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Heavy cavalry mercenary with a powerful short ranged attack.
—In-game description

The Harquebusier is a mercenary cavalry in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition. Harquebusiers are a very delicate heavy cavalry that function as improved Hakkapelits, that can also switch into ranged attack by setting them in stagger mode.

Overview[]

Harquebusiers have very high damage but relatively low hit points compared to other mercenary cavalry. Besides, they have a short ranged attack that offers them to guarantee the first attack, but not enough to enable hit-and-run tactics. Without proper micro-management, they might allow enemy melee units to retaliate.

Although Harquebusiers can strike with great force (they can kill Zamburaks with one hit in melee), they should not be used on their own during battle, since their low hit points make them vulnerable to enemy attacks. They excel at raiding enemy Villagers: they can kill a villager in two strikes in melee, four strikes with ranged attack. Harquebusiers should be used like Hussars, but mixed with regular hand cavalry or other heavy cavalry mercenaries.

Further statistics[]

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Heavy cavalry, hand shock infantry, artillery
Weak vs. Heavy infantry, light cavalry, ranged shock infantry
Improvements
Hit points Cavalry Cuirass Cavalry Cuirass (+10%)
Comanche Horse Breeding Comanche Horse Breeding (+10%)
Cree Tanning Cree Tanning (+5%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Navajo Weaving Navajo Weaving (+5%)
Tar kilns Tar Kilns (+5%)
Attack Ranged Cavalry Caracole Ranged Cavalry Caracole (+10%)
Smokeless Powder Smokeless Powder (+10%)
Gadaa System Gadaa System (+5%; Ethiopians only)
Yoga Yoga (+5%)
Pillage Pillage (+25% siege attack multiplier vs. buildings)
Horsemanship Horsemanship (+1.0 multiplier vs. Walls; Lakota only)
Wind horses Wind Horses (-10% Rate of Fire)
Carabinieri Carabinieri (-10% ranged Rate of Fire; Italians only)
Resistance Kapikulu Corps Kapikulu Corps (+10% hand resistance; Ottomans only)
Sudanese quilted armor Sudanese Quilted Armor (+10% hand resistance)
Pancerni Pancerni (+10% ranged resistance)
Range Ranged Cavalry Caracole Ranged Cavalry Caracole (+2)
Line of Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+3)
Ranged Cavalry Caracole Ranged Cavalry Caracole (+2)
Speed Horse Secrets Horse Secrets (+10%; Haudenosaunee only)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Comanche Mustangs Comanche Mustangs (+5%)
Wind horses Wind Horses (+0.5)
Train time Cheyenne Horse Trading Cheyenne Horse Trading (-40%)
Mass Cavalry Mass Cavalry (-35%)
Terror Charge Terror Charge (-20%; Indians only)
Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Quechuan Diet Quechuan Diet (-15%)
Carabinieri Carabinieri (-10%; Italians only)
Immigrants Immigrants (-10%)
New Mexico Immigration New Mexico Immigration (-10%; United States only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Shaman drums Shaman Drums (-10%)
Strangers' Quarters Strangers' Quarters (-10%; Africans only)
Cost Mapuche Ad-mapu Mapuche Ad-mapu (-10% coin cost)
Golden liberty Golden Liberty (-5% coin cost)
Blue Nile Ties Blue Nile Ties (-15%; Ethiopians only)
Philhellenism Philhellenism (-10%)
Yemeni Relations Yemeni Relations (exchanges cost for 50% coin, 50% influence; Ethiopians only)
Other Multinationalism Multinationalism (ships 8 random European mercenaries)
Wallensteins Contracts Wallenstein's Contracts (mercenary shipments cost no coin; Germans only)
Penalties Coffee Trade Coffee Trade (-10% speed; Dutch only)

Home City Cards[]

Click for a list of Home City Cards related to the Harquebusier
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
Red Shipment that can be sent twice
Blue Shipment that arrives fast (5 seconds)

All[]

