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โ€œHeavy artillery. Good against infantry or buildings.โ€
—In-game description

The Heavy Cannon is an artillery unit in Age of Empires III that can only be trained at the Factory or shipped from the Home City.

Heavy Cannons are available to European civilizations except British (who have Rockets instead), John Black's Mercenaries (Act II: Ice campaign), Knights of St. John (Act I: Blood campaign), and Ottomans (who have Great Bombards instead).

Overview

The Heavy Cannon is the typical heavy artillery piece for the Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Russians, Dutch, and French. Its power and hit points are similar to the Great Bombard, but the rate of fire is slightly faster and it has no penalties versus Cavalry. The Heavy Cannon is effective against enemy infantry and artillery units, Spanish cannons using Unction are also effective versus Cavalry and other Artillery due to high damage and lack of significant penalties.

Overall, a Heavy Cannon (1 on 1 and lacking Unction) would have a good chance to beat a Great Bombard with full health, though it would rely on the Heavy Cannon getting two shots off (12 seconds) before the Bombard began attacking the Heavy Cannon. This is realistically possible due to the Heavy Cannon's smaller penalty versus other artillery and its greater rate of fire. Other common factors such as battlefield confusion, varying levels of micromanagement skill and line of sight advantages allow this scenario to occur frequently. The population cost of this unit is 7.

The General Imperial Age politician provides one Heavy Cannon for Dutch, French, Germans, and Spanish.

Hidden cost

The Heavy Cannon has a base cost of 200 wood and 500 coin, and a train time of 115 seconds (86.25 seconds with Engineering School or TEAM Engineering School Home City Card, 69 seconds with both), while the Factory generates 5.5 (7.15 with the respective improvements) resources every second.

Therefore, a Factory producing a Heavy Cannon uses up 632.5 resources (475.75 with Engineering School or TEAM Engineering School, 379.5 with both); with all three of the respective improvements, the value goes up to 822.5 (618.475 with Engineering School or TEAM Engineering School, 493.35 with both).

This means for the majority of civilizations, especially those lacking significant damage potential with Heavy Cannon, it is very economically damaging to create them. Improvements and Home City Cards that reduces artillery train time will also affect the Factory, whereas no economic cards do the same. With Engineering School and TEAM Engineering School, the bonus for Heavy Cannon is only 15% whereas regular artillery will train 70% faster (30% faster for civilizations lacking their Engineering School), fielding much quicker.

Upgrades

Age Upgrade Cost Effect
Imperial Age
Imperial artillery Imperial Cannon 1,500 wood
1,500 coin
Upgrades Heavy Cannons to Imperial Cannons (+50% hit points and attack)

Civilization differences

The Chinese can get Heavy Cannons by the following ways:

Further statistics

Unit strengths and weaknesses
Strong vs. Most units, buildings
Weak vs. Artillery especially Culverins, Arrow Knights
Improvements
Hit points Professional gunners Professional Gunners (+10%)
Attack Heated Shot Heated Shot (+1.5x multiplier vs. ships)
Sight Town Watch Town Watch (+2)
Gunners Quadrant Gunner's Quadrant (+6)
Speed Trunion Trunion (+15%)
Apache Endurance Apache Endurance (+5%)
Creation speed Mass Production Mass Production (-25%)
File:Inca Chaquis Messengers.png Incan Chasquis Messengers (-10%)
Other Merritocracy Meritocracy (-20% upgrade cost)
Penalties Coffee Trade Coffee Trade (-10% speed, Dutch only)

Home City Cards

History

โ€œThe logistics of moving, maintaining, positioning, aiming, and firing artillery required a highly drilled and disciplined team with a sharp commander. In addition to the men and artillery pieces in his command, an artillery officer had to see to the horses used to haul the pieces around - sometimes up to six for heavier guns. When one side in a battle could field hundreds of artillery pieces, the logistics of just moving them into position were taxing. "Heavy Cannon" is a relative term, but in general, cannon considered 'heavy' were typically used as permanent gun emplacements to defend Forts and strategic locations.โ€

