Elisabet Ramsey and Morgan Black
The heroes in Age of Empires III are units with high hit points who can regenerate, have a high attack against Treasure guardians, have special abilities, can collect treasures, and are good at exploring maps due to their high Line of Sight. In the Definitive Edition, all heroes have a distinct, golden glow that helps tell them apart from common units.
Spies and Ninjas have a multiplier against them. If a hero falls, he will collapse instead of dying and needs to regenerate enough hit points to be rescued by allies. There are two types of heroes: campaign and non-campaign. Not all heroes have the same abilities and capabilities, especially the ones from the campaign.
Skirmish[]
In Age of Empires III and its expansions, the Explorer/War Chief/Monk/General/Grand Master/African leaders functions as a hero unit and it cannot be killed. Most heroes can be ransomed, and Native American war chiefs can be "revived" through a ceremony. They can be improved with some Home City Cards, can detect stealth units, and build Trading Posts and Town Centers.
European heroes[]
Explorer: Can be ransomed, have Sharpshooter Attack and Eye of the Assassin special abilities, and can be improved to summon a Hot Air Balloon. The Portuguese Explorer can use the Spyglass ability and others' civilizations' Explorers can get other abilities though Home City Cards. Each civilization's Explorer starts with a different minor bonus such as additional attack range or better hit point regeneration.
Explorer Dog: Shipped through the Home City Card that upgrades the Explorer, it is available to all European civilizations except the Spanish and Maltese.- Grand Master: Maltese hero that replaces the Explorer and can build Town Centers, Trading Posts, Gunpowder Depots, Forts and Fixed Guns.
- Lamb of the Creator: Shipped through the Home City Card that upgrades the Grand Master. Cannot attack, scout purpose only.
Native American War Chiefs[]
All can be "revived" though a Community Plaza ceremony and recruit human Treasure guardians.
- Aztec War Chief: Can train Eagle Scouts, has the Cuachic Ascension sweeping attack, and his aura doubles the experience from nearby friendly units' kills. Can be improved to increase the aura's experience bounty at the Community Plaza.
- Haudenosaunee War Chief: The only ranged War Chief, has the Sharpshooter and Eagle Eye special abilities, and his aura increases the hit points of nearby friendly units. Can be improved to heal at the Community Plaza.
- Inca War Chief: Can build Tambos and Strongholds, has the Condor Eye special ability, and his aura increases the hit points of nearby native warriors.
- Lakota War Chief: Mounted War Chief, has the Berserker special ability, his aura increases the speed of nearby friendly units and can be improved to get a high multiplier against artillery at the Community Plaza.
Asian Monks[]
All can be ransomed and have the Stun special ability.
- Sohei Archer: Japanese start with two of them, can build Shrines and has the Smoke Bomb and Divine Strike special abilities, and can be improved to have the passive Dodge ability and the Sabotage special ability at the Monastery.
- Shaolin Master: Chinese Monk, starts with the passive Critical Strike ability, can train Disciples, and can be improved at the Monastery to have an aura that increases Disciples' hit points and attack.
- Brahmin: Indians start with two of them, can heal by default and have the Stomp passive ability, and can be improved at the Monastery to increase their healing rate and the Stomp chance, plus an aura to improve the speed of the allied Elephants.
American heroes[]
- General: Can be ransomed, can use the Sharpshooter Attack and Inspiring Flag special abilities, and can build Forts instead of Town Centers. The United States' General unlocks a charged Carbine Attack and the Mexicans' General unlocks a Saber Strike charged attack.
- Padre: Healer unit of the Mexicans that arrives in the Commerce Age. Can use the Pacify special ability, gets a Heavy Strike charged attack, builds Cathedrals and Trading Posts, and can be upgraded through Home City and Federal cards, as well as Cathedral technologies.
African heroes[]
Respawn automatically at the Town Center, and have the Fealty aura and the Chaos ability. Despite the different names, they only get different abilities through Home City shipments. Combat capability can be increased if more allied combatants are nearby.
- Ras: Ethiopian Hero. Can be improved with Home City cards to confuse enemies, and nearby allies attacking and moving faster.
- Emir: Hausa Hero. Can be improved with Home City cards to disrupt enemy buildings.
Revolutionary heroes[]
- Bolivar: Can be used as a shipment point, have the Eye of the Assassin and Heavy Strike special abilities, and have an aura that increases the hit points of nearby friendly units. Additionally, can train Revolutionaries.
- Corsair Captain: Can use the Crescent Swing and Lightning Kilij special abilities.
- San Martin: Hero.
