though their individual damage is relatively low, their primary use is against massed units, where the damage can add up quickly. Grenadiers also have a minor damage bonus against buildings, allowing groups of them to down smaller structures with relative ease. Grenadiers uniquely deal siege damage like a siege weapon, resulting in an armor-ignoring effect against most units. This results in higher damage than expected against armored units like Men-at-Arms and Lancers.
While expensive to mass, both the Chinese and Zhu Xi's Legacy Grenadiers benefit from bonuses that make them advantageous to mix in with groups of other units even in small numbers. Chinese Grenadiers grant extra attack speed and regeneration to nearby units when dying through the Spirit Way, while Zhu Xi's Legacy Grenadiers, when upgraded with Hard Cased Bombs, cause enemy units to take 15% more ranged and melee damage (i.e. the effect does not work on the siege damage of the Grenadier).
Further statistics[]
| Strengths and weaknesses | |
|---|---|
| Strong vs. | Groups of units, buildings |
| Weak vs. | Horsemen, Mangonels |
| Technologies | |
|---|---|
| Armor |  Fitted Leatherwork (+1 melee) Insulated Helm (+1 melee) Master Smiths (+1 melee) Iron Undermesh (+1 ranged) Wedge Rivets (+1 ranged) Angled Surfaces (+1 ranged)
|
| Creation speed |  Military Academy (+33%)
|
| Ability |  Siege Engineering (Can build Battering Rams and Siege Towers) Hard Cased Bombs (Units take +15% melee and ranged damage for 5 seconds after being hit,  Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
 Regeneration
|
 Divine Vitality (2 HP/s out of combat, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Attack |  The Long Wall (+25%,  Chinese)
|
 Range
|
Wall Defense (+1) Divine Defense (+1, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Damage resistance | Wall Defense (-25% ranged, -50% siege)
|
 Movement speed
|
 Divine Haste (+15%, Zhu Xi's Legacy)
|
| Creation speed |  Supervision (+150% for Chinese; +150% for Zhu Xi's Legacy or +300% with Regional Inspection)
|
| Civilization bonuses | |
|---|---|
 Hit points
|
Chinese (+15% in  Ming Dynasty)
|
| Attack | Zhu Xi's Legacy (+20% in Ming Dynasty)
|
| Movement speed
|
Chinese (+15% in  Yuan Dynasty)
|
| Resource cost | Zhu Xi's Legacy (-10% in Yuan Dynasty)
|
| Ability | Chinese (Grants +20% attack speed and 2 HP/s regeneration to nearby units upon dying with Spirit Way)
|
Mercenary Grenadiers[]
The Byzantines can purchase Grenadiers with Olive Oil from a Mercenary House after researching Silk Road Mercenary and Elite Contracts. Once unlocked, they can train automatically from the Golden Horn Tower. In addition to generic upgrades, they benefit from the following Byzantine unique bonuses:
| Aura and ability enhancements | |
|---|---|
| Regeneration
|
 Pilgrim Flask (25 HP/s for 6 seconds, requires Cistern of the First Hill)
|
| Armor |  Camel Support (+2 melee/ranged, requires Foreign Engineering Company)
|
| Movement speed
|
 Naval Deployment (+50% speed for 12 seconds after unloading from a Transport Ship)
|
| Creation speed |   Conscriptio Influence (+20% per Cistern water level) Trade Post (+50%)
|
Dialogue lines[]
- Main article: /Dialogue lines
Changelog[]
- Originally, the Grenadier was only available in the Ming Dynasty. With the Season One Update, they are still unlocked in the Ming Dynasty, but then are available in all subsequent Dynasties as well.
- Originally, Grenadiers dealt 15 ranged damage, had an attack range of 4 tiles, and the damage fall-off on their attack was 100%/75%/50%. With Season Two Update 17718, they dealt 13 ranged damage, had an attack range of 3 tiles and the damage fall-off on their attack is 100%/66%/33%. With update 7.0.5861, they deal 10 siege damage. With update 12.0.1974, Grenadiers still deal 12 siege damage, but without being affected by free Chemistry. With patch 13.1.4420, they have 3.5 range.
- Originally, Grenadiers dealt +65 damage vs buildings. With update 7.0.5861, it was changed to +20 vs buildings because the attack type was changed from ranged to siege.
- With update 12.0.1974, Zhu Xi's Legacy gains access to the Early Grenadier in the Castle Age.
- Originally, Grenadiers had an aim time of 0.5 seconds and a reload time of 0.75 seconds. With update 12.0.1974, this was changed to 0 second aim time and 1.25 second reload time to maintain the same Rate of Fire while being more responsive.
- Originally, Grenadiers cost 120 food. With patch 13.1.4420, they cost 100 food
Gallery[]