Gallery

Military units in Age of Empires III
Common/shared units
3Icon48px Age of Empires IIIExplorer aoe3de Explorer ยท Militiaman de Militiaman ยท Crossbow aoe3de Crossbowman ยท Pikeman aoe3de Pikeman ยท Halberdier de Halberdier ยท Musketeer icon aoe3de Musketeer ยท Skirmisher aoe3de Skirmisher ยท Grenadier de Grenadier ยท Hussar aoe3de Hussar ยท Dragoon aoe3de Dragoon ยท Cavalry archer portrait aoe3de updated Cavalry Archer ยท Falconet aoe3de Falconet ยท Culverin icon aoe3de Culverin ยท Mortar de Mortar ยท Heavy cannon de Heavy Cannon ยท Caravel aoe3de Caravel ยท Galleon aoe3de Galleon ยท Frigate aoe3de Frigate ยท Monitor aoe3de Monitor
3WCIcon48px The WarChiefsWarrior de Warrior ยท Horse art de Horse Artillery ยท Petard aoe3de Petard ยท Spy aoe3de portrait updated Spy ยท Native canoe aoe3de Canoe ยท War canoe aoe3de War Canoe ยท Ironclad aoe3de Ironclad
Age3DE Icon Definitive Edition*Captured mortar aoe3de Captured Mortar ยท Sloop aoe3de Sloop ยท Steamer aoe3de Steamer ยท Battleship portrait Battleship
Age3DE Icon The African RoyalsLevied spearman portrait aoe3de Levied Spearman ยท Levied bowman portrait aoe3de Levied Bowman ยท Levied gunner portrait aoe3de Levied Gunner ยท Javelin rider aoe3de Javelin Rider ยท Desert warrior portrait aoe3de Desert Warrior ยท Desert archer portrait aoe3de Desert Archer ยท Desert raider portrait aoe3de Desert Raider ยท Battle canoe portrait aoe3de Battle Canoe ยท Cannon boat portrait aoe3de Cannon Boat
Unique units
Flag BritishDE BritishLongbow aoe3de Longbowman ยท Ranger portrait Ranger ยท Rocket de Rocket
Flag DutchDE DutchRuyter de Ruyter ยท Fluyt aoe3de Fluyt
Flag FrenchDE FrenchCuirassier de Cuirassier
Flag GermanDE GermansGermans landwehr portrait Landwehr ยท Doppel de Doppelsoldner ยท Uhlan portrait aoe3de updated Uhlan ยท War wagon de War Wagon
Flag OttomanDE OttomansOttomans bashibozuk portrait Bashibozuk ยท Janissary aoe3de Janissary ยท Ottomans azap portrait Azap ยท Nizam icon Nizam Fusilier ยท Ottomans deli portrait Deli ยท Ottomans abus gunner portrait Abus Gunner ยท Ottomans humbaraci portrait Humbaraci ยท Great bombard de Great Bombard ยท Spy ottoman portrait Muhbir ยท Spahi de Sipahi ยท Galley aoe3de Galley
Flag PortugueseDE PortugueseOrdinance rifleman portrait Ordinance Rifleman ยท Cacador de Cassador ยท Organ aoe3de Organ Gun
Flag RussianDE RussiansStrelet de Strelet ยท Russians rekrut portrait aoe3de Rekrut ยท Russians poruchik portrait aoe3de Poruchik ยท Cossack de Cossack ยท Oprichink de Oprichnik
Flag SpanishDE SpanishRandelero de Rodelero ยท Lancer portrait aoe3de updated Lancer
Flag AztecDE AztecsAztecChief AoE3DE Aztec War Chief ยท Eagle scout aoe3de Eagle Scout ยท Coyote runner aoe3de Coyote Runner ยท Otontin slinger Otontin Slinger ยท Puma spearman de Puma Spearman ยท Arrow knight de Arrow Knight ยท Eagle runner knight de Eagle Runner Knight ยท Jaguar prowl knight de Jaguar Prowl Knight ยท Warrior priest de Warrior Priest ยท Skull knight aoe3de Skull Knight ยท Tlaloc aoe3de Tlaloc Canoe
Flag IroquoisDE HaudenosauneeIro warchief aoe3de Haudenosaunee War Chief ยท Aenna de Aenna ยท Tomahawk de Tomahawk ยท Forest prowler de Forest Prowler ยท Kanya de Kanya Horseman ยท Musket rider de Musket Rider ยท Ram aoe3de Ram ยท Iro mantlet de Mantlet ยท Light cannon de Light Cannon
Flag SiouxDE LakotaSx warchief aoe3de Lakota War Chief ยท Cetan de Cetan Bowman ยท Club warrior de Club Warrior ยท Wakina de Wakina Rifle ยท Axe rider de Axe Rider ยท Bow rider de Bow Rider ยท Rifle rider de Rifle Rider ยท Tashunke de Tashunke Prowler ยท Tokala soldier portrait updated Tokala Soldier
Flag ChineseDE ChineseShaolin master aoe3de Shaolin Master ยท Shaolin monk aoe3de Disciple ยท Sentry cn jp de Sentry ยท Irregular cn jp de Irregular ยท Chu ko nu aoe3de Chu Ko Nu ยท Qiang pikeman de Qiang Pikeman ยท Changdao de Changdao Swordsman ยท Arquebusier de Arquebusier ยท Steppe rider de Steppe Rider ยท Keshik de Keshik ยท Iron flail de Iron Flail ยท Meteor hammer de Meteor Hammer ยท Flamethrower de Flamethrower ยท Hand mortar de Hand Mortar ยท Flying crow de Flying Crow ยท Fire ship aoe3de Fire Junk ยท War junk aoe3de War Junk ยท Fuchuan aoe3de Fuchuan
