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Nepalese skirmisher that is accurate to a long range. Good against infantry.
—In-game description

The Gurkha is a ranged gunpowder infantry in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties that is unique to the Indians and can be trained at Barracks and Galleon, as well as the Agra Fort wonder. It is the Indian equivalent of a Skirmisher.

Gurkhas can also be rescued from certain Treasures on South Asian maps such as Borneo, Deccan, and Indochina.

Overview[]

Gurkhas are expensive but have a strong attack and long range, that increases with every upgrade for them at the barracks, going up to 21 range. They are strong against infantry but are weak against cavalry. They are stronger than an ordinary Skirmisher and are also available in Commerce Age, meaning that the Indians can have a very powerful anti-infantry support even in the Commerce Age. As such they should be combined with Sepoys or Zamburaks to defeat any cavalry units that get too close while the Gurkhas snipe infantry that pose a threat.

Gurkhas, when combined with the Howdah can host a formidable all-rounder attack force as they provide multipliers against many categories of units in the game.

Mansabdar Gurkha[]

Inspires all nearby Gurkha. Indian skirmisher that is accurate to a long range. Good against infantry.
—In-game description

The Mansabdar Gurkha is a stronger version of the Gurkha that can be trained from the Charminar Gate wonder. As a Mansabdar unit, the Mansabdar Gurkha has twice the hit points of a Gurkha and Imperial Service that increases the hit points and attack of nearby Gurkhas, but are two times more expensive.

Special ability[]

  • Imperial service Imperial Service (passive): The Mansabdar Gurkha increases the hit points and attack of Gurkhas in a radius of 24 around him by 10%.

Upgrades[]

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Age III tech tree aoe3
Disciplined ranged infantry Disciplined Gurkha 200 wood
100 coin
Upgrades Gurkhas and Mansabdar Gurkha to Disciplined (+20% hit points and attack, +1 Line of Sight and range)
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Honored ranged infantry Honored Gurkha 600 wood
600 coin
Upgrades Gurkhas and Mansabdar Gurkha to Honored (+30% hit points and attack, +1 Line of Sight and range); requires Disciplined Gurkha
Imperial Age
Exalted ranged infantry Exalted Gurkha 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Gurkhas and Mansabdar Gurkha to Exalted (+50% hit points and attack, +1 Line of Sight and range); requires Honored Gurkha

Further statistics[]

As (Mansabdar) Gurkhas are unique to the Indians, only technologies that they have access to are shown in the following table:

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Heavy infantry, light cavalry, ranged shock infantry
Weak vs. Heavy cavalry, hand shock infantry, counter-skirmishers, artillery
Improvements
Hit points Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Smokeless Powder Smokeless Powder (+10%)
Armatoloi Armatoloi (+5%)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Clenched Fist Clenched Fist (+25% hand attack)
Somali jile daggers Somali Jile Daggers (-35% hand attack Rate of Fire)
Kalthoff repeaters Kalthoff Repeaters (+0.1 multiplier vs. light infantry)
Resistance Somali oryx shields Somali Oryx Hide Shields (+5% ranged resistance)
Range Schutzenfest Schützenfest (+1)
Line of Sight Schutzenfest Schützenfest (+1)
Speed Quechuan Mountaineering Quechuan Mountaineering (+10%)
Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (+5%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Train time Akan Drums Akan Fontomfrom (-20%)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
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 (Mansabdar) Gurkhas are unique to the Indians, 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 Gurkha
Some cards are highlighted with:
Green TEAM Shipment that is sent to each player in a team
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age
Team ranged infantry damage TEAM Senegalese Riflemen Ranged infantry get +10% attack; French and Hausa-only ranged infantry get +15% attack instead
Age III tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Senegalese Riflemen" is available to the French and Hausa.

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Chinese Home City 1 (TEAM Yongle Infrastructure) TEAM Yongle Infrastructure Ships 1 Mongol Scout; infantry, land villagers, healing units, Envoys, and Disciples get +5% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" does not stack with the Inca "TEAM Inca Bridges" card.

Dutch[]

Card Description Age
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +10% hit points; Dutch-only infantry get +15% hit points instead
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
French Home City 2 (Early Skirmishers) TEAM House of Bonaparte Skirmishers, Cassadores, Forest Prowlers, Wakina Rifles, Sharpshooters, Neftenyas, Imperial Army, and Territorial Army can be trained in the Commerce Age; Bersaglieri can be trained in the Fortress Age; Strelet, Jaeger, Longbowman, Salteador, Otontin Slinger, Gurkha, Yumi Archer, Jungle Bowman, Leather Cannon, and Desert Archer train time -20%
Age I tech tree aoe3

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Ships 1 Native Scout; infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (TEAM Inca Bridges) TEAM Inca Bridges Ships 1 Chasqui; infantry, land villagers, healing units, and Envoys get +5% speed
Age I tech tree aoe3
  • "TEAM Inca Bridges" does not stack with the Chinese "TEAM Yongle Infrastructure" card.