Card Description Age
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Damage) Cavalry Damage Cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Hitpoints) Cavalry Hitpoints Cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Cavalry Combat Cavalry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Mexican Home City 3 (Liberation March) Liberation March Infantry, cavalry, and shock infantry get +5% speed and -35% train time
Age III tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Riding School) Riding School Cavalry train time -40% (also +2 Uhlans for the Germans; +1 Villager for the Indians)
Age II tech tree aoe3
Baja California Home City (Outlaw Combat) Outlaw Combat Outlaws and mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack (also upgrades Filibusters to Veteran for Baja California; costs 750 coin for Baja California, Hungary, and Revolutionary Mexicans)
Revolution
  • "Cavalry Damage" is available to the British, Haudenosaunee, and Lakota.
  • "Cavalry Hitpoints" is available to the British and Haudenosaunee.
  • "Cavalry Combat" is available to the British, Dutch, French, Italians, Lakota, Mexicans, Ottomans, Russians, and Spanish.
  • "Liberation March" is available to the Mexicans and Spanish.
  • "Riding School" is available to Europeans (except the Maltese and Spanish) and Indians.
  • "Outlaw Combat" is available to the Mexicans upon revolting to Baja California and Europeans upon revolting to the Barbary States, Hungary, and Mexico.

Africans[]

Card Description Age
Trainspeed africa Feudal Armies All units' train time -15%; Heroes respawn time -15%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Loyal warriors Loyal Warriors Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15% (also affects shipments)
Age III tech tree aoe3

Chinese[]

Card Description Age
Western reforms Western Reforms All units get +8% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Acupuncture aoe3 Acupuncture All units' train time -20%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Ethiopians[]

Card Description Age
Ignatian spirituality Ignatian Spirituality All units get +5% hit points and regeneration capability even while in combat
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Ethiopian Home City 5 (British Firearms) British Firearms Ships 6 Harquebusiers; Oromo Warriors, Neftenya, Levied Gunners, and Ras get +5% ranged attack; costs 1,000 influence
Age III tech tree aoe3

Europeans[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 5 (Highland Mercenary Army) Hire Highland Mercenary Army Ships 8 Swiss Pikemen, 6 Highlanders, and 4 Harquebusiers; costs 2,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
Spanish Home City 5 (Mercenary Loyalty). Mercenary Loyalty Mercenary and native warrior shipments cost -10% to -25%
Age III tech tree aoe3
Portuguese Home City 5 (Hire Harquebusiers) Hire British Harquebusiers Ships 6 Harquebusiers; costs 1,000 coin
Age III tech tree aoe3
Blandengues Blandengues Hand cavalry cost -20%
Revolution
Loyal warriors Loyal Warriors Native warriors, mercenaries, and outlaws cost -15%; "TEAM 4 Zenata Rider", "Recruit Xebec", "Recruit Xebecs", and "15 Berber Allies" cost no coin
Revolution
Gran Colombia Home City (Albion Mercenary Legion) Albion Mercenary Legion Ships 2 Highlanders, 2 Jaegers, and 3 Harquebusiers
Revolution
South Africa Home City (Wanderlust) Wanderlust Land units get +5% hit points; land villagers and wagons get +5% speed
Revolution
  • "Hire Highland Mercenary Army" is available to the British, Dutch, Germans (with 1 extra Swiss Pikeman, Highlander, and Harquebusier), Spanish, and Swedes.
  • "Mercenary Loyalty" reduces the cost of "Hire Highland Mercenary Army" by 10% and "Hire British Harquebusiers" by 25%.
  • "Hire British Harquebusiers" is available to the British, Dutch, Germans (with 2 extra Harquebusiers), Portuguese, and Russians.
  • "Blandengues" is available to the Germans, Italians, and Spanish upon revolting to Argentina.
  • "Loyal Warriors" is available to the Italians, Maltese, Ottomans, and Portuguese upon revolting to the Barbary States.
  • "Albion Mercenary Legion" is available to the Germans, Portuguese, and Spanish upon revolting to Gran Colombia.
  • "Wanderlust" is available to the British and Dutch upon revolting to South Africa, and can be sent 3 times.

