Illinois is an Imperial Age Federal State in Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, available to the United States. As soon as the player advances to the Imperial Age by choosing Illinois, 1500 wood appears at the Home City shipment point and the following Home City cards will be added into the U.S. player's deck:
| Card | Description |
|---|---|
 Deere Steel Plow
|
Villagers gather from Mills and Estates 10% faster |
 Land of Lincoln
|
Inspiring Flags' AOE and LOS increased to 70, and now also increases the hit points of friendly units by 5% |
Strategy[]
For players that need late-game flexibility, support their troops, or improve the economy, Illinois is the best pick. The 1,500 wood it ships may be invested in Estates or Mills if the player wants to immediately use Deere Steel Plow. Otherwise, the wood may be used for troops or military facilities. Illinois synergizes with most Federal States from previous ages.
Deere Steel Plow allow the player to sustain the economy for long games, particularly if the map is depleted from natural resources or those are hard to take. This Federal Card has good combos with federal federal states like Delaware, which has the Fertile Lowlands Federal Card (which Ships 6 semi-fattened Cows and 2 Homestead Wagons, which can build either Mills or Estates), or Vermont, where both Federal Cards are for Estates and Mills.
Land of Lincoln improves Inspiring flags, which are useful in any army composition the United States may use. The player may pick either California or South Carolina in the Industrial Age if they want to get the most from Inspiring Flags. California get the Bear Flag Revolt, which gives Inspiring Flags the Bear Flag ability of spawning 6 Honcho the Pet Grizzly. For South Carolina's Moultrie's Militia, the Inspiring Flags will increase the attack of the State Militia by 10%.
Recommended shipments[]
- Fertile Lowlands (Delaware), Infinite 7 Sheep + 1 Homestead Wagon and 15 Sheep + 1 Homestead Wagon: Homestead Wagons can build Mills or Estates.
- Sheriff, Missouri River Expeditions and United States Army: The player needs the General for placing Inspiring Flags, so having a fully improved General helps.
- Any military improvements for troops: The effects of any Home City Card that improves the player's units will add the effects of the Inspiring Flags that are placed nearby and are boosted with Land of Lincoln.
- Any Military unit shipments.
- Springfield Armory: Ships 1 Arsenal Wagon; Flint Lock, Paper Cartridge, Military Drummers, Pillage, Professional Gunners, and Trunion available at Arsenal; Arsenal technologies are free, but take +250% times as long to be researched.
- Advanced Homesteading: Ships 2 Homestead Wagons; Mills and Estates get +15 Line of Sight and support 10 population.
- Refrigeration, Rum Distillery, Cigar Roller, Textile Mill, Minneapolis Mills, Vermont Coppers (Vermont): The gathering rate effects from these Home City Cards stack with Deere Steel Plow.
- Indiana Mobilization (Indiana): Ships 1 Carbine Cavalry for every shipment that had been sent by the player, including this one; Unit train time, technology research time, and age-up time -10%.
- Bear Flag Revolt (California): Turns all Settlers into Californios; Replaces the General's Inspiring Flag ability with Inspiring Bear Flag, which spawns 6 Honcho The Pet Grizzly.
- New Jersey Seaports (New Jersey): Resource shipments' content +900 and are immediately gathered; Can send resource-only shipments that have already been sent for the second time, as well as 'Washington Lumber Mills', 'Minneapolis Mills', and 'Plymouth Settlers' (except TEAM ones). Infinite crate cards are only increased by +300.
- Moultrie's Militia (South Carolina): Ships 12 State Militia; State Militia can build military buildings; Inspiring Flags increase State Militia's attack by 10%
- Green Mountain Boys (Vermont): Existing and new Mills and Estates spawn 3 State Militia.
- Land Grab.
Changelog[]
Definitive Edition[]
- "Land of Lincoln" makes Inspiring Flags increase unit hit points by 10%.
The African Royals[]
- With update 54545, "Land of Lincoln" now makes Inspiring Flags increase unit hit points by 5%.