Indians[]

Card Description Age
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; Rajputs get +20% hand attack instead; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 2 (7 Gurkhas) 7 Gurkhas Ships 7 Gurkhas; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 2 (12 Gurkhas) 12 Gurkhas Ships 12 Gurkhas; +1 Hindu Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 2 (8 Gurkhas) 8 Gurkhas Ships 8 Gurkhas; +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 2 (14 Gurkhas) 14 Gurkhas Ships 14 Gurkhas; +1 Hindu Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Indian Home City 3 (Royal Green Jackets) Royal Green Jackets Ships 3 Gurkhas with each Consulate technology researched; Gurkhas and the Mansabdar Gurkha get +1.0 attack multiplier against heavy infantry
Age III tech tree aoe3
East india company British East India Company Sepoys, Gurkhas, and Sowars get +10% hit points and attack; +1 Hindu Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry and shock infantry train time -40%; +1 Hindu Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 3 (Conscript Sepoys) Zamindars Infantry train time -20%; ships 2 Sepoys instead of 1 Hindu Villager with every Home City shipment; +2 Sepoys
Age II tech tree aoe3
Indian Home City 3 (Foreign Trading Companies) Foreign Trading Companies Gives a trickle of 0.75 export/sec.; banner army cost -15% export; Indian units cost +2.5% (Hindu Villagers, Fishing Boats, and Sacred Cows cost +5% instead); +1 Hindu Villager
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

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 Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Dutch[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dutch Home City 2 (Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Infantry Hitpoints Infantry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

French[]

Card Description Age HC level
French Home City 2 (Ranged Infantry Attack) TEAM Ranged Infantry Attack Gunpowder infantry and archers get +15% attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
French Home City 2 (Early Skirmishers) TEAM Early Skirmishers Skirmishers, Cassadores, Forest Prowlers, Wakina Rifles, Imperial Army, and Territorial Army can be trained in the Commerce Age; Longbowman, Strelet, Otontin Slinger, Gurkha, and Yumi Archer train time -20%
Age I tech tree aoe3
25

Indians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Dravidian martial arts Dravidian Martial Arts All units get +15% hand attack; +1 Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
40
Indian Home City 2 (7 Gurkhas) 7 Gurkhas Ships 7 Gurkhas; +1 Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
1
Indian Home City 2 (12 Gurkhas) 12 Gurkhas Ships 12 Gurkhas; +1 Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
1
Indian Home City 2 (8 Gurkhas) 8 Gurkhas Ships 8 Gurkhas; +1 Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
Indian Home City 2 (14 Gurkhas) 14 Gurkhas Ships 14 Gurkhas; +1 Villager
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Indian Home City 3 (Royal Green Jackets) Royal Green Jackets Ships 3 Gurkhas with each Consulate technology researched; Gurkhas and the Mansabdar Gurkha get +1.0 attack multiplier against heavy infantry
Age III tech tree aoe3
10
East india company British East India Company Sepoys, Gurkhas, and Sowars get +10% hit points and attack; +1 Villager
Age III tech tree aoe3
25
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
25
Spanish Home City 3 (Fencing School) Fencing School Infantry train time -40%; +1 Villager
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Iroquois[]

Card Description Age HC level
Iroquois Home City 2 (Scout Infantry) TEAM Scout Infantry Infantry get +8 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3
10

Japanese[]

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

Portuguese[]

Card Description Age HC level
Portuguese Home City 2 (Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints) TEAM Gunpowder Infantry Hitpoints Gunpowder infantry get +15% hit points
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
10

Russians[]

Card Description Age HC level
Russian Home City 3 (Dueling School) Dueling School Infantry (except Skull Knights), Old Han Army, and Territorial Army train time -25%; Black Flag Army, Standard Army, Ming Army, and Imperial Army train time -12%
Age II tech tree aoe3
25

Spanish[]

Card Description Age HC level
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Inquisition All units get +10 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3
10

Changelog[]

The Asian Dynasties[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Gurkhas and Mansabdar Gurkhas cannot regenerate hit points.
  • The Gurkha's hotkey name now is correctly labeled as Gurkha in the game options.
  • Gurkhas have a ×2.0 ranged multiplier against light cavalry and ranged shock infantry, and ×0.75 against cavalry and hand shock infantry.
  • With update 20322, Mansabdar Gurkhas cost 1 population.

The African Royals[]

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • With update 13.9057, Gurkhas and Mansabdar Gurkhas are tagged as Light Infantry.
  • With update 13.58326, Gurkhas have a ×2.5 ranged multiplier against light cavalry and ranged shock infantry, ×0.6 vs. cavalry and ×0.5 vs. shock infantry.
  • With update 14.43676, Gurkhas have 8 hand damage, a ×0.6 vs. ranged multiplier against shock infantry, a ×2.5 melee multiplier against heavy infantry, and use the kukri short sword in hand attacks.

Trivia[]

History[]

The Gurkhas are a Nepalese ethnic group who originally claimed to be descendents of the northern India Rajputs, but who took their famous name from the small state of Gurkha in Nepal, which they conquered in the early sixteenth century. For 200 years, the Gurkhas expanded eastward, seeking to conquer all of Nepal. They succeeded, and by the mid-eighteenth century, the entire country was theirs and Hinduism was named the state religion. The Gurkhas attempted to invade Tibet but ultimately failed, and as war with the British broke out in India, they found their control waning. They did, however, discover a surprisingly fruitful partnership with the British occupational forces in India.

Known for their short, curved sword called a kukri, the Gurkhas served in the armies of India and Great Britain, where more than 200,000 soldiers fought alongside the British in World War I, and in forty battalions in World War II.

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
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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