- Militia Officer: Can use the Sharpshooter and Inspiring Flag abilities, can train Militiamen, has a charged Carbine Attack, and has an aura that increases the damage of nearby villagers, Native Warriors, and Militiamen.
Minor civilization heroes[]
The Berber and Akan heroes have the same abilities as the major African major civilization heroes; the Chaos ability, a Fealty aura, and the ability to respawn for free once defeated.
- Berber Sultan: Can train Zenata Riders and Barbary Corsairs, and can build Trading Posts and Native Embassies. His Fealty Aura increases his hit points and attack with Outlaws and Mercenaries nearby. Can unlock a charged musket attack by researching the Berber Fantasia technology.
- Akan Tufohen: Can heal units, and can build Trading Posts and Native Embassies. His Fealty Aura increases his hit points and attack with native warriors nearby.
Campaign[]
Original[]
Definitive Edition[]
Skins[]
Event Skins[]
Introduced with the release of The African Royals, the first skins unlockables for heroes were introduced in time limited events.
| Default | Skin | Event/Patch |
|---|---|---|
 Aztec War Chief
|
 Moctezuma
|
AoE II: DE Celebration Event / 50830 |
 Tonatiuh
| ||
 Goddess
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 Aztec Queen (not unlocked)
|
Community Events Skins | |
 British Explorer
|
 Elisabet Ramsey
|
International Women's Event / 13.690 |
 Ada Lovelace
| ||
 General Warwick
|
Age of Empires 25th Anniversary / 13.27885 | |
 Francis Drake
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Shaolin Master
|
 Lao Chen
|
Lunar New Year 2022 Event / 61213 |
 Jian Huang
| ||
 Zheng Yi Sao
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Dutch Explorer
|
 William the Silent
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Dutch Prince
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Ras
|
 Emperor Tewodros
|
African Royals Event / 38254 |
 French Explorer
|
 Captain Pecaudy
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Fernig Sister
| ||
 Marianne
|
Community Events Skins | |
 German Explorer
|
 Frรคulein
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Sissi Empress
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Haudenosaunee War Chief
|
 Nonahkee
|
Peacemaker / 13.18214 |
 Kรก:nien
| ||
 Thayendanegea
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Emir
|
 Usman dan Fodio
|
African Royals Event / 38254 |
 Queen Amina
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 Brahmin
|
 Nanib Sahir
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Armored Elephant
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Inca War Chief
|
 Manco Inca
|
Anniversary Event / 47581 |
 Tupac Amaru
| ||
 Qoya
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 Quechua woman
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Italian Explorer
|
 Vittorio Emanuele II
|
Knights of the Mediterranean Event / 13.9057 |
 Venetian Noblewoman
| ||
 Italian Nun
| ||
 Roman Centurion
| ||
 Sohei Archer
|
 Kichiro
|
Age of Empires 25th Anniversary / 13.27885 |
 Nakano Takeko
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 Kunoichi
|
Individual skin packs | |
 Lakota War Chief
|
 Chayton Black
|
Gift of Nature / 13.12327 |
 Wise Woman
| ||
 Ogle Tanka Un
| ||
 Grand Master
|
 Morgan Black
|
Knights of the Mediterranean Event / 13.9057 |
 Knightess Templar
| ||
 Ghonella Dame
| ||
 Alain Magnan
| ||
 Mexican General
|
 Tulacingo Officer
|
Fiesta Mexicana Event / 54545 |
 Calaca
| ||
 Adelita
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 La Catrina
| ||
 Ottoman Explorer
|
 ลahin
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 รelebi
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Portuguese Explorer
|
 Maria of Portugal
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Cangaรงeiro
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Russian Explorer
|
 Boyar
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Mila Bear
|
Community Events Skins | |
 Spanish Explorer
|
 Heroic Villager
|
Spring Event / 13.4412 |
 Flamenco Dancer
| ||
 Delgado
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 | |
 Swedish Explorer
|
 Queen Kristina
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
 Thor
|
Community Events Skins | |
 United States' General
|
 Uncle Sam
|
Fiesta Mexicana Event / 54545 |
 Astronaut
| ||
 Amelia
|
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1 |
Hero Cosmetic Pack โ Vol. 1: The Hero Cosmetic Pack introduced the first paid cosmetic DLC in the Age of Empires series. It features some previous unlockable skins, but also new ones.
Community Events Skins: Starting with update 14.43676 in August 2023, each month has featured a Community Event to unlock a hero skin. Players can play one match each week to collectively earn progress towards unlocking the skin, and they do not need to play every week to be eligible for the skin. As soon as enough games have been played in the month, the skin unlocks and can be claimed by all players.
TBA skins: These skins appear in the Home City hero skin selection section, but have not been featured in Community Event Challenges.