Flag IndianDE IndiansBrahminDE Brahmin ยท Sentry IN de Sentry ยท Irregular IN de Irregular ยท Rajput de Rajput ยท Sepoy de Sepoy ยท Gurkha de Gurkha ยท Urumi de Urumi Swordsman ยท Sowar de Sowar ยท Zamburak mansabdar de Zamburak ยท Mahout de Mahout Lancer ยท Howdah aoe3de Howdah ยท Flail elephant de Flail Elephant ยท Siege elephant de Siege Elephant
Flag JapaneseDE JapaneseIkkoIkkiDE Sohei Archer ยท Sentry cn jp de Sentry ยท Irregular cn jp de Irregular ยท Yumi archer de Yumi Archer ยท Ashigaru de Ashigaru Musketeer ยท Samurai aoe3de Samurai ยท Naginata de Naginata Rider ยท Yabusame de Yabusame ยท Flaming arrow aoe3de Flaming Arrow ยท Morutaru de Morutaru ยท Daimyo kiyomasa aoe3de Daimyo ยท Tokugawa aoe3de Shogun Tokugawa ยท Yamabushi aoe3de Yamabushi ยท Shinobi aoe3de Shinobi ยท Fune aoe3de Fune ยท Atakabune aoe3de Atakebune ยท Tekkousen aoe3de Tekkousen
Flag IncanDE IncaInca-war-chief-icon-aoe3 Inca War Chief ยท Chasqui-icon-aoe3 Chasqui ยท Jungle-bowman-icon-aoe3 Jungle Bowman ยท Plumed-spearman-icon-aoe3 Plumed Spearman ยท Chimu-runner-icon-aoe3 Chimu Runner ยท DE Bolas Warrior Icon Bolas Warrior ยท Huaraca-icon-aoe3 Huaraca ยท Inca Maceman Icon Maceman ยท Chincha raft aoe3de Chincha Raft
Flag SwedishDE SwedesCarolean Carolean ยท Hakkapelit-icon-aoe3 Hakkapelit ยท Leather-cannon-icon-aoe3 Leather Cannon
Flag American act3 aoe3de United StatesUs general aoe3de General ยท Us marine aoe3de Minuteman ยท State militia aoe3de State Militia ยท Regular aoe3de Regular ยท Sharpshooter icon aoe3 Sharpshooter ยท Carbine cavalry aoe3de Carbine Cavalry ยท Gatlin de Gatling Gun ยท Quaker gun icon Quaker Gun ยท Gunslinger aoe3de Gunslinger ยท Cowboy aoe3de Cowboy ยท Owlhoot aoe3de Owlhoot
Flag MexicanDE MexicansGeneral mx portrait General ยท Padre revolution portrait Padre ยท Insurgente portrait Insurgente ยท Soldado portrait Soldado ยท Emboscador portrait Salteador ยท Chinaco portrait Chinaco ยท Desperado portrait Desperado ยท Vaquero portrait Cuatrero ยท Bandido portrait Bandido
Flag Ethiopian aoe3de EthiopiansRas portrait aoe3de Ras ยท Oromo warrior portrait aoe3de Oromo Warrior ยท Gascenya portrait aoe3de Gascenya ยท Shotel warrior aoe3de Shotel Warrior ยท Neftenya portrait aoe3de Neftenya ยท Sebastopol mortar portrait aoe3de Sebastopol Mortar ยท War dhow portrait aoe3de War Dhow
Flag Hausa HausaEmir aoe3de portrait Emir ยท Fulani Fulani Archer ยท Raider aoe3de portrait Raider ยท Lifidi knight aoe3de portrait Lifidi Knight ยท Maigadi aoe3de portrait Maigadi ยท Xebec portrait aoe3de Xebec
Flag ItalianDE ItaliansItalians pavisier portrait Pavisier ยท Italians bersagliere portrait Bersagliere ยท Italians papal guard portrait Papal Guard ยท Italians schiavone portrait Schiavone ยท Italians papal lancer portrait Papal Lancer ยท Italians papal zouave portrait Papal Zouave ยท Italians papal bombard portrait Papal Bombard ยท Italians leonardo tank portrait Leonardo's Tank ยท Galleass portrait Galleass
Flag MalteseDE MalteseAlain icon aoe3de Grand Master ยท Hospitaller portrait Hospitaller ยท Maltese sentinel portrait Sentinel ยท Hoop thrower aoe3de Fire Thrower ยท Order galley portrait Order Galley ยท SPC Fire ship aoe3de Fire Ship
Revolution Revolution
Barbarystates rev barbary warrior portrait aoe3de updated Barbary Warrior ยท Bolivar icon aoe3de Bolivar ยท Californio portrait Californio ยท Cetbang aoe3de Cetbang Cannon ยท Oruc Reis Icon Corsair Captain ยท Berber arquebusier aoe3de Corsair Marksman ยท Cruzob avenger portrait Cruzob Avenger ยท Cruzob infantry portrait Cruzob Infantry ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Cuerudo ยท Rev france eclaireur portrait aoe3de Eclaireur ยท Filibuster aoe3de Filibuster ยท Gatlin de Gatling Gun ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Gaucho ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Jagunรงo ยท Java spearman aoe3de Javanese Spearman ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Llanero ยท Militia Officer portrait Militia Officer ยท Comanchero icon aoe3de Morochuco ยท Mounted Granadero Portrait Mounted Granadero ยท Colonial militia aoe3de Revolutionary ยท Us volunteer icon Revolutionary Sharpshooter ยท San martin portrait San Martin ยท Covered wagon aoe3de Trek Wagon
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