French[]

Card Description Age
French Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) TEAM Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry and hand shock infantry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Germans[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Cavalry Attack) TEAM Cavalry Attack The player's heavy cavalry, light cavalry, and shock infantry get +15% attack; allied cavalry and shock infantry get +10% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
German Home City 3 (Spanish Riding School) Spanish Riding School Cavalry get +10% speed; +4 Uhlans
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
German Home City 5 (Improved Mercenaries) Improved Mercenaries Mercenaries get +15% hit points and attack; +3 Uhlans
Age III tech tree aoe3

Haudenosaunee[]

Card Description Age
Haudenosaunee Home City 5 (Covenant Chain) Covenant Chain Ships 4 Irish Brigadiers, 4 Highlanders, 3 Harquebusiers, and 2 Heavy Cannons; costs 2,000 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Hausa[]

Card Description Age
Hausa Home City Cards 5 (Sahelian Kingdoms) Sahelian Kingdoms Native warriors get +15% hit points and attack; mercenaries and outlaws get +10% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Inca[]

Card Description Age
Inca Home City 2 (Road Building) Road Building Land military units get +10% speed
Age II tech tree aoe3

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
Shivajis tactics TEAM Shivaji's Tactics All units get +5% hit points and attack
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

Italians[]

Card Description Age
Italian Home City 2 (Schiavoni Swords) Schiavoni Swords Infantry and cavalry get +15% hand attack
Age II tech tree aoe3

Japanese[]

Card Description Age
Bakufu Bakufu Daimyo and Shogun Tokugawa get +10% speed, +20 Line of Sight and train units 15% faster; land military units' train time -20%; Banner army train time -10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

Lakota[]

Card Description Age
Sioux Home City 2 (Mustangs) Mustangs Cavalry and shock infantry cost -10%
Age III tech tree aoe3

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
Maltese Home City 3 (Squires) Squires Military buildings train and research work 80% faster, except Forts which train and research work 340% faster
Age III tech tree aoe3

Mexicans[]

Card Description Age
Mexico card Plan of Casa Mata Plan of Casa Mata [Plan] Turns all Dragoons into Chinacos; hand cavalry get +5% speed; costs 250 food, 250 wood
Age III tech tree aoe3
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
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

Russians[]

Card Description Age
Russian Home City 2 (Cavalry Scout) TEAM Kamchatka Expeditions Cavalry and shock infantry get +10% hit points and +4 Line of Sight
Age I tech tree aoe3

Spanish[]

Card Description Age
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Attack) Hand Cavalry Attack Hand cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Cavalry Hitpoints) Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 3 (Inquisition) TEAM Spanish Inquisition Ships 1 Inquisitor; all units get +10 Line of Sight
Age II tech tree aoe3

Swedes[]

Card Description Age
German Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Attack) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Attack Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% attack
Age II tech tree aoe3
Spanish Home City 2 (Hand Infantry Hitpoints) Hand Infantry/Hand Cavalry Hitpoints Hand infantry and hand cavalry get +15% hit points
Age II tech tree aoe3
British Home City 2 (Cavalry Combat) Ranged Cavalry Combat Ranged cavalry get +15% hit points and attack
Age III tech tree aoe3
Swedish Home City 5 (German Mercenary Contracts) German Mercenary Contracts Mercenaries get +20% hit points and attack; Jaegers and Landsknechts can be trained at Barracks and Galleons; Black Riders can be trained at Stables and Galleons
Age IV tech tree aoe 3

United States[]

Card Description Age
US Home City 5 (Poker) Poker Ships 13 random mercenaries; up to 3 random mercenaries available at Saloon; costs 3,500 coin
Age IV tech tree aoe 3
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 hamilton's own Hamilton's Own Ships 4 Napoleon Guns and 2 Li'l Bombards; mercenaries get +25% hit points and attack; costs 2,500 coin
Imperial Age
Federal card seminole ponies Seminole Ponies Ships 9 Hussars; hand cavalry get +15% hit points and attack, and +5% speed; cavalry train time -10%
Imperial Age
  • "Indiana Mobilization" is available upon selecting the Indiana Federal State.
  • "Hamilton's Own" is available upon selecting the New York Federal State.
  • "Seminole Ponies" is available upon selecting the Florida Federal State.

Changelog[]

Definitive Edition[]

  • Originally, Harquebusiers had 97 ranged damage and a ranged rate of fire of 1.5. Since update 5208, they have 80 ranged damage, a ranged rate of fire of 2.0, and a ranged area of effect of 1.
  • Originally, Harquebusiers had 30% ranged resistance. With update 13088, they have 20% ranged resistance.
  • Harquebusiers have a ×2.0 ranged multiplier against pet and hand shock infantry, and a ×0.5 ranged multiplier against hand infantry.

The African Royals[]

  • With update 43871, the Harquebusier portrait has been updated to align with his in-game appearance.

Knights of the Mediterranean[]

  • Although it is not listed in the patch notes, with update 13.9057, Harquebusiers have a ×1.0 ranged multiplier against pet and hand shock infantry, and a ×0.5 ranged multiplier against Pikeman (same as Hakkapelits).

In-game dialogue[]

The Harquebusier speaks a variant of Middle English using the British Falconet's dialogue files.

Trivia[]

History[]

The harquebusier was the most common form of cavalry found throughout Western Europe during the early and mid 17th century. This type of cavalryman was characterised by the use of a form of carbine, the earliest type of carbine used was called a "harquebus" derived from arquebus. The switch of the harquebusier from a mounted support role, reliant on firearms, to one of shock-capable close combat cavalry came from Sweden (Hakkapelit). The harquebusier was first invented in France. The later harquebusier was used in a shock role by cavalry leaders of the English Civil War. They employed harquesbusiers very aggressively: charging with sword in hand, thus relegating their firearms to a secondary function.

The harquebusier would usually have been armed with a carbine, wheellock, snaphaunce or doglock flintlock, hung from a swivel attached to a baldric, pistols in saddle holsters, and a stout, straight-bladed, sword and a typical harquebusier would have an iron cuirass with a breast and backplate, and an open faced helmet such as a lobster-tailed pot.
—In-game history section

Gallery[]

Mercenary and Outlaw units in Age of Empires III
Aoe3 unit type mercenary Mercenaries
InfantryMercenary armored pistoleer portrait Armored Pistoleer · Arsonist aoe3de Arsonist · Askari aoe3de portrait Askari · Corsair de Barbary Corsair · Cannoneer portrait aoe3de Cannoneer · Dahomey amazon aoe3de portrait Dahomey Amazon · Fusilier de Fusilier · Mercenary giant grenadier portrait Giant Grenadier · Highlander de Highlander · Mercenary irish brigade portrait Irish Brigadier · Iron troop aoe3de Iron Troop · Jaeger portrait aoe3de updated Jaeger · Landsknecht de Landsknecht · Ninja de Ninja · Mercenary pandour portrait Pandour · Ronin de Ronin · Swiss pikeman aoe3de Swiss Pikeman · Zouave icon aoe3de Zouave
CavalryBlack rider aoe3de Black Rider · Mercenary bosniak rider portrait Bosniak · Elmeti aoe3de Elmetto · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel · Hackapell aoe3de Hackapell · Harquebusier icon Harquebusier · Jat lancer de Jat Lancer · Kanuri guard aoe3de portrait Kanuri Guard · Mameluke aoe3de Mameluke · Manchu de Manchu · Mercenary mounted rifleman portrait Mounted Rifleman · Mercenary royal horseman portrait Royal Horseman · Sennar horseman aoe3de portrait Sennar Horseman · Stradiot aoe3de Stradiot · Yojimbo aoe3de Yojimbo · Zenata rider aoe3de portrait Zenata Rider
ArtilleryLil bombard aoe3de Li'l Bombard · Napoleon gun icon aoe3de Napoleon Gun · Gatling camel aoe3de portrait Gatling Camel
ShipBattleship portrait Battleship · Privateer aoe3de Privateer · War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow · Wokou junk aoe3de Wokou Junk · Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Outlaws
InfantryAfrican vagabond portrait African Vagabond · Colonial looter portrait Colonial Looter · Dacoit aoe3de Dacoit · Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer · Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior · Hajduk portrait Hajduk · Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman · Inquisitor portrait Inquisitor · Pistolero aoe3de Pistolero · Renegado aoe3de Renegado · Thuggee aoe3de Thuggee · Blind monk aoe3de Wokou Monk · Wayward ronin aoe3de Wokou Ronin
Shock infantryPirate aoe3de Pirate · Wokou pirate aoe3de Wokou Pirate
CavalryComanchero icon aoe3de Comanchero · Cossack daredevil portrait Cossack Daredevil · Crabat portrait Crabat · Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider · Highwayman dismounted portrait Highwayman · Wokou horseman aoe3de Wokou Horseman
ArtilleryCaptured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar
ShipCatamaran aoe3de Marathan Catamaran
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesGunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger · Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy · Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansDesperado portrait Desperado · Vaquero portrait Cuatrero · Bandido portrait Bandido